ent001704-018

g^This ilcmjiasBiMSsam entirety. The original item is available for research amljh^dm^wfe^i^NMH University Libraries. Additional digitization is available upon request. Please contact Special Colleen^Srarequest,*j W^^^m^mMlguiza^mfqfiwith any^questiCris regarding^^^?½: speciaSllii^ms@,unlv.'edu?·2^ Living yfiundav, Jurte 22,1997 a ^/Michael Paskevich ^Downtown ^entertainment jjgscene brightens Tbe^olorful Fremont Street Experience light show has helped bol-jk?╟÷?╟╓ster the downtown Vegas scene jp-drawing an estimated 10,000 to 20,000 ^Xfresh oplqokers per day ?╟÷ but the ^area?╟╓s hve entertainment scene has re-g^audned- somewhat moribun d. There hasn?╟╓t been a headliner down-jiStown since 1994 when the Golden Nug-gpget transformed its showroom into the Si home of the high-energy ?╟úCountry Fe-i??*ver?╟Ñ revue, and the remainder of the |S>-scehe, such as it is,- includes producer R??David Wright?╟╓s well-danced ?╟úXtreme ETScene?╟Ñ at The Plaza, which caters ^largely to Asian tourists gazing at top-?║2?╟ú less cast members. But the live entertainment scene is ^gaining pew momentmn. After months of wrangling and a -?╟╓^couple of failed deals, the Four Queens will begin serving up quality stand-up -.J^comics on a nightly basis beginning : July 4 in its new ?╟úFunhpuse at the 2^Four Queens.?╟Ñ And it appears that the downtown ~-??Lady Luck?╟╓s dome-shaped showroom, * :< , dark since' magician Melinda Saxe de-^;parted a couple of years back, will add ?√ß?╟ú7 a new magic show in August. ***. ?╟úWe?╟╓re finally there,?╟Ñ said a pleased ?╟ú Marty Gross, general manager of the E jj?╟ú Four Queens, .which is being managed ^ sby the Riviera as part of a bankruptcy - agreement. ?╟úWe?╟╓ve been waiting to get ^everything together and we think ST.there will be a big demand because of J^-the lack of shqws down here and that g; we?╟╓ll have a monopoly on the competi-fe??tion. - ?╟úThousands of people come down ev-7,ery night to sep the Fremont Street ^.Experience and we think there will be M a, strong market for a low-cost altema-a.??.tive.for good entertainment,?╟Ñ Gross Padded. Plans call for shows to be staged ^nightly at 7:30 and 9:30 at $9.95 per ^person, featuring many ofthPwim^^ -comics found at the six full-time come-?·5dy clubs?╟╓onor near the wm^'^Gur?╟╓in- ^ "Jclntion ismot tocompere with the ' HBhibs on flie Strip,?╟Ñ said Gross/noting that shows will be tailored for generally older crowds during the week and jj^the younger ,set oh weekepds. C A room on the resort?╟╓s second floor is SSbeing converted to a comedy space that I j^will hold Up to 200 customers. Comics* ' ^Johnny Dark, Sean Corvelle and Carla **jRea will open July 4, and Riviera en-gstertainment director Ste.ve Schirripa E?║will handle bookings for the Funhouse. Eff Acts'such as?╟╓ Kip Adotta, Bruce grBaum, Ron Shock and Las Vegas-abased comics such1 as John Padon and STBemie Allen will join,the club?╟╓s roster.;, ly in the future, provided all'goes well. SjSGross said the comedy concept is being ^"treated as an experiment that will be fe analyzed in about three months, nr. ?╟úOur intent is, long-term but we are Ingoing to evaluate this on the short-term to make sure .we?╟╓re making the ijf pfoper investment,?╟Ñ he said. ' Meanwhile, sources say the Lady gLuck.has a show called ?╟úSexy Magic?╟Ñ Igm tap for an August opening featuring ^magician Steve Wyyick. More details gas they unfold, but if the Comedy club Sand revue take hold, they will'help an Simproving downtown scene...." H bapt weekend?╟╓s Golden Rainbow ^benefit at the Stardust for people with ^AIDS/HTV raised $106^000 in ticket ^sales alone ari^isheing called ?tKe Pbest ever^ by nonprofit group president h; Lee Plotkin. FeatUrmg-the donated talents of Strip production show cast and crew gmembers, the show had plenty of great ^moments, as always, with Toni James and" company?╟╓s precision rifle-twirling feteam (the?╟úRighteously Outrageous ^Twirling Corps?╟Ñ) drawing deserved ^standing ovations both dpys. j?║ And afteripast hassles with stage^ Screws demanding full pay to work.the ??.benefit, the crew at?╟╓the {Sjt^rdUst ?╟úwent, gout of its way to make ukfeel wel-Kcome,?╟Ñ said Plotkin. A stagehand even , f&showed up at the post-show bash and - donated a check for $1,580 from the *. creyVf Well done..... & Tt?╟╓s?╟╓merelyune oftjie.most signifi- r Ifcant transitions m,history ?╟÷ the takeover of Hong Kong by mainland China June 30 r-;shid Las Vegas will be represented by - ?