Columnist Joe Delaney: More Strip suggestions in order for the new year

Joe Delaney

Thursday, Jan. 10, 2002 | 8:19 a.m.

The Mandalay Resort Group in Las Vegas, formerly led by Circus Circus, also includes Excalibur, Luxor and a half-interest in Monte Carlo ... A little history is in order: Circus Circus was created by the late Jay Sarno, responsible for the concept that became Caesars Palace as well ... Sarno and his associates did not enjoy immediate success.

It was Bill Bennett, William Pendleton and associates who took over and made Circus Circus a winner by advertising, "If we don't have a room, we will find you one," taking a full-family approach and refusing to set aside rooms for conventions ... This led to the acquisition for the land on which Excalibur, Luxor and Mandalay Bay were built.

Excalibur is another full-family resort, a winner from opening day ... Luxor with its Egyptian theme did not open well, but the mistakes were quickly corrected and, with an assist from Blue Man Group, Luxor easily amortized those early corrective costs and has become another consistent winner.

Mandalay Bay, again completely different, a fresh concept enhanced with a Four Seasons at one end and the contemporary House of Blues at the other, plus the state-of-the-art Mandalay Bay Events Center, opened with "Chicago" and an all-star cast, and Luciano Pavarotti, shortly after, in the Events Center.

One by one the "Chicago" stars were replaced and the crowd counts went down accordingly ... "Storm," the occupant of the Mandalay Bay Theatre, started poorly, deservedly so, but has been kept on, presumably until a suitable replacement can be found ... Broadway musicals will succeed here but only if there is a star or two with marquee strength.

Suggestion: Luxor has a small theater, housing a 10:30 p.m. "late" show, "Midnight Fantasy" ... The early slot was previously filled nicely by Bill Acosta, who made a noble attempt at the Flamingo Las Vegas in a much larger showroom ... Why keep the room empty early? ... Bring back Acosta, a sure thing there.

Postscript, a bit of trivia: Frank Sinatra told us this story ... At the start of the 1950s, at the behest of his attorney, Sinatra flew into Las Vegas to look over the place ... The Desert Inn was being built ... The entrance to McCarran Airport was on the Strip side ... Just before returning to the airport, they spotted a sign, "For sale," plus a phone number.

At the airport, Sinatra had one of his friends dial that number and ask for the price ... The seller wanted $25,000 ... Sinatra told his friend to hang up the phone ... That $25,000 parcel now houses the Excalibur, Luxor and Mandalay Bay.

In next Thursday's column, we will cover the MGM MIRAGE resorts, Park Place Entertainment, Coast Resorts and the independents and neighborhood hotel-casino chains.

Star-policy rundown

It's "Honky Tonk Angels" (Gold Coast); Amazing Johnathan (Golden Nugget); Mac King afternoons, Clint Holmes evenings (Harrah's); Society of Seven (LV Hilton); Blue Man Group (Luxor); Tom Jones, plus Rick Springfield starring in "EFX Alive" (MGM Grand); Siegfried & Roy and Danny Gans in separate theaters (Mirage); and Lance Burton (Monte Carlo).

Plus Richard Jeni (New York-New York); Steven Wright (Orleans); Wayne Brady (Paris Las Vegas); Scintas (Rio); Andrew "Dice" Clay (Stardust); Roger Williams (Suncoast); Rick Thomas (Tropicana); and Melinda, the First Lady of Magic, 7 p.m., and "Bravo" starring Charo, 9 p.m. (Venetian).

"Cheval," Harmon and the Strip, continues through Sunday ... Bring it back as soon as possible, please ... "Splash" is back to a six-night, two-shows-a-night schedule at Riviera (dark on Fridays) ... In addition, Nevada residents with a valid driver's license or student ID can purchase two tickets for the price of one for any performance through April 30.

Lance Burton is offering $15 coupon discounts for all shows through March 31 ... The coupons appear in two free publications and must be presented at the time of purchase ... If you purchase two tickets to "Mystere" (Treasure Island), you will be given preferred seating, dinner for two at Kahunaville and a room for two in the hotel for an additional $49.

Harrah's is offering dinner and show packages for Clint Holmes, $75 per person; "Skintight," $65, or the Improv Comedy Club at $55, good at Asia, Cafe Andreotti or the Range Steakhouse ... Over at the Rio, "Tony 'n' Tina's Wedding" is scheduled for a Feb. 14 opening ... This will make three interactive dinner shows in town.

"Ba-da-Bing" (Alexis Park) looks like it is in for a long run; "Marriage Can Be Murder" (Egg and I restaurant on West Sahara Avenue) is even more firmly established ... The new Rio offering is the second longest-running show in off-Broadway history.

Marv Koral's All-Stars, with Carl Fontana, Ronnie DiFillips and Chris Gordon resumes tonight at 7:30 (Jazzed Cafe); Friday's jazz is at Pogo's ... Support good jazz everywhere .... See you Friday.