Everything old is cool at ‘Vegas Cruise’

Friday, June 14, 2002 | 8:46 a.m.

What: "Vegas Cruise."

When: 9 a.m. to 11 p.m Friday and Saturday; 10 a.m. to noon Sunday.

Where: Fremont Street Experience.

Admission: Free.

Information: 678-5777.

This is a weekend for oldies on Fremont Street, but young people should get a kick out of it, too.

Old-time rock 'n' roll (featuring a performance by Chubby Checker) and classic cars are the focus of the second-annual "Vegas Cruise," which begins tonight and continues through Sunday under the canopy of the Fremont Street Experience.

Expect a big crowd.

"Our overall attendance last year was 71,214," Fremont Street Experience spokesman Traci Fuentes said. "We anticipate about 75,000 this year."

Cars on display at the mall will have been made before 1972. Last year 100 cars entered the car-judging competition. This year more than 150 are expected to be parked under the canopy.

The cars, including hot rods, come from throughout the country. Last year cars from Canada were also displayed.

To encourage more local entries, the fee for locals was reduced from $75 to $50. Cars will be on display until 6 p.m. today.

"The cars are kept under the canopy all day, but at night they are removed to make room for entertainment," Fuentes said.

The cars will return from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. An awards ceremony for the winning cars begins at 10 a.m. Sunday.

Free entertainment, featuring music from the '50s and '60s, will take place on two outdoor stages, at the corners of Fremont and First and Third Streets.

Lil' Elmo & The Cosmos and Ronnie & The Classics will perform from 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. tonight and from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday. From 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, The Comets will play on the Third Street stage. Checker is scheduled on the First Street stage from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday.

Checker, the 60-year-old icon from the early days of rock 'n' roll, is known internationally for creating the dance craze The Twist. But he also created other popular dances of that era, including The Pony, The Fly and The Shake.

Shortly before graduating from high school, in 1960, Checker recorded "The Twist," a song written and originally recorded by Hank Ballard in 1958. The record launched Checker's career.

In his 42 years in the music business, Checker has released more than 20 albums and 40 singles. He's sold more than 250 million records.

In addition to onstage entertainment, there will be strolling street performers and food and drink specials during "Vegas Cruise."

Radio stations KKLZ 96.3-FM and KQOL 93.1-FM will broadcast live Saturday from the Fremont Street Experience.05