Thursday, April 9, 1998 | 8:52 a.m.
RICH LITTLE, appearing in the Orleans Hotel's new state-of-the-art showroom through Saturday, energized the art of doing impressions, particularly satirical setups of political figures, starting in the 1960s. ... Little's presidential press conferences, depicting U.S. Presidents, past and present, sets him apart from the others.
Rich was a major factor in the success of the syndicated TV series "KopyKats," which co-starred Frank Gorshin, ... Gorshin preceded Little as a Las Vegas main showroom headliner. ... Rich came a little later but has lasted much longer as a marquee topper.
Two of the finest impressionists of an even earlier era used their duplications as incidental parts of their totality. ... I'm referring to Shecky Greene and the late Sammy Davis Jr. ... In the 1940s and 1950s, most of the young comics included movie star replications.
Along came Danny
Danny Gans is the man today, selling out the expanded Rio showroom weeks in advance, even at increased prices, now in the $60 area. ... Bob Anderson has never been accorded a Vegas response equal to his talents as a singing impressionist. ... Throwbacks to an earlier LV day and still working: Freddie Bell and Babe Pier. ... Louise DuArt is the best of the femme impressionist contingent.
Returning to the 1940s and 1950s, Jimmy Cagney ("You dirty rat"); Humphrey Bogart ("Alright Louie, drop the gun"); Edward G. Robinson ("Listen, you guys"); and Cary Grant ("Judy, Judy") were standard comedic repertoire. ... All four phrases were never spoken by the originals.
The late Jackie Miles ran a gamut of star impressions using only the sounds of vowels. ... Guy Marks, also gone, had a classic sketch with Bogart and Robert Mitchum plus Boris Karloff as an Indian Chief.
We were there
This columnist served as associate producer and idea man on Rich Little's successful "Great Pretenders" series for HBO, which featured numerous stars and was videotaped in Las Vegas. ... Susan Anton, now back starring in the Flamingo-Hilton's "Great Radio City Spectacular," appeared in one episode along with Shecky Greene.
Shecky's Al Jolson was definitive, as was his Sophie Tucker singing "My Yiddishe Mama," which could bring a tear to one's eyes. ... Greene's Belafonte, using an upright string bass as a guitar, was a comedy classic. ... Sheck was also a master of dialectics.
Don Rickles, scheduled at the Desert Inn, April 24-28, did impressions in the 1950s and still includes Dean Martin, Tony Bennett and Jimmy Cagney as George M. Cohan in "Yankee Doodle Dandy" as part of his performance. ... Rickles' Cagney-Cohan is a flag waver.
Star policy rundown
It's Luis Miguel (Caesars); Kenny Kerr (Debbie Reynolds Hotel); Engelbert Humperdinck (MGM Grand); Siegfried & Roy (Mirage); Lance Burton (Monte Carlo); Rich Little (Orleans) and Danny Gans (Rio); catch both if you can. ... Bally's and the Desert Inn are dark this Easter weekend. ... Debbie Reynolds will be away most of this month.
Singer Lina Santiago brings her Latin-styled hip hop approach to Ra, the new Luxor nightclub, Friday only. ... Mexico Vivo Dance Company appears Friday and Saturday, 7:30 p.m. (Winchester Center). ... "Romeo and Juliet" will be performed, free at 4 & 8 p.m. Saturday, Sunset Station's outdoor amphitheater, weather permitting, of course.
"Stage Struck" continues (LV Little Theatre), as does Rainbow Company's "Noodle Doodle Box," (Reed Whipple Center). ... Catch Marv Koral's Jazz All-Stars Friday, 7-11 p.m. (Brittany's).
Thursday addenda
The National Association of Broadcasters convention, more than 90,000 strong, ends today. ... George Waters and his wife Mary, dear friends, were in town. ... Waters was Director General of RTE, Ireland's radio and television network, when we produced our six documentaries on Erin, now retired as Director of Engineering, European Broadcasting Union, currently founder and president of the International Academy of Broadcasting.
The I.A.B. is located in Montreux, Switzerland, where I've been teaching during January these past three years. Waters is a recognized authority on high definition television and digital application. ... Happy Easter and Happy Passover. ... See you Friday.
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