Columnist Kate Maddox: Guggenheim party scaled back

Kate Maddox

Friday, Sept. 21, 2001 | 8:31 a.m.

Kate Maddox's column appears Fridays, Sundays and Tuesdays. Reach her at 259-2309 or kmaddox@lasvegassun.com

Last week's terrorist attacks will have a major effect on the grand-opening festivities for the Guggenheim Las Vegas and Hermitage Museum. Venetian, in conjunction with the Guggenheim Foundation and the Hermitage, had been planning to throw an elaborate, weekend-long celebration set to kick off Oct. 5, but as of late Thursday afternoon most of the parties had been canceled.

"We're scaling back," Venetian spokesman Kurt Ouchida said. "All of Saturday's (Oct. 6) festivities are now off."

In the weeks prior to the deadly terrorist attacks, some invitees were surprised to learn that a $1,000 fee was being charged to attend the fete. The entry cost wouldn't have been such an outrageous price for the VIP hobnobbers, since most opening gala-type parties designate a charity that will profit from the donation. However, controversy arose when organizers neglected to select a charity.

When asked about the social gaffe, which left many would-be party-goers cold, Ouchida said he "didn't want to talk about that," since hotel management feels it is no longer an issue.

"The $1,000 we were asking for will be refunded," Ouchida said.

Ouchida also said organizers are expecting about half of the original 1,000 anticipated party guests to attend, as a result of recent events.

"We've obviously taken the initial figures down a peg," Ouchida said. "It's hard to predict right now how many people will show up for the opening. But it will now be an opportunity to benefit the relief fund."

The Oct. 6 gala will be replaced by smaller celebrations on Oct. 4 and Oct. 5., with changes still possibly in the works.

A portion of the Guggenheim Las Vegas' first-week admission profits will also be donated. The museum opens to the public Oct.7.

But does he offer cut rates?

Taking a tip from former footballer and O.J. friend Al Cowlings (reportedly making a living as a furniture deliveryman), fellow where-are-they-now phenomenon John Wayne Bobbitt is enjoying a new career as a moving guy.

Bobbit, who gained fame for his escapades post-"incident," has been living in Las Vegas for some time and working for a year at Insta-Move, a local moving company. One fellow employee, who asked not to be identified, said Bobbit is a "good, full-time mover" who "spends most of his time out in the field doing jobs."

Jerry Lewis has canceled yet another gig at the Orleans. The Nov. 15-18 dates will be the fourth appearance the comedian has dropped this year. Lewis, who has been battling bacterial pneumonia for many months, has only made one out of five scheduled performances at the property this year. The 75-year-old signed a 20-year contract with the Orleans in July 2000.

Despite reports out of New York, Las Vegan Andre Agassi is not lending his voice to a re-recording of "We Are Family."

According to the New York dailies, Agassi was among the celebrities who had agreed to sing on the disco anthem Sister Sledge released 20 years ago. But a local spokeswoman for Agassi said the tennis star will not be involved and denied the reports Thursday afternoon.

Agassi was expected to join the odd mix of Diana Ross, Sheryl Crow, Sugar Ray, Cyndi Lauper, Joan Rivers, Montel Williams, John McEnroe, members of the New York Knicks and other celebrities to help chime in on the chorus during a recording this weekend. Copies of the new all-star version will be sold to help raise money for victims of the World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks.