John Katsilometes

Story Archive

‘Cool Thing’ at Tropicana remains in conflict with fair pay
Friday, April 16, 2010
It is becoming clear that, at Tropicana, “the cool thing” and “fair compensation for musicians” cannot peacefully co-exist. The cool thing, as Santa Fe and The Fat City Horns frontman Jerry Lopez has dubbed it, is the night of entertainment offered free of charge at Tiffany Theatre and Celebration Lounge - until Monday, at least.
Experiencing a case of the spins on a fake bull on Fremont Street
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Crucial to riding a mechanical bull is to understand what your brain is telling you - and to ignore it.
Martin muses about Willie Nelson and a March 2012 opening for Smith Center
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Fred W. Smith is a fan of Willie Nelson. Fred W. Smith is responsible for $150 million in funding for the Smith Center for the Performing Arts. So guess who Smith Center execs are planning to bring into Reynolds Hall.
PBR star Austin Meier: The toughest guy on the toughest sport on dirt
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Austin Meier leads Team USA into the Professional Bull Riders World Cup at Thomas and Mack Center, which runs Thursday through Sunday and features the best bull riders from around the world.
Notes: Shelley Berkley makes a no-pawn pawn shop visit; Dave Berns returns (briefly) to public radio
Monday, April 12, 2010
Rep. Shelley Berkley had no true business to do at Gold and Silver Pawn, which is in her Las Vegas congressional district.
'Star Trek' sale a study in pop culture, fandom ... and medical influence
Sunday, April 11, 2010
"Star Trek: The Experience" has been stored in a 26,000-square-foot warehouse since the attraction closed at the LV Hilton in 2008.
An inside look at Las Vegas' television 'Pawn Stars'
Saturday, April 10, 2010
The cabs are lined up outside the business at 713 Las Vegas Blvd. South and, at the entrance, the type of velvet ropes you’d see at the entrance of Tao are keeping the curious in line. Inside, a burly security guard barks at the throng, “Keep this line moving, folks!” Everyone wants to see the Harrisons bicker and dicker with customers, just as they do on TV.
LV Musician Union takes 'dim view' of free shows at Tropicana lounge
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Santa Fe and the Fat City Horns have been performing free shows at Tiffany Theatre for several weeks, but the post-show performances have drawn the attention of the Las Vegas Musicians Union.
Joan Rivers talks of Vegas entertainment -- and F-bombs before the Queen
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Joan Rivers has been performing onstage since the late-1950s, but an appearance in 2007 was particularly remarkable.
Experience 'Star Trek: The Experience' pieces in your own home ... or bridge
Monday, April 5, 2010
Items not needed in the next phase of "Star Trek: The Experience," leftover from the Las Vegas Hilton, are being sold Saturday at a Las Vegas warehouse.
Notes: Beauty for sale, strong review for Holmes, Sammy Shore is back
Monday, April 5, 2010
Bert Randolph Sugar helped salvage a so-so fight Saturday night at Mandalay Bay Events Center.
Monte Carlo makes it official: Lance Burton's final show Sept. 4
Monday, April 5, 2010
Lance Burton has been performing at Monte Carlo since July 1996. The last chance to catch him there will be Sept. 4.
In run up to Silverton show, MC Hammer talks baseball, MJ and social media
Saturday, April 3, 2010
MC Hammer has appeared twice at Harvard in the past 15 months, but not to perform, "Too Legit to Quit."
Dita Von Teese brings passion, point of view to return to Crazy Horse Paris
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Dita Von Teese allows that "Crazy Horse Paris" has brought "relevant" guest stars to the show - none more so than herself.
Dawn Gibbons says booking Harry Reid for radio show 'an absolute coup'
Monday, March 29, 2010
When it became apparent the marriage between Gov. Jim Gibbons and his wife, Dawn, was hurtling toward divorce, Sen. Reid was the only elected official to contact the first lady to offer support.
At Caesars Palace: Neil Diamond and Wayne Newton -- and that's just in the audience
Monday, March 29, 2010
Caesars Palace was the site of two memorable performances over the weekend, by Lionel Richie at The Colosseum and Matt Goss at Cleopatra's Barge.
