Mirage Resorts entertainment chief resigns

Gary Thompson

Tuesday, Sept. 28, 1999 | 11:14 a.m.

Show business guru Sandy Gallin has resigned as chairman of Mirage Resorts Inc.'s entertainment arm, but will remain a consultant to the company.

Gallin's resignation was announced Monday after he and Mirage Chairman Steve Wynn had wrapped a recording session in Los Angeles for the original musical "Miss Spectacular," which will debut at the Mirage.

A Mirage executive said Gallin's departure was amicable and prompted in part by heart-bypass surgery the 57-year-old recently underwent.

"Sandy needed to be in Las Vegas full-time as Mirage enters the next stage of development of its entertainment product, but felt he needed to spend more time with family and friends in New York and Los Angeles," said Alan Feldman, vice president of communications for Mirage.

Gallin has homes in the East and West Coast cities, where his jointly owned Gallin-Morey Associates agency has represented stars such as Barbra Streisand, Whoopi Goldberg, Dolly Parton, Michael Jackson, Mariah Carey and Richard Pryor.

When Gallin put his 7,000-square-foot, five-bedroom Las Vegas home in Spanish Trails up for sale earlier this year, speculation arose that he and Wynn weren't getting along and his future with Mirage was uncertain.

But Gallin and Mirage executives quickly quashed the speculation, and he continued work on a variety of projects designed to further Wynn's vision of transforming the entertainment scene in Las Vegas.

Gallin had been hired in June 1998 to head a new company division called Mirage Entertainment & Sports Inc. Armed with a seven-year, seven-figure contract and the deep financial resources of Mirage Resorts, Gallin began criss-crossing the country, seeking new, innovative entertainment offerings for the company's Las Vegas and Mississippi resorts.

Shortly after joining Mirage, Gallin told the Sun, "I'll be looking at everything from the piano bars and lounges to the big rooms, theaters and arenas that inhabit all the Mirage hotels.

"We've also been discussing the possibility of originating new theater pieces here, full-blown Broadway musicals with long runs that could eventually wind up in New York, London and elsewhere."

Early this summer, that prediction came true, as Wynn announced famed Broadway composer Jerry Herman was scripting the musical "Miss Spectacular" for Mirage.

Gallin also was responsible for bringing popular Las Vegas entertainer Danny Gans into a theater being built at the Mirage. Gallin has two other major musical projects in development, but the company hasn't announced the details.

In their joint announcement, Gallin and Wynn stressed that the split -- which follows the recent departure of Mirage Chief Financial Officer Dan Lee -- was amicable.

"It was becoming increasingly obvious that the job demanded that I spend the vast majority of my time based in Las Vegas," said Gallin. "Following my recent bypass surgery, I realized that I wanted to be back in Los Angeles and New York, where I have spent my entire personal and professional life. It's that simple."

"For the past 16 months, Sandy and I have been working together on a daily basis, and I've loved every minute of it," said Wynn. "Because of his relationships and experience in the entertainment industry, we have covered an enormous amount of ground in a short time.

"He made it possible to have relationships with the most gifted writers, producers and directors in the world including Jerry Herman, Frank Galatti, Rob Freedman, Terrance McNally, Marvin Hamlisch, Rob Roth, Alan Menken, and David Zippel.

"When it became necessary for Sandy to have his surgery this summer, we were all delighted that he came through it more vigorous than ever. It also became clear that the projects that were developing would require full-time Las Vegas supervision," Wynn said.

"Sandy's lifelong relationships in California and New York forced him to make a choice not to reside full time in Las Vegas. Fortunately, because of his deep friendships with all of us, it will allow him to continue his close relationship with our family.

"Sandy will act as our advisor and consultant to complete the work on 'Miss Spectacular,' and to continue to look for new entertainment opportunities in New York and Los Angeles for our company.""Working with Steve Wynn has been one of the most exciting and rewarding aspects of my entire career," added Gallin. "I am grateful for his professional and personal support throughout my tenure and I am proud to count Elaine and Steve Wynn among my dearest friends."

Gallin left Hollywood as one of the most prolific talent managers and film and television producers in the industry. As a producer, his credits include the Academy Award-winning documentary, "Common Threads," two Grammy awards and four Cable ACE awards. He's produced 14 movies, 11 network television series, two Broadway plays and 11 TV movies.