Local entertainers form their own M.A.F.I.A.

Tuesday, June 11, 2002 | 8:22 a.m.

To join the M.A.F.I.A organization call 896-6661 or 596-3194.

The M.A.F.I.A. is establishing a base in Las Vegas only the hit men of this organization are more likely to use pies and seltzer water spray than machine guns.

Veteran entertainer Nelson Sardelli came up with the idea for the Mutual Admiration Fraternity of Indefatigable Artists.

While much of the presentation of the new organization is based on humor, its underlying motive is serious.

"We are a philanthropic do-gooders club," Sardelli, a Las Vegas resident, said. "We are a social club for entertainers who want to have a good time, but also who want to help people."

Sardelli compared the new club to the Friars Club, founded in New York City in 1904 and noted for its testimonial dinners, roasts, entertainment events and charitable work.

The Friars Club's membership is composed of comedians. M.A.F.I.A. is open to anyone who is, or was, in the entertainment industry.

For those not in show business, Sardelli said, there is an associate membership.

Membership is $100 annually for one person, $150 for a husband and wife and $200 for a family. Associate membership is $250 per person, $300 for a husband and wife, and $350 for the family. Comedian/musician Peter Anthony said the idea for the formal organization rose out of informal gatherings.

"A bunch of us, eight or 10 or 20 people, often get together for coffee and shoot the breeze," Anthony said. "Sardelli is just organizing those meetings and giving them a purpose."

The club is in its infancy. According to Sardelli there are more than 20 members, among them local entertainers Bill Acosta, Bob Anderson, Pat Cooper, Vince Falcone, Clint Holmes, Frankie Randall and Steve Rossi.

"Our main goal is to have a fraternity of entertainment people -- a brotherhood," Sardelli said.

He said the club will hold monthly meetings, occasional roasts and other events -- some of them charitable and some of them social.

"We will have a lot of different goals," Sardelli said. "We, as a club, can decide what events to put on."

Sardelli said among the eventual benefits for full members (not associate members) will be medical insurance. Members will be included on a M.A.F.I.A. website with links to their own websites.

There are plans for newsletters, picnics, community events and charity auctions.

"We will accept requests from other charities that need help," Sardelli said. "They will present their projects, our board will review them and, if it is a good cause, will help.

"This is a fun club. I want anybody -- men and women -- to come to our meetings, whether the luncheons are teas or whatever."

Sardelli noted that the Friars Club has gained a lot of respect.

"I would like our club to reach that level," said Sardelli, who sings, dances, acts, performs stand-up comedy and often includes gun twirling in his performances.

He said Las Vegas is a perfect location for M.A.F.I.A.

"We are the best city of them all," Sardelli said. "I travel the world. I know the reverence and awe in which people hold us. We have all that it takes to have one of the biggest clubs in the country -- bigger than U.S. Steel."

In keeping with the humorous side of M.A.F.I.A., Sardelli has assumed the role of "The Godfather" -- the Fairy Godfather.

"I asked Mayor Oscar Goodman to be our legal advisor," Sardelli said. "He said, no, he had to be the 'consigliore.' "

Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt, Sardelli said, is "in charge of pardons for people with bad or no talent at all."

And Buddy Greco and Vic Damone are enforcers.

Sardelli says M.A.F.I.A. has the potential of being bigger than the Friars Club.

"Maybe I'm guilty of dreaming big," he said. "But I like to think that way. We do have big dreams. Maybe we will have our own building one day."

And that's no joke.