Story Archive

Stern sidekick in town for Strippers and Hustlers Ball

Eric the Midget uses radio gig to get foot in acting doors

Friday, Aug. 29, 2008

Growing up in the small community of Rodeo, Calif., Eric Lynch had no idea he would reach such great heights.

New music, magic acts give Vegas taste of something different

Thursday, Aug. 28, 2008

Two dynamic shows have opened in Vegas — one is music, the other magic. “Hitzville” is a Motown revue loaded with talent, and “Magic at the Edge” is a no-frills production that will amaze you.

Keeping the dance hall days alive

Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2008

Howard Newman is straight out of Damon Runyon — a talkative, streetwise gambler with a profound Brooklyn accent and a confident manner.

He put the world on to swing

Trumpeter who blazed through New Orleans, Hollywood, Vegas unhonored

Thursday, Aug. 21, 2008

It’s time to give Louis Prima his due.
Actor Bruce Dern has a Las Vegas street named for him, for Pete’s sake. So does Ben Johnson. Neither had his name on Vegas marquees or set the neon nights ablaze with music.

Henderson couple so ‘cavelike’ they’ll be married on ‘Defending the Caveman’ stage

Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2008

The producers of “Defending the Caveman” held a nationwide search for the “most cavelike couple” and found the winners in Henderson.

One outrageous party coming to Vegas, direct from San Francisco

Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2008

It started as a lark, a way to raise money for a nudist presidential candidate.

Comic takes raunchy act to bigger digs at the Flamingo

Favorito is up for insulting you seven nights a week

Monday, Aug. 18, 2008

Insult comic Vinnie Favorito moved from the tiny O’Sheas a few weeks ago and is packing the 200-seat showroom at the Flamingo, renamed Bugsy’s Cabaret after Second City closed up shop.

Sticking to the old game

Lawrence, picking up Carlin’s dates, will do what he does best — sing, make people laugh

Friday, Aug. 15, 2008

In this election year, I vote for Steve Lawrence as the new Mr. Las Vegas — icon of a bygone era when the Entertainment Capital embraced class, talent, showmanship and personality.

Elegance, athleticism on ice

Surreal, Cirque-like show at the Riviera is one way to beat the heat

Monday, Aug. 11, 2008

Surrealism pulses through “Ice: Direct from Russia.”

Getting into Tina Turner's voice got her noticed

Monday, Aug. 11, 2008

Michelle Marshall went from welfare to the back of a limo in Hollywood.

Tom Jones show just the beginning of drummer’s night

Thursday, Aug. 7, 2008

When Herman Matthews finishes drumming behind Tom Jones he’s pumped and ready to keep playing.

Finding his country place

Record companies didn’t know what to make of him — but audiences always have

Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2008

Record executives didn’t know what to do with Travis Tritt when they first signed him. He was a country singer clad in leather with long hair while his contemporaries wore cowboys hats and starched jeans.

Pauly Shore’s dad has own comedy career, and it’s taking off

Monday, Aug. 4, 2008

Most folks have started slowing down by the time they reach 78, but not comedian Sammy Shore. Shore, best known to the younger generation as the father of comedian Pauly Shore, has had a resurgence.

Bands galore at Amplify!

Friday, Aug. 1, 2008

Ever wonder what happened to Vanilla Ice?

Motown fixture starts new chapter in Vegas by getting involved

Thursday, July 31, 2008

Sidney Barnes could retire and bask in reflected glory.

‘Phantom’ among the things that keep her happily busy

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Choreographer Gillian Lynne has taken a lot of dance steps in her day — waltzing through a career that began at 16 with the Royal Ballet in London and still going strong. At a saucy 82 years old, age seems almost irrelevant for Lynne.

Celebrating the '80s

Go-Gos’ Carlisle is proud to be out of touch with U.S. music scene

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

As she approaches 50, Belinda Carlisle sees things a bit differently from when she was a young musician on the way up in the ’80s. For one thing, the former lead vocalist of the Go-Gos isn’t impressed with today’s U.S. music scene.

Five groups revive music of era in Regeneration Tour

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Music agent Carlos Keyes decided he wanted to pay homage to the music of his youth and created Regeneration Tour 2008, a 20-city tour that comes to Las Vegas on Saturday.

Rare female magician to take stage

Scarlett will spice show at V Theater on Strip with dancing, characters

Monday, July 28, 2008

Female magicians still form an exclusive club.

Jail guard using hip-hop concert to fund his dream project for youths

Friday, July 25, 2008

Metro Corrections Officer Darry Lighten is putting on a hip-hop concert to raise money to fund his dream.

Comic juggles entertainment, patriotic cause

Thursday, July 24, 2008

Chris Bliss might be a comedian and juggler whose prowess became a viral Internet success. But what Bliss most wants to talk about is his dream of putting a monument to the Bill of Rights in every state.

Playing for the working man

Q+A: Eddie Montgomery of Montgomery Gentry

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Eddie Montgomery — half of the country duo Montgomery Gentry — gushes with unbridled enthusiasm. He’s got lots to wave about. His duo is opening for Toby Keith on his “Biggest and Baddest” tour, which stops Saturday at the Mandalay Bay Events Center.

Jazzman of many instruments to play at Green Valley Ranch

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Multi-instrumentalist David Van Such will be playing some hot licks on a cool jazz night Wednesday by the pool at Green Valley Ranch Station Casino.

It’s good therapy: Evenings of jazz

Nova, a quartet, fills Hilton’s Tempo Lounge with music to chill out by on Thursdays

Monday, July 21, 2008

An alien sound wafts over the clang of the slots, the buzz at the blackjack tables and the cheers from the sports bettors.