Manilow's crew would do well to fix that mic; Sixth Floor Museum offers a lesson to LV's Mob Museum
Saturday, March 27, 2010
The problems Barry Manilow had with his microphone early in his performance Friday night led to concerns he wasn't, in fact, singing.
One quick note about MC Hammer, whose musical tastes know no bounds
Friday, March 26, 2010
When asked what music he's listening to at the moment, R&B and hip-hop icon MC Hammer gave a surprising answer.
The notes: A return to performance for the ages at Flamingo, and Louie Anderson turns 57 -- and cuts the profanity
Thursday, March 25, 2010
The return to the stage by Marie Osmond in the face of personal tragedy might be the most courageous in Las Vegas history. Can you think of one comparable?
NBT's James Canfield muses about dance, Jerry Rice and those 'E' words
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
"A Brave New World" is the title of this weekend's premiere ballets by Nevada Ballet Theatre, but could also describe the approach of NBT Artistic Director James Canfield.
From Sammy Davis Jr. to Fred Astaire, Rick Faugno has it coverered
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Even as a kid, Rick Faugno was different. If by "different," you mean, "playing the role of Will Rogers on Broadway."
Marie Osmond still 'struggling'; this week's 'Donny & Marie' shows at Flamingo called off
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Donny and Marie Osmond returned to the stage March 9, following the death of Marie's son, Michael Bryan. But she is still struggling to cope with the loss and tonight's show, and this week's shows have been canceled.
'CBS Sunday Morning' profile catches Newton amid ever-changing hardships in his life, career
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Months in the making, Sunday's "CBS Sunday Morning" profile of Wayne Newton covered more than 10 minutes of network airtime and spanned his career from a child star to Vegas legend.
Departing Dallas, with thoughts of water attractions and a splashy title bout
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Leaving Dallas, it is clear that Jerry Jones will be as big a player as he wants to be after Saturday night's Manny Pacquiao-Joshua Clottey title bout.
Live blog from Dallas: Manny Pacquiao-Joshua Clottey, first fight card at Cowboys Stadium
Saturday, March 13, 2010
A total of 10 bouts are on the Manny Pacquiao-Joshua Clottey WBO welterweight championship fight card. A crowd of 50,000 is expected.
A long-ago tale of how Big John Tate's victory trophy went undelivered
Friday, March 12, 2010
Top Rank chief Bob Arum has seen hundreds of title fights, and one that he readily recalls is the John Tate-Mike Weaver matchup 30 years ago.
A first look at Cowboys Stadium, which is a really impressive fight club
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Jerry Jones' 110,000-seat Cowboys Stadium is the site of Manny Pacquiao-Joshua Clottey on Saturday, one of many fights and events at the new dome.
Manny Pacquiao's workout an exercise in sweat, promotional frivolity, party chatter
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
The hype preceding the Manny Pacquiao-Joshua Clottey bout at Cowboys Stadium shifted into high gear today. Hint: A bottle of expensive wine was involved.
An open workout for Clottey in Dallas, and that means one thing: Jerry Jones is in the house
Monday, March 8, 2010
Joshua Clottey was holding an open workout in preparation for his bout against Manny Pacquiao, but the (lone) star attraction was Jerry Jones.
A memorable benefit and a trip back to Ruvo Clinic, followed by touchdown in Big D
Monday, March 8, 2010
We're in Dallas at the moment, here for Saturday's Pacquiao-Clottey fight at Cowboys Stadium, but ready for so much more.
Does Depp's Mad Hatter character look familiar? At Luxor, he does
Friday, March 5, 2010
Scott Thompson has been referring to the Mad Hatter in his Luxor show for months, for good reason.
Friends of Bill Fayne flood Suncoast for benefit performance
Friday, March 5, 2010
Longtime music director and vocalist Bill Fayne underwent surgery to remove his esophagus in November, and his friends are helping him pay the resulting medical costs.
Donny & Marie to cut short April vacation to fill open dates at Flamingo
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Donny & Marie are filling five dates in April to help satisfy ticket holders to shows missed after the tragic death of Marie's son Michael Blosil.
Put your hands together for possible 'Legends' cast member Sarah Palin!
