John Katsilometes

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Recent Stories (view all stories)

Kiss ready to cram outrageous spectacle into small theater: Friday, Nov. 27, 2009; Kiss, the indefatigable glam-rock pioneers who spawned a billion Halloween costumes and their own teenage army, returns to Las Vegas on Saturday for a show at the Pearl at the Palms. This fall the band, still powered by founding members Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons, released its first studio album in 11 years, “Sonic Boom.”
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 Posts (view all entries)

Monday List: Top 13 Moments and Observations From Thanksgiving Weekend: Monday, Nov. 30, 2009; The walk along Fremont Street can be more appealing than hoofing the Strip. Why? The smut peddlers, they bug.
Barry Manilow off to Paris: Two-year deal starts March 5 at Le Theatre des Arts: Monday, Nov. 30, 2009; Barry Manilow began his Las Vegas residency as a headliner at the Las Vegas Hilton in February 2005.
If the message is 'rock out,' then KISS is indeed a message band: Sunday, Nov. 29, 2009; KISS rocked Pearl Theater at the Palms last night, thrilling members of the KISS Army celebrating the band's 35th anniversary.
Could a savior of shuttered Las Vegas Art Museum be ... Peter Max?: Friday, Nov. 27, 2009; When told of the plight of Las Vegas Art Museum, Peter Max instantly said he'd help the museum reopen its doors.
For Paul Stanley and KISS, rock and roll is not over: Friday, Nov. 27, 2009; Paul Stanley says that no matter how KISS is regarded among their peers, he'll always idolize Jimmy Page.
Twenty years ago today, Human Nature took root on the farm: Thursday, Nov. 26, 2009; Members of Human Nature, sensing that testing cows for pregnancy would not be their life's calling, auditioned for a regional variety show as prep school students 20 years ago. Inspired by "Back to the Future," they sang "Earth Angel."
'DWTS' champ Donny Osmond still deft afoot in return to Flamingo: Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2009; Donny Osmond looked hardly like a man about to turn 52 when he returned to Las Vegas after winning the "Dancing With the Stars" championship with Kym Johnson.
Oscar Goodman sounds like a man not running for governor: Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009; Mayor Oscar Goodman, strong in the polls and winding down his final term, is speaking wistfully of spending more time with his family.
Monday List: 20 at 20, a quick look at The Mirage on a landmark birthday: Monday, Nov. 23, 2009; Whatever happened to that brass mermaid that used to sit near the entrance of The Mirage?
For props, Lewis Black needs only his manic delivery and torrid material: Saturday, Nov. 21, 2009; During Lewis Black's show at The Mirage on Friday night, he told a 10-minute story of following Vince Gill onstage at a USO show. That tale was a wild ride.