John Katsilometes on Newton’s connection with the planned USO lounge at McCarran

kats@lasvegassun.com

Thursday, Feb. 9, 2006 | 12:30 p.m.

I might have opted for something a little less formal (like Club Danke Schoen) but the planned United Services Organization VIP facility at McCarran International Airport will have a celebrity-spiced title: The Wayne Newton Las Vegas USO lounge.

For months USO officials have been working behind the scenes to arrange for the Wayne-ified title. Newton himself appeared before the County Commission on Tuesday to make a case for securing $750,000 from the county's Aviation Department to fund half of the $1.5 million project (the USO is collecting donations for the balance of the lounge's cost).

The Wayne Newton Las Vegas USO lounge (note the lowercase "lounge," as Newton himself graduated from the lounges decades ago) will take over the area currently occupied by the US Airways Club in Terminal 1. The USO facility would serve as an area where members of the military and their families could enjoy some R&R while traveling.

Naming the facility for Newton makes sense. In 2001 he took over for Bob Hope as the director of the USO's Celebrity Circle, organizing and participating in variety shows in or near areas of military conflict. He is still a presence on the Strip as a headliner at Flamingo Las Vegas, and remains a close personal friend of mine.

A little Italian: Harrah's Entertainment Inc. is using laughter to lure visitors to its theater at O'Sheas. I know what you're saying - O'Sheas has a theater? Oh, yes. And its new headliner, comic Vinnie Favorito, is dynamite and worth a trip to the 170-seat venue.

I caught Favorito's act (adult in nature, kids) during media night on Tuesday, and among those on hand was Improv Comedy Club founder Budd Friedman. Hanging from Friedman's neck was a monocle. "I thought I'd start a trend," Friedman said. "That was 28 years ago. It hasn't caught on."

Fund in the sun: Nevada Public Radio took in an impressive haul over the weekend during its online auction. A total of $78,385 was raised as 809 registered bidders placed nearly 6,000 bids in 32 categories for 572 items; the money raised was a 36 percent increase from the 2005 auction and surpassed the budget goal of $75,000; and I think I am out of statistics ...

Taking InvenTony: Longtime "Entertainment Las Vegas Style" host and entertainer Tony Sacca is toeing the line of giddiness over a new Las Vegas souvenir he invented. He won't yet say what it is, but claims, "It will rival the dice clock and 'Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas' sign when it is put on the market on April 15," which (in an unrelated development) is also tax day ...

The plate show: Las Vegas PR rep Bruce Merrin made an important connection thanks to his vanity plate BMERRIN.

Merrin drives a BMW Z3 (always adhering to posted speed limits, I'm sure) and BMERRIN is a humble nod to his first and last name. But a British gentleman, a stranger, spotted Merrin (and his Beemer) at Charlie Palmer Steak at the Four Seasons this week and misinterpreted the plate. "How clever!" the man said. "Beemer-in!"

Merrin laughed and handed the man a business card. Turns out the visitor is the chief executive of a major aviation company in England, and it looks like Merrin has picked up some business.

Fabulous Las Vegas runs Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday in the Las Vegas Sun. John Katsilometes can be reached at 259-2327 or 812-9812, or at kats@lasvegassun.com.