Columnist Joe Delaney: Insulting sailors started Rickles’ rise to stardom

Joe Delaney

Friday, Feb. 2, 2001 | 9:31 a.m.

Once referred to as the Merchant of Venom, Don Rickles starts the first of a series of two- and three-day weekends over the next two years in the Stardust's Wayne Newton Theater, with shows tonight and Saturday ... Approaching his 75th birthday on May 8, a Rickles performance today is really a "Best of Don Rickles" celebration of his various onstage personas.

Born in New York City, raised on Long Island in a non-show business family, his earliest ambition was to become a serious dramatic actor, realized nicely in his role in the film "Casino" ... The Rickles voice was an important factor as Mr. Potato Head in the films "Toy Story I" and "II."

Rickles, as a comedian, started off slow, playing local clubs in the five boroughs of Manhattan, doing a little bit of the best of everybody including the standard impressions of the day, Humphrey Bogart, James Cagney, Cary Grant and Edward G. Robinson.

The next onstage Rickles was born of desperation in a Washington, D.C., night club featuring a string of strippers ... The audience one fateful night consisted mostly of sailors on shore leave who wanted to see girls and not some comedian ... In a moment of inspiration, Rickles unleashed all of his frustrations, a torrent of impromptu insults, more truth than material, all very funny ... The sailors loved it.

In the early 1950s he migrated to California, appearing in the Slate Brothers' nightclub on LaCienega Boulevard ... His subject became the audience, particularly any celebrities who might drop in ... Frank Sinatra and some friends came in one evening.

Rickles was merciless, again truth-told funny ... Sinatra loved it ... Las Vegas beckoned and Rickles opened in the Sahara's Casbar lounge in 1959 ... Sinatra and his Rat Pack were ensconced at the Sands and making Rickles' last Casbar show a regular nightly stop ... This and a classic Johnny Carson's "Tonight Show" appearance moved Rickles up quickly to headliner status here.

This is the start of his fifth decade as a Las Vegas headliner, a model of comedic consistency year after year, wherever he has played ... As we said earlier, the audience will enjoy the "Best of Don Rickles," starting most likely with his traditional matador entrance ... Once onstage he spares no one, no ethnic group; then it's "I'm A Nice Guy," with special lyrics.

There could be some quick takes on Dean Martin and Tony Bennett, a thank you to Sinatra, then a full, heartfelt tribute to the late Cagney as George M. Cohan singing "I'm a Yankee Doodle Dandy." A very funny impromptu, using two male members of the audience, usually precedes or follows the impressions.

The serious Rickles wraps it up with a warm homily, thus taking you nicely and easily through the various onstage personas, a trip highly recommended, especially if this is your first time. It is also a trip worth taking more than once; each time bringing some friends for their first time.

Rickles makes the evening even more special by having world-class saloon singer and vocal impressionist Bob Anderson as his opening act ... You will still get the full Rickles treatment in addition to a generous portion of Anderson and his music ... Anderson can go one-for-one with any other singing impressionist working today.

There's one more

Try to include the super songs, style and great natural comedy of Mel Tillis, appearing at the Orleans through Sunday, on your must-see list this weekend ... See you next Thursday.