Caesars’ ‘Magical Empire’ continues to amaze — for now

Joe Delaney

Friday, Oct. 13, 2000 | 10:41 a.m.

Caesars Palace's "Magical Empire" ranks as one of Las Vegas' best entertainment buys, especially when you include a three-course dinner, starting with a nice, crisp, green salad, a main course with a choice of beef, chicken, fish or a vegetarian plate, plus a sumptuous dessert and coffee.

Wine is also served with dinner. It is a very enjoyable three hour-plus dining and entertainment experience.

Dinner service starts at 4:30 p.m. and continues through the afternoon and early evening. Hostesses in ancient Roman costumes greet you at the entrance, and you are transported to the Celestial Court and then into the Catacombs dining area where you are entertained by a Wizard.

Terry Head was the Wizard and quickly involved the entire party in the proceedings. There are several Wizards, each unique, all very funny. A meal is that much more enjoyable when one is both mystified and laughing between courses. Head is a master at audience involvement, ably assisted by Vereniz Mendez and Charles Jean (Maximus and Minimus).

From the dining room, the group moved to the Sanctum Secorum, a central area where it was entertained by walk-around performers. Dinner and entertainment had taken approximately 90 well-spent minutes. It was time to visit restrooms, have a drink at one of the two bars -- one of which has a "ghost" piano player who "knows every song ever written."

Joey Burton, Bram Linetsky, Armondo Lucero and Sophie Evans performed magic for small groups in the Sanctum Secorum. Burton's dad was pianist Joe Burton, a lounge favorite here in the 1950s. Joey Burton learned his craft from the great Jimmy Grippo, Caesars' house magician and highly-respected expert on ESP and hypnosis until his death at age 92.

Earl Nelson, early, and George Tovar, late, are the close-up magic experts who performed in the intimate confines of the Secret Pagoda. The group returned to the Sanctum Secorum for more walk-around performances and a fire display before being escorted into the Sultan's Palace where it was greeted and first entertained by the Sultan, Tony ("Great Big Disco Ball") Arias, extremely funny.

The star in the Sultan's Palace is Joseph Gabriel, internationally renowned, who worked with two comely assistants and several members of the audience. His act is rapidly paced and, at times, awe inspiring. He closed by thanking his audience and asking them to write to Caesars' management, asking that "Magical Empire" be allowed to continue (it is scheduled to close at the end of the year). I hope the audience wrote.

"Magical Empire" operates at a profit and is a credit to the hotel. It deserves to be continued and publicized. Other than lounge attractions, it is the only entertainment in Caesars Palace -- unique and special including the dinner service -- until a projected new showroom is built two years or so in the future.

There have been closing notices for several years now. The latest has the area being replaced by a night club-disco setup. There are already numerous night club-discos in other hotels. If Caesars must have one as well, put it elsewhere. Keep "Magical Empire" where it is and as it is, at least for the next two years.