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Sunday, October 12, 2003 PRIOR ISSUE   -   ARCHIVES
Ventriloquist Jeff Dunham Does Ramada Express Gig, Riverside Lines Up Hit Making Hheadliners, Flamingo Features Engelbert, Golden Nugget Hosts Doo Wop Festival, Harrah's Gets A Workout, Thunder Gets More Dates At Edgewater / Belle, Afternoon Jack Benny Show Treat, More...

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by Jackie Brett

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The two-time winner of both the Ventriloquist of the Year and the Comedian of the Year awards, Jeff Dunham will perform at the Ramada Express on Nov. 1 and 2. Along with him for the two fun-filled nights will be his faithful companions Peanut - the fuzzy purple "Woozle," Walter - the grumpy old man, and Jose Jalapeno... on a stick! Tickets are $17.50 for Dunham's 8 p.m. shows in the Pavilion Theater, call 1-800-243-6846.

Dunham performs an average of 40 weeks and 250 shows a year. Among his numerous television appearances, he retains the distinction of performing on the "Tonight Show" more than any other ventriloquist in history, both with Johnny Carson and Jay Leno. His most significant stamp of approval will always be Carson's invitation to the couch on the comic's very first "Tonight Show" appearance, an honor Dunham shares with only four other comedians.

The Dallas native broke into show business at age seven, and by age 12, met the legendary Edgar Bergen. Dunham continued to pursue his career while earning a Bachelor's degree in Radio / TV and Film from Baylor University in Waco, Texas. In 1985, he joined Mickey Rooney and Ann Miller on the road in the Broadway touring company of the smash hit, "Sugar Babies."

During the summer of '86, Dunham fell in love with his current hobby and built and flew his own full-sized personal helicopter. Dunham does all the maintenance and repairs on the machines he's built, and has also authored a series of articles for "Kitplanes" magazine.

Mary Wilson and The Supremes will grace the stage at the Riverside, Oct. 15-19. Tickets are $25.

Mary Wilson and her friends Florence Ballard, Diana Ross and Betty McGlown - later replaced by Barbara Martin - formed The Primettes when she was 15 years old. After signing on with Motown in 1961, The Primettes changed their name to The Supremes. Not long after in 1964, The Supremes released their first number one hit - "Where Did Our Love Go?" By the time the group completely disbanded in 1977, The Supremes had released over thirty top forty hits!

In 1988, Mary Wilson accepted the Lifetime Achievement Award for The Supremes, when they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. As the only original member to stay with The Supremes until the end, Mary Wilson went on to write books, record a solo works and give lectures. In 2001, she graduated with an Associates Degree in Liberal Arts from New York University.

Versatile performer Engelbert Humperdinck has enjoyed a timeless career, recording romantic ballads, movie theme songs, disco, rock 'n' roll, and most recently gospel. Tickets for his Oct. 26 performance in the Flamingo Amphitheater are $25, $30 and $35, call 800-435-8469 or 702-298-5111.

Currently touring worldwide, Humperdinck is supporting the success of his albums "I Want To Wake Up With You" in Europe and "Definition of Love" in the United States. He is known as a consummate performer with hits like "It's Not Unusual" and "Release Me," which put him in the Guinness Book of World Records for achieving 56 consecutive weeks on the charts.

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Hit maker Ricky Van Shelton is booked at the Riverside in Don's Celebrity Theatre, Oct. 21 - 26. Tickets are $26, call 1-800-227-3849.

When Van Shelton was 14, his brother enticed him into a role as a singer and guitar player in his band. Eventually, he began visiting Nashville to develop contacts and relocated there in 1984. It didn't take long for him to perform for the head of CBS records and sign and eight-album contract.

In 1987, Van Shelton began touring with his new band. His second single, "Somebody Lied," reached number one on the music charts. After a string of number one hits and platinum albums, Van Shelton took a brief break. When he came back in 2000 with "Fried Green Tomatoes," it was with a stronger sound that only comes with maturity and life-experience. Van Shelton also released Christmas and gospel albums that went platinum, and even wrote a children's book - "Tales From A Duck Named Quacker."

On Oct. 18, a Doo Wop Festival with The Shangri-Las, The Elegants and The Tokens will be held poolside at the Golden Nugget at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15, call 1-800-950-7700 or 702-298-7222.

Weight loss guru, Richard Simmons will be holding his workout show at Harrah's in the Hacienda Grand Ballroom on Monday, Oct. 20 at 10 a.m. Tickets are $15, call 1-800-447-8700 or 702-298-8510.

On Oct. 16, Nov. 20, and Dec. 18, the male dance revue Thunder From Down Under will energize audiences at the Edgewater / Colorado Belle Event Center. Tickets are from $20, call 877-480-2747.

"Million Dollar Ticket," a keno progressive, has been introduced at the Colorado Belle's Keno lounge, bringing the total keno progressives at the property to six. In addition to wagering on the new progressive, players can sign up to be a part of the "Most Valuable Player" tracking system, a means of earning complimentary rooms and food.

The new keno game called "Million Dollar Ticket" is offered in casinos statewide. The game, essentially a 10-spot keno ticket played in the Colorado Belle's Keno lounge, features a progressive jackpot of one million dollars that increases with each ticket purchased until a winning ticket has been issued, at which point the progressive meter is reset at one million dollars. Opportunity to win the progressive is frequent since the game is run every ten minutes. Winners need not be present to win and must redeem their money within one year. Multiple grand prize winners split the prize money.

"Laughter In Bloom," starring Eddie Carroll as Jack Benny is booked Oct. 18 - 22. Tickets are $15, call 1-800-243-6846.

Carroll, who has been performing the role of Benny for over 16 years, presents a one-man multi-media show featuring the legendary comedian telling the audience about his life in show business.

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Editorial Content Copyright(C) 2001-2003 Jackie Brett; Internet Presentation Copyright(C) Las Vegas Leisure Guide