Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Columnist Joe Delaney: ‘Dracula’ drops in for a snack this weekend

"DRACULA," Nevada Dance Theatre's classic production, is the main event for this Halloween weekend. ... We reviewed Jill Eathorne Bahr's creation when it had its NDT premier in 1994 and suggested then that it could become for Halloween what "The Nutcracker" is for our Christmas NDT season. ... Be sure to make your reservations early.

"Dracula" and "Frankenstein" are arguably the definitive horror classics. ... The authors of both novels were Irish. ... Bram Stoker wrote "Dracula" and Mary Shelley, wife of the poet, authored "Frankenstein" as a competition with other artists.

As films, "Dracula" came first. ... Bela Lugosi, who created the definitive Count Dracula, was offered the role of the monster in "Frankenstein," turned it down and suggested they give it to his English friend, William Henry Pratt, who was given the part and a new name, Boris Karloff.

Bela and Boris

Lugosi, a matinee idol in his native Hungary, spoke little or no English. ... He first portrayed the Count here on the stage, learning the part phonetically. ... At age 8, I was taken to see the play in Philadelphia. ... Lugosi came to the edge of the stage, pointed to a woman in the front row and said, "I want to suck your blood."

The lady fainted and was taken out on a stretcher. ... My uncle Phil explained that she was a shill and fainted on cue. ... It usually resulted in a few others doing likewise, all stretcher cases.

Karloff lived at The Dakota on NYC's 72nd Street and Central Park West. ... As a contestant on "The $64,000 Question," he had just won $32,000. ... He and his wife realized they had no money with them for bus fare so I paid their fare. ... A week later I received a check for fifty cents. ... The signature on the check read, "Boris Karloff."

Dinner and show

"Tony and Marie's Wedding" had a special V.I.P. media premiere Wednesday, too late for comment here. ... "Joey and Maria's Comedy Wedding" plays Fridays through November (Italian American Club) and "Tie The Knot," a mock Italian-Jewish wedding, is at the Oasis LV Resort on Windmill. ... All three include dinner and all-inclusive prices are in the $40-$45 range. ... First words are good on all three.

It's Motley Crue, then the wrecking crew at the soon-to-be-closed Aladdin with rock's bad boys booked to close the Aladdin Theatre for the Performing Arts on Nov. 25. ... Cheap Trick opens the show at 7:30 p.m.

Mitzi Shore's La Jolla Comedy Store is now located on Prospect Street, across from that city's Hard Rock Cafe. ... Shows run Wednesday through Saturday and are changed weekly. ... No one can match Mitzi's track record when it comes to developing new comedy talent.

Star-policy rundown

It's George Carlin-Dennis Blair (Bally's); Julio Iglesias (Caesars); Debbie Reynolds (her hotel); Frankie Avalon, Fabian and Bobby Rydell (Desert Inn); Dan Seals (Gold Coast); Paula Cole, tonight only (Hard Rock); Tom Jones (MGM Grand); Siegfried & Roy (Mirage); Lance Burton (Monte Carlo); Phyllis Diller, opening Friday (Orleans); Danny Gans (Rio); and Marty Allen-Karon Kate Blackwell (Westward Ho).

Paula Poundstone takes time from her Rosie O'Donnell TV show chores to make a Friday 9 p.m. appearance at the LV Hilton. ... Watch for Paula's commentary on an upcoming Rosie show. ... We watch Rosie.

Recent production show arrivals worth trying: "Steve Wyrick's Sexy Magic" (Lady Luck) plus the Fremont Street Experience, of course, and "Imagine, A Theatrical Odyssey" at the Luxor. ... The latter begets a comparison with "Mystere" but the Luxor tab is $30 less.

Thursday addenda

Friday night's best jazz action is at Pogo's on Decatur. ... Sundays at noon, have brunch and enjoy "The Jazz Organ-ization (Santa Fe) then from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. dine and dig Marv Koral's All-Stars featuring Carl Fontana at the Manhattan. ... Monday's music is at the Riviera with Don Menza & Friends. ... Top bassist, all styles, Carson Smith is seriously ailing, drop a line or give him a call. ... See you Friday.

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