Stage Right

Friday, July 9, 2004 | 8:59 a.m.

The Sun Spots haven't been forgotten in the $82 million purchase of the Plaza and three other downtown casinos by Barrick Gaming Corp. The perennial lounge act from Manila has been performing its popular blend of pop and rock in Las Vegas for more than 40 years, and fans never seem to tire of the band.

The Sun Spots have been performing at the Plaza's Omaha Lounge for seven years.

"We have no plans to make any changes in the group's status," said Barrick President Stephen Crystal, who was born about the time the Sun Spots came to town. "The last thing you want to do is make changes that would take away something the current clientele enjoys.

"We're trying to add to the entertainment value without diminishing the experience of our loyal customer base."

That expansion includes a major focus on entertainment, which will play a key role in the future of the Plaza, as well as its sister properties downtown Q the Las Vegas Club, Western and Gold Spike.

Magician Dirk Arthur is out; he is joining "Splash" at the Riviera. Dick Clark is in; he will produce "Rock, Roll & Remember," a musical variety show beginning in September. "Legends in Concert" creator John Stuart will direct the production, which will be staged in a refurbished 800-seat Plaza showroom.

"As Dick described it, this will be a show about music through the ages, focusing on the '60s and '70s," said Crystal, speaking by phone from his office in Washington, D.C. "It will be a piece of Americana, combining music with memorabilia he has collected over 50 years in the industry."

The production will be a combination of an ensemble cast and occasional guest celebrities.

And it will be the first major step on a journey that the Barrick executive optimistically asserts will ultimately change downtown, using entertainment as a major means of shedding the negative perception some tourists and locals have of the area.

"When we put the project (buying the downtown properties) together we did something that most of the downtown operators have not focused on in a long time," Crystal said. "We beefed up the staff in the sports and entertainment arena."

A happening place

Aside from the Golden Nugget, which also underwent a recent change in ownership, most of the downtown properties have relied on bargain prices on hotel rooms, good favorable odds on gaming and on the newly revamped Fremont Street Experience to attract customers, said Crystal.

"They have not invested a lot in programming and other reasons to visit downtown," said Crystal, who has a 25 percent share of the company that is mostly owned by David Barrick. "We reasoned that we could, in a cost-effective way, bring some unique programs to downtown."

The Plaza revealed its aggressive attitude about changing the way business is done downtown when in April, barely a month after Barrick took over the property, the casino accepted a wager that had been turned down by Caesars Palace.

London resident Ashley Revell placed his life savings of $135,300 on red at the roulette wheel as a British film crew recorded the wager.

He won, doubling his money.

Although many gaming executives criticized the event, Barrick couldn't have been happier.

"It was a good way to kick off our philosophy," Crystal said. "We received $4 million to $6 million in media coverage around the world."

The new philosophy is to put on interesting events that will expand the customer base.

Barrick is working closely with Univision, the Hispanic television network.

"One of our focuses is the Latino market," Crystal said. "We hosted a live fight card at the Plaza, featuring six bouts, and there was good attendance. And we had great exposure on Univision, which has great viewership in the areas we care about in terms of demographics."

The boxing was followed up with a poker tournament sponsored by Fox Sports network, which was followed up by an international arm-wrestling championship.

Crystal says his company borrowed a page from Caesars Palace's book on how to succeed -- constant action.

Larry Monetti, co-star of the hit TV series "Magnum P.I.", is the entertainment director. He often calls upon a long list of celebrity friends to come to the Plaza and mingle with the folks.

"We want the Plaza to be associated with something going on all the time," Crystal said.

Such as the celebrity Sunday brunch that began a couple of months ago at the second-floor Center Stage Restaurant and lounge. Combining eating and entertainment has been so successful that the brunch has been moved to the showroom, where, at around noon, veteran comedian Joey Villa hosts a revue that includes many guest performers.

Often, a celebrity will be a featured guest at the brunch. Past guests have included Dale Robertson, a spokesman for the hotel and former TV and and film star, and Mike Connors of "Mannix" fame.

"Our customer base appreciates that they can say they came to Vegas and got up close and personal with celebrities," Crystal said.

Las Vegan Pat Morita (from "The Karate Kid" films and the TV series "Happy Days") frequently attends the brunches.

"This is simply a beginning for the entire downtown area," Morita said. "The neighborhood hasn't turned the corner yet, but I have a sense that I'm getting in on the ground floor.

"The Barrick gaming people have exercised good sense of timing."

Morita says much is owed to the efforts of Mayor Oscar Goodman.

"His vision for downtown, it's just beginning to happen," he said.

Old new kid

Vocalist/keyboardist Joe Darro performed in a lounge at the Plaza when it opened in 1971.

Thirty-four years later he's back, performing dinner music for customers of the Center Stage Restaurant and backup for entertainers on Friday and Saturday nights and the Sunday brunch show.

When he first performed at the venue, it was called the Union Plaza, which was built by a group headed by Jackie Gaughan.

The hotel was the new kid on the block. Binion's Horseshoe, the Golden Gate and others had been around for years.

"The land they built the hotel on had been owned by the Union Pacific Railroad," recalled Darro, who worked in one of two lounges at the venue.

Darro said sometime after the casino opened former Tropicana entertainment director Maynard Sloate was hired and started bringing in Broadway shows.

"I saw 'Fiddler on the Roof' there," Darro said.

Broadway may not been in the Plaza's future, but plenty of other things are.

Crystal says the company's philosophy is simple.

"We want to be known as the place where there is always something going on -- whether a fight, a comedian, a celebrity walking the floor," Crystal said. "Ed McMahon signed on early with us ... he may be doing some celebrity bartending."

Plans are also in the works for a billiard tournament.

Recently the showroom for one night was turned into an after-hours club, which hosted a VIP list of locals.

"We had some strip-poker games -- not all the way," Crystal said. "It was a successful inaugural event. Several hundred came down. We will do it again."

At end of the month Univision will film a party on the Plaza's pool deck.

"The deck is the size of a football field," Crystal said. "It has been underutilized. We will bring in concerts, parties and special events."

The Center Stage Restaurant has also been underutilized.

"It has one of the most impressive vistas in all of Las Vegas," Crystal said. There is some discussion about making it a late-night dance club.

The Plaza also has a 30,000-square-foot ballroom, which will gain more attention in the future. Most recently it has been used for boxing matches.

"The space is something we need to make more use of," Crystal said.

Even the outside of the hotel, the entry along Main Street, is becoming an entertainment center.

"We've had break dancers and impromptu street performers," Crystal said. "Guests come out of the casino to watch them. They're being entranced by the activity -- and what it shows us is that people are starved for entertainment."

Crystal says the company has accomplished a lot during its short time downtown.

"We've only been in operation 90 days, and we've done more than all the other properties have done in 20 years.

"It just has not been happening downtown. I think the other owners are taking notice, seeing that we're doing some fun things. I think they will start doing something. The more that goes on, the better it is for downtown -- we hope it catches on."

archive