STRIP SCRIBBLES
*Confession—in case you didn’t guess! Our story yesterday about the all-magic upside-down Strip resort was our weak attempt at humor with an April Fools joke. The ones created back home in European newspapers—with a bisexual James Bond, a new automatic car-device to electrocute dogs “leaking” against its tires, flying penguins, the decision by the French president to “stretch” his height to better match new model wife, Carla Bruin and a new advertising campaign to sell wine to young kids to better prepare them for adult life—were all infinitely better!
*I had the honor of hosting the ShoWest awards ceremony marking winners of theatrical marketing and advertising achievements within the film world. It was a genuine delight when after introducing Steven Spielberg’s video greeting, my friend, Palms theater owner, Johnny Brenden came up on stage for his award. Johnny who is the son of the legendary owners of the world-famous Graumans Chinese Theater in
Hollywood owns Brenden theaters in California and Nevada. I announced his win and made the presentation.
*In celebration of its 10th anniversary CineVegas has released a 32-page limited edition book of the decade’s festival photos. 10 Years On The Edge features rare photos of Dennis Hopper, behind the scenes candids from the infamous showgirl centennial photo shoot on Fremont Street, filmmaker quotes and one of a kind photos from the Land of the Dead zombies premiere. You get a sneak peek and can order your copy on line at Cinevegas.com.
* I always thought we had the largest resort-hotel pools in the world. Not so because the Guinness Book of World Records just certified a vast seawater miracle “the world’s largest.” Its over 1000 yards long and 20 acres in total with 66 million gallons of water and a 115-feet-deep end.
That makes one lap the equivalent of 2km in length! Located at a southern Chile coastal resort it took five years to build at a cost in the billions and the annual maintenance bill runs into the millions too. The fresh seawater is kept in constant circulation drawn in from one end and pumped out at the other and heated nine degrees warmer than the sea. The world’s second largest pool according to Guinness is dwarfed by this Chilean pool: The Orthlieb in Morocco is only 150 yards long and 100 yards wide—still more than twice the size of our giant swim-centers!
*It’s the 1st year anniversary of the fledgling RawVegas.tv Internet site. In its first 12 months the staff of 12 has generated over 1,100 videos that have been viewed more than 35 million times. Playboy beauty Denise Pernula has “broken out” as the star host and wound-up posing topless in last November’s magazine also landing her own FM radio show.
*Magician Tony Douglas, featuring at the Crazy Girls Riviera topless cabaret revue, was once known as “Chicken Salad Sandwich Guy.” He started out his showbiz career as David Letterman’s intern runner at CBS and every afternoon had to get the late-night TV host his daily pre-show snack!
*Elton John’s guitar player Davey Johnstone has a long-time love affair with Vegas. When he took his family to see Lance Burton at the Monte Carlo resort he told the headliner magician that he began his career performing with Alice Cooper here in the 70’s and played the once-upon-a-time Aladdin resort casino as far back as 1977!
*Former Vegas show-opener Brian Evans, in the midst of completing his new debut album, has signed on to appear and sing on Glenn Close’s hit TV series Damages. The program seen by more than 8 million viewers a week is also the No. 1 best selling TV-show DVD.