Las
Vegas Sun newspaper columnist Joe Delaney, who passed away a few days ago, was
a friend of this writer for over 37 years. Whenever I had a quandary about a
certain entertainment subject, and wanted a second opinion, I would call my
friend. I would always get an answer one-way or the other. It was not always
what I wanted to hear, but it was his opinion and he offered it freely. This is
just one of many reasons why I shall miss him.
What
sorta ticks me off, however, is the fact that the Tropicana Hotels Casino
Legends Hall of Fame did not get around to recognizing him while he was alive
and inducted him into its Hall. I, along with a few others, began a campaign a
few years back to have the organization begin to recognize, not only Joe but
also other men and ladies of the media who really helped to make this town what
it is today. How many of you remember Sun columnist Ralph Pearl? How about
Review Journal columnist Forest Duke? Etta Cortez was an independent publisher
of a publication that promoted the heck out of Las Vegas. Bill Willard filed
stories every day to Variety (the real tabloid bible to an entertainer). These
are just a few of those who I believe should be inducted one of these days.
It's a shame that the board of directors wait until it's to darn late and our
Legends have departed their earthly bounds before we can honor them! Why is it
we have to wait until they are gone?
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What
I would like to see is a few of the above-mentioned names, along with some who
are still alive, being inducted along with the more famous entertainers.
Without the Delaney's, Duke's and Cortez' writing about them would they (the
singers, comedians, etc.) have been as important as they were or are today?
Probably, but would Las Vegas have been as important? I don't think so! The
slot machines built the towers, but entertainers like Frank Sinatra, Sammy
Davis, Jr., Tony Orlando, Debbie Reynolds and Robert Goulet (to name a few) put
the butts in the chairs before there were towers. While I'm on the subject there
are the publicity guys of
yore (some of whom are still alive) who definitely deserves a place in the Hall.
The list of those guys and ladies (and their gimmicks and promotions) is too
long to pick out any single name in this little column. But if they (the board)
do not begin to induct them (along with the entertainers) they are missing a
bet.
So,
in my opinion, they should induct four or five entertainers, one publicist, one
writer and perhaps one other dignitary from another category each time. I know
the writers, publicists and dignitaries do not mean anything to a lot of people
and will not sell one single ticket to the hall. But just simply out of respect
they should be there. The crowds will still show up each year for the big party
because of the entertainers being inducted. And in 10 years the Hall will have
inducted just about every entertainer that ever stepped on a Las Vegas stage,
along with a few lesser known, but vitally important men and women who truly
helped make Las Vegas famous and the great town to live in that it is.
I
love Las Vegas. I support the Tropicana and the Casino Hall of Fame and what
they have done thus far. I am simply saying let's honestly not forget the past
and those who were here before we (you and I) came along.
I
think that's it for this week. I'm outa here!
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