John Katsilometes

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Recent Stories (view all stories)

Life in the Limelight: Wayne Newton: Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009; Wayne Newton is going to tell a story, and it’s not about his playing poker with Sinatra, recording with Bobby Darin or counseling Elvis about his divorce. It’s about the day he realized Vegas was home. It speaks volumes about Newton, 50 years a Vegas showman and now headlining through April in what might be his final residency in Las Vegas, the autobiographical “Once Before I Go” at the Tropicana.
Kanye West, Lady Gaga cancel Las Vegas concert: Thursday, Oct. 1, 2009; We won’t get to see the Kanye West/Lady Gaga travelling road show at Mandalay Bay Events Center on Nov. 13 after all. The co-headlining tour, featuring two of the more conversation-provoking stars in contemporary music over the past several weeks, was abruptly canceled this afternoon. An MGM Mirage spokesman and a news release issued by Live Nation confirmed that the 34-city tour was scuttled today, but gave no reason why.
Goodman marks Mob Museum progress: Internal construction begins at building that served as courthouse; Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2009; An homage to the legendary shooting of seven men in 1929 will be on display when the Las Vegas Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement opens in early 2011. In a news conference this morning at the museum site on Stewart Avenue between Fourth Street and Casino Center Boulevard, Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman announced that the brick wall from the St. Valentine's Day Massacre would be part of the so-called Mob Museum's exhibit.
Aerosmith’s back in the saddle again: Friday, July 24, 2009; Aerosmith is on one of those extended tours that serve no purpose other than to bring the band once more to the masses. Its most recent album, “Just Push Play,” was released eight years ago.
‘Southern Belle’ of 702.tv gets real in SOAPnet show: Tuesday, June 9, 2009; To say Emily Gimmel feels comfortable in front of a camera would understate reality — or in this case, reality TV.
Roy Horn: More than birthdays to celebrate: Almost six years after vicious attack by tiger, Horn’s rehabilitation is ongoing; Thursday, May 14, 2009; You watch Roy Horn walk, gingerly but with little aid, and you wonder how much more improvement remains in his tireless quest for rehabilitation.
Danny Gans: A star of our own: No other current entertainer was identified as closely with Las Vegas as Danny Gans; Saturday, May 2, 2009; Terry Fator had a great seat Friday afternoon in what was once the Danny Gans Theatre at The Mirage: middle section, second row, third from the aisle. But the stage sat still as Fator, seated nearly alone in a darkened theater that today is named for him, absorbed the news that the man who inspired him to move to Vegas had died.
Gathering for a good cause, and good-bye to Siegfried & Roy: Monday, March 2, 2009; Montecore sat onstage, uncaged, unleashed. A few feet away stood Roy Horn, donning a Gothic-style, black-and-white stage costume and acknowledging an audience standing and applauding a singular dramatic moment in Las Vegas history.
New Miss America 'blessed' to win crown: Miss Indiana becomes 83rd pageant winner in televised Las Vegas event; Saturday, Jan. 24, 2009; She said it over and over tonight: “I’m blessed. … So blessed. … This is a blessing. … I’m so very blessed. … I have the blessing of family. ... The scholarship money is a blessing.”
Despite changes, Miss America pageant still reigns: Winner to be crowned tonight in televised event at Planet Hollywood; Saturday, Jan. 24, 2009; Memories of Bert Parks warbling, “There She Is, Miss America” might have faded, and the newly crowned Miss America now takes her first steps in her new sash and tiara on the Strip, but the tradition of Miss America remains powerful in the culture of beauty pageants. Tonight, a new Miss America — the 82nd — will be crowned at the Planet Hollywood Theatre for the Performing Arts.

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Recent Blog Entries (view all entries)

Buchanan was one of the city's truly flamboyant characters: Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009; James "Bucky" Buchanan was a big-game hunter who had starred in the reality series "Las Vegas Law" and represented many high-profile clients.
Life in the Limelight: Wayne Newton: Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009; Wayne Newton is going to tell a story, and it’s not about his playing poker with Sinatra, recording with Bobby Darin or counseling Elvis about his divorce. It’s about the day he realized Vegas was home. It speaks volumes about Newton, 50 years a Vegas showman and now headlining through April in what might be his final residency in Las Vegas, the autobiographical “Once Before I Go” at the Tropicana.
Vocal strain prompts Wayne Brady to call off 'Making It Up' until 2010: Friday, Nov. 6, 2009; His contract at The Venetian to perform "Making It Up" has been extended as a result of postponed dates this month so he can rest his voice.
Got a question for Wayne Newton? Or a favorite story? Send it over: Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009; Fans of Wayne Newton are invited to visit our Ask Wayne page to contribute to a story to appear in Sunday's Las Vegas Sun.
Latin Grammy Gift Lounge is a wealth of riches for the rich and talented: Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009; The Talent Gift Lounge at tonight's Latin Grammy Awards is a true case of riches for the rich.
Bette Midler's residency at Caesars Palace to end Jan. 31: Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009; Bette Midler began her residency at Caesars Palace on Feb. 20, 2008. She called the experience "fabulous."
It's official: 'Viva Elvis' the name of Cirque-Presley production at Aria: Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009; "Viva Elvis," playing off the film classic "Viva Las Vegas," is the name of the show set to open in December at Aria in CityCenter.
Newton's recounting of Beach Boys controversy a telling moment in 'Once Before I Go': Friday, Oct. 30, 2009; In 1983, James Watt warned against "the wrong element," ditching The Beach Boys in favor of Wayne Newton, who still considers the event a "down moment" in his career.
Dawn Gibbons: Andre Agassi disclosure 'huge' in fight against meth abuse: Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009; Dawn Gibbons' Crystal Darkness program has spanned 27 states and Mexico, and she says Andre Agassi could use his disclosure that he used crystal meth in his career as a way to help others stay away from, or recover from, the highly addictive drug.
'This Is It' documents Jackson at his best, and a show that never was: Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009; "This Is It" is frequently inspiring, but the tragic, unseen conclusion gives the movie a frustrating feel.