╟úShowgirls of Magic ?╟Ñ jH Nd fooling. Producer Bonnie Saxe igapd colnpapy depart' the,San Remo Unext, week to lend a bit of Westem-1?╟ú styled glitz and decadence to the take-over with a midnight show at the posh ' ?╟? ^Furama-Hotel/However, word is the ; * ^dancers will keep their tops on at the ifonpal affair. Michael Paskevich?╟╓s entertainment col- I umn appears Fridays and Sundays. Las Vegas Review-Journal and Las Vegas Sun Section FEATURES EDITOR: Frank Fertado, 383-0274. E-mail: Frank_Fertado@lvrj.com ; Page 1J Jtl'?╟╓;?√ß ' 1 ?√ß> V, J. - ' MikeSalsbury/Reyievy-Joumal Gcstufine,, cpsigher Pete Menefee created a look that celebrates /VlubHeel?╟Ñ showgirls such as Michelle Uitanic, left, Janet Sawezak and Susan McNamara. tes&etl t& to/biM Performers in /?╟╓ soon yyill strut and dance inJ ^etegstnt new costumes' * or niore than 16 M years, Donna ?√ß London and her crew have tended lovingly the costumes worn by performers in ?╟úJubilee!?╟Ñ the venerable?╟÷^ ?╟  some would eyen say over-the-tbp ' 7?╟÷ production s|iow at Bally?╟╓s. > , ;And London admits that she and her. crew ?╟÷ who ?╟≤ dacb day wash, sew,* repair t dhd.rencfvate the costumes i and the feathers; baubles, i jangles and beads that com-: prise them ?╟÷?╟╓wipmiss those f pld costumes wheni a ' Ramped version of the show bpens later this week. t ?╟úVqu get' very attached to | fthem,?╟Ñ says London, jifie -' ?√ß -I show?╟╓s wardrobe manager, {rlt?╟╓sbecause we?╟╓ve thken , care of them for so long and mothered them. They?╟╓re our children.?╟Ñ Pete Menefee, who designed the costuines, shares ho such nostalgia for his creations. , ?╟úOh, throw the lamp,?╟Ñ Menefee says, his face dontorted by an expression of feigned disgust. ?╟úMy children wenfc< ;:^ to the orphanage a long time-ago.?╟Ñ ; OK, so Menefee isn?╟╓t par-, y > craig L. Moran/Review-Journal Performer Alexander Bachine is flanked by^Dominic Gherri, left, and Pete Menefee while being fitted for a new costume for the production show. Craig L: Moran/Review-Journal One of the men in Bally?╟╓s produc-' tion show tries on new shoes. ticularly sentimental when | it comes to His old creations. Qn the other hand, he?╟╓s as excited as a little kid with a new toy whence talks about his work over the past two years designing new ?╟úJubilee!?╟Ñ costumes. When the Parisian-styled production show reopens ?√ß y Saturday after a four-week hiatus,,viewers will see both" the results of his work and the artistic legerdemain required, to create onstage at-tire that combines elegance and grace with the sturdi- ness and reliability of a ?╟╓68 Volkswagen Beetle. . ' ?╟úJubilee P opened in June 1981 and ran about 14,590 times before taking a vacation. Menefee'is astonished by both that number and at bow well his old costumes have held up. somebody had told me when we built the first show that they?╟╓d still be wearing them 14,0QQ shows later, I would havebeen>hyperventi-- lating,?╟Ñ he says, ' | Please see COSTUMES/5J Gary and Cofinie walk on the campy side in local talk show Confiie Ross and Gary Campbell, hosts of ?╟úBackstagb;,Lrve,T,?╟╓5?╟╓si?╟╓t in a caT from?╟╓the Imperial Palace Antique and Classic Auto Collection, Where the show originates. By Ken White Review-Journal Go ahead, call ?╟úBacksthge Live -with-Gary &??Confiie?╟Ñ: campy' ?╜ and cheesy. The hosts won?╟╓t, argue, ?╟≤withyou: i ' . -Gary.Campbell and Connie Ross openly admit their TV and radio talk Wow ?╟÷r broadcast locally Saturday mornings at 3 onKFBT-TV, Ch?╟╓aWl? 33? ftom the Imperial Palacfe An* < > b9u^andGJassic ^to.Goilqi^on%^/ ?╟  has. a certairt'camp Value-and v cneesy charm.?╟Ñ Emphasis on the ?√ß , charm. ?╟╓ ! T?1?½ campier we are the more it : really is like Las Vegas,?╟Ñ says Gqn-me, wh0 also is the Imperil Palace?╟╓s director of advertising and publicity. ???? whatever sophistication we may lack, it?╟╓s forgiven.?╟Ñ Heard locally on KXNO-AM 1140 every Saturday atfi p.m., it is car- ried?╟╓around the country over th?½r ?╟ú Talk America Radio Network* as well as televised on the 187-station American Independent satellite tele-?√ß > yision network. , This exposure is helping ?╟úBack-. staged become a hot stop'for celebri-?╜ties on the TV talk-sh^w eircuit'?╟÷ifi has alresdy nabbed Louie Anderson, Tim Conwayj Qharlton Heston, Jer-rtiainn Ja.ckson.,! Marty Allen, Phyllis ?╟≤ .MeGuirey ^ic^' Little and?╟╓Debbie . Reynolds.,. * -The: hosts say'they never know : who Will(dr6p hy. Such as last De- , cember when an inebriated Santa Please see ?╟ BACKSTAGEV5J