Wednesday, June 25, 2003 | 10:41 a.m.
There was no reason for Steve Wynn to do marketing surveys, hire brand recognition experts and do millions of dollars of research to finally decide to change the name of his new megaresort from Le Reve to Wynn Las Vegas.
"I could have told him right away that his own name was a great brand. It certainly has worked for me," Donald Trump, proprietor of such properties as Trump Palace, Trump World Tower, Trump Grand Ocean Resort, Trump Marina, Trump Place, Trump Parc and the Trump Taj Mahal told VegasBeat by phone Tuesday from his flagship Trump Tower office overlooking New York's Central Park.
"We did discuss it, actually," Trump continued. "Steve called me a week or so ago and I gave him my opinion on using his name in the title, which was an enthusiastic, 'Yes.' From my perspective it is a no-brainer.
"Steve and I have certainly had our differences of opinion in the past, but we are now great friends, and there is no question that his name is one of the most respected and revered in gaming."
Trump said his commercial properties with his name on them command 45 percent more per square foot than similar properties.
"People know what they are going to get when Trump is on the front of the building. Same with Wynn, McDonald's and Coca-Cola. That's why we are all such successes," he stated.
Trump also said that things are moving along "slowly but surely" on his Las Vegas Boulevard Trump Tower West project with Phil Ruffin. The project is scheduled for the Strip on the parcel occupied by the New Frontier.
"When the time is more appropriate, Las Vegas will be hearing from me," Trump said.
Star partners
Trump has a lot in common with Planet Hollywood's Robert Earl -- both happily recognize that it is good to talk endlessly to gossip columnists.
On Tuesday, VegasBeat reported on some of Earl's plans for his new Las Vegas hotel. Another piece of news he pointed out and wanted included, which we didn't have room for the first time around, is that Bruce Willis and Sylvester Stallone are his partners again.
The celeb duo stayed in Earl's camp through the pain of bankruptcy, he said, and will help Earl generate Las Vegas buzz with their star power and on-site presence.
What about former star partner No. 3, Arnold Schwarzenegger? Earl says they are still friends, and assuming Schwarzenegger hasn't been elected governor of California by then, Earl hopes to get Arnie somehow involved in the Las Vegas activities.
Vintage talent
For a group that collectively was about 1,000 years old, everyone looked pretty good.
A contingent visiting Las Vegas to appear at a celebrity autograph show went to see Siegfried & Roy on Sunday night.
The visiting entertainers included Mickey Rooney, child Oscar-winner Margaret O'Brien ("Meet Me In St. Louis"), James "Book 'em, Dano" MacArthur, Mr. Ed sidekick Alan Young, Terry Moore (the old "Peyton Place" vixen) and "77 Sunset Strip" star Edd Byrnes.
Meinhardt Raabe, 88, was also in the house. He was the munchkin in "The Wizard of Oz" who officially pronounced that the Wicked Witch was dead.
Funny guy
VegasBeat got a postcard from Vegas entertainer Nelson Sardelli the other day. He is on a European tour.
"I came all the way to Austria and still have not seen one lousy kangaroo!" he wrote.
He also reports that Europe is suffering through a monstrous heat wave. "I soak through 35 shirts a day ... same underwear though."
New venue?
We hear Prana might adopt something from its sister Beverly Hills, Calif., eatery, Crustacean.
On Sunday night Wyclef Jean performed at a miniconcert at Crustacean, along with Stevie Wonder, Faith Hill and Macy Gray.
"Eventually, we'll be doing the same type of thing here" in Las Vegas, a source close to owner Helene An said Tuesday. "The place has a small stage and a dance floor and is actually a perfect little venue for something like that."
A spokeswoman for the restaurant confirmed that the Ans are "considering" the miniconcert concept.
VegasBits
Spinner: Ozzy's son, Louis Osbourne, was scheduled to be a guest DJ at Studio 54 this morning for a special 2 a.m. set. Osbourne, 28, is the product of Ozzy's first marriage, to Thelma Mayfair. He is also the little boy pictured on the cover of Ozzy's 1981 solo album, "Diary of a Madman" ...
Uncensored: Finally, a reason for VegasBeat to buy a DVD player: The Amazing Johnathan has released a disc of his live show at Flamingo Las Vegas. It's available for $25 at the hotel's gift shop or outside the show ...
Celebrate: "Thunder From Down Under" celebrates its one-year anniversary at Excalibur on July 5 ...
Shopping safari: Socialite Sandy Peltyn was walking through the Forum Shops at Caesars on Tuesday afternoon with a rainbow assortment of shopping bags ...
Coincidence: Both performers of the hit duet, "I Know What You Want" -- Mariah Carey and Busta Rhymes -- are performing in Las Vegas on successive nights, she at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace on July 26 and he as part of the "Rock the Mic" tour at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 27. We hear they might make reciprocal surprise appearances at each other's shows to sing the song.
From Sun wires
50 Cent wins twice: Rapper 50 Cent captured best new artist and best male hip-hop artist honors at Tuesday's BET Awards show in Los Angeles, while Michael Jackson presented the "godfather of soul," James Brown, with a lifetime achievement award.
The often reclusive Jackson made a surprise appearance and garnered a huge ovation as he danced briefly with the 70-year-old Brown, who also performed "It's a Man's World" and "Sex Machine."
Other winners included Los Angeles R&B quartet B2K for top group and Queen Latifah for best actress. Tennis star Serena Williams beat out her sister Venus for best female athlete.
R. Kelly tied with fellow crooner Jaheim for best male R&B artist and Derek Luke was named best actor.
Snoop Dogg in trouble: Snoop Dogg could face criminal charges in connection with the arrests of three men who delivered the rapper-actor to the BET Awards in a gray armored van, authorities said.
Two of the three arrested outside the show were unarmed but wanted by authorities for unidentified misdemeanor crimes. The third was wanted on parole violations. Six others were armed and detained by authorities.
Snoop Dogg was convicted in 1990 of possession of cocaine for sale, and authorities said it is illegal for a felon to possess weapons or hire armed security guards.
Eminem in mocking mood: The real Slim Shady stood up and made fun of Michael Jackson by dangling a baby doll over a hotel balcony in Glasgow, Scotland.
Rapper Eminem also wore a surgical mask over his face Tuesday in an obvious swipe at Jackson, who dangled his baby, Prince Michael II, over a balcony railing in Berlin in November.
Eminem went further than Jackson by tossing the doll into the air and catching it.
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