Columnist Joe Delaney: Orleans showroom is new LV hot spot

Joe Delaney

Thursday, Feb. 5, 1998 | 10:21 a.m.

THE ORLEANS HOTEL has an impressive list of star-policy attractions during February with the Smothers Brothers in residence through Sunday, followed by Roy Clark, Feb. 11-15. ... Then it's Charlie Prose, Feb. 16-19; Pete Fountain and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Feb. 20-22, closing with Willie Nelson, Feb. 28-March 1; the way to go.

During our Tulane Law School days, 1951-1953, New Orleans' Bourbon Street was red-hot with Louis Prima and Keely Smith at Frank Ferrara's Sho-Bar, George Lewis at Steve Valenti's Paddock Lounge, Lizzie Miles & Freddie Kohlman's Band at Sid Davilla's Mardi Gras Lounge, and Sharkey Bonano plus the original Dukes of Dixieland (Hyp Guinle's Famous Door).

Bonano and Santo Pecora retired, the Dukes moved up, and Sam Butera & the Witnesses became the alternate band. ... Sam was playing hard bop tenor a la Don Byas and Wardell Gray at that time.

Reunion time

Look for a New Orleans get-together at the Orleans next weekend with Pete Fountain and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band in the showroom and Butera & Co. in the lounge. ... It was the late deejay Alan Freed who helped covert Sam from bop to a rhythm & blues tenor sound for those first RCA Groove recordings. ... It was Sam who gave Louis Prima and Keely Smith that extra kick when they opened in the Sahara Casbar, circa 1954, start of an era.

Keely Smith and Sam Butera were responsible for a minor lounge renaissance just a few years ago in the Desert Inn Starlight Theatre. ... They had a good thing; too bad they couldn't enjoy it together.

Pete Fountain, the original Dukes of Dixieland and Al Hirt all performed for Maynard Sloate in the Tropicana Blue Room, late 1960s and early 1970s. ... The Trop lounge was equally warm with Red Norvo, Monk Montgomery and Lloyd Ellis holding forth.

One down, ...

Count this columnist among those who are happy to see the Elardis sell the Frontier. ... Their takeover of the hotel in the summer of 1988 was right out of a Hitler-Mussolini handbook. ... Longtime workers came in one day to find their personal belongings piled on top of their desk with a security guard in attendance.

They were told to put their belongings in a box, were escorted to the payroll office, given a pay check as of that date, accompanied to their car in the parking lot and told they were no longer welcome on the premises. ... Despite existing contracts, the Elardis refused to honor them or even re-negotiate in good faith.

We wish Phil Ruffin & Co. and the returning employees the very best. ... It would be nice to see that original showroom restored and back in action. ... It is nice to go there again.

Star-policy rundown

It's Louie Anderson (Bally's); Luther Vandross tonight, Rosie O'Donnell, Friday and Saturday, and Vandross, Sunday (Caesars); Debbie Reynolds (her hotel); Dennis Miller (Desert Inn); Elayne Boosler, Friday and Saturday (Harrah's); the Isley Brothers (MGM Grand); Siegfried & Roy (Mirage); Lance Burton (Monte Carlo); Smothers Brothers (Orleans); Danny Gans (Rio); and Richard Jeni (Sahara); this is the way it should be.

UNLV's Arnold Shaw Research Center for Popular Music resumes its popular "Rap" sessions with Karen Nelson Bell, producer, director and musical director of "Country Tonite," rapping on campus in UNLV Recital Room 147, next to the Donna Beam Gallery, 3:30 p.m. Friday.

Bill Willard and Loretta Kaye will handle the interviewer chores. ... The public is invited, admission is free. ... They are working on having Clint Black as the interviewee nee Friday.

Thursday addenda

That is Joe Williams singing "Sunny Side of the Street" on those Summerlin commercials. ... Williams will be recording in Pittsburgh, Pa. on Feb. 21-22, then return home to perform on the annual Joe Williams Scholarship Concert at Clark County Community College on Feb. 27. ... Some enterprising hotel should create a Joe Williams Room for him to sit down at home between road engagements. ... See you Friday.