Columnist Joe Delaney: Closing of Desert Inn has far-reaching effects

Joe Delaney

Thursday, June 29, 2000 | 9:05 a.m.

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

As Las Vegas entered the new millennium, there were at least 25,000 citizens who thought life was good and their futures had a high degree of permanence. ... Three months in, approximately 24,000 of those seemingly secure people found their security and permanence challenged. ... This group? The employees of the Steve Wynn properties.

Another 1,500 heard the other shoe drop last week when it was announced that the Desert Inn would close on Sept. 30. ... The DI is holding classes for its employees, some have been there 40 years or more years, teaching them how to look for work, fill out resumes, etc. ... We understand an exodus has begun, which could force closure before Sept. 30.

This is not written as criticism but as a statement of fact, proof that life is change, that it may not be fair, and there may be greater wisdom in accepting insecurity and learning to live with it.

LV in reverse?

Now that entertainment is once again No. 1 as the reason visitors come to Las Vegas, it is sad to note that two of our finest and most venerable showrooms -- the Caesars Palace Circus Maximus and the Desert Inn Crystal Room -- are slated to close on Sept. 3 and Sept. 30, respectively. ... As noted above, the DI showroom could close earlier than Sept. 30.

We had hoped that Wynn might have done what Kirk Kerkorian did when he owned the Desert Inn and have top acts rotate in the showroom. ... Kerkorian had Frank Sinatra, Paul Anka, Shirley MacLaine, and Steve Lawrence & Eydie Gorme in rotation, exclusively.

Anka, Steve & Eydie, Tony Bennett, Bill Cosby and Lionel Richie would have been a strong DI rotation, but after listening to Wynn with the Sun's Jon Ralston on KLAS Channel 8 Monday night, it was obvious that even this good a star rotation was not a cure.

Europe this summer?

In our overseas travels this past decade, it has been a nice touch of home to see the political cartoons of the Sun's Mike Smith in the international edition of USA Today and tell friends that Smith is a fellow Sun employee with an office just down the hall, a good laugher, which made it fun to tell him jokes as new ones became available.

If you are in Europe in July, include Montreux, Switzerland, and attend the 34th annual Montreux Jazz Festival, July 7-22. ...There are different themes every night in two excellent venues: the Auditorium Stravinski and Miles Davis Hall. ... Huey Lewis and the News, Joe Satriani and ZZ Top start things off on July 7 in the auditorium.

B.B. King heads the Blues Explosion on July 12. ... Others scheduled include Al Jarreau, Ute Lemper, Manhattan Transfer, Lou Reed, Suzanne Vega, Keith Jarrett, Gary Peacock, George Benson and Diana Kroll, plus Ruben Blades, Taj Mahal and Van Morrison.

A few travel hints

If you do travel this summer, especially if you're going overseas, here are a few suggestions: travel light, carry mostly washable items, mark your bags clearly, inside and out, with name tags. ... Use locks wherever possible and keep those suitcases and carry-on items in your sight at all times. ... Very important, don't mind anyone else's luggage.

Be on your guard at all times, especially in airports or other crowded places. ... Pickpockets and purse snatchers are everywhere; many work as teams. ... Use your credit cards or travelers checks; carry as little cash as possible. ... If your wallet or purse is stolen, report it immediately. ... Keep your travelers check records separately.

When checking into a hotel, put valuables in the hotel safe. ... Make sure your door has a safety lock. ... Keep your door double-locked at all times when in the room. ... One cannot be too careful, away or at home.

Star-policy rundown

It's Kevin James (Desert Inn); Marty Allen & Karon Kate Blackwell (Gold Coast); Clint Holmes (Harrah's); Sinbad (LV Hilton); Bill Acosta (Luxor); Bill Maher (Mandalay Bay); Carrot Top plus Rita Rudner, and "EFX" starring Tommy Tune (MGM Grand); Siegfried & Roy plus Danny Gans early and Ronn Lucas, weekends at 10:30 p.m. (Mirage).

Plus Lance Burton (Monte Carlo); Robert Goulet (Orleans); David Cassidy-Sheena Easton (Rio); Wayne Newton plus Bob Anderson (Stardust); and Andrew "Dice" Clay plus Andre-Philippe Gagnon (Venetian). ... Susan Anton is back as the star of "The Great Radio City Spectacular" (Flamingo) until it closes July 31. ... See you Friday.