The Movable Buffet

Dispatches from Las Vegas
by Richard Abowitz

Category: Aladdin Hotel

Klok loses Carmen gains Pamela

April 30, 2007 | 10:30 am

I am sorry to be so slow with this report on last week's press conference at Planet Hollywood/Aladdin about the replacement for Carmen Electra in Hans Klok's "Beauty of Magic." As I am sure you've heard by now the lucky lady is Pam Anderson. This all happened so quickly that walking to the press conference I noticed a promotional banner with Electra was still hanging.

Pam Anderson is certainly a fame upgrade from Carmen Electra. But I still have real doubts about the chances for this production. This was especially true after seeing a horrible video clip offered at the press conference of Klok's show. The look and feel was just like flashing back to 1989 and watching young Siegfried: from the choreography, to the staged box tricks to the haircut. But with Hans Klok there is no Roy and no white tigers and, seemingly, nothing at all original or distinguishing. At least, so far. Not that Vegas requires originality. Hardly. But a winning Vegas show does demand you imitate something that is successful now and not recreate something that was hot decades ago. Vegas changes quickly. Even guessing what will be hot in the future doesn't work in Vegas unless you have a lot of money to lose while waiting for the future. More than most places, timing is everything in Las Vegas. There is no room for error on either side. So, Klok may learn that it has been a long time since tourists in Las Vegas enjoyed this style of cheesy, stage prop driven, heavily choreographed magic.

It isn't impossible for Klok. Right now, Lance Burton is a headliner able to pull this sort of magic show off full time on the Strip. (But I think Burton's show is the exception that proves the rule, and Burton's show is really one you can take the kids to.) Also, Pam Anderson has charisma and fame that will help Klok's show get attention, at first. But there is only so much magic the magician's assistant can do for a show's attendance numbers. And, I saw nothing in the preview video or in the couple simple tricks Klok did to expect that he is going to excite an audience away from Burton, let alone really hot shows like Penn & Teller. (And, let's not forget, over at the Luxor, Cirque is working with Criss Angel on an upcoming show.)

This all leads to the most depressing moment at the press conference: a mom held her kid up on her shoulder to see, describing Pamela Anderson to the child as "the older blond lady." But there was truth in that, too and it is the same truth, obsolescence, that runs through the entire feeling that this show is giving off. One final problem for Klok: the competition isn't even very far away; magician Steve Wyrick offers a new show at the mall attached to the resort.

(photo by Sarah Gerke)

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Poor, Poor Pitiful Me (for imitating you)

March 21, 2007 | 10:43 am

Back in 2004, right before the ownership of the Aladdin changed hands, Linda Ronstadt was tossed and banned from the property after praising Michael Moore at a concert there. This genius move, of course, came from the ownership who had the property in bankruptcy. The new owners of what will soon be called Planet Hollywood were quick to reverse the ban (almost before taking over the place). Some headlines were generated for a few days in the press, and then everyone moved on from what turned out to be a blip in Linda Rontadt's life and the casino's existence. But for Jennifer Joseph the night was a lingering disaster. Today, talking to promote a charity showcase at Golden Nugget, she tells Jerry Fink in the Las Vegas Sun: "I lost a year's worth of work because of that. Everyone canceled me. I was jobless." That's right, Jennifer Joseph at the time was working in Vegas as a Linda Ronstadt tribute artist.

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Steely Dan Overwhelms Aladdin

July 24, 2006 | 1:15 pm

So, now that you understand my sad, over-worldly and cynical mood this weekend you can see why Saturday night was the perfect night to see Steely Dan in Las Vegas. The problem in this case was the Aladdin. Aladdin is slowly changing into Planet Hollywood and no one there seems to care about mending the Aladdin's soon-to-be-gone not so good name.

Entering the parking lot was a reminder that there are serious design issues that Planet Hollywood has to contend with. After a more than half hour creep into the lot it seemed reasonable to ask the security guard, what's going on? His response: "There is a concert tonight that is almost sold out."

It was the "almost" that amazes me. From Mandalay Bay to MGM I have seen resorts effortlessly manage these sorts of events (along with many simultaneous ones) every single week without traffic like that.

It was worse inside. Even though opener Michael McDonald was supposed to be onstage, the will call window had yet to open. Did I mention that on the way to will call, one of the Aladdin's mall bicycle taxis almost ran me over, forcing me to hug a wall and shatter a glass balanced there? The rider never stopped. I was happy they announced that Steely Dan would be the final concert in the venue before the Planet Hollywood redesign.

Of course, it was worth the hassle to see Steely Dan, a group that captures a perfect something about Las Vegas. To me they are the most cynical performers (you can't really call them a band) in the history of popular music. Their lyrics have veins of ice-type postmodern irony that view the entire world as Las Vegas. It is a complex deal. High art.

Studio hacks — the hired hands mostly performing the music as Steely Dan — littered the stage. Walter Becker hung to the back and Donald Fagen was happy to give away many of his vocal parts to background singers. My favorite part was that Steely Dan relied so much on the world's most soulless musicians to perfectly capture Steely Dan's brilliant songs about soulless white men indulging.

