Columnist Joe Delaney: Afternoon shows are an afternoon delight

Joe Delaney

Thursday, Oct. 14, 1999 | 9:21 a.m.

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

Afternoon entertainment action seems to be picking up once more. ... For years Breck Wall and Patrick Maes' laugh romp, "Bottoms Up" was LV's top p.m. attraction. ... Wall and Maes set "Bottoms Up" aside to produce successful shows, main room and lounge, up north in Reno and Tahoe. ... Dick Feeney's "Viva Las Vegas" (Stratosphere) has dominated afternoon action throughout the 1990s.

Originally conceived at the Sands as a slot merchandising attraction, "Viva Las Vegas" fills the Stratosphere's main showroom twice an afternoon, six days a week, with music, comedy, dance and Golden Joe Baker, our favorite satire on Elvis.

Twenty-two years after his death at age 42 in 1977, Elvis continues to be a viable attraction with Presley impressionist Steve Connolly's "Love Him Tender," the newest and best-presented serious depiction. It's Thursdays through Mondays, 2 p.m. in Bally's Jubilee Room, for $14.95 plus tax.

More on Elvis

Trent Carlini calls his Elvis tribute, "The Dream King," 8:30 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, Boardwalk Hotel, $24.95 plus tax. ... Billy Ortiz does his Elvis in the Riviera Le Bistro Lounge, 4-7:30 p.m. Saturdays, one drink minimum. ... Elvis is a feature in tribute shows and with most headline acts that do impressions.

"The Illusionary Magic of Rick Thomas" is at 2 & 4 p.m., dark Fridays (Tropicana) at $15.95 and $20.95 with crowd counts that challenge the hotel's "Folies Bergere." ... Dixie Dooley's "Tribute To Houdini" (Plaza) costs $15.95 plus tax, Wednesday through Sunday. ... Mac King has replaced Nick Lewin doing Comedy Magic (Maxim), 1 and 3 p.m., $9.95, tax and a drink included.

Nick Lewin did capacity business at the Maxim for more than four years; he deserves another LV venue. ... "Washington Sex Capades 2000" is another new entry, 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday (Harrah's Improv).

More on Harrah's

The Harrah's show features vet singer-comedian Steve Rossi and Sandy Hackett plus the excellent impressions of the Walkers. ... Rossi was a headliner here with Marty Allen and later as a team with Slappy White and Bernie Allen. ... Hackett is his own funny comedic persona; his dad is Buddy Hackett. ... Buddy would be a natural doing Mondays or Tuesdays at Bally's, home base here for George Carlin, Andrew Dice Clay and Chris Rock.

Buddy Greco with a big band comprised of some of our town's top players plus singer Lezlie Anders will be the Friday attraction, 8-11 p.m., in the Flamingo-Hilton showroom. ... The show will be broadcast live on KJUL 104.3-FM (See story on page 1E).

Las Vegas was at its best when the entertainment policy was seven days a week, two shows a night, plus heavy lounge action. ... Where possible, that's the way it should be today.

Star-policy rundown

It's David Copperfield (Caesars Palace); Dana Carvey (Desert Inn); Sting, Thursday through Saturday (Hard Rock); Wynonna, also Thursday through Saturday (LV Hilton); Bill Acosta (Luxor); Rodney Dangerfield plus Tommy Tune starring in "EFX" (MGM Grand); Siegfried & Roy (Mirage); Lance Burton (Monte Carlo); Anne Murray through Sunday (Orleans); Alain Choquette (Paris Las Vegas); and Danny Gans (Rio); great choices.

Our apologies to those who found out the hard way that Irish tenor David Parkes was not appearing at Our Lady of Las Vegas church this past Monday. ... The correct dates are this Monday at Our Lady of Las Vegas; Wednesday at Holy Family R.C. Church and Oct. 21, Saint Viator, 7 p.m. each night.

Parkes suffered for 14 years with Crohn's disease. ... His doctors had given up. ... Parkes received a miraculous healing at Medjugorje and has devoted his life to telling his story. ... Admission is free.

Thursday addenda

Steve Martin's comedy, "Picasso at the Lapin Agile," opens Friday, UNLV's Black Box Theatre. ... Nevada Theatre Company's "Baltimore Waltz" closes this Sunday (Clark County Library on Flamingo). ... "Accidental Death of a Tourist" and "Death Trap" continue through Sunday in CCSN's Nicholas Horn Theatre and Cheyenne Campus Little Theatre, respectively.

Country singer-songwriter Joe Diffie performs at 7 and 9 p.m. Friday (Boulder Station); Alejandro Fernandez, son of Vincente Fernandez, appears Friday at 8 p.m. (Mandalay Bay Events Center); Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers are the 8 p.m. attraction Friday (MGM Grand Garden Arena). ... There's still more, when I see you Friday.

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