Columnist Joe Delaney: Tropicana marks anniversary with Casino Legends

Joe Delaney

Thursday, April 11, 2002 | 8:15 a.m.

Belated happy 45th anniversary to all concerned, past and present, at the Tropicana, the 12th hotel-casino to open on the Strip ... The date was April 12, 1957, and we were in town visiting at the time ... It was the Saturday Evening Post that christened the hotel "The Tiffany of the Strip" ... We were present again when "Folies Bergere" opened in 1959.

Old-timers will remember the Tropicana Blue Room, when Maynard Sloate produced shows that featured classic big-band originals, singers and comedians. ... One very special night, Jan. 9, 1971, the attraction was Louis Armstrong and the All-Stars, and I put together a tribute to Armstrong as part of his 8 p.m. performance that evening.

Duke Ellington and his Orchestra were playing the "Late, Late Show" in the Caesars Palace Circus Maximus, and Ella Fitzgerald was headlining at the Flamingo ... Both came over and joined Armstrong onstage ... Fitzgerald asked the All-Stars to play "Blueberry Hill" and as they started, Ellington asked her to dance ... It was truly a magic moment.

We're happy to hear the news that Aztar Corp. is now the sole owner of the Tropicana and has ambitious plans to make that property competitive with its neighbors on the other three corners -- MGM Grand, New York-New York and Excalibur and its adjoining hotels, Luxor and Mandalay Bay.

Friday, from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the Tropicana's Tiffany Theatre, the following celebrities will be inducted into the Casino Legends Hall of Fame: Vikki Carr, Charo, The Characters, Mayor Oscar Goodman and Trini Lopez ... Pat Cooper will host the festivities ... Admission is free, but be sure to get there early; this lineup should draw a heavy crowd.

The Characters were a vital part of the lounge-era renaissance in the 1950s, along with the Mary Kaye Trio, Sonny King, Louis Prima, Keely Smith, Sam Butera & The Witnesses and Freddie Bell ... They were an important factor for nearly two decades ... Surviving members Charles "Blackie" Hunt and Johnny Ricco will be on hand to accept.

Hunt is the husband of Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt, owners of the Bootlegger Bistro, where they are joined by King and pianist Tommy Deering for Friday and Saturday night entertainment that recaptures the original Las Vegas excitement ... The action starts at 9:30 p.m. and continues well into the night.

The Casino Legends Hall of Fame is another Tropicana attraction, a 5,000-square-foot museum dedicated to those who have made major contributions to the ever-changing history of gaming and entertainment in Nevada.

Star-policy rundown

It's Gladys Knight (Flamingo Las Vegas); Tony Orlando, 8 p.m. and Amazing Johnathan, 10 p.m. (Golden Nugget); Mac King, afternoons, Clint Holmes, evenings (Harrah's); The Smothers Brothers and Gary Mule Deer at 8 p.m., Pat Benatar at 10:30, plus The Fab Four in the NightClub (LV Hilton); Blue Man Group (Luxor); and Carrot Top, plus Rick Springfield starring in "EFX Alive" (MGM Grand).

There's more: Siegfried & Roy and Danny Gans in separate theaters (Mirage); Lance Burton (Monte Carlo); Rita Rudner (New York-New York); Lou Rawls and Nancy Wilson (Paris Las Vegas); Tanya Tucker (Orleans); Ronn Lucas afternoons, Scintas, evenings, plus Penn & Teller in the Samba Theatre (Rio); Marlene Ricci (Riviera); and Wayne Newton (Stardust).

And still more: The Beach Boys (Stratosphere); Dame Cleo Laine and John Dankworth (Suncoast); Rick Thomas (Tropicana); and Melinda, First Lady of Magic at 7 p.m. and "Bravo," starring Charo at 9 p.m. (Venetian) ... Famed Irish tenor John MacNally appears in concert, 7 p.m. Sunday (Palace Station); general admission is $18, benefitting St. George's Anglican Church on West Gilmore Avenue.

"Foxfire" continues, this weekend and next (LV Little Theatre); "Louder Than Words," a comedy, opens Friday and continues through April 21 (University of Nevada, Las Vegas' Black Box Theatre); The Rainbow Youth Company's "Two Pails of Water" concludes this weekend ... Check the Reed Whipple Cultural Center for dates and times.

Jazz fans will appreciate Afterburner, in concert at 2 p.m. Sunday (Charleston Heights Arts Center) ... In addition to drummer-leader John Abraham, the group includes Dave Stambaugh, reeds; Jim McIntosh, guitar; Devin Streator, keyboards; and Roshon Westmoreland, bass ... The band excels in all jazz forms and freely improvises.

Las Vegas favorites, too long away, The Gaylords will be performing Saturday at Boulder Station ... The Riviera's two-for-one offer for Nevada residents to see "Splash" ends April 30, as do most of the others that have been in effect these past few months ... Take advantage while you can ... Remember to send your check to the Sun Summer Camp Fund ... See you Friday.