Columnist Joe Delaney: Goulet makes triumphant return to Orleans

Joe Delaney

Friday, June 30, 2000 | 8:53 a.m.

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

Robert Goulet, a survivor through the years, is making his Orleans Showroom debut, a four-day stand through Sunday ... Without smoke, lasers, special lighting effects, dancers and backup singers, Goulet, Joseph D. Galante and an 18-piece hand-picked orchestra featuring Santo Savino on drums, plus a special appearance by his son, Michael Goulet, will offer audiences a very special entertainment experience.

His parents were French-Canadian, but Goulet was born in Lawrence, Mass., on Nov. 26, 1933 ... An only son, at age 3 he blackened his face, borrowed his mother's white gloves and did an Al Jolson impersonation for the family ... Their enthusiastic response frightened him.

At age 11, two nuns prevailed upon him to sing a solo in church ... His father, quite ill, was present and told him, "God gave you a voice. You must sing" ... His father died a few weeks after.

On to Canada

After his father's death, his mother moved the family to Edmonton, Alberta ... In 1950, at age 17, Goulet made his professional debut as a soloist with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra ... He continued studying at the University of Toronto Royal Conservatory of Music ... In Canada, during the 1950s, he appeared on radio and television and numerous theatrical productions ... The big break came in 1960.

Lerner and Loewe were getting desperate, trying to find a Sir Lancelot to appear opposite Richard Burton's King Arthur and Julie Andrews' Guinevere in their production of "Camelot" ... Goulet earned a chance to try out, lost his luggage at the airport and auditioned in blue jeans and a sweater.

"Camelot" opened in December 1960 ... Goulet's accolades equaled those given to Burton and Andrews ... Goulet took "Camelot" on successful tours in 1992-1994 and 1996, this time as King Arthur.

Back in the USA

Recent legitimate theater credits include praise for his lead roles in "South Pacific," "Man of LaMancha," "Fantasticks," and "I Do, I Do" ... His tongue-in-cheek commercials for ESPN, "The Simpsons" and Mercedes Benz are comedic classics ... Las Vegas knows him best for his successful stints at the Hughes hotels: the Desert Inn, Frontier and Sands in the 1970s and 1980s as a main showroom headliner.

Goulet and Wayne Newton, who is now enjoying a long-term association with the Stardust, were the Hughes hotels' "one-two punch" during those years ... The American Theatre League recently presented Goulet with the prestigious Distinguished Lifetime Service Award.

As recently as June 15 Goulet co-starred in "A Tribute to Alan Jay Lerner" in New York City's Carnegie Hall ... An A&E network "Biography" on him will be shown this fall.

Goulet, concluded

A survivor of life's vagaries, including a successful bout with prostate cancer, Goulet devotes time to lecturing on the subject ... His preference is live performance, whether it be legitimate theater, concerts or showrooms and nightclubs ... That immediate reaction, the interaction between performer and live audience, is vital to Goulet's performance.

Have a safe and sane Fourth of July, especially if you're going to make it a four- or five-day observance ... Try to remember the significance of this holiday ... Take a moment to be grateful this is your country ... See you next Thursday.