One-Man Show: Brenner hopes to reintroduce traditional stage act to Las Vegas

Friday, Dec. 1, 2000 | noon

Veteran stand-up comic David Brenner hopes to be part of a trend -- Las Vegas-style entertainment in Las Vegas.

"Somewhere a decision was made to bring in production shows and to (downplay stars)," Brenner said. "I have no idea why it went that way.

"Look at the marquees today. Production shows, a lot of impressionists and magicians. There's nothing wrong with those acts -- David Copperfield once was my opening act. (Danny) Gans, (Lance) Burton and the others deserve to be stars."

But, Brenner said, there is room for everyone -- including headliners such as himself.

"I don't want to sound like an old fuddy," he said, "but Las Vegas-style entertainment has always been, to me, two headliners on a marquee. When you drove down the Strip, there was one marquee after another, all of them with names of headliners. Every name in the business, everyone played here. Every marquee you looked at you said, 'Oh, my God, you can see her here, you can see him.' "

Based on the recent success of comedian Rita Rudner at the 380-seat Cabaret Theatre at the MGM Grand, Brenner says he believes the time is ripe for the city's entertainment directors to take a closer look at whose names are appearing on the marquees today.

"Rita Rudner has her foot well into the door," he said. "She is proving stars still are important in Vegas."

With Rudner as an example, Brenner was able to convince MGM executives to allow him a long-term arrangement at the Golden Nugget. He will be at the Theatre Ballroom Nov. 21 through Jan. 27.

The Golden Nugget was among the properties bought earlier this year by MGM from Steve Wynn, who had closed the Nugget's showroom 15 months ago.

Dan Shumny, vice president of marketing for Golden Nugget, said Wynn had so many successful shows on the Strip ("O" at Bellagio; Siegfried & Roy and Danny Gans at the Mirage) that he lost focus of the downtown entertainment scene.

"MGM tags itself as the 'City of Entertainment,' " Shumny said. "So when it bought Wynn's company it was only natural to extend some of the performers downtown again."

Shumny said there is a chance Brenner's run will be extended, which the comedian is gambling on. He wants to make the 400-seat theater on the Nugget's second floor his primary base of operation.

"It comes down to this: I'm looking for a professional home," he said. "I'm looking for a place where I can work 40 weeks a year and spend six or eight weeks on the road doing corporate dates and fund-raisers, all the things I do now."

While Rudner's career has been flourishing this past decade, Brenner's was comatose in the early 1990s as he waged a prolonged custody battle over his son in Colorado. Because of legal restrictions, he was unable to leave the state to work more than 50 nights a year, when he had previously been performing 250-300 nights.

Brenner won the custody fight and now is struggling to climb back to the lofty entertainment heights he once enjoyed. About three years ago he moved to Los Angeles and developed a plan for his future.

"My game plan was to spend two years launching something," he said. "Last February I had the live special on HBO and as a result I got my whole career back. The culmination of this (plan) is the long run at the Golden Nugget."

In recent years most of his income has been from corporate dates. The money is good, but the general public doesn't know you're alive.

"This is exciting," Brenner, bursting with enthusiasm, said. "I had this idea for years, but I couldn't sell it. I think the Golden Nugget is a gem.

"Bugsy Segal said, 'Give the people gambling, liquor, good food and stars and that's how we're going to be a success.' And it worked."

Brenner's first performance in Las Vegas was at the Sahara on Jan. 8, 1971, a few days after comedian Buddy Hackett saw him on Johnny Carson's "Tonight Show" and recommended the young comic.

"I got a call from my agent offering me a gig in the main room at the Sahara," Brenner recalled. "Normally, you worked years in a lounge before you went into a showroom. But here I was a 24- or 25-year-old kid being offered a main-room gig. Frankie Avalon opened, I was in the middle and Sonny and Cher closed."

Over the years Brenner spent more time in Las Vegas than anywhere else. "I was in Vegas more than I was in my hometown, New York," he said.

One of his favorite venues was the Nugget, where he performed with Frank Sinatra and other headliners of that caliber.

"Everybody is excited about (the Nugget opportunity)," Brenner said. "It's a fantastic comedy room. I hadn't been in the hotel in six years or so, probably longer, and when I went down and walked around I was shocked to see it had not in any way shown any sign of wear. It's absolutely gorgeous."

Brenner has always been partial to Las Vegas because it's where the people are.

"It's one of the few places in America where people come from all 50 states," he said. "You're reaching the same people who watch you on TV. The audiences in Vegas reflect all 50 states and the entire strata of society. It's a perfect cross section. Atlantic City is great, but its demographics only reflect seven states."

And, he said, he likes the camaraderie not only among entertainers but among the workers who make it possible for Las Vegas to function.

"I really appreciate everybody who works behind the scenes," he said.

To show his appreciation, Brenner says eventually he will do one free performance per week for employed locals.

"I used to do that in the old days," he said. "I used to do late shows, like at 2 or 3 in the morning for the dancers and singers. Beyond that, I want to get to all the people who work in town."

Brenner won't share the stage with anyone.

"I'll be on for an hour and 15 minutes," he said. "There will be no tricks, no illusions. It will be just me, all alone in concert."

After all, the marquee reads: David Brenner.