Don’t haul away those booths just yet: Tiffany Theatre might remain as-is

By John Katsilometes

Sunday, July 18, 2010 | 9:25 p.m.

There seems to be a thread of a pulse for the traditional showroom known as Tiffany Theatre.

Once seemingly destined for the same fate as the show that once graced its stage, the famed-but-discontinued "Folies Bergere," the prognosis for the Trop's old showroom is not terminal.

This information is conveyed by Tropicana President Tom McCartney, whom I encountered by happenstance Saturday afternoon as I was leaving the hotel after interviewing Brad Garrett for a story to appear this week in Las Vegas Weekly.

McCartney said there was no longer any sort of timeframe in place for a Tiffany Theatre renovation project he spoke of earlier this year, in which the theater would be closed, gutted, renovated, and re-opened by the end of the year. Additional seating and a more modern, theater-style design (the Luxor Theater serving as the closest example, geographically and in spirit) was said to be in the offing. The original idea was to wait for Wayne Newton's "Once Before I Go" to play out in April, then make those renovations.

That is no longer the case. As McCartney explained, he and his entertainment team have been busy reviewing "product," which in this context means "shows" or "acts" over the past several months. And the byproduct of all this product is that the very design of the theater could depend on what sort of show McCartney and the Trop team, headed by owner Alex Yemenidjian and including Entertainment Director Lee-Ann Groff-Daudet, opt for the hotel's next phase. Remarkably, Tiffany Theatre has been unoccupied since Paul Rodriguez wrapped his "Whole Enchilada" a month ago.

Also from the Trop, the Mob Experience has opened a preview center, displaying depictions of some of the Mafia-themed attractions and selling souvenirs, in the space formerly occupied by the hotel's gift shop. On Saturday, Mob Experience Chief Executive Officer led a group of officials who book junkets across the country through the under-construction space. They asked Bloom such questions as, "Are you sure Meyer Lansky was never imprisoned?"

Also, the main entrance to Nikki Beach nightclub, which will spill onto the Nikki Beach pool area, will take over the Trop's delicatessen, which is good news for beach fans but bad news for pastrami fans.

"Just Imagine" a tribute show at Planet Hollywood

Five things I really liked about my visit last week to "Just Imagine," the John Lennon tribute scheduled to run through Sept. 18 at Planet Hollywood:

• Vintage footage on the three video panels of the St. Pauli's entertainment district in Hamburg, where The Beatles learned how to play straight rock 'n' for seven hours a night amid an orgy of immoral, illegal and violent activity.

• The band's muscular rendition of "I Want You," which might not be atop your list of Lennon/Beatles favorites, but had a lot of bite in the live performance.

• The authentically styled Beatle boots worn by Tim Piper, who plays Lennon.

• The ambitious, and well-executed, medley of "Strawberry Fields" and "I Am the Walrus."

• Catching up with Thomas & Mack Center/Sam Boyd Stadium Director Daren Libonati and his wife, Hillary, and re-living the night we all met President Clinton during November's U2 show at Sam Boyd Stadium.

Electric and Acoustic Soul

So I went to see and hear Acoustic Soul the other night and the set was cut short because of power problems. How can this be? It's not exactly acoustic, is how. Electricity is a necessity. But the band does have a good measure of the soul and a great hook — it plays an all-request set, every time out. It charges for certain requests, though — like $100 for "Freebird."

Some might consider that a bargain, actually.

I caught Acoustic Soul for the first time Tuesday night at Roadrunner on I-215 and Flamingo Road and was duly impressed — until the juice cut off. The song that tripped them up was the Doors' "Roadhouse Blues," which tied up the sound system each time they attempted to play it. But it was a good time up to that point. Front man Hal Savar, adept at chitchat with unsuspecting audience members, has been a busy singer/songwriter in Las Vegas for seven years. Violinist/bassist Nina DiGregorio is also familiar for her role as co-founder of the all-female violin outfit (in tight outfits, usually) Bella Rumore. Keyboardist Dave King is a longtime member of Beatles tribute band the Fab when not onstage with Acoustic Soul. And the drummer, Lanise Hughes, once backed Rick James.

Not bad for a free show.

The band plays Tuesday at Roadrunner on 215, Wednesday at Roadrunner on Eastern and Pebble, Friday at McFadden's in the Rio, and Saturday at Cabo Wabo at Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood on the Las Vegas Strip. Hit the band's reliably informative MySpace page for more info about this under-the-radar, but really entertaining, live act.

Harrison honored by pawn industry

Can't let the weekend end without one more pop for the "Pawn Stars." Rick "Spotter" Harrison has been honored as Pawnbroker of the Year by the National Pawnbrokers Association, which bills itself as "the leading trade association representing the pawn industry."

In a release, Pawnbrokers Association President Dave Adelman said, "Rick, Richard Sr., Corey and the others on Pawn Stars have raised the bar on Pawn Industry awareness. They have done more to improve the image of pawn shops in a shorter time than anyone has ever done. As a second-generation pawnbroker, having been in the industry for over 31 years, I know all too well what they have accomplished."

Harrison will be honored Tuesday during the NPA Pawn Expo at Caesars Palace. The event runs Tuesday through Thursday.

Follow John Katsilometes on Twitter at twitter.com/JohnnyKats.