Tuesday, April 11, 2000 | 8:39 a.m.
What: Jack Jones & Phyllis Diller
When: Today through Saturday, 9 p.m.
Where: Stardust's Wayne Newton Theater
Cost: $44.95.
Information: Call 732-6325
Without entertainment, Las Vegas would be just another place to play slots and poker -- a step above casinos on an Indian reservation.
The Rat Pack, Elvis and countless other legendary performers turned this small gambling oasis in the middle of nowhere into an international destination of the rich and the famous -- and of the admirers of the rich and the famous.
Two of those legends will share a stage in the Wayne Newton Theater at the Stardust hotel-casino this week.
Singer Jack Jones and comedian Phyllis Diller are appearing at 9 p.m. nightly, tonight through Saturday.
The pair are a study in contrasts, though both began their flights into the entertainment stratosphere four decades before the Stratosphere became a casino.
Diller, whose appearance and energy belies her 83 years, got a late start in the business. She became a standup comic at age 37 in the early 1950s, appearing first at San Francisco's now defunct Purple Onion club.
Jones, the consummate cabaret singer, got an early start. He was 19 in the early '50s when he appeared on stage for the first time at the Las Vegas Thunderbird hotel-casino with his father, singer Allan Jones.
Jones exudes calmness and sophistication. Diller is hyperactive and wacky.
Jones' smooth delivery of his songs has sold millions of records around the world and made him a favorite on the concert circuit. Though many remember his voice from the "Love Boat" theme, he earned two Grammys for best pop male vocal performance for his singles "Lollipops and Roses" and "Wives and Lovers."
Diller screeches and cackles on stage as she spouts self-deprecating humor in a rapid-fire delivery, like Henny Youngman on speed.
Though one is known for music and the other comedy, each occasionally ventures into the other's territory.
Jones appeared in the movie spoof "Airplane II" and Diller, who studied music at Sherwood Music Conservatory in Chicago for three years, has appeared as piano soloist with more than 100 symphony orchestras across the country.
Their paths have crossed many times over the years, but they have not shared a double-billing as they are at the Stardust.
"We've been around (the business) a long time. We've gone through the Bob Hope years. We were working down the street from each other in L.A. before we became known to each other. We've seen each other at parties. She came to see my show in New York. We've been supportive of each other over the years," Jones said.
Both played the Orleans about two years ago, but not on the same bill. They have watched the Las Vegas evolution with interest.
"It became a family-oriented town," noted Jones, the doting father of a 9-year-old daughter. "I can't complain about that. My daughter (Nicole) loves to come to Vegas.
"(The casinos) have finally figured out they can entertain the parents and keep the kids busy. They have wonderful programs for kid sitting. When I started in Vegas, parents were discouraged from their kids."
Diller is awestruck by the valley's growth.
"It's so huge. It used to be a quiet, small-town kind of place," she said. "In the '60s and '70s I spent weeks and months there, holed up in a house. There were a lot of girlie shows. Now there are laser shows and hotels have gotten bigger."
The two entertainers lead busy lives and ,once their show closes, will be off in different directions once again.
Jones De La Mancha
"This past winter I was out every weekend with maybe 10 days off," said Jones, who lives near Palm Springs, Calif. with his daughter and wife, Kim.
He will have more concert dates through September, when he begins rehearsal for "Man of La Mancha." The play starts a national tour in the fall.
Jones didn't want to go on an extended tour because it would keep him away from his daughter and wife.
"It's a nice situation. I told them I couldn't do (the play) because of my parental situation. They said, 'What if you do so many dates and then another actor will come in and do it?"' said Jones, who has performed in other musicals, including "Guys and Dolls," "South Pacific," and "Pajama Game."
And so a deal was struck.
"At one point I will be gone from home for six weeks, which will mean a little bit of flying back and forth for my wife and daughter. That's the worst part of it," he said.
Meanwhile, Jones' career continues in high gear -- he has done films and television and continues to record.
His most recent record is "Jack Jones Paints a Tribute to Tony Bennett."
Bennett is among Jones' closest friends.
"He's one of my very favorite singers," Jones said. "What I want to do is to try to keep that type of singer in the realm of awareness in younger people."
Jones is somewhat dismayed at the quality of entertainment today and fears that singers such as Bennett and the music they perform may become a thing of the past.
He said there are not many singers coming along to replace the old standards. One who he likes is Bobby Caldwell, who last year released a big band album called "Come Rain or Come Shine."
"There are a few out there," Jones said.
Though Jones' recording of the "Love Boat" theme brought him even more fame and money, he called it a double-edged sword.
"It made those who didn't know me generally aware of me .. but the negative side of that was that for a lot of people, if that's all they knew about me they would think that's as good as I can do."
He's excited about the show at the Stardust.
"I'm looking forward to the musical experience," he said. "I'm going to have a good big band. (Saxophonist) Don Menza will be playing in the band. He was with the Buddy Rich band in the late '60s and early '70s."
Diller cooks
Diller's life, which will be featured Saturday on the A&E cable network's "Biography" series (cable channel 32), has taken many different directions apart from her comedy.
Though about 75 percent of her time is spent doing standup, for the past 15 years her other passion has been painting -- acrylics and mixed media.
"I'm terribly good," she said.
She has had showings throughout the country and routinely sells her work. Her friend Jack Paar, the former "Tonight" show host who introduced her to late-night America, also paints and they often exchange their work.
Diller starred in three television series and numerous specials and has written four best-selling books.
She has appeared on a Broadway stage and in 21 motion pictures.
When she made a screen test for Paramount in 1956, the person who directed her was Jerry Lewis.
Lewis recently stirred up controversy when he announced that he didn't think there were any funny female stand-up comics. After a storm of outrage, he issued a clarification and said Diller and three or four others were great.
"Wasn't that sweet," she said.
She described Lewis as "classically funny -- that is, the old Jerry Lewis was. When he stopped doing those wonderfully funny routines it changed. It coincided with the breakup (of the Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis team)."
Diller wasn't offended by Lewis' initial remarks.
"I know him. That just came running out without him thinking about it. He doesn't really believe that," she said.
There are many female comics Diller likes, including Elayne Boosler and Rita Rudner.
Though Diller's act is clean, she doesn't mind the risque.
"Sometimes I find myself laughing at the dirty stuff," she said, breaking into the familiar cackling laugh. "Do you know what killed Capt. Hook? Jock itch."
