VegasBeat — Timothy McDarrah: Goulet seeking new frontiers on Strip

Tuesday, Aug. 10, 2004 | 10:34 a.m.

Robert Goulet, who opens in "Camelot" tonight in Memphis, Tenn., the city that Elvis called home,suddenly finds himself, like Presley, one hot commodity.

Goulet hopes to open a self-named 1,200-seat theater in Las Vegas, where he would perform 40 weeks per year.

Sources tell us that Goulet has had preliminary discussions with New Frontier owner Phil Ruffin about building a Goulet Theater as part of the construction on the property, which will feature a new tower from Donald Trump.

Also, thanks in large part to a recent Howard Stern radio show appearance, Goulet, 70, has been approached by all kinds of promoters and producers.

Goulet's voice has turned up in a variety of places lately. His smooth pipes have been featured on an episode of "The Simpsons" and in the movie "Toy Story II."

Goulet is expected to appear live on the Stern show in September. On July 21 we reported on Goulet's well-received entry in a singing contest on the nationally syndicated radio program. The song "Restless" is sung by many show listeners and guests (including Goulet and William Shatner) in a variety of musical styles. Goulet's lounge version was the hit of the contest.

Afterward, "Stern called me and asked if I would come perform it live, but I said I had just landed this tour of 'Camelot.' I'm rehearsing my bananas off right now," Goulet told the Memphis Commercial-Appeal on Friday.

"But Vera (his wife and manager) said why don't we take him up on the offer? So I'm going up after we finish."

After being hyped for days last month by Stern, Goulet told the Memphis paper that he got a call from a music producer.

"He wants me to sing 10 or 12 of the biggest hits in rock 'n' roll, but to do them my way -- forgive me, Frank. And then they would go back and add the jumbo jumbo in the background that makes the kids dance. (The producer) said, 'Who knows, you might be another Tony Bennett!' So some good has come of it."

Goulet's most recent Vegas solo venture was a failure. "Robert Goulet, The Man and His Music" closed in July 2001 after only a few weeks at the Showroom at The Venetian. The show was losing more than $100,000 per week when Goulet pulled the plug.

More Trump

Trump, who once criticized a New York Times architecture critic who didn't like one of his buildings by saying the journalist wore "cheap suits," is starting his own clothing line.

"This will be high-end men's wear," Trump, 58, told Newsweek. The Trump Signature Collection will include suits, coats, trousers and possibly golfing attire.

The duds are expected to hit stores in the fall.

Trump, who last week announced plans to build the tallest building in Las Vegas, usually wears $3,000 Brioni suits from Italy. Trump's new line of suits will retail for $575, and feature the cut that he favors: three buttons, with side vents.

Successful show

The Riviera's recent transsexual pageant was so successful, publicity-wise, the hotel has already penciled in the 2005 and 2006 pageants.

The event -- and the hotel -- were featured everywhere from "Entertainment Tonight" to CNN.

Hotel execs are also hinting that a transsexual revue is "definitely in the works" and might be open by January.

Imports

We got an interesting e-mail the other day from longtime Vegas entertainer Peter Anthony.

He said all the news of the travails of getting the "Havana Nights" show to Las Vegas from Cuba reminded him of something he recalls Buddy Hackett saying back in the 1960s.

The Frontier had brought in a show that was billed as "Direct from behind the Iron Curtain."

The show, Anthony recalls, prompted Hackett to say something like, "Why are they going behind the Iron Curtain when there are acts here in America who could use the work?"

"Now, 40 years later, I am sure there are those saying the same thing about the Havana show scheduled for the Stardust," Anthony said.

The opening of the Cuban show has been postponed repeatedly as the performers have had trouble getting permission to leave the island nation for the United States.

No new opening date for "Havana Nights" has been announced, but it should be ready by the weekend.

Ocean's away

The filming for "Ocean's Twelve" that had been scheduled for this week at Bellagio is not going to happen.

Stars including George Clooney, Julia Roberts, Andy Garcia, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon and Don Cheadle were supposed to do a closing scene for the caper flick.

But the scene will be shot in Los Angeles instead. No immediate word why.

However, there will be some other local filming this week. James Caan and the rest of the "Las Vegas" cast will be at various Sin City locations today through Thursday.

VegasBits

Visit: The mom and daughter from America's favorite TV family, "The Osbournes," had dinner Sunday night at Nobu (Hard Rock). Earlier, Sharon Osbourne and Kelly Osbourne had some private time with family friend and Caesars headliner Elton John ...

Happy: Indicted Las Vegas Councilwoman Janet Moncrief looked like she didn't have a care in the world as she sat having some drinks and talking and laughing with a female friend at the Bootlegger Bistro on Saturday night ...

Sun: Rapper Nas and Ultimate Fighting Championship competitor Tito Ortiz were at Rehab, the Hard Rock Hotel's Sunday afternoon pool party ...

Congrats: There were two photos of Vegas.com prez Howard Lefkowitz in The New York Times business section on Monday -- including one on the front page. The accompanying story was about all the success Lefkowitz is having with the site ...

Stars: Sports legends Paul Hornung and Denny McLain will be signing autographs in the Stardust Race & Sports Book from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday. Hornung won the 1956 Heisman Trophy and is a college and pro football Hall of Famer; McLain is the last major leaguer to have won 30 games in a season. He was 31-6 for the Detroit Tigers in 1968 ...

Fluent: Vanessa and Kobe Bryant had an early birthday dinner for him Saturday night at Valentino (Venetian). Bryant turns 25 on Aug. 23. He and Chef Luciano Pellegrini both grew up in Milan, Italy, and conversed about the menu in Italian. Kobe's dad, Joe "Jellybean" Bryant, played in an Italian league for many years ...

Right now: Van Halen bass player Michael Anthony and family had lunch Monday at Giorgio Caffe & Ristorante (Mandalay Place). The group dined on pizza, salad, shrimp marinara and pasta puttanesca ...

Tourists: Country couple Tim McGraw and Faith Hill visited Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay on Monday afternoon with their kids Gracie, 7; Maggie, who turns 6 on Thursday; and Audrey, 4. Hill opens a four-night stand tonight at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace ...

From Sun wires

Game plan: The NFL on Monday announced its entertainment lineup for the first football game of the season, promising no repeat of the breast-baring performance by Janet Jackson that created an uproar after the Super Bowl.

The pre-game show for the Sept. 9 contest between the Super Bowl champion New England Patriots and the Indianapolis Colts will feature John, Destiny's Child, Mary J. Blige and Lenny Kravitz, league officials said.

Jessica Simpson will also appear in a taped segment.

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