Columnist Joe Delaney: Tracing the history of sibling acts

Joe Delaney

Friday, Oct. 22, 1999 | 10:06 a.m.

Joe Delaney's column appears Thursdays and Fridays. Reach him at 259-4066 or joem

Brother and sister acts have almost always been successful in show business, although some so-called familial acts are not family. ... The Smothers Brothers, performing at the Orleans hotel through Sunday, are really brothers. ... For more than three decades, Tom and Dick have excelled in music and comedy, and they have made a fine art of sibling rivalry. ... Like the wines they produce, the Smothers have mellowed and improved with age.

The Orleans hotel seems to have cornered the market on viable sibling acts with the Everly Brothers, Neville Brothers, Smothers Brothers and Righteous Brothers, although the last-named act, Bill Medley and Bobby Hatfield, are lifelong friends but not related.

The only active sister act, the McGuire Sisters, are really sisters and they also perform at the Orleans. ... The DeCastro Sisters still sing but one DeCastro is a replacement.

A little history

The Marx Brothers, stars of films and vaudeville, were brothers. ... Groucho, Chico and Harpo carried the comedy responsibilities while two other brothers, Gummo and Zeppo, separately, made it a foursome in films. ... The Ritz Brothers were brothers, stars of films and vaudeville who helped open Caesars Palace in the mid-1960s. ... Harry Ritz was a role model for many comedians who followed, including Jerry Lewis.

Willie and Eugene Howard were not brothers, not related; in fact, the rumor way back then (1930s and '40s) was that they were lovers. ... It should be noted that supermarket and trash tabloids were still to come.

Old-timers should also have fond memories of three brother acts that played Las Vegas in the 1940s and '50s; the Wiere Brothers, Bernard Brothers and, column favorites, the Bizzarro Brothers. ... The comedian in the last-named group was actually the father. ... I smile as I type this.

And still more

Jerry and Buddy Lester were successful comedians, brothers, but never worked together. ... Corbett Monica's brother not only worked separately but changed his stage name to Ronnie Martin, both are deceased. ... Larry Storch, best known for his role on TV's "F Troop," is still with us but not his brother, who was known as Jay Lawrence.

Successful sister acts have been less numerous. ... The Boswell Sisters preceded the Andrews Sisters, really sisters, as are the McGuires and as were the DeCastros. ... All four were singing groups. ... The latter two singing groups have life stories that could be successful films.

Which brings us to the Newton Brothers, Wayne and Jerry, who started as a teenage team working the lounge at the Fremont Hotel, later graduated to main showrooms here, Reno and Tahoe, and then went their separate ways in the early 1970s. ... By then the act was billed simply as "Wayne Newton."

Friday addenda

Look for a major Wayne Newton newsbreak, possibly as early as next week. ... This may or may not have anything to do with Newton's commitment to play the Stardust hotel, doing one show on New Year's Eve and two on New Year's Day. ... Wayne is currently performing at his theater in Branson, Mo. ... He has also been performing at the MGM Grand and Sparks Nugget.

The Southern Nevada Musical Arts Society will perform a "Golden Oldies" concert, 2 p.m. Sunday, Summerlin Library Theatre. ... Make a big difference this Sunday, attend the Cliff Holmes benefit concert for Catholic Services' Child Care Center and Regina Hall, 7:30 p.m. Sunday in Harrah's showroom.

Alternative entertainment

Mike Tyson vs. Orlin Norris, a fight more curiosity then contest, takes place Saturday in the MGM Grand Garden Arena and is the same day as the first game of the World Series between the Atlanta Braves and New York Yankees, making it a heavy action weekend in the sports books, plus casino action for the high-rollers who usually attend heavyweight fights.

Baseball's playoff series, both leagues, provided great entertainment, especially Boston's comeback to knock out the Cleveland Indians and the New York Mets' fourth, fifth and sixth games in a losing effort against Atlanta. ... We look for an equally exciting World Series with the Yankees, hopefully, repeating as world champions.

We also hope the UNLV football Rebels give a good account of themselves against BYU on Saturday. ... It would be a great boost for the Rebels if we could fill Sam Boyd Stadium this weekend. ... See you next Thursday.