Michael McDonald was the ideal when he joined the band halfway in and took a vocal on my favorite Dan track, "Showbiz Kids." I really think on his own McDonald is one of the most hideous singers of all time with a voice as empty of integrity or meaning as any on earth. He was perfect singing that song. I love Steely Dan.

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More Idols Coming To Vegas

February 15, 2006 | 11:52 am

Las Vegas can't seem to get enough "American Idol." Former Idol Reuben Studdard along with Kimberly Caldwell are set to perform at the Aladdin Theatre on Saturday March 25. They should look around and take notes. I have a strong belief that when the 15 minutes are up on a lot of these careers they will find an accommodating home working in Las Vegas lounges. The variety of styles and talents demanded on "American Idol" would create a great lounge entertainer.

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Liberty, Pornography and Dance

December 29, 2005 | 8:08 am

I have blogged before about the odd connections between libertarians and Las Vegas. In fact, Las Vegas has its own libertarian magazine with the fanciful title: Liberty Watch. I learned about the existence of Liberty Watch when it debuted, 9 issues ago, because every editor and writer at Las Vegas Weekly began receiving it. But unlike everyone else I was invoiced for it. So, I e-mailed to point out that I had never ordered a subscription to Liberty Watch. Someone wrote back all snotty to say that either I or my assistant (I wish!!!!) certainly had ordered the subscription, but that I would be removed. Nonetheless, unwanted and unasked for, Liberty Watch still keeps coming in my mail every month like it is a request for an alumni donation. Well, finally I am glad because the December issue just came and John Stagliano is on the cover. I did a cover story on Stagliano over a year ago for Weekly when he prepared to open The Fashionistas, an erotic dance show, at the Aladdin. I went into the story thinking I was going to cover a train wreck(Stagliano had little stage experience and no Vegas history--sure recipe to mess up on every level in this market), but wound up being the first of many critics to worship at the altar of The Fashionistas. Anyway, since I know all about the Fashionistas and John's libertarian views (which I have written about on the Buffet) I wasn't expecting much from the Liberty Watch article. But it turns out the profile traces Stagliano's porno career (oh, did I mention that?), and that is an area I have never gone into specific detail with him and so the read was well worth it.

His "Eureka!" moment, which led him to pioneer a new style of porn films is described thusly:

To talk about my career and how it started, back in the '70s, I saw one person looking into the camera while she was having sex," Stagliano shared. "If you look at all the other pictures in this magazine, it was the one thing that stood out. It had so much more power by this woman looking at the camera and communicating to the viewer. I remembered this for the longest time and I kept it in the back of my head while I was trying to compete in making porn movies during the '80s.

More in: Aladdin Hotel, Fashionista, John Stagliano, Vegas production shows

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Lou Rawls Fighting Cancer

December 20, 2005 | 10:36 am

I am very saddened by the news that longtime Las Vegas headliner, singer Lou Rawls is suffering from lung cancer. When the Blue Note jazz club (currently the location of Krave) opened in 2000 at Desert Passage the mall at the Aladdin, Lou Rawls co-headlined with Nancy Wilson. Rawls will forever be known for his hit "Natural Man" and for his giant Philly soul hits like "You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine" and "Groovy People" But after his performance at the Blue Note he talked to me about his early years working in groups with childhood friend Sam Cooke. It is Rawls who offers the commanding background voice on the Cooke classic "Bring It On Home to Me." I wish him well in this difficult time. I highly recommend the 2 disc set Anthology (Capitol 2000) for those who have yet to fully enjoy the range of Rawls' talents.

(photo by Rose Prouser/Reuters)

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Few New Year's Eve Concerts

December 9, 2005 | 7:59 am

It will be slim pickings this New Year's Eve. Matchbox 20 (at the Hard Rock) and Goo Goo Dolls (at House of Blues) with the big show being Kanye West at the Aladdin. It looks like among the major venues in town who will have nothing going on December 31: Hilton Theatre, The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, MGM Grand Garden Arena and The Mandalay Bay Events Center. December 31 is a Saturday night and so I am a bit surprised or maybe that is the issue (people might need more attractions to come here for a New Year's Eve that fell on a Tuesday). But it seems that New Year's Eve in Las Vegas--at least if it lands on a weekend---has become enough of a draw that casinos no longer feel the need to book a big name.

More in: Aladdin Hotel, Caesars Palace, Hard Rock Hotel, Las Vegas Hilton, Mandalay Bay, MGM Grand Hotel, Vegas Headliners

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Update on Planet Hollywood Casino

December 7, 2005 | 9:03 am

The transformation of the Aladdin into a Planet Hollywood casino has been excruciatingly slow. The Aladdin filed for bankruptcy in 2001, and was purchased by an investment group led by Robert Earl in 2003. Originally, the change was to have happened in 2005, but it has turned out to be tricky to simultaneously run and redesign a casino. With good occupancy, and without the pressure of the debt load of the old ownership, the decision has been to slow the redesign. Today The Sun has an interview with the resort's president, Mike Mecca, offering an update on the change over. He explains:

"The process of de-theming the Aladdin has taken a little longer than we expected. But there are all sorts of things happening in January."

(photo by Jim Cooper/For LAT)

Dispatches from Las Vegas by Richard Abowitz

Dispatches from Las Vegas
by Richard Abowitz