Columnist Jerry Fink: Curtain opens for new column

Friday, Oct. 15, 2004 | 8:54 a.m.

My mentor was the late Joe Delaney, the Las Vegas Sun's entertainment columnist who died in 2002 after 35 years with the paper.

Joe taught me about the personal side of show business, instilling in me a sincere respect for performers who have devoted their lives to pleasing fans -- not because the entertainers want to but because they must, driven by some profound desire to touch audiences' emotions.

Performers such as Sonny King, who in his 80s rarely misses a weekend performance at the Bootlegger Bistro, even when he is ill or in pain.

And Nelson Sardelli, a singing, dancing, gun-twirling comedian who, at 70, is most alive when he is in front of his fans.

Or Buddy Greco, a legend who, at 78, is always looking forward to his next gig.

And even 12-year-old Facia, a talented Las Vegas resident who finds more respect performing in other states and other countries than in her hometown -- a fate also suffered by the Killers, one of the hottest young rock bands in the country.

Vegas is bursting with entertainers, young and old, who don't always get the recognition they deserve in a town that seems to take them for granted.

My editors are giving me the opportunity to write about these and other performers and their entertainment world. Welcome to my new column.

But first, a clarification.

I am not a gossip columnist. I am the Sun's writer of entertainment features, reviewer of shows and habitue of lounges (solely for professional reasons, to gather information for my other column, Jerry's Lounge).

And beginning today, I also am an entertainment news columnist.

I will be writing about a wide variety of subjects: Entertainers, ongoing shows, premieres, special events, worthwhile fundraisers, newsmakers in the industry and a potpourri of other topics, including such issues as the spiraling cost of show tickets in Las Vegas.

Or the political implications of such productions as the Cuba-imported "Havana Night Club" and social significance of a show such as "Fashionistas," a production at the new alternative-lifestyle nightclub Krave that is based on a pornographic movie.

From time to time I will take an in-depth look at trends, politics, business, government, crime and other issues that might impact the Vegas entertainment industry.

Because a reporter is only as good as his or her sources, I will rely on everyone in Vegas for my news tips. If each of you will just send me one item a week, this job will be a snap.

Our former gossip columnist had great sources. If you are one of them and are frustrated that you have no one to turn to with your information, feel free to contact me.

Or if you were a friend of Joe's and used to send him story ideas, I'm sitting at a desk 6 feet from where he once sat.

What news am I looking for? There is no definitive answer, other than I will know it when I see it. Call me, write me, e-mail me, send smoke signals or carrier pigeons with your news -- I may not be able to use it, but at least I will have the information and can make a determination whether it is appropriate.

With 30 years in the newspaper business, 23 of them as a hard-news reporter and feature writer in Oklahoma, I have developed a sense of the newsworthy and will do my best to put that sense to good use.

During my career I have reported my share of murders and other crimes, court proceedings, government, politics, tornadoes and tragedies of all sorts.

A couple of years after moving to Las Vegas and joining the Sun staff in 1997 I decided, since I was in the Entertainment Capital of the World, to turn my attention to show business rather than human suffering. However, from time to time I still find myself covering disasters and suffering -- only the disasters are onstage and the suffering is in the audience.

While the main purpose of the column will be hard news, I hope to include in this space human-interest stories, tips on shows that are worth your time and money to see, notes about who is performing where and other assorted tidbits of information.

To the best of my ability I will use this column to give performers and others involved the recognition they deserve, hopefully with the sensitivity and the sensibility once used by Joe.

While much of my time will be devoted to the news column, I will not give up my other assignments. In fact, a lot of the news that will find its way into this space will come from reviewing shows, interviewing celebrities, covering the lounge scene, attending parties, going to openings and otherwise being involved as much as possible in the entertainment scene.

I have made countless friends and acquaintances since coming to Vegas. I invite any and all of you to make this your column, not mine -- to share your news with me and the readers.

And now, on with the show.

Hurricane warning

The Hurricane Bar and Grill on South Bermuda Road turned into a Latin Quarter Sunday night as musicians from "Havana Night Club" jammed with saxophonist Tommy Alverado's jazz ensemble. "Havana" producer Nicole Durr was on hand to cheer for her team.

Alverado and his group are at the Hurricane every Sunday. Other nights he can be heard at TI's Tangerine Lounge and other venues around town.

The cast of "Havana," which begins a limited engagement at the Stardust from Saturday to Oct. 22, is reaching out to the Vegas community in other ways.

Monday the Cubans performed at noon for students and faculty of Bonanza High School and presented a class in dance and music for interested students. A spokesman for "Havana," which returns to the Stardust on Nov. 26 for a longer stay, noted that funding for the school's arts programs had been slashed. The dancers and musicians hope to help compensate for the loss with a monthly visit to the high school to teach and perform.

Dew say

Vocalist Genevieve Dew and the Frankie Moreno Band will be the featured entertainment at a multipurpose benefit show at 8 p.m. Monday at the Orleans Showroom.

The Scintas, popular headliners at the Rio, will be among the guest performers.

A silent auction will be held at 7 p.m.

Ticket prices are $19.95 for general admission, $100 for orchestra seats and $1,000 for a private box for eight.

Those that will benefit include the Las Vegas Charter School of the Deaf, For Kids Now and the Las Vegas Sports Committee, which helps local youth organizations and needy student athletes.

For more information call 365-7070.

Vegas getting gamey

Are game shows going to be the next wave of entertainment in Vegas?

Allen Fawcett's "Lippin' to the Hits," a 75-minute production that features lip-syncing by contestants chosen from the audience, recently debuted at Palace Station's Laugh Trax Comedy Club. The afternoon show runs Wednesdays through Saturdays.

The Dennis George Trivia Party will have a limited engagement at the Riviera's Le Bistro Theatre from Oct. 20-24. The audience-participation show will include lots of trivia questions, dance contests and other events. Showtime is 10 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and 10 p.m. Sunday.

Moving on

The interactive dinner musical "Ba-Da-Bing" has moved from the Aladdin to the Stardust, taking over a room that was the former Tres Lobos restaurant.

Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Doors open at 6 p.m. for fans to enjoy some free entertainment before the curtain rises on the main show.

Key alert

Showgirls from the Tropicana's "Folies Bergere" will invade City Hall Wednesday to accept a key to the city from Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman. The production has been a Vegas staple for 45 years.

Series on hiatus

The Frank Wright Plaza Lunchtime Concert series ends Oct. 22 with a performance beginning at 11:30 a.m. by the jazz/blues Huck Daniels Band. The plaza is located on the northwest corner of 4th Street and Stewart Avenue, across from City Hall. Admission is free. Call 229-4614 for information.

The concerts are presented by the Cultural Affairs Division of the city of Las Vegas Department of Leisure Services.

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