‘Old Time Reunion’ will honor Delaney

Friday, Sept. 27, 2002 | 9:14 a.m.

The seventh annual "Las Vegas Old Time Reunion" Sunday at Stardust will honor longtime Sun entertainment columnist Joe Delaney, one of the event's original organizers, who died Aug. 7.

However, organizers say, that in accordance with what Delaney would have wanted, it will be neither a mournful remembrance nor an overblown celebration.

"Joe would be absolutely upset with us if we made a big deal over him," said Herb Kaufman, organizer of the event that is expected to draw between 800 and 1,000 people who have lived in Las Vegas for 30 years or longer.

"People do not want to hear a lot of long speeches -- everything will be short and sweet."

A photo tribute to Delaney will be on display at the entrance to the 6 p.m. event that includes dinner, dancing, and a one-hour show featuring local comedians and singers. Entertainer Peter Anthony will emcee.

"For years Joe would help us put on shows at UNLV and he insisted on buying his own tickets to those events -- he threatened not to show up if we tried to let him in for free," original event organizer Davey Pearl said. "Joe was one of a kind."

In addition to Delaney and Pearl, other original organizers are Pearl's twin brother Lou Pearl, Ken Johann, Art Lurie, Geno Munari, Thalia Dondero and the late Jack Kogan and Paul Endy.

This is the first time the event has honored a specific person, Kaufman said. The reunion has never been used as a fund-raiser nor for any commercial purpose. The organization is in effect a loose collection of longtime Las Vegans, many of whom meet daily at Bagelmania on East Twain Avenue to swap tales of old Vegas.

The first "Old Time Reunion" was held at Arizona Charlie's on South Decatur Boulevard. The last five have been at Stardust, one of the oldest properties on the Strip.

"We have surprises every year, and we have a number of surprises in store for this year," said Lou Pearl, noting that last year entertainment legend Wayne Newton made a surprise entrance before his show at the Stardust.

Other surprise visitors in past years have included venerable singing sensations Kay Starr and the late Joe Williams and billionaire Las Vegas hotel developer Kirk Kerkorian. Tickets are $35 per seat or $280 for a table of eight. All proceeds go to pay the Stardust for use of the room. For tickets, call Johann at 382-6336.