Hall of Fame soul singer Gladys Knight has signed a one-year contract to appear at the Flamingo Las Vegas starting Feb. 12. Before she opens there, Knight will co-host television's "The Today Show" with Katie Couric on Feb. 7, at the Salt Lake City Olympics.
Sheena Easton has returned to the Las Vegas Hilton's NightClub, where she'll be performing for the next year. Her ticket price is $29.95, which is less than her $45 price tag last summer when she began her association with the hotel. The Hilton's anchor act tenants in the larger showroom this year will be The Commodores, Righteous Brothers and Smothers Brothers.
The highly successful Society of Seven has closed its extended run at the Las Vegas Hilton's NightClub and returned home to Hawaii. They announced from the stage that they will return to Las Vegas in March and perform at the Aladdin. The group is made up seven multi-talented leads that sing, play instruments and do impersonations. Most of their routines are for laughs.
Howard Stern will make a return trip to the Hard Rock Hotel this year in the beginning of February and do a three-day broadcast. He's also planning to place another $100,000 bet.
It's a pleasure to report that singer Marlene Ricci is back in town and has signed an indefinite contract to appear in the Riviera's newly remodeled Le Bistro lounge/mini showroom starting Tuesday, Jan. 29. She'll perform an 8:30 p.m. show, Tuesday through Sunday. For information, call 702-794-9433 or visit her web site at www.marlenericci.com.
Ricci's singing career got a tremendous boost years ago when she was performing at the old Aladdin Hotel and Frank Sinatra discovered her and made her his opening act. Her years with the legendary crooner allowed her to perform with large orchestras in many of the great concert venues in America.
During her time off from traveling with Sinatra's show, she would open shows in Las Vegas with other big name stars such as Don Rickles, Alan King, Paul Anka, Sammy Davis Jr., David Brenner, Bob Hope, etc.
Eventually Ricci accepted a long-term contract at the now defunct Top Of The Dunes where many celebrities would visit her and make special guest appearances in her shows.
Besides making television appearances including 20 visits on "The Merv Griffin Show," Ricci appeared on the CBS Special "Cinderella At The Palace," which chronicled her own story of a small town girl from upstate New York, coming to Las Vegas, being discovered by a big star and becoming his opening act. This special that was seen worldwide featured Sinatra, Tom Jones, Ann-Margret, Paul Anka, Sammy Davis, Jr. and Andy Williams.
Most recently, Ricci headlined in "The Great Radio City Spectacular" at the Flamingo Hilton.
The one thing that keeps the 18-year-old "Legends In Concert" show totally fresh at the Imperial Palace is its ever-changing cast. The New Year has started out with impersonations of Elvis, Tina Turner, Richie Valens, The Temptations, Liberace, Faith Hill and Tim McGraw. It's an unbeatable combination of personalities.
The five performers who make up TRIBUTE, the group performing as The Temptations, have at least 100 years of entertainment experience among them, including experiences working collectively or individually with the likes of The Jackson Five, James Brown, Lou Rawls, The O'Jays and the Indigos.
Tickets for "Legends In Concert" are $34.50 inclusive with two drinks.
The 315-room Vacation Village at the far south end of the Strip is closed. When the new owner reopens the hotel/casino, look for redevelopment plans to take shape on the 25-acre site.
Went back to see the sexy musical comedy "Tease" at The Blue Note and have to say it is a fun show that seems to be picking up momentum. The new show is based around a night's events at a strip joint. Unlike some of the other sexy revues in town, this one has a plot line where you get to know the girls as individual personalities. In addition, Steve Connolly is part of the cast playing Vinny, a brash East Coast busboy, who in the end is transformed into Elvis. Connolly has been playing The King for over six years and does it well.
At "Tease," there are 12-page booklets on the tables entitled "How to Strip For Your Guy!" a guide from the cast of "Tease."
The 300-room Silverton Hotel-Casino south of the Las Vegas Strip is the home of a new KOA Kampgrounds of America, Inc. (KOA) franchise and a 460-unit RV park. KOA, the industry leader, has more than 500 campgrounds in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Japan.
Four Las Vegas hotels and six restaurants were designated among the nation's best in this year's Mobil Travel Guide.
Four hotels received a four-star designation, which was awarded to 240 hotels across the country. The Venetian and the Hyatt Regency Lake Las Vegas received four-star status for the first time and Bellagio and Four Seasons were repeats.
In the dining department, Picasso at Bellagio and the Mirage's Renoir were designated Nevada's only five-star restaurants. Four-star awards were made to repeat winners Aqua and Le Cirque at Bellagio, Nobu in the Rio, and a new recipient Lutece in the Venetian.
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