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Sarah Palin joked that she's been busy, taking a gig in the "Legends" show as Tina Fey. Laughter, and applause, ensued.
Family of RFK gets an apology from LAPD as Palms' 'Behind the Scenes' evidence exhibit opens
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Members of the Kennedy family were not pleased to know that one of the exhibits in the "Behind the Scenes" exhibit at the Palms would be the shirt, tie and jacket worn by Robert F. Kennedy the night he was mortally wounded in Los Angeles.
Cloer sheds Valli role for a spin at Liberace Museum; Frankie Moreno Band on new Air Supply CD
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Travis Cloer of "Jersey Boys" is singing from his new CD, "Setting the Standard," a collection of jazz standards, at Liberace Museum.
'Power of Love' windfall: $27 million for Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health
Sunday, Feb. 28, 2010
An $8 million check written by Anchor Gaming chief Stan Fulton helped Keep Memory Alive raise $27 million in a single night for the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health.
Marie Osmond treasured trips to Los Angeles to see her son Michael
Saturday, Feb. 27, 2010
Road trips to and from Los Angeles helped Marie Osmond stay in contact with her son Michael Blosil, who died Friday after leaping from an apartment window in downtown L.A.
Of marketing and mud pies: How Larry Ruvo recruited Frank Gehry
Friday, Feb. 26, 2010
When Larry Ruvo first discussed his brain center concept with Frank Gehry, the architect said, "I'm not building in Las Vegas." Today, his building is nearly complete.
A comparison of Cirque's 'Viva Elvis' and 'Love' -- and why The Beatles win
Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2010
Because it was far more inventive and boundary-challenging, the music of The Beatles is a far better fit for Cirque than even Elvis' best material.
Rembering the '80 U.S. Olympic hockey team, which put the Soviets into the boards
Monday, Feb. 22, 2010
The game was enormous, at the time and for all time, yet was not aired live by ABC anywhere in the United States.
Halt in 'Viva Elvis' premiere reminiscent of Elvis' debut in 1969 at International
Sunday, Feb. 21, 2010
On July 31, 1969, Elvis first show at the International did not quite go off as planned, as comic Sammy Shore's mic cut out.
As a history piece, Cirque du Soleil's 'Viva Elvis' bears some explanation
Saturday, Feb. 20, 2010
When we consider the life, career and legacy of Elvis Presley, many images spring to mind. Is one of those images a lasso set aflame?
President Obama shifts to campaign mode in appearance at Aria
Friday, Feb. 19, 2010
President Obama reminded a crowd of about 600 that it's hard to stay mad at him after he explained his "don't-blow-your-cash-in-Vegas" comments today at Aria.
NASCAR counting on Danica to help steer sport back on track
Thursday, Feb. 18, 2010
Danica Patrick has no plans to race in a Sprint Cup race this year, but she's still a force in NASCAR based on her enormous popularity on the IndyCar circuit
Apparel convention provides glimpse into fashion future
Thursday, Feb. 18, 2010
You spot the silver Imani Uomo suit with the purple-and-white striped tie and matching kerchief and ask, “How much would I pay for this, retail?” The gentleman standing a few feet from the suit, who knows all you need to know about the garments, says, “You can’t.”
Humanizing Colonel Tom Parker was a Priscilla Presley objective
Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2010
The fedora-wearing, cigar-chomping depiction of Colonel Tom Parker in the earliest versions of "Viva Elvis" were too cartoonish for Priscilla Presley.
President Obama scheduled for Vegas visit -- and yet, he's already here
Monday, Feb. 15, 2010
"The Oval Office Experience" has debuted at Madame Tussauds at The Venetian, but the actual inhabitant will be on the Strip on Friday.
Sports Illustrated models prove true page-turners in Vegas visit
Friday, Feb. 12, 2010
A party at Vanity hosted by Mark McGrath of Sugar Ray and introducing this year's lineup of SI swimsuit models was held Thursday at at the Hard Rock Hotel.
Advice from Shatner helped Alexander appreciate the Costanza universe
Thursday, Feb. 11, 2010
When Jason Alexander turned 35, William Shatner advised him to accept the affiliation with George Costanza.