New set, more neon; He’s Flamingo ready

By Jerry Fink

Thursday, April 17, 2008 | 2 a.m.

Building crews are working their magic in the Flamingo Showroom as Nathan Burton prepares for a new gig in new digs.

Hammers flying, saws buzzing, sound system checks — it’s a concert of activity in the room that currently houses headliners Toni Braxton, who is temporarily out of commission after spending a few days in the hospital suffering from heart palpitations, and George Wallace.

Burton is experiencing heart palpitations of his own, but not the kind that will require medical attention. His excitement stems from finally starring in a major showroom with an entertainment tradition stretching back almost to the beginning of the Strip.

It’s a far cry from Fort Smith, Ark., where Burton grew up and as a teenager performed magic shows in libraries in surrounding rural communities where entertainment often consisted of pie suppers, revivals and church socials.

Burton left the historic “Western” town now buckled firmly in the Bible Belt behind when he landed in Vegas 10 years ago. He surrounded himself with showgirls to give some pizazz to his family-friendly comedy-magic act and began working his way up the ladder.

The rungs have included TV appearances on “America’s Got Talent,” “World’s Greatest Magic,” “World’s Wildest Magic” and “The Entertainer,” starring Wayne Newton.

A film crew from “Extra” recently shot Burton being interviewed by four contestants vying for a weekend correspondent’s spot on the entertainment news-oriented program. Among those who interviewed Burton was Joan Rivers impersonator Frank Marino, a headliner at the Riviera. The interviews have not yet aired.

“The producers liked it so much they’re coming back to do some more filming,” Burton says. “I have a lot of TV stuff coming up this summer.”

Burton parlayed the TV exposure into a hit production at the V Theatre at Planet Hollywood, where for two years he was part of a roster of entertainers produced by David Saxe.

Burton tries to define himself as a small-town guy who grew up in a place where they rolled the sidewalks up at sundown and now lives in a city where the lights burn 24 hours a day.

He compares himself to the other Vegas magician named Burton — Lance Burton, who is no relation — and oddball comic magician Mac King.

Nathan Burton says Lance Burton is a classic magician who is perfect in a tuxedo, and King is a great comedian who performs magic.

“I’m somewhere in between,” he says. “Sort of the boy next door meets David Copperfield.”

Burton, who had the 3 p.m. slot at the V Theatre, will perform at 4 p.m. at the Flamingo. Minute by minute he’s ticking toward one of the coveted evening slots.

Flamingo President Don Marrandino says that day may not be too far off.

“He has a track record of drawing good crowds,” Marrandino says. “I don’t think it will be long before he’s a nighttime headliner. It could happen sooner than you think.”

He has high hopes for Burton.

“I think we’re going to do amazing business in this great theater,” Marrandino says. “We took a chance on Toni Braxton and it worked for two years. I thought it would go for six months to a year. And George (Wallace) has been here for four years.”

The Flamingo, which prides itself on having entertainment variety, also offers the Second City improv show and “X Burlesque,” a topless show.

Negotiations are still under way between the Flamingo and Donnie and Marie Osmond as possible replacements for Braxton later this year.

Burton couldn’t be happier.

“I opened for Marie in Fort Smith when I was a kid,” he said. “Maybe I can work her into my show here.”

Burton is described as one of the hardest-working entertainers on the Strip. He performs 50 weeks a year as he patiently waits for the day when he becomes a nighttime headliner.

“It’s a gradual thing,” he says. “Lance was at the Tropicana for 13 years and then at the Hacienda for a couple of years before he made his big deal with the Monte Carlo.”

The Flamingo show will be bigger and flashier than the one at V, but it will still be Burton at his comedic best with such popular routines as the Microwave of Death and the Steamroller.

A major change will be the set designed by Andy Walmsley, who designed sets for “American Idol,” “Miss USA” and “America’s Got Talent.”

“The first show he ever saw in Vegas was ‘City Lights’ in this very room,” Burton says.

Walmsley and Burton became friends during Burton’s “America’s Got Talent” days.

Burton has come a long way since practicing magic along the banks of the muddy waters of the Arkansas River.

Burton’s a great self-promoter — he once immersed himself in 12 tons of ice with four showgirls for 24 hours. The Flamingo will hype his show with a giant poster of Burton hanging upside down in a straitjacket on the exterior of the resort.

“I was talking to my mom about that and she said, ‘Did you ever think when you were growing up in Fort Smith and performing shows for kids that you would end up on a 30,000-square-foot billboard on the Flamingo on the Strip in Las Vegas?’ ”

Now he has too many other things to think about, like unloading truckloads of equipment.

And adding more neon to the set.

This is Las Vegas, not Fort Smith, and so you’ve got to have more neon.