One of the real nice guys in the business of entertainment has joined his pals in the Biggest Showroom of all. Bernie Allen was a pal. He was truly a person who could say, "He never met a person he didn't like!" And once you met him you knew you had a friend.
I remember the first time I saw this little guy perform. It was at the Sands Hotel in late 1966 and I had gone to see Louis Prima & Keely Smith (who were the lounge headliners at the time). This particular night, prior to them, a rather funny thing happened. Some crazy guy in a German Army uniform was coming down the aisle, screaming in what I thought was German (but later learned was gibberish) and climbed on stage and began a tirade. I was sitting in the rear of the lounge along with another well-known comic who was working at the Sahara Hotel: Johnny Carson. Carson already knew the act and was cracking up. It was my introduction to a life-long friend, Bernie.
Our paths continued to cross over the years and every time we would meet we would hug and he would always pat my cheek. He continued to work as a stand-up almost to the end of the path. My only regret is that I did not go see him when he last performed at the Riviera. He asked me to drop by and I failed to show up. But I was there when his peers at a luncheon staged by The C.A.S.T honored him. I was also there when he was inducted into the Legends Hall of Fame. I truly believe, don't know this for a fact, that as he fell down last week he had a joke on his lips. He now joins his three great friends who did so much for him during his lifetime: Francis Albert Sinatra, Rocky Grazino and Blackie Hunt. Actually he'll be with hundreds of buddies who have been waiting with a special mike just for him. He will be greatly missed!
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Went down to the Golden Nugget the other night to see a new performer (to me at least) perform in its Theatre Ballroom. Martin Nievera is an international singing star who makes his home base in the Philippines. If there is one thing I learned that night it was that he loves and respects the good old standards. His personal favorites are from the era of the big bands and sung by such great entertainers as Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Jr., Tony Bennett and the list could go on and on. He has a great band giving him all the support he needs and they sound like the orchestras of old (when they had full string sections, etc). His companion on stage is the shapely and dynamite singer, Jenevi Bakch who blends her voice with his throughout the show. She also got the audiences attention when she sang, "Fever" and "Hallelujah, I Love Him So." Personally I would like to see her sing a couple more songs, but hey, it's his show.
Another interesting thing about this wonderful entertainer is that he sounds like a few of the people he pays special tributes to-especially The Man. But he's the first to tell you that he is not an impressionist. A few of the songs this writer really liked were "The Way You Look Tonight", "All The Way","I've Got You Under My Skin" and "Once in a Lifetime." Believe me when I tell you this is a show to appreciate. If you like the Golden Oldies then you have to go downtown and listen to Nievera.
THIS AND THAT QUICKLY: Well, gang, how about those football playoffs? Wow, the Pats really looked strong against the Colts and geeze who could believe the Eagles would miss the big show again. I'm sticking with the Pats all the way...
Went and saw Rich Little the other evening at the Suncoast and as usual he had a full house and everyone was rolling on the carpet. His new opening where George Burns comes out on stage, does about five minutes of stand-up and then as he walks off stage he introduces Little. It's got to be a classic. As you know I am a huge Rich Little fan and strongly urge you to catch him whenever, or wherever you can. Another nice thing, he works clean!...
Ms. Sheila Wright did a great job as Liza, taking home first place honors at the monthly "Be A Legend" Amateur Celebrity Impersonator Karaoke Contest at Tequila Joe's inside the Imperial Palace. She surpassed 15 other contestants (all of whom were very good incidentally) and earned $500 and an audition for the hotel's award winning tribute show...
Don't forget you can go out to the Speedway beginning this Monday (26th) and sit in the grandstands for free and watch some of the best race car drivers in the world practice on the 1 1/2 mile tri-oval. NASCAR Nextel Cup and Busch drivers will be putting their new cars through the paces in preparation for opening day in Daytona in February and a return to Vegas in March. The final day of practice will be Thursday (29th)...
Well, gang, that's it for this week. I'm outa here!
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