Columnist Joe Delaney: Remembering the purpose for long weekends

Joe Delaney

Thursday, Jan. 14, 1999 | 10:31 a.m.

A three-day weekend. ... The nation observes Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday. ... To most Americans, it is just another three-day weekend. ... At one time, we observed Lincoln's birthday on Feb. 12 and Washington's natal date on Feb. 22. ... This has been combined into one three-day weekend observance in February as President's Day, Feb. 15.

Columbus Day was always on Oct. 12. ... This year, it's on Oct. 11, a Monday, for another ersatz government-mandated three-day weekend. ... Resort areas are happy and so are most working people; the consensus favors these three-day weekends. ... So be it, but we should also remember why we're having a three-day weekend as well.

Martin Luther King Jr., Abraham Lincoln and George Washington were important contributors to this country. ... Each deserves the respect and acknowledgement that prompted naming days in their honor.

Weekend eventsMike Tyson vs. Frans Botha, Saturday in the MGM Grand Garden Arena, is a big fat yawn thus far. ... Bally's usually goes for an Andrew "Dice" Clay or a Chris Rock on a heavyweight prize fight weekend. ... Not this time. ... Bally's does have the "Diceman" scheduled for late shows Jan. 29-30 in the Jubilee Room as part of Super Bowl weekend.

Elsewhere, Drew Carey and Co. duplicate his "Whose Line Is It, Anyway" TV show starting Friday (Caesars), and consummate jazz stylist Al Jarreau is another Friday starter (Desert Inn). ... We welcomed the Jordanaires, Sharon Haynes and their "Patsy Cline Tribute" back to the Gold Coast Wednesday. ... Our critique appears in Friday's Accent section.

Continuing regulars include Steve Wyrick (Lady Luck); impressionist Bill Acosta (Luxor); Gladys Knight (MGM Grand); Siegfried & Roy (Mirage); Lance Burton (Monte Carlo); Neville Brothers (Orleans) and Danny Gans still selling out (Rio).

Comedy tonightComedy club action is strong at Harrah's, Maxim, MGM Grand, O'Sheas's, Riviera and Tropicana. ... This week's specials: Jeff Wayne (Maxim Comedy Max); George Miller (Riviera); and Lenny Clarke and Janice Hart (Tropicana Comedy Stop). ... All four have in common that they started here with Mitzi Shore's Dunes Comedy Store in the 1980s ... Nick Lewin's afternoon Maxim "Comedy Magic" belongs on a weekly specials list.

Saturday, one night only, the Las Vegas Hilton presents The Hitmen of Comedy on Tour: D.C. Curry, Shuckey Duckey and Sheryl Underwood. ... Shows are at 9 p.m. and 12:30 a.m. to accommodate the fight crowd (what fight crowd?).

Blood, Sweat & Tears will perform free shows at 7 and 9 p.m Friday (Palace Station). ... David Clayton Thomas and Co. were the first of these contemporary groups to play a major LV showroom, the Caesars Palace Circus Maximus, for three days, sometime in the 1980s.

Odessky's bookI borrowed a copy of Dick Odessky's new book, "Fly On The Wall," last weekend. ... It's a pleasant, one-day, easy read and refresher course for those who were present in Las Vegas, 1950-1970. ... His recollections are carefully culled. ... He writes with affection for his former hometown, but I came away feeling that a remembrance favors the one remembering.

Odessky is slated to guest next week on Jack Kogan's popular KLAV-AM 1230 radio show, heard from 5-6 p.m. on Tuesdays, "live" from the Paulson Gift Shop.

Who's calling?Phone solicitations and sales pitches are an invasion of one's privacy. ... It is especially annoying when the person just asks for, and addresses me as, "Joseph." ... I have always been Joe except when my grandfather was about to lay down the law to me for some transgression.

Thursday addendaThe Eddie George Four with George on vocals and drums; Joe Lano, guitar; Tom Ferguson, piano; and Gus Mancuso, bass, etc. are there Wednesdays through Saturdays (Bourbon Street Hotel); the Mike Breene Three does likewise (Santa Fe) which is also home to the Jazz Organ-ization, noon on Sundays. ... Fridays, it's Jazz at Pogo's; Sundays, 5:30-9:30 p.m., Marv Koral's All-Stars are at Carollo's; Mondays, it's Don Menza (Riviera).

Sunday at 2 p.m., in the Winchester Center, catch the 17-piece Nevada Jazz Orchestra, directed by Barry Ross. ... Support good jazz, whenever and wherever. ... See you Friday.