Impersonator can’t land a street in Lakes

Diana Sahagun

Thursday, March 7, 2002 | 9:19 a.m.

Singer Billy Ocean and talk show host Ricki Lake stand a better chance of having a street named after them at The Lakes than Las Vegas' own Joan Rivers impersonator.

Can we talk?

Legendary Rivers incarnation Frank Marino may want to change his last name to "Marina" if a street in The Lakes is ever to bear his name. A request by Marino to rename a street in his honor was rejected Wednesday by the City Council.

The council agreed with the president of the West Sahara Homeowners Association that "Frank Marino Street" wouldn't fit in with the water-themed street names in The Lakes, including Lake North Drive and Sandy Shore Drive.

Never mind that "Marino," he says, means "the sea" in Italian.

"It would set a precedent," said Councilwoman Lynette Boggs McDonald, who represents the area. "We have many outstanding individuals that live in this residential area ...

"I think there possibly will be a Frank Marino Drive somewhere, someday, but I think it should not be in this area where all of the names have that consistency," she said.

The residents who spoke for and against the name change paused to praise Marino's drag show, "The Evening at La Cage," at the Riviera, where he has played the likes of Rivers, Madonna and Cher for more than 15 years.

Even Mayor Oscar Goodman is a fan.

"This is the first time I've seen you in clothes -- those kind of clothes," he said of Marino's black tailored suit.