Off the Wall

Kimberley McGee

Saturday, Sept. 9, 2000 | 2:55 a.m.

He has worked with some of the biggest names that have performed on the Las Vegas Strip -- Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr. and Liberace to name a few. And although his name might be unfamiliar, his contribution to Las Vegas entertainment is legendary.

Breck Wall has been a hands-on producer here since he first presented and performed in "Bottoms Up" in Las Vegas in 1964. He has also produced as well as starred in many other Strip shows such as "The Cotton Club Revue" and "Tickle Your Fancy."

"Bottoms Up" found a home over the years at several Strip hotels. Retooled to include topless dancers and current schtick, and renamed "The Best of Bottoms Up," the show recently began an indefinite engagement at the Flamingo Las Vegas.

Wall started the fast-paced burlesque show in Dallas at the Adolphus hotel in 1959. The production's snappy one-liners and racy dance numbers became instantly popular, and Wall began his ascent into the entertainment world at 24 years old -- eventually hobnobbing with the biggest names of the era, including Ann-Margret, Sinatra, Liza Minnelli and his good friend Davis.

The quiet actor/producer has lived in Las Vegas since bringing "Bottoms Up" to the Castaways hotel in '64. Wall recently talked with the Sun about his life, the show (although the two seem bound as one) and the star friends he has met, played with and since mourned:

Las Vegas Sun: How did you get your Las Vegas start?

Breck Wall: The entertainment director at the Castaways was a friend of mine and he tracked me down in Houston and asked if we were available. They flew their private plane out there to Dallas, saw it, booked it. That was on a Friday. We got in the car Saturday night -- babies, clothes, props, everything -- and drove all the way across country. We got here Monday midday and opened Tuesday, April 16, 1964. When we opened here we had Jerry Lewis in the audience and Leslie Uggams, and we again took off like a rocket because there had never been a show like that in Las Vegas. Back then it was more big production shows.

Sun: Did you expect the show to be so popular?

BW: It caught me off guard because I thought we'd go in there for two or four weeks, but the manager loved it. You couldn't get in for a week in advance. So he canceled his fall season. We stayed there for two years. Then we went to the Hacienda, and the Thunderbird after that, (and) Caesars. I could write a book about the fun we had in the past.

Sun: What are some of your fondest memories of working in Las Vegas?

BW: Back in the old days we used to play charades, and be an entertainment community. I could walk in Sammy Davis Jr.'s dressing room and he'd be there in his underwear or whatever. We had great times together. He loved to play charades but he was a sore loser. It would be our show against his show. Sammy was probably my closest friend in show business. Liza was wonderful. When she was young she would go out dancing with us. Then there was Ann-Margret, a lady that was so wonderful backstage. She made you feel like you were the person in her life.

Sun: Why do you think "Bottoms Up" still draws large crowds?

BW: It's a great deal of slapstick comedy and burlesque dancing. It's in the style of the old television show "Laugh-In" with Rowan and Martin. They came in when we opened, and would sit in the back when we did Caesars in the '60s, and I like to think they came up with "Laugh-In" from us.

Sun: After all these years why do you still perform?

BW: You never know in this show what is going to happen. I just love it. You never know when the lights go out who is going to be on stage. Plus we can put in new lines every day. Because (we've worked) together for so long we can throw things in. We just have a good time. We have a lot of ad-libs. It's the kind of show where you never get tired of it, ever. You can come in and be tired and dead and we get together in the dressing room you get so hyped up to do the show.

Sun: What do you do to unwind from such a high-paced show?

BW: I'm basically a very quiet person. I need my privacy to restore myself. I sit out in the sun and watch football. My poor Dallas Cowboys got the (stuff) beaten out of them the other day. I just like to sit and work and come up with ideas. I have about 50 best friends, five-oh, that I talk to all the time. My phone bill is huge. I really have a wonderful life, pretty quiet life. I'll be 66 in November and I just find it interesting because most of the people I worked with then are now dead. Holy mackerel, it's a little scary. You never know when your time is going to be up. I always thought it would be kinda fun to go while doing "Bottoms Up," but I'll keep doing "Bottoms Up." It makes me feel younger. It's like going to a party every day and having a great time.