Columnist Joe Delaney: Allen, Blackwell a bargain at Gold Coast

Joe Delaney

Thursday, July 13, 2000 | 9:06 a.m.

Joe Delaney's column appears on Thursdays and Fridays. Reach him at joe@lasvegassun.com or 259-4066.

Marty Allen and Karon Kate Blackwell, plus a hot five-piece band led by John Jacobson, are filling the 480-seat Gold Coast showroom Fridays through Mondays at 8 p.m. and are a sure bet to continue doing so through Aug. 28 ... Allen has been a headliner here since the Allen and Steve Rossi days in the 1960s at the Riviera ... Allen and Rossi and Blackwell filled the even larger showroom at Vegas World before it became the Stratosphere.

Allen and Rossi again went their separate ways and Blackwell, Marty's wife, began playing straight lady to Allen's characters in addition to her singing and piano-playing turns ... Their current show has Allen doing two stand-up segments; the more venerable the jokes, the bigger the laughs.

Blackwell, born in Mississippi, was raised on the blues and rock 'n' roll ... During her several solo turns, she scores heavily with a variety of good material plus some two-fisted barrelhouse piano playing.

Critique concluded

Allen's comedic characters include Dr. Strangelove, a sex therapist; "Crazy Legs" Allen, a football player; as Shirley MacLaine, in drag; joining Blackwell on "Hey, Big Spender" and an old Ed Sullivan TV classic, "The Wine Taster" ... Blackwell follows with an original song, "Wedding Vows," then she plays piano, and Allen dances to close the show, after which they say "Goodbye" to the audience and sell her CDs.

Admission is by ticket, available at the casino cage; the show's free with a one-drink minimum ... A good deal: Seventy-five solid minutes of music and comedy for the price of a beverage.

Steve Rossi update

Allen's former partner is hosting a live talk-radio show, 9-11 p.m. Sundays, on KRLV 1340-AM, plus the Talk America network ... Rossi is celebrating his 50th year in show business, has a book on comedy in the works and shares host chores with Sandy Hackett ... He also has a role as an emcee in "The Mexican," with Brad Pitt and Julia Roberts.

Star-policy rundown

It's Smokey Robinson (Caesars Palace); Frankie Avalon, Fabian and Bobby Rydell (Desert Inn); Clint Holmes (Harrah's); Engelbert Humperdinck (LV Hilton); Bill Acosta (Luxor); Carrot Top plus Rita Rudner plus Tommy Tune starring in "EFX" (MGM Grand); Siegfried & Roy plus Danny Gans (Mirage); and Lance Burton (Monte Carlo); there's more.

Plus the Everly Brothers (Orleans); David Cassidy-Sheena Easton (Rio); Wayne Newton plus Bob Anderson (Stardust); and Melinda, First Lady of Magic plus Andre-Philippe Gagnon (Venetian) ... Ray Anthony and his Orchestra plays for dancing and good listening, 7 p.m. Saturday (Stardust).

The marvelous Pendragons are starring in Caesars Magical Empire ... If you haven't caught the Scintas (pronounced "Shin-tahs") in the LV Hilton Night Club, you should, they're an update of such classic LV acts as the Vagabonds, Novelites and Happy Jesters.

Jazz notes

Newest entry in the weekend jazz field are two venerable players, George "Moose" Mosse on clarinet, tenor sax and vocals, and pianist Ronnie Di Fillips, billing themselves as "The World's Smallest Jazz Band" ... They hold forth 1:30-4:30 p.m. on Sundays at Swede's Corner on East Charleston ... Whilst there, pick up on their new CD with an eclectic selection of good music, well worth the visit.

Marv Koral's All-Stars, featuring world-class trombonist Carl Fontana, play 6-10 p.m. on Sundays at Pierce Street Annex ... Di Fillips is also featured there along with Bob Badgley, bass; Pat Sherod, drums; and Koral on reeds ... The group also has a fine new CD on sale.

Pogo's on Friday is the longest-running jazz night, usually with drummer Irv Kluger setting the pace ... Join the LV Jazz Society; support good jazz everywhere it's played, stay up to date.

'Splash' update

The new version of "Splash," in its 16th year at the Riviera, an award-winner with local polls through the years, is the best yet, thanks to an always-up cast, Nick Navarro's choreographic input, stronger specialty acts and sharp marketing ... Congrats, all ... Please give to the Sun Summer Camp Fund ... See you Friday.

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