Columnist Joe Delaney: Gearing up for annual spring vacation plans

Joe Delaney

Thursday, May 16, 2002 | 8:33 a.m.

Penultimate: This is the next-to-last column before we start our annual vacation ... For the past eight years, at this time, we would be packing our bags for three weeks in Montreux, Switzerland, teaching at the International Academy of Broadcasting, followed by a week in Ireland ... The academy is being moved to Dublin, and I am committed to teach there in 2003.

I shall miss Montreux -- the school, the students, the Hotel Miramonte, the 120 steps down to Lac Leman, feeding the ducks, and the cafes along the lakefront, but I will not miss the 24 hours en route each way, including the 90-minute train ride between Geneva and Montreux ... Regular readers know how I will look forward to four weeks in Dublin next year and beyond.

The semester has ended at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas' William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration ... I am planning to teach during the fall and the spring 2003 semester the Hotel Entertainment class that I created in 1973 at the suggestion of then-Dean Jerry Vallen.

Random thoughts

Last week we received e-mail announcements from Jack Wishna, of CPAmerica, and Rogo-Rove, Robert Goulet's publicity office, announcing a new entertainment concept that will be part of the City By The Bay Resort, scheduled to replace the New Frontier "when it opens in 2004-2005" ... Wishna was a factor in Wayne Newton's deal with Stardust.

Working closely with Phil Ruffin, owner of the New Frontier, Wishna was also a factor in orchestrating Donald Trump's proposed Las Vegas tower project to be built on the New Frontier grounds ... The announcements refer to a billion-dollar complex that should complement Steve Wynn's Le Reve when it becomes a reality; exciting to contemplate.

Goulet alternated engagements with Newton at the Frontier in the 1970s ... They were twin winners ... Basing our comment on the classic baseball tandem of Warren Spahn and Johnny Sain of the 1947 Boston Braves baseball team, whose motto was "Spahn and Sain and pray for rain," we wrote that the Frontier's policy was "Newton and Goulet then kneel and pray."

Frank Sinatra Jr.'s opening night May 8 at MGM Grand was enthusiastically received by a capacity crowd in the Hollywood Theatre, auguring well for a return engagement, possibly as soon as August ... Crowd counts for "Lord of the Dance" (New York-New York) continue strong ... The present closing date is July 28.

If the show must close on that date, it would be worth consideration by other local venues ... With the limited backstage situation in The Venetian Showroom, it will be interesting to see what happens later this month when "Signed, Sealed and Delivered," another production show, opens, starring Chaka Khan and honoring the songs and music of Stevie Wonder.

The projected Venetian schedule calls for shows at 6 p.m., 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. ... Melinda, First Lady of Magic, will have time to set up for her 6 p.m. performance, but what happens between the next two shows? ... We will also be wondering how magician/singer/impressionist Darren Romeo will do afternoons in The Mirage's 1,500-seat Siegfried & Roy Theatre.

Sinatra Jr.'s performance was notable for the 36-member orchestra that backed him flawlessly and gave fresh life to his father's musical arrangements ... This was an engagement in compliance with the local musicians union, which also have signed agreements covering the musicians in both of the new shows that will be performing at The Venetian.

Ageless Las Vegan Norma Miller, one of the original New York City Savoy Ballroom Lindy Hoppers, is choreographing "Swing Baby Swing." The documentary, set for completion at the end of the year and possibly for theatrical release or to be aired on PBS, is on the history of swing dancing, the Savoy Ballroom and the original Cotton Club, cultural contributors to the music and dance scenes of the first part of the last century ... The Lindy Hop was named for famed aviator Charles Lindbergh.

The documentary will include the May 21 Lindbergh Celebration in Washington's Smithsonian, commemorating the recent flight by Lindbergh's grandson, Erik, duplicating Lindbergh's historic 1926 flight from New York to Paris ... It will also include dancer Frankie Manning's 88th birthday celebration in Manhattan's Roseland Ballroom ... Miller is a previous Emmy nominee.

Star-policy rundown

It's Gladys Knight (Flamingo Las Vegas); Society of Seven, 8 p.m., Amazing Johnathan, 10 p.m. (Golden Nugget); Mac King afternoons, Clint Holmes evenings (Harrah's); Wynonna (LV Hilton); Blue Man Group (Luxor); David Copperfield, plus Rick Springfield starring in "EFX Alive" (MGM Grand); and Paul Anka and Ray Romano in separate theaters (Mirage).

There's more: Lance Burton (Monte Carlo); Rita Rudner (New York-New York); Lorrie Morgan (Orleans); Ronn Lucas afternoons, Scintas evenings, plus Louie Anderson in the Samba Theater (Rio); Marlene Ricci (Riviera); "Bravo," starring Charo, and Steve Wyrick, in separate theaters (Sahara); The Amazing Kreskin (Silverton); and Newton (Stardust).

And still more: Rick Thomas (Tropicana); and Melinda, 7 p.m. and "The Main Event," starring Bob Anderson, 9 p.m. (Venetian) ... Also recommended: "Guys and Dolls," starring Maurice Hines (Aladdin Theatre for the Performing Arts) ... Please support the Sun Summer Camp Fund ... See you Friday.