Half a century later, Smothers Brothers still making ’em laugh

Monday, July 21, 2008

In the verdant, sun-basked wine country north of San Francisco, comedian Tommy Smothers talks seriously over the phone about his life, his career and the peace he has discovered in the vineyards of Sonoma Valley.

Ron Shock’s a stand-up guy now, but road was bumpy

Ex-con comedian’s love

Friday, July 18, 2008

It’s a long road from felon to funny man but it’s a journey comedian Ron Shock would not have missed.

Country, strings attached

Four classically schooled female violinists turn on the twang

Monday, July 14, 2008

Take equal parts fiddling, beautiful women and sexy dancing — combine them all in a country bar and you have an explosive formula for a good time.

Leaping Lipizzaners! Stallions to strut their stuff at South Point

Monday, July 14, 2008

The World Famous Lipizzaner Stallions return to Las Vegas this weekend to thrill anyone who appreciates equestrian beauty.

Pogo’s owner to keep the reopening party going

Tavern to host three-day jazz jam session and barbecue

Thursday, July 10, 2008

One evening for a grand reopening party isn’t enough for Bill Stypowany, proud new owner of Pogo’s Tavern.

‘Family’ says it all about Belushi

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

At the start of his career, Jim Belushi lived in the shadow of his comedian brother, John.

Comedian Davis won’t let anything keep her down

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

She’s just 3-foot-6, but Las Vegas comedian Tanyalee Davis stands shoulder to shoulder with other comics who work in the trenches of comedy clubs.

Latin band Indigo sizzles Summerlin Saturday nights

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Add vibrant Indigo to the brilliant pinks and oranges of the Mexican restaurant Agave. That’s one recipe to put color into beige-centric Summerlin.

Luaus amid the towers

For 17 years, the Imperial Palace has hosted Polynesian feasts around its rooftop swimming pool

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

For a couple of hours about 500 people escape reality and forget they are sitting poolside at long banquet tables on the roof at the Imperial Palace, surrounded by hotel towers.

Late comedian’s friends collect money for trees to honor his memory

Monday, June 30, 2008

Comedian Bernie Allen left behind a host of friends who are now raising money to plant a living memorial to the man who made Frank Sinatra laugh.

TAKE FIVE: CLINT BLACK

Friday, June 27, 2008

Fans won’t ever confuse country singer/songwriter Clint Black with country singer/comedian Rodney Carrington, but Black might be edging onto Carrington’s side of the stage.

Misfits’ icon cracked wise

Comedian abandoned nice-guy-in-tie shtick early on — in Las Vegas, no less — and wrung laughs with brilliant, irreverent social essays

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

I recall seeing George Carlin for the first time in the early ’60s on “The Tonight Show” when he was still wearing suits with pegged pants and narrow lapels and thin ties and trying to be a stand-up comedian who told jokes in the vein of Jonathan Winters that made everyone laugh.

Making up a character

Cosmetics magician Ron Wild creates the Phantom on the face of actor Anthony Crivello

Monday, June 23, 2008

Makeup artist Ron Wild carefully stretches the paper-thin elastic bald cap over Anthony Crivello’s thick head of wavy black hair, the first step in transforming the handsome actor into the deranged character in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Phantom, the Las Vegas Spectacular.”

Not even critics are going to slow this guy down

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Fans love Michael Bolton. Critics hate him.

Crosby, Stills and Nash

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Graham Nash still burns with the same passion he had in the ’60s.

Take your pick: Country crooner, ‘Crazy Girls’ or edgy comedy

Thursday, June 19, 2008

“Hicktown” catapulted country artist Jason Aldean into the national limelight in 2005. This week, Aldean will open for Tim McGraw when the country superstar stops Saturday at Mandalay Bay.

Modern comedy is his offspring

Improv founder has watched dozens of comedians take wing

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Slightly built, with thinning hair, wearing glasses and casually dressed, Budd Friedman looks more like a retired advertising executive than the King of Comedy.

After 50 years, this master still knows what makes America laugh

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Shelley Berman has worn a lot of hats during his 50-year career — stand-up comedian, author, teacher, lecturer, TV actor, movie star. Berman, 82, brings his stand-up act to the Improv at Harrah’s this week.

Jesters follow fads, but jokes remain in demand

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Comedy changes with the times, ebbing and flowing with each hot comic, says Mark Lonow of the famed Improv Comedy Club franchise. “Comedians have changed. They come and go, stylistically,” Lonow says.

One way or another, these bands are hot

Deals with UFC, a Grammy-winning producer up their odds

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

When the Killers and Panic at the Disco hit the big time, it made local bands realize that Las Vegas could be their launchpad for fame and fortune.

Country alive and kickin’ at Dixie’s

Monday, June 16, 2008

The 100-year-old fiddle sounds new as Scotty Alexander bows through lively versions of Charlie Daniels’ “The South’s Gonna Do it Again” and George Strait’s “The Fireman.”

Garland’s daughter embraces legend’s legacy

Monday, June 16, 2008

Lorna Luft, youngest daughter of Judy Garland, is a card-carrying member of a small club. The members include the likes of Lisa Marie Presley, Frank Sinatra Jr. and Sean Lennon.

Musical is tribute to ‘Wizard of Oz’ composer

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Convention Center Way becomes the Yellow Brick Road for the next few weeks, ringing with the sounds of Harold Arlen.

Face lift doesn’t alter spirit of old Vegas jazz bar

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Pogo’s is being jazzed up.
There are new booths and carpeting. Even the stage, moved from the west wall to the east, is new.

Casals of comedy doesn’t do jokes

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

It’s always worth checking in with caustic comedian George Carlin.

Duo to see if play’s the thing for Vegas

Monday, June 9, 2008

Comedian Rita Rudner and producer Martin Bergman sound like a team.