Comedian mourns his mother but the show goes on

Friday, Jan. 28, 2000 | 11:14 a.m.

In 1992 Elizabeth Morgan suffered a stroke, prompting her son, zany comedian Rip Taylor, to take a job in an ill-fated revue at the old Dunes hotel, where he had received his show business start 30 years earlier.

After "90 Degrees and Rising" was canceled, Taylor told a Sun reporter: "I only took this job because my mother had a stroke and I needed the money to pay the nurses. Now she's ... in perfectly good health and driving the car. The nurse is saying rosaries in the back."

On Wednesday, while relaxing in his dressing room before his performance in "The Great Radio City Spectacular" at the Flamingo Hilton, Taylor said he was happy he brought his mother to Las Vegas 25 years ago because it gave them a chance to become close.

They were apart a lot when Taylor was growing up because, as a single mother in an era when it was especially difficult for single parents, Morgan could not afford to give Rip the attention and support he needed.

Elizabeth Sue "Betty" Morgan, a longtime government worker in Washington D.C., died Monday at Valley Hospital Medical Center of heart failure following a lengthy illness. She was 88.

Taylor said his mother's death culminated a series of misfortunes that have plagued him during the first weeks of the new millennium.

Taylor contracted laryngitis and the flu while performing New Year's Eve with longtime friend Debbie Reynolds in Laughlin. He twisted his knee while dancing with the Radio City Rockettes at the Flamingo last week. He had oral surgery this week.

And, at Wednesday's private services for his mother, Taylor locked his keys inside his car.

Still, on the day he buried his mother, Taylor, following the venerable tradition that the show must go on, performed two shows Wednesday night, and even learned a new number while reminiscing about his mom.

"I took this job (at the Flamingo) and others like it in Las Vegas over the years just to be close to her and make up for the time we lost when I was younger," said Taylor, whose father, Elmer Taylor, died when Rip was 2.

When Taylor was a teenager, Elizabeth married George Morgan and became twice widowed when he died 15 years ago.

"A lot of people don't know I have lived in Las Vegas for 30 years," Taylor said. "I thought my mother would like the mountains and nice weather so I moved her out here."

Taylor was born and raised in Washington D.C., where his mother worked as a clerk for the federal government before retiring in the early 1970s. Taylor worked as a Senate page.

He muses that he later became "the black sheep of the family" when he went into show business. But he said his mother later told him she knew all along that he had the talent to succeed.

Born Elizabeth Evans on Oct. 22, 1911, in Washington, D.C., she was the eldest of five daughters of Charles Evans, a house painter, and the former Lyda Bingley.

After graduating from high school, Elizabeth took a job as a waitress to help the family. She gave birth to Taylor while in her late teens.

Taylor, who has performed in Las Vegas show rooms for decades with headliners including Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr. and Ann-Margret, got his show business start in the early 1960s, performing in the Eleanor Powell show at the Dunes, where the Bellagio now stands.

His big break came on the Merv Griffin television show. While he was bombing during his act, Taylor grabbed Griffin's script, tore it into pieces, threw it into the air and pulled off the wig of fellow guest Charo.

The entertainer with the handlebar mustache initially thought his career was in trouble because of that stunt, but the television audience loved the zaniness and many called to ask who the paper-throwing comedian was.

Tossing confetti and using silly props became Taylor's trademark.

About that time, Taylor reunited with his mother, who enjoyed watching her son's career blossom.

In addition to Taylor, Morgan is survived by four sisters.

Palm Mortuary, 7600 S. Eastern Ave., handled the arrangements.

Taylor said donations can be made in Elizabeth Morgan's memory to one of their favorite charities, the Salvation Army, P.O. Box 28369, Las Vegas, NV 89126.