Columnist Joe Delaney: National tragedy hits home in Las Vegas, too

Joe Delaney

Thursday, Sept. 20, 2001 | 8:46 a.m.

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

The previous Tuesday's horror has been thoroughly documented everywhere ... Roberta has the alarm set for 5:45 a.m. in order to get Scott up and off to work at 7 a.m. ... I'm up each morning when the alarm goes off ... Roberta yelled from the kitchen, "Turn the TV set to Channel 3" ... We did so, just in time to see the second plane crash into its World Trade Center target.

Like most Americans everywhere, the Delaneys spent every available minute watching the reports on television this past week ... While most of the TV critics devoted time and space to the three main network news anchors -- Tom Brokaw, Dan Rather and Peter Jennings -- our vote for best coverage went to NBC's "Today" show hosts Matt Lauer and Katie Couric for their work a week ago Tuesday.

All the concerns that beset us leading up to Sept. 11 became infinitesimal ... Our combined family of five children range in age from 36-46; we immediately thought of granddaughter, Caitlin, age 4 in November ... What will our country be like when she reaches 21? ... Even more immediate, how much will things change for all of us in the weeks and months to come?

Las Vegans always respond quickly ... Things were slated to slowly return to normal on Monday ... Hotel occupancy will continue to be extremely low this week ... Shows that had been struggling before Sept. 11 may have to close ... Be sure and call first, especially with regard to one-night stands ... We will try to keep you posted.

Star-policy rundown

It's Lee Greenwood (Fiesta, Friday only); Bill Acosta (Flamingo Las Vegas); David Brenner, 8 p.m. and the Amazing Johnathan, 10 p.m. (Golden Nugget); Mac King, afternoons; Clint Holmes, evenings (Harrah's); Kenny Rogers (LV Hilton); Blue Man Group (Luxor); and David Copperfield plus Rick Springfield starring in "EFX Alive" (MGM Grand).

Plus Danny Gans (Mirage); Lance Burton (Monte Carlo); Rita Rudner (New York-New York); Righteous Brothers (Orleans); Patti LaBelle (Paris Las Vegas); Ronn Lucas, afternoons and Scintas, evenings (Rio); Jackie "The Joke Man" Martling, Friday and Saturday (Riviera); Michael Holly, afternoons, and Steve Wyrick, evenings (Sahara); and Wayne Newton (Stardust).

There's even more: Bobby Collins (Suncoast); Rick Thomas (Tropicana) and Melinda, First Lady of Magic (Venetian) ... A reader reminded us that our recent listing of magicians omitted diminutive Antonio Hoyas and ventro-comics should have included very funny Sammy King, both in "Showgirls of Magic" (San Remo).

Street Wise, featuring McKenna Medley, 14-year old daughter of Righteous Brother Bill Medley, will open for the Righteous Brothers at the Orleans tonight through Sunday ... Happy first anniversary to Steve Wyrick, who celebrated the occasion with a special Sahara performance Monday ... LV Little Theatre's "The Middle Ages" concludes this weekend.

The full-scale Broadway production of "Les Miserables" continues through Sunday in the Aladdin Theatre for the Performing Arts ... The Victor Hugo classic has had more than 32,000 performances worldwide, in 38 productions, in 29 countries and in 18 languages ... The show's global box-office receipts are approaching the $2 billion mark.

The 29th annual Greek Food Festival starts at 5 p.m. on Friday and noon on Saturday and Sunday (St. John Greek Orthodox Church) ... This is one of the nicest -- and warmest -- ethnic festivals of the year; admission is only $3, children 12 and under free ... "Taste of Vegas" features music plus good food, Friday through Sunday, County Government Center Amphitheater.

Help Them Walk Again will benefit from the proceeds of the 13th annual Country-Western Mexican Fiesta, tonight starting at 6 o'clock, 2655 S. Monte Cristo, near West Sahara Avenue, another worthwhile local cause. Tickets are $50. Call 878-8360 ... There will be a Pacific Islands Festival, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. (Lorenzi Park), plus Hawaiian entertainment, 8 p.m. Saturday, Sammy Davis Jr. Festival Plaza.

If your taste runs to things classical, we recommend the Las Vegas Philharmonic and its first 2001-2002 "Pops" concert, Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. in the Rio's Samba Theatre, featuring guest soloists, Michael Maguire, Jan Horvath and Doug LaBrecque ... For jazz fans, Friday it's at Pogo's; Saturdays, the Marv Koral all-Stars Reunion, 7:30 p.m. at the Jazzed Cafe and Vinoteca.

Ageless band leader and trumpet soloist Ray Anthony brings his swinging big band back to the Stardust Ballroom Saturday at 7 p.m. ... See you Friday.