Columnist Jerry Fink: Allen remembered by famous friends

Friday, Feb. 27, 2004 | 8:26 a.m.

Bernie Allen probably would have laughed. He might have cried.

For sure, he would have been thankful to all of his friends and fans who came to his birthday party at Bootlegger Bistro on Wednesday and brought with them clothing and other items for the homeless.

Allen, whose real name was Bernie Allen Kleinberg, would have been 88. He died Jan. 16 of apparent complications from falling off his motorized wheelchair at Rose Cottage Assistance Living Center in Las Vegas.

A birthday party already had been planned. For the past three years Lorraine Hunt, owner of the Bootlegger, had made the restaurant available for the parties, which were used to collect clothing and other items for the homeless.

This year's festivities became a memorial to the kind-hearted man who spent his life making people laugh.

Among the guests were Alan, Karl and Marilyn Kleinberg, Allen's children.

Dozens of entertainers were at the Bootlegger to pay homage to their departed friend. Some performed, some didn't.

Among them were Rich Little, Steve Rossi (Allen's partner onstage for several years), Peter Anthony, Grant Griffin, Freddy Bell, Norman Kaye (of the Mary Kaye Trio), Cork Proctor, Rick Michaels, Dick Cantino and Nelson Sardelli.

Comedian Pete Barbutti hosted the event.

Barbutti kicked things off with one of his famous stories that take about 10 minutes or longer to tell, as he drifts off into different subjects along the way. There isn't space for Barbutti's entire story, but the punch line is:

"There she was laying in the bushes. She was in bad shape. Obviously it was an Indian attack. She was scalped. There were flaming arrows in her. She was still sizzling. Very tenderly he took her hand in his and said, 'Now that's more like it.' "

Among those who gave brief performances in honor of Allen were magician Lance Burton, vocalists Michaelina Bellamy and Loretta St. John, impressionists Little and Babe Pier and a host of others.

Allen was discovered in New York by Frank Sinatra in 1966.

"There are some great stories involving his relationship with Frank Sinatra and Jilly Rizzo," said Larry Matzkin, who managed Allen the final 13 years of his career.

One took place on a cold winter night in New York. It was traditional for anyone left in Rizzo's nightclub at closing time to go to a nearby deli for breakfast.

"One morning at 3 o'clock Sinatra, Jilly and a couple of their cronies told Bernie they were going to breakfast and invited him along," Matzkin said. "He said no, he was going home."

When the party was seated at a long table in the deli, Bernie came in naked but for his socks and shoes.

"He doesn't say hello or acknowledge them in any way," Matzkin said. "He just leaned over the counter, mooning everyone at the table, and said to the cook, 'Do you have any oatmeal?' The guy says, 'No,' and Bernie says, 'OK, thank you,' and walks out."

Another story about Allen involved losing his last $2,000 at a harness race.

Matzkin said the race was fixed by touts and bookies Allen hung out with. He was to bet $2,000 on a specific horse.

Allen made the bet, which would have paid 15-to-1, and watched as his horse went from ninth place to first -- only to lose when a wheel came off the sulky.

Almost anyone who knew Allen had their favorite stories about him.

And Allen also had his favorite jokes. Among those circulated at the party:

"A dentist married a manicurist ... they've been fighting tooth and nail ever since."

"As my forefathers once said to my foresisters ... if you stuff a duck with prunes, don't let it fly."

"I have the Midas touch ... everything I touch turns into a muffler."

Sardelli worked with Allen on many fund-raising events. He read a note from their friend Carme, who was entertaining on a cruise ship and could not attend the event.

The message concluded with: "Bernie will never be forgotten ... Every time I see a homeless person wearing a warm coat, a sweater, a pair of good shoes, I will look up and say from them and from me, 'Thanks, Bernie.' "

"He was a very special part of the Bootlegger entertainment family," Hunt said. "We were honored to do this memorial for him. We loved him, and we're going to miss him."

Lounging around

Keyboardist Dennis Mellen is on the move again. Wednesday night was his last night performing at Capozzoli's. Next Wednesday he will be at his old stomping grounds, which has a new owner.

For five years Mellen hosted a popular Wednesday night jazz jam and open mike session at the Kitchen Cafe, 4850 W. Flamingo Road. The restaurant closed last year and Mellen moved on.

Michael Karafantis recently took over the site, remodeled it, named it City Lights Bistro and Kitchen Cafe and is now trying to restore the atmosphere that made the establishment so popular with musicians and music lovers.

Mellen will be at the keyboards from 8 p.m. to closing Mondays through Wednesdays.

Lena Prima, daughter of the late legend Louis Prima, will sign a contract with the Sahara on Tuesday to perform in the Casbar Lounge, where her father first appeared in 1952. The signing will take place in front of invited guests at a VIP ceremony in the lounge.

For several years Prima has traveled the country performing her one-woman show, "Louis Prima: That's My Dad."

Rod Piazza & The Mighty Flyers will perform at the Railhead on Thursday for Boulder Station's weekly blues night. Music begins at 8 p.m. There is no cover charge. Piazza is one of the more outstanding harmonica players in the country. The Mighty Flyers includes his wife, Honey, on piano; Rick "L.A. Holmes" Holstrom on guitar, Bill Stuve on bass and Steve Mugalian on drums.