Columnist Kate Maddox: Stars facing difficult decisions

Kate Maddox

Friday, Sept. 14, 2001 | 9:30 a.m.

Muriel Stevens' dining column appears Fridays. Her shopping and travel columns appear Friday. Reach her at 259-4080 or muriel@lasvegassun.com.

In the wake of Tuesday's tragedy many Las Vegas performers had to reconsider performing. Most stars wondered whether the show should, or even could, go on.

"For me, it was about letting people lose themselves in the music, even if only for a little while," said popular Harrah's headliner Clint Holmes, who chose to perform this week, but is dark tonight. "It's been weird ... there were some empty seats." Holmes addressed the audience with words of comfort before opening his act with "America the Beautiful."

Other stars said that leaving theaters empty was the appropriate action to take in light of the events in New York and Washington, D.C. "(Danny Gans) will be dark until Saturday," said a spokeswoman for the entertainer. "(Gans) is spending time with his family instead of trying to make people laugh in this difficult time -- out of respect for the country." Don Rickles canceled his Wednesday show at the Stardust, and "O" and "Mystere" were scheduled to resume regular performances tonight following cancellations.

But for most, even the comedians, not performing would have been out of the question.

"We aren't trying to make people forget," said "The Best of Bottoms Up" producer and performer Breck Wall. "But we're at least going to try and let them enjoy themselves." Wall added that he spoke openly with the audience before the curtain was raised, saying that the cast would do its best to make them laugh and "just to try to have a good time." Flamingo Las Vegas Entertainment Coordinator Jennifer Marshall explained the hotel's decision to keep the showrooms up and running: "We think it's important for audiences to have an avenue to help keep their spirits up."

The cast of "The Rat Pack is Back" at the Sahara revised its performance slightly, dropping the opening comedy portion and adding a lengthy tribute to America, along with a moment of silence for those who were affected by Tuesday's attacks.

Frank Scinta, one of the stars of "The Scintas" at the Rio, said that after barely making it through the first show on Tuesday night, he and his family decided to cancel the second. "It took all we had to do one," Scinta explained. "I just came out and said, 'Ladies and gentleman, you showed up to be entertained and we're here to put our troubles aside,' and from the first World War, that's what entertainers have tried to do."

Scinta, along with his good friend Holmes and other Vegas headliners, is planning a benefit show to raise money for victims and their families.

"The first thing I thought was: What can we do? What can we as performers possibly do?" Scinta said. "And I think we're going to bring the community together to really help out and make a difference."

Holmes added that the event would be a show designed to let locals get involved. "We were all just talking about how odd this feeling is right now and we want to do something ... to make this troubled time into something good."

If you were missing affable anchor Jim Snyder on KVBC Channel 3 this week, he was scheduled to return to the air Thursday night -- live from New York City.

After learning of the terrorist attacks early Tuesday morning, Snyder grabbed a KVBC cameraman, got in a news truck and hit the road. Snyder was slated to arrive in Manhattan late Thursday evening after a 2 1/2-day cross-country drive.

"It was Jim's idea," KVBC News Director Jamie Ioos said. "He wanted to get there. We're not even sure when he'll get back." Snyder is planning to give live reports from Ground Zero -- as close to the recovery crews as he can safely position himself.