Columnist Kate Maddox: Palms pilot seeking out Hef

Kate Maddox

Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2001 | 9:31 a.m.

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

What better way to get people interested in your new casino than to invite them to a party at Hugh Hefner's house?

For the past week Palms president George Maloof has been stealthily asking high rollers, Vegas VIPs and a bevy of hot Hollywood agents, managers and producers to a private party at the Playboy Mansion.

Maloof has made no secret of his desire to turn his new property into a hip, see-and-be-seen casino. The Palms, just off the Strip on West Flamingo Road, is loaded with chic restaurants, an exclusive rooftop bar, a pool area featuring waterbed lounges and a giant nightclub complete with skyboxes and a moat-ringed dance floor.

Now all Maloof needs to do is find a hard-partying, Vegas-loving, spend-happy clientele.

Enter Hef.

More than 300 guests are expected at the Mansion on Oct. 4, when the famed property will be adorned with faux gaming tables, artsy black-and-whites of the Palms and, of course, Playmates.

A Los Angeles spokeswoman for Maloof said the event is mainly a "Hollywood outreach effort, aimed at getting celebrities and the entertainment industry interested in the hotel."

Even though Jay Leno is a big-time, Emmy-winning late-night icon, he hasn't forgotten where he got his start. On Saturday night, in an effort to help Las Vegas during this troublesome economic slide, Leno will perform for free at MGM Grand's 1,700-seat EFX Theatre.

Leno told his TV audience Monday night: "All I ask is that you tip your waiters and waitresses." He also invited one member of "The Tonight Show" crowd to join him at NOBHILL post-show.

In an interview with the Associated Press, Leno added that he would consider doing more free Vegas appearances.

The complimentary tickets will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis on Thursday and Saturday at the EFX Theatre box office between 10 a.m. and noon. Bring your Nevada driver's license or, if you're staying at any Las Vegas hotel, a room key and out-of-state license.

With Aladdin on the verge of filing for bankruptcy, insiders are saying "Lumiere" will be the first project to get the ax. One source speculates the entire showroom/nightclub project, slated to be completed in the spring, will be shelved until further notice.

Some rumors point to the complete abandonment of all entertainment plans, especially in light of last week's departure of Aladdin CEO Richard Goeglein.

As of Tuesday one of the driving forces behind the Carmen Electra project was still eagerly awaiting word as to the fate of the magic spectacular. Electra, who is still lined up to star in the production, reportedly reworked her contract a few weeks back in an effort to up her headliner salary.

Which rising political star is having more luck in local government than on the home front? The popular and much-admired scene-maker has reportedly split from his spouse, causing a flurry of whispers and gossip.

Friends and aides of the popular politician have been trying to suppress and spin the story in an effort to maintain his squeaky-clean public image.