Columnist Kate Maddox: Travolta’s passion fuels ‘Earth’

Kate Maddox

Sunday, April 23, 2000 | 9:33 a.m.

Kate Maddox's column appears Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays. Reach her at kmaddox@lasvegassun.com.

Yet another example of Scientology's popularity in Hollywood is John Travolta's personal commitment to promote his new sci-fi thriller "Battlefield Earth."

Travolta (and other celebrities including Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman, Jenna Elfman, Kirstie Alley and Lisa Marie Presley) is a staunch defender of the teachings of L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology. "Battlefield Earth" is based on one of Hubbard's pulp novels and Travolta was in town Thursday to start the buzz and get some media attention for the flick, which is scheduled for release in May.

Travolta also wanted to get a tour of the MGM and Studio 54 so he could check out the setting for the world premiere of the movie, which will be May 11 at the MGM. A celebrity-packed after-party will take place on the dance floor at Studio 54 -- which has some old photos of Travolta taken at the original nightclub in New York City.

Travolta, who with wife Kelly Preston recently had a baby daughter, seems to be very excited about the Vegas opening. Movie premieres are always a big deal with the paparazzi, and Travolta promised to bring some of his Hollywood pals to walk the MGM red carpet. Brad Pitt, Bruce Willis and Nicolas Cage were some of the names he dropped for a scheduled appearance at the premiere.

About 650 people are expected to attend the opening and party. According to the movie's star, "Battlefield Earth," which is rumored to be a special effects space odyssey along the lines of the "Star Wars" movies, is possibly going to produce a sequel or two.

CNN talkmeister Larry King didn't make his scheduled appearance at Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum at the Venetian on Friday. King, who was supposed to unveil himself at the museum, begged off at the last minute citing "personal reasons."

Frankly, King is scary enough on TV, so looking at his waxness might be the dictionary definition of heebie-jeebie.

Speculation surrounding the sudden cancellation involved his wife (No. 6), Shawn Southwick, who is pregnant with the couple's second child. Another rumor making the rounds had King reportedly furious when he couldn't be accommodated at his favorite Vegas hotel. Apparently he was denied a suite at the Mansion at the MGM Grand.

There is no re-scheduling date for a second visit at this time.

One local commercial photographer had a bittersweet moment with singer Tony Bennett last week. Tony Scodwell sat in with the smooth crooner during his last appearance at the Caesars Palace Circus Maximus Showroom, which will close in the fall.

Scodwell, who over the years has played trumpet with superstars such as Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Liberace, Elvis Presley, Barbra Streisand and Wayne Newton, makes his living taking pictures these days. But he couldn't pass up the chance to play with Bennett in his farewell performance at Caesars.

"It was pretty sad," Scodwell says. "Tony was saying how he was the second performer ever to play the showroom back in 1966." Bennett privately thanked his band members backstage and shared their disbelief that this would be his last time at Circus Maximus.

Scodwell, however, plans to keep up his trumpet playing when he gets the call from his favorite musicians, and can sometimes be found on the road, sitting in with former "Tonight Show" band leader Doc Severinsen. On Saturday night Scodwell played the Stardust with the Jimmy Dorsey Band.