Columnist Susan Snyder: Impressionists have art of the deal

Friday, July 25, 2003 | 4:44 a.m.

A black man in a white tuxedo and pink shoes lingered with his bride outside elevators at the Imperial Palace.

They were waiting for Elvis. Their wedding album would not be complete without a photograph of bride, groom and the King of Rock 'n' Roll.

They got Elvis. And they could have had photos taken with Rod Stewart, The Blues Brothers, Barbra Streisand, Buddy Holly, Zorro, Ray Charles, Patsy Cline, Marilyn Monroe and Elton John, if they wanted.

Photographs are not only allowed, they're encouraged at the casino's new Legends blackjack pit. Celebrity impressionists dish out cards and one-liners, with $5 minimum bids.

"It's the blind ambition tour," Ray Charles said as he dealt a hand. "I got blind-sided by that one. I didn't see it coming."

Ouch. Maybe it's a good thing that Imperial Palace publicists wouldn't allow the dealertainers to reveal their real names.

They have to stay in character at all times -- on break, in the restroom, in the buffet line. Every once in a while, Jake Blues says that for a few seconds he can convince a patron he is the real thing.

Be nice. Our economy depends on these kinds of visitors.

The dealertainers are the latest gimmick in what may be an emerging trend of loose etiquette. Imperial Palace already had replaced the typical staid black-pants-white-shirt-image in its Champagne pit.

Those dealers are a little more casual with players and wear black bowlers, sleeve garters and plenty of smiles.

But the Legends pit is over the top. Zorro deals while wearing a huge cape. And Elwood Blues arrives at the pit with a briefcase handcuffed to his wrist, plops it on a blackjack table and unlocks it to remove Elvis' gold chains. Then he closes it and puts it away.

Pull that stunt in most casinos, and you'd lose a hand -- the kind with fingers.

The pop-star pit is so relaxed, those who were dealers first have more trouble with the gig than the entertainers who learned to become dealers. Players looking for a straight-laced game won't find it with Jake Blues dealing cards and cat-calling at the women who walk past.

"For me the hardest thing was learning to deal. There's a lot to keep in mind and a lot to remember," Ray Charles said. "I was trying to talk them into letting me be Jerry Lewis, so if I messed up nobody would care."

(We will assume, of course, he meant the silly Lewis who was Dean Martin's sidekick. And we will assume this until my phone stops ringing.)

Still, mistakes happen. Ray forgot his white cane last Thursday, and Patsy had to go tearing back home for her work card. But nothing seemed missing as the entourage burst into the casino with Elvis and the showgirl who serves the pit's cocktails leading the way.

Blackjack and craps players at other tables stared in disbelief. Tourists tripped over each other snapping photos. And it took a few minutes for people to catch onto the fact that the blackjack was for real.

Marilyn and Elvis soon had full tables. Barbra seemed about as popular as her latest CD. But it's a 10-hour shift. She had time.

A woman from the bridal party that waited for Elvis sat with Ray Charles. He explained the game to her.

Talk about blind faith.

This is a dealer who is likely to say, "Hey, tell me what I got here."