Columnist Joe Delaney: Could changes be ahead for LV entertainment scene?

Joe Delaney

Thursday, Sept. 3, 1998 | 10:06 a.m.

ENTERTAINMENT IS once again being recognized for the important factor it has always been in the success of the hotel-casino-convention complex in Las Vegas. ... Steve Wynn establishing a separate entertainment area under Sandy Gallin for the Mirage, Treasure Island, Golden Nugget and Bellagio, plus hotels to come elsewhere, was the first move.

Last week's announcement that the William Morris Agency would become the Rio Hotel's exclusive entertainment consultant portends similar alliances to come. ... The Rio was off to a less-than-spectacular start, but the signing of Danny Gans and addition of the free "Masquerade In The Sky" made the Rio a major entertainment destination.

Another factor for the Rio was the creation of unique and creative dining areas plus a buffet that enjoyed the best word-of-mouth in this decade. ... Food and entertainment made the Rio an attractive acquisition.

Several questions

The first: Will the Rio continue to maintain its unique and successful identity or will it become just another Harrah's operation? ... Harrah's brass appear to be too wise to let this happen. ... Second: Does this "exclusive" arrangement with William Morris Agency mean that William Morris acts will only appear at the Rio in the future?

Bill Cosby has been with William Morris for many years. ... Assuming he is still with the agency, will Cosby's future appearances, after his November Mirage date, be with the Rio? ... What about other William Morris acts appearing at other LV hotels?

With the present short-term entertainment policy limited to Caesars Palace and the Desert Inn, the LV Hilton, plus four-wall lease deals at Bally's, MGM Grand, Orleans and Sahara, other agencies may consider exclusive consultant arrangements, assuring year-round locations for their acts.

Star-policy rundown

It's Andrew "Dice" Clay, Friday and Saturday (Bally's); Earth, Wind & Fire (Caesars); The Temptations, Friday and Saturday (Desert Inn); Three Dog Night, Friday and Saturday (Harrah's); Jeffrey Osborne-Regina Belle (LV Hilton); Gladys Knight (MGM Grand); Siegfried & Roy (Mirage); Lance Burton (Monte Carlo); Little River Band (Orleans); Kenny Kerr (Plaza); Danny Gans (Rio); and Gallagher (Sahara).

Please note that performers like Siegfried & Roy, Lance Burton, Kenny Kerr and Danny Gans are included in the above listing, but those performers are really long-term star attractions, performing in their respective hotels 40 weeks a year or more for years.

Rod Stewart appears in concert, 8 p.m. Saturday, MGM Grand Garden Arena while locals of Irish descent should check out the Young Dubliners, also at 8 p.m. Saturday at Texas Station.

Comedy tonight

Sammy Shore headlines in the Riviera Comedy Club this week, joined by Mick Lazinski and Peter Fogel. ... Damon Wayans is at the Top of the Riv, tonight at 9 ... Finis Henderson and Jeff Garcia (Harrah's Improv); Joe Restivo, Marty Macham and Michael Saccone (Maxim); C.C. LaBove and Barry Friedman (MGM's "Catch") and Lewis Black-John Knight (Tropicana Comedy Stop) round out this week's listing.

Shore and ex-wife, Mitzi Shore, parents of Pauly Shore, founded the original L.A. Comedy Store, starting point for Damon Wayans, Finis Henderson, C.D. LaBove, and Pauly.

"In Living Color," the TV series, started at the L.A. Comedy Store, and it was Mitzi Shore who introduced Jim Carrey to Las Vegas at her Dunes Comedy Store in the 1980s and put Carrey in the "In Living Color" cast. ... See story on Sammy Shore in Friday's column.

Thursday addenda

The Mexico Vivo Dance Company performs at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday (Winchester Community Center). ... If heading north to Sparks this weekend, don't miss John Ascuaga's Nugget's Best of the West Rib Cook-Off, Friday through Monday. ... Veteran PR person Joe Bleeden came here first with Jimmy Durante at the Desert Inn in 1952. ... Nice to hear that Joe plans to move to Las Vegas. ... See you Friday.