Columnist Joe Delaney: Talented Ryan to show true spirit of 76 at LV Academy

Joe Delaney

Friday, June 23, 2000 | 9:15 a.m.

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

Multiple talent, a star from childhood, now an ageless wonder, 76-year-young Peggy Ryan presents "Thanks for the Memories," Saturday at 7 p.m. in the Las Vegas Academy of the Performing Arts, at Ninth Street and Clark Avenue ... Admission is a modest $8 with two provisos, no video cameras and no smoking ... Ryan will be accompanied by her 55 dancing ladies, aka the TNT Dancers, a huge hit everywhere they have played in town through the years.

Older Vegans will recall fondly the wonderful films Ryan made with co-star Donald O'Connor and other major stars, and the years she performed in Hawaii ... Vegas has been her home for many years, and she and the TNT Dancers have contributed much to every good cause during this time.

Take the whole family, we guarantee you a Vegas main showroom-type good time ... The youngsters will enjoy it just as much as Mom and Dad and their parents ... You won't have more fun anywhere else.

Playing catch up

It's good to have Marty Allen and Karon Kate Blackwell back in town, Fridays through Mondays at 8 p.m. in the Gold Coast showroom ... This is a real best buy; it's free ... Just pick up a coupon at the Gold Coast casino cage ... Allen and Rossi are home after six successful months playing the cruise ships.

Hypnotist Justin Tranz seems to have caught on with his early shows, Tuesdays through Saturdays at 9 p.m. (O'Sheas) and late shows, next door in the Flamingo Las Vegas, Fridays and Saturdays at midnight ... Susan Anton is back in the Flamingo Las Vegas' "Great Radio City Spectacular" star spot.

"Wheel of Fortune" stopped spinning at the MGM Grand while we were away, and the old home of "Catch a Rising Star" is now the MGM Grand Cabaret Theatre with column favorite Rita Rudner there through July.

Nostalgia notes

"Triple Gold" features three original lead singers: Jim Yester of the Association, Bruce Belland of the Four Preps and David Sommerville of the Diamonds, Friday and Saturday, in the Flamingo Las Vegas' Sunset Ballroom, while the Platters, Drifters and Cornell Gunter's Coasters are doing 8 p.m. shows through Sunday in the LV Hilton Nightclub.

Marv Koral's All-Stars featuring trombonist Carl Fontana have top name players sitting in every Sunday, 6-10 p.m. at the Pierce Street Annex ... The group also has an excellent new live CD; check it out.

Join the LV Jazz Society. Its bi-monthly Jazz Notes bulletin has well-written articles plus a complete listing of all the jazz in town ... Jazz best bet: Master guitarist Joe Lano and his trio, Tuesdays through Saturdays at 9 p.m., Napoleon Lounge, Paris Las Vegas.

A fitting finale

After clearing customs on my return from Ireland Monday, I rang Roberta to tell her I was on Southwest flight 407. ETA LV, 7:25 p.m. ... Previously, I would call again when I landed in LV and she would collect me at a certain spot ... This time, she and son Scott decided to surprise me at the airport ... Flight 407 was delayed, and I was switched to an earlier departure, leaving no time for me to call and tell her of the change.

Flight 407 finally arrived at 8:45 p.m ... I had taken a cab and was ensconced in our next-door neighbor's house watching the Lakers win the NBA title ... Roberta and Scott were watching the game on TV at the airport ... We finally connected at 10:30 p.m., ending nearly a full day en route ... See you next Friday.