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| June 20, 2008 | NEWEST - PRIOR WEEK - ARCHIVES |
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| "It's The Norm" - Las Vegas Entertainment Events | |
BILL ACOSTA AND THE GOLDDIGGERS
They're Baaaacccckkkkkk! How many of you readers remember the Dean Martin Show on NBC-TV from the mid-sixties to the mid-seventies? Do you remember the beautiful and shapely ladies who would surround Martin at the couch, or singing a song or two with a guest star? The ladies were "The Golddiggers," and became an instant success when they first appeared on the show in 1965. Well, The Golddiggers were part of the Bill Acosta Show at the South Point Hotel / Casino recently (June 6-8). And, believe me, they were just wonderful. More on their portion of the show following my review of Acosta.
The "Man of a 1001 Voices" performed one of the best shows this writer has seen in a long time, and we have been reporting on Bill for a number of years. The show opened with Acosta singing "Be My Guest."  One of his biggest regrets, to this day, is that he never got to perform for his son's Marine regiment in Iraq. Not that he didn't try, mind you, but the USO never returned the phone calls. This writer even intervened and left messages in Washington D.C. and with Wayne Newton's office. Not one returned a call. Anyhow, I digress, as his next number, "America," was dedicated to his son and all those serving in the armed forces. It was truly a moment! A highlight of any Acosta show is his own routine based on one by Bud Abbott and Lou Costello, who took an old vaudeville routine and made it famous, the classic "Who's On First." The duo did the bit during their early days in Burlesque, and first performed it for a national radio audience when they appeared on the Kate Smith Hour in March, 1938. Bill has taken the same premise and brought it current, using computer terminology instead of baseball names and terms. It's, without question, a modern day classic and worth the price of admission alone. His other famous routine (which is now considered one of his finest) is "The 12 Days of Christmas" as he conceived it. In it, he changes voices 12 times, impersonating President Bush and Clinton, to Stallone or Ross Perot giving gifts to Bush. Another couple of my personal favorites include his impressions of George Burns and of course, Henry Fonda and Katharine Hepburn, in a scene from the movie, "On Golden Pond." Bill gave a demonstration of how an impressionist can change voices with ease, calling it "vocal chasing." He starts out with Humphrey Bogart and ends up about six or seven voices later with President Jimmy Carter. It is also another Acosta classic! As Acosta leaves the stage, a movie screen comes alive with a bevy of beautiful young ladies on display. And, for about five minutes, you are carried back to the '60s and a Thursday evening at 10:00 p.m. on NBC-TV, when the legendary "Golddiggers" made their national television debut on the Dean Martin Show. And for the next 10 seasons we (the viewing audience) would dial in to see what Martin was up to and watch and listen to the ladies sing. |
They even had their own summer show from 1968 to 1970. "Welcome to My World," Martin's theme song, is the first song you hear live by the ladies on stage, followed by "Three Coins in the Fountain" and "I Love Paris." Their appearance on NBC's 1971 Emmy Awards Show is recreated with the ladies singing highlights from such songs as: "See the USA in a Chevrolet," "Love and Marriage," "Bonanza," "77 Sunset Strip" ending with "Howdy Doody Time." It's 25 minutes of wonderful nostalgia, presented as only they, who lived it, could duplicate. So, gang, if you get a chance to see the Bill Acosta Show or The Golddiggers, do yourself a favor and get a ticket. You will be wonderfully entertained, believe me! Kelly Clinton-Holmes called me a few weeks ago to ask if I could assist her in getting a couple celebrity judges for the Annual Talent Contest for residents of the Turnberry Towers. Of course, whatever Clinton wants, I always try to help. The perky lady and this writer met many years ago when she was singing in a band named Mainstream at the old Maxim Hotel. The contest was held Friday evening (June 6) inside the Stirling Club. Judging the eight contestants (you must be a resident of the towers to compete) were Mrs. Robert (Vera) Goulet, Supreme Mary Wilson, comedian / magician Mac King and entertainment agent Ken Henderson. The contestants were (in order of appearance) Guitar player and singer Gene Reeves; Opera singer Chizoke Chida; UNLV student and singer Jerene Cantos; actor and poet Eric Miles; tap dancer Audrey Smith, businessman / singer Tom Sussman; singer Cynthia Homis and realtor David Atwell. While the judges huddled to determine the top three winners, the SRO crowd was entertained by Kelly and her band. Brian Czach on drums did an impromptu session playing anything and everything placed before him on the floor. It ranged from cocktail glasses, teapots to butter plates. This classic performance was created by the late, great Gene Krupa many years ago. Czach is without question a throwback artist (and he's young too). Third place went to Ms. Chida, who sang an aria from "Handel." Second place was awarded to Miles, who read from his one-man show, "The Light & Times." David Atwell, assisted by his mother and daughters, wowed the audience and judges performing "Mustang Girls," to take home first place. It was truly a fun-filled evening! THIS AND THAT QUICKLY- If you are a graduate of Las Vegas High School then you should be interested in the following item: The Alumni Association is looking for former students to join the new organization. If interested go to the Web site www.lvhsalumni.com. Blood, Sweat and Tears will perform at the Tropicana Hotel / Casino, in the Tiffany Theater, Saturday, June 28th at 8 p.m., with tickets priced at $42.50 and $53.50 all inclusive... "An Evening with Billie Holiday" is presented by one of my all-time favorites, Genevieve, this Sunday (June 15) and again on Sunday, June 22nd inside the Family Music Center, at 8125 W. Sahara. Call (702) 942-7358 for more information... Make a Wish Foundation is currently holding its 10-day fund raising drive with all kinds of events taking place. They make a wish come true for children with life-threatening illnesses. This year the local chapter will make its one-thousandth wish come true. For further information go to www.wish.org... Hooters Casino Hotel held a media night last week to show off its newest addition, Dixie's Dam Country Bar, which covers 3,000-square-feet of space. It has a great bar, fabulous looking bartenders and great music. Entertainment is provided by all-female DJs, plus live dance music by Scotty Alexander and the Smok'n Nashville Band and the New Country Strings. The Strings were discovered in Canada by producer Dick Foster, and are an exciting group of four fiddlers playing country favorites and contemporary country music along with the band. It is a good show, gang!... That's about it for this week. I'm outa here!
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