Columnist Joe Delaney: Speculating about upcoming New Year’s Eve festivities

Joe Delaney

Thursday, Nov. 11, 1999 | 9:28 a.m.

Joe Delaney's column appears Thursdays and Fridays. Reach him at 259-4066 or joe@vegas.com.

The world will be recovering from a monumental millennium hangover on Jan. 1. ... New Year's Eve falls on a Friday, which means a three-day weekend celebration with superior entertainment plus college football bowl games and pro football playoffs to keep the LV sports and race books packed as well. ... This should be the biggest weekend in Las Vegas history by far; all those rooms filled and at those prices.

Add all the extra entertainment attractions, for the public, hotel guests and high rollers; what a way to start off the new millennium. ... Since we know that the millennium really begins on Jan. 1, 2001. ... The world can do it all over again.

The Delaney Dec. 31 plans are all set. ... Having spent more than 60 years in and around show business we celebrate at home, quietly, with the family, like all Las Vegans should do if not working that night.

Our reasoning

The late Groucho Marx once said, "I would never join any country club that would have me as a member." ... This was my inspiration, nearly 50 years ago when I decided I didn't want to be in any showroom or nightclub that still had space for me on New Year's Eve. ... W.C. Fields stated that he never ventured out on New Year's Eve because it was the big night for amateur drinkers. ... Unfortunately, this is still sadly true.

Speaking of big weekends, the Evander Holyfield-Lennox Lewis heavyweight championship unification championship match at Thomas & Mack Saturday night, plus Ricky Martin at Mandalay Bay tonight and Friday, makes this a heavy-betting action period.

Holyfield may do better the second time around. ... Evander is a warrior who has come back more than once after adverse results. ... Let's hope it's a good encounter with a positive result.

Star-policy rundown

It's George Carlin (Bally's); Huey Lewis & The News (Caesars Palace); The Temptations (Desert Inn); Frankie Randall and Lezlie Anders, Friday only (Flamingo Hilton); Patsy Cline Tribute (Gold Coast); Reba McEntire (LV Hilton); Bill Acosta (Luxor); Ricky Martin, tonight and Friday (Mandalay Bay); Penn & Teller (MGM Grand); Siegfried & Roy (Mirage); Lance Burton (Monte Carlo); Everly Brothers (Orleans) and Danny Gans (Rio).

Andre-Phillippe Gagnon performs at 8 o'clock nightly except Monday (Venetian) after which the showroom becomes a nightclub. ... Sammy Hagar, Friday, and Creed plus Oleander and Our Lady Peace, Saturday (Hard Rock) and Yngwie Malmsteen, Thursday, and Godsmack and Reveille, Friday (House of Blues) are one-night specials.

World's best jazz trombonist Carl Fontana, back from Switzerland, to join column favorites, the Marv Koral All-Stars in their new Sunday home, the Foothills Ranch, Rancho and Cheyenne, starting at 5 p.m.

News from Suriname

Report from the Proctors: Carolyn writes, "Hello from the country that is home to the largest spider in the world. Last Thursday Cork and I were sworn in. I actually got teary when I shook Ambassador Hayes' hand and received my certificate. Think cabin. Our house is wooden, 15 by 20 feet, partitioned into two rooms, above the ground, with a slanted corrugated tin roof. We have an outhouse, a washhouse and wash dishes outside.

"We wash clothes in the river and swim there at sunset. We have no power, no water, no telephone, no nada. But beautiful, friendly children and adults. Today is our eighth anniversary.

"Who knew when I said, 'I do,' that this is what I'd be doing? Cheers, Carolyn and Cork." ... The Proctors are scheduled to return to Las Vegas in September 2001. ... We were honored to serve as best man when the Proctors were married at what was once the Main Street Station.

Alan Jarlson update

His throat surgery on Nov. 1 seems to have been a complete success. ... Jarlson has a new valve and will begin speech therapy on Monday. ... The Jarlsons would love to hear from Las Vegas friends but please don't call for several more weeks. ... The address is P.O. Box 71, Vacaville, CA 95696 (for his phone number, call me here at the paper.

Trumpeter Jon Faddis and the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band continues the UNLV "Best of the New York Stage" series, Saturday at 8 p.m. in Artemus Ham Hall. ... The Grammy award-winning New York Voices are next, Nov. 19 in Ham Hall. ... See you there, but here first on Friday.