by Norm Johnson Send Me E-mail

This reporter was among the nearly 1000 Las Vegans who were able to attend the Eleventh Annual Old Timers Dinner at the Stardust Hotel last Sunday evening. It was the last one to be held at the Stardust, as the one-time top-of-the-heap hotel will begin heading for its day of destruction on November 1st. The next dinner (hopefully I'll still be around to enjoy it) will be held at The Orleans, also a Boyd property. That's keeping it in the family!

We saw many old friends and mingled with a few. Mel Larson and his dynamite wife, Marilyn, were there along with her twin sister from Phoenix. Suzanne Chabre, of the MGM construction project called "City Center," was there with her 88-years-young mother. Ran into Burton Cohen who is a busy man these days what with his consulting firm. Gary and Chrisse Waddell were there along with former Clark County Commissioner Thalia Dondero. I don't think the guy with those funky black and white oxfords, Jim Marsh, has ever missed one of these. And, this year, he brought the entire Marsh brood including his beautiful daughter and grandkids. Tony Curtis was there too as was Phyllis McGuire. Busy talent agent Jaki Baskow purchased a table for her group, and last but not least good friend, the best Public Relations guy still working in a Strip Hotel, Jim Seagrave and his wife Jan, were front and center.

As usual Peter Anthony was on hand to handle the emcee duties and crack a few jokes. Babe Pier, who in my humble opinion is one of the greatest impressionists of all time, was the final act of the evening.

This is truly a reunion more than a dinner show. It started this year at 5:00 p.m. with a cocktail hour and dinner was served promptly at 6 p.m., and we were out of there by 8 p.m. One of Peter's jokes had to do with the time of the show constantly moving to an earlier hour. "Next year at The Orleans cocktail hour will start at noon," which got a good response from the Old Timers. I had a good time as did Nancy, who was attending only her second such event.

The Second Annual Newport Pacific Jazz Festival, being brought to Las Vegas by Newport Pacific Records, is moving right along with plans firmly in place now. The kickoff night, in the Celebrity Theater downtown (across from the Lady Luck Hotel), will be Friday, Oct. 27th and will be dedicated to the "Best in Contemporary Jazz" and will feature Brothers Ali, Rick Arroyo and the Latin Percussion Ensemble, Kupenda, David Perrico, Tommy Thompson and David Van Such. Saturday evening it'll be "The Best of Main Street Jazz Artists," with Doug MacDonald, John Nasshan's Quintessence, Andy Rumble, Shapiro Project, UNLV Contemporary Jazz Quartet, the UNLV Big Band Jazz Ensemble and Steve Wilkerson.

Now, if that is not enough, look at the line-up for Sunday evening. The Larry White Band will take to the stage with the following guest artists signed, sealed and ready to deliver far into the evening: Malia Civetz, Shelley Fisher, Julius, Louie Merlino, Ronnie Rose, Riyah and my personal favorite, Genevieve (who just won a major Jazz Award). Tickets are on sale right now with limited seating for each night. Tickets purchased in advance at $45 (including tax) will be $50 at the door. If you would like more information about the entertainers, or wish to order your tickets now go to www.newportpacificjazzfestival.com.

A portion of the proceeds from the silent auction will go to Jerold "JJ" Jonigan and his family. There was a terrific story on him and his shoeshine stand (inside the Triple George Grill) in the Review-Journal and on the Web site.

THIS AND THAT QUICKLY: There was a gathering of VIPs and media types the other evening to sorta kick off the new Champ Car Las Vegas Grand Prix, to be raced on the streets of downtown Las Vegas April 8, 2007, at the new World Market Center downtown. On hand was former Indy 500 winner Danny Sullivan, current race driver and Las Vegas resident, Alex Tagliani, along with driver and team owner Jimmy Vasser, of Las Vegas. A young (20) Frankie Muniz of "Malcolm in the Middle" fame was also on the podium. Muniz has been competing in the Atlantic Series and will be competing here in the run-up event to the Grand Prix in 2007. The new racer is devoting 100 percent of his time to racing - setting aside his acting for a while. Jason Priestly, who gained fame on "Beverly Hills 90210" and who was also a race car driver until a bad accident took him out of the sport, was there to lend support to the event...

Golden Nugget will be opening its revamped showroom October 7th with "Simply Ballroom" with a second show "Cover Girl" set to premiere Oct. 14th. Tickets for both shows are on sale now...

Juston McKinney is headlining at the Comedy Stop at the Tropicana this Monday along with Karen Rontowski and Bruce Smirnoff...

The "Boys of Thunder" from NASCAR will be at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Jan. 29-30, 2007, to test those powerful cars on the new high banked speedway. The new safe car will also be tested on the speedway at that time I've been told...

"Splash" has left the Riviera after a 21 year run. It had a grand run, but it was honestly about time...

"Redneck Comedy Live" kicks off its run at the Sahara Hotel beginning Oct.9th...

Well, gang, that's about it for another week.

I'm outa here!

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