Thursday, April 30, 1998 | 9:49 a.m.
ALADDIN MEMORIES: The Aladdin Hotel has a special place in our hearts. ... Thirty-four years ago, Roberta and I were married by the late Judge John Mowbray. ... We told friends we were going out of town for the weekend, but actually spent it in one of the small chalets in back of the hotel, overlooking the Par Three Pitch-and-Putt golf course.
It was called the Tally-Ho then, a non-gaming, English Tudor-style hotel, beautiful, with an excellent lounge and the late Marty Heim at the piano. ... It was ahead of its time. ... Milton Prell made it a success as the Aladdin in 1966. ... The late Dick Kanellis, who left us much too early, was the entertainment director and a good one.
We were there when Richard Pryor opened, stopped short, walked off, was fired, and drove back to L.A. to become the real Richard Pryor, rather than a luke-warm Bill Cosby wanna-be.
The showroom
Redd Foxx and Little Richard played there. ... The late George Arnold and Bill Moore produced an ice show with comedian Joe E. Ross featured. ... Jim Seagrave, one of LV's best public relations, publicity and advertising people through the years, now at the Stardust, was at the Aladdin during this period. ... It was a fun time.
Comedian Jackie Gayle was doing a late show one evening. ... The town was quiet. ... Kanellis, Seagrave, the late Forrest Duke (my opposite number at the other paper) and I were the only ones in the room. ... Jackie did his "show" at our table.
Forrest and I went back to our respective papers and each wrote, unbeknownst to the other, that "the audience enjoyed him." ... Neither of us mentioned that we represented 50 percent of that audience. ... Gayle is still one of the funniest, working free-form without a net.
The Theatre
Each September, from 1992 through 1997, we have served as the producer-director of the annual LV International Mariachi Festival at the Aladdin Theatre for the Performing Arts. ... The festival filled its 7,000 seats. ... In 1992, there were two shows, matinee and evening, for a 12,000 total attendance. ... This year, it is at the Thomas & Mack Center.
Count us among those who are happy that the theatre will survive, be corrected, enhanced and beautified as the centerpiece of a major mall-type complex. ... LV can handle two or three or six- or seven-thousand seat arenas; the Rio opens one next March; Buffalo Bill's already has one.
Aladdin CEOs, the late Joe Burt and Veronica Wilson who succeeded him, their staffs and employees made our six years a successful pleasure. ... We wish Jack Sommer and all concerned every success as they raise a new and even better Aladdin out of Monday's ashes.
And at UNLV
Jerry Vallen was Dean of UNLV's Hotel College from 1967 to 1989. ... Between 1989 and 1998, he has divided his time between teaching in Australia and occupying the Harrah Distinguished Chair at UNLV. ... Vallen will go to emeritus status after this semester. ... Dean David Christianson, who succeeded him, will take over the Harrah Chair. ... We wish both the very best.
In 1973, then Dean Vallen invited me to teach a pilot semester, Hotel Entertainment, a three-credit course. ... Because of the ever-changing nature of entertainment, there could not be a text book.
This fall starts year 26 teaching the Hotel Entertainment course at UNLV. ... Thanks to Williams Distinguished Chair, Patti Shock, there are now a number of entertainment courses, some taught by former students of mine. ... I'm proud to be a small part of UNLV's growth during these past 25 years and grateful to Deans Vallen and Christianson and Professor Shock.
Star-policy rundown
It's George Carlin and Dennis Blair (Bally's); Huey Lewis & The News (Caesars); Debbie Reynolds (her hotel); Sheena Easton, Friday through Sunday (Desert Inn); Patsy Cline Tribute (Gold Coast); Tom Jones (MGM Grand); Siegfried & Roy (Mirage); Lance Burton (Monte Carlo); Smothers Brothers (Orleans) and Danny Gans (Rio). ... See you Friday.
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