VegasBeat — Timothy McDarrah: Estefan bringing more heat to Vegas

Tuesday, July 29, 2003 | 10:42 a.m.

In recent years Las Vegas has hardly been a hotbed for Hispanic headliners.

So why, exactly, is Gloria Estefan coming to Las Vegas?

On Monday we got the answer. A few hundred fans -- mostly of Hispanic descent -- filled the lawn around the fountains in front of Caesars Palace as the former Miami Sound Machine singer made an appearance to promote her series of October concerts at The Colosseum and to officially release her first English-language single in six years, "Wrapped."

"Las Vegas is now the place where people go -- all people," Estefan told VegasBeat. "It is really becoming a microcosm of the world. I could have done this in Miami, where my traditional fan base is, but those people are probably sick of me by now.

"So when Caesars asked me to come here, it made perfect sense. All my fans can come here to see me, since so many people come here already." Estefan, dressed in a blinding-white ensemble with red beads sewn on the bodice, said she will probably not tour until next year, so playing Las Vegas gives the majority of her fans the best chance to see her before then.

Joining Estefan were her husband, Emilio Estefan, Caesars prez Mark Juliano, Emmy Award-winning choreographer Kenny Ortega, who is creating Estefan's stage extravaganza, and the show's producer and mastermind, Bernie Yuman.

Despite the oppressive heat, Estefan was in a terrific mood.

"It is a dry heat, right? A lot of difference that makes," she joked. "The Colosseum is indoors, so we'll be OK."

She spent two hours outside, signing every T-shirt, old ticket stub, scrap of paper, CD, photograph and handmade sign that fans presented to her.

Estefan also mentioned what a good time she had on a 1988 trip to Seoul, South Korea, with Bob Hope. "I know he is watching us from somewhere," she said.

Memories

One of the saddest people in Las Vegas Monday was Wayne Newton -- Bob Hope's hand-picked successor as the USO's headline entertainer.

"Intellectually, you try to prepare for something like this," a teary-eyed and visibly shaken Newton told VegasBeat in his Stardust dressing room before his performance Monday night. "But emotionally, there is no way to prepare for the shock. Mr. Hope meant so much to me and so much to this country."

Newton had a note of encouragement Hope had sent to him in June before his last USO trip to Iraq. It was their last contact.

Newton recalled his first meeting with Hope, when Newton was opening for Jack Benny, and was able to recount with startling detail circumstances of various trips they'd taken together starting in 1966.

"No one can ever follow in his footsteps -- times have changed too much -- but he left a blueprint for success that I am proud to follow," Newton said.

More memories

The marquee in front of the Riviera was changed Monday to read, "Bob Hope -- Thanks for the Memories, 1903 -- 2003. We'll miss you."

He was the hotel's surprise New Year's Eve co-headliner in 1969, joining Totie Fields. He variously played the hotel with Joan Rivers, Shecky Greene, Liza Minnelli, Don Rickles and John Davidson.

Hope also performed with Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt at the Tropicana in the 1960s, she said.

Score

Pro Football Hall of Famer Mike Ditka has a big heart -- and deep pockets.

He had dinner at Craftsteak (MGM Grand) Sunday night, and came across five U.S. soldiers just back from Iraq. He bought them all dinner -- and gave each of them a $1,000 gambling chip.

He should have quit while he was ahead. After dinner, sources say he hit the tables and lost $60,000.

Fan club

In a weekend full of outstanding national acts, perhaps the one that drew the most interesting and star-studded audience was Connie Stevens, who played at the Suncoast for her first Vegas engagement in 14 years.

Among her cheering fans were two-time Academy Award nominee Diane Ladd, Righteous Brother Bill Medley, Stephen Bishop, Lezlie Anders, Buddy Greco, Deanna Lund, Monti Rock III, Pat Van Patten (Dick's wife), Marty Allen and David Gascon -- once an assistant chief of the Los Angeles Police Department who became a familiar face to millions as the department's chief spokesman during the O.J. Simpson case.

Opinion

After Beyonce made a surprise cameo and sang a song with boyfriend Jay-Z at the "Roc the Mic" rap show at Thomas & Mack Center on Sunday night, Jay-Z addressed the audience.

He pointed out to fans and called out to one that he liked the man's shirt. He asked the man to toss his shirt up to the stage, which he did.

Jay-Z held it up for the audience to see -- and when the excited throng caught a glimpse they went absolutely wild.

The shirt read, "Kobe Bryant Not Guilty."

VegasBits

Guests: Yes, that was James Carville and Mary Matalin dining Sunday night at Rosemary's on West Sahara Avenue. They were with Las Vegas residents Jack Woodcock of Prudential Americana Group Realtors and Keith Lynam, who is soon to head up its corporate communications department. The D.C. power couple were in town to speak at a government affairs conference at the Grand Hyatt in Lake Las Vegas ...

Party: Yes, that was baseball star Ken Griffey Jr. at Studio 54 Saturday night with a large group, partying until the wee hours. Griffey is on the disabled list with a ruptured tendon in his right ankle, out for the season and apparently not traveling with his team, the Cincinnati Reds, who were in New York over the weekend beating on the Mets ...

Host: Yes, that was UNLV football coach John Robinson hosting a party of 20 Mountain West Conference coaches and officials Sunday night at Gustav Mauler's Spiedini at the J.W. Marriott in Summerlin ...

Filming: Yes, that was Spike Lee standing outside the Sahara on Monday. Today he's using the hotel's fabled exterior for a Microsoft commercial. The scene will feature a secret agent pulling up in front of the hotel in a $180,000 silver Aston Martin, and entering the property ...

Carey on: Among those in the audience at Mariah Carey's sold-out Caesars show Saturday night: a very slimmed-down "American Idol" judge Randy Jackson (he recently had gastric bypass surgery) and legendary jazz and blues singer Nancy Wilson.

From Sun wires

In the tradition of the best Hollywood cliff-hanger, actor Arnold Schwarzenegger captivated California political circles Monday with dramatic last-minute wavering on a run for California governor -- a move he is now "leaning strongly against," though his strategists said he is still actively exploring it.

He is expected to make a public announcement perhaps as soon as Wednesday, his 56th birthday, sources said.