Statesman Journal from Salem, Oregon • Page 86

28F, Statesman Journal, Salem, Sept. 5, 1976 Como style still relaxed amid Vegas razzle-dazzle Perry Como is not a gambling man. So when the casual crooner bet on Las Vegas for the site of his new television special, the odds were excellent for a winning show. After all, "Perry Como Las Vegas Style," airing 9 p.m. Saturday on channels 8 and 13 contains an unbeatable blend of the relaxed intimacy and razzle-dazzle excitement of each of its namesakes.

"Slot machines notwithstanding, Perry loves Las Vegas for its wealth of superb showmanship, and our show is a tribute to the fact that not only blackjack, but Vaudeville, is alive and well in the Seventies in this glittering gamblers' mecca," informs producer Steve Pouliot. Consequently, the entire show, featuring the ultimate in Las Vegas entertainment, is shot far from the clamoring casino crowds, and live as an "in concert" event from the Hilton Hotel's showroom. "We take 10 days to tape most of Como's shows, but this one was shot in three. Naturally there's greater challenge and excitement in that because you don't have many chances to go back and get retakes. What you see is what you get," Pouliot explains.

What Como's audience will see are two of the town's favorite headliners, Ann-Margret and Rich Little; the world-famous Marquis family of chimps; Los Pampas and the Bare Touch of Vegas. Pouliot and executive producer Bob Banner selected these out of dozens of diverse acts they observed during part of a pre-production period which began in early June and continued through late July. "Dick Lane, entertainment director of the Hilton, was extremely helpful in pointing us in various directions to find the most impressive entertainment around," says Pouliot. Much of the talent he and Banner "discovered" has never before appeared on television. In fact, Perry Como introduces the youngest entertainer to tread the boards as a professional, nine-month-old chimp Grade Marquis, who appears with her two older sisters, Annabelle and Pansy.

Also making their broadcast debut are six acrobatic disco dancers of The Bare Touch of Vegas, who Pouliot rates as "the best dancers on the Strip." Choreographed by Ron Lewis, one male and five female performers demonstrate the exotic dance that earned them the reputation of being among the hottest acts in town for five years. Their costumes posed something of a problem, Pouliot reveals. With tongue in cheek he explains that a bra budget was added for the usually nude dancers, because Como, after all, is a family show, and thev unplanned expense of four or five tops for each female dancer added up to a significant figure in more ways than one. However Pouliot maintains that the decision not to use a huge chorus line had nothing to do with costumes. "The facts were scaled down so as not to be overpowering.

We wanted to achieve both intimacy and excitement. Within the fast-paced show, Perry has an entire segment to sing his own special brand Perry Como (center) puts the spotlight on guest stars Ann-Margret and Rich Little (shown in some of their performances) during his newest special, "Perry Como, Las Vegas Style." of ballad." Pouliot adds that while most people will be mesmerized by the incredible spectacle of Los Pampas, who also debut on the Como show, Perry retains his natural calm as the excitement spins all around him. Ann-Margret also captivates in her own inimitable way with the lavish production number, "Shop Around," from her Las Vegas act. It's a totally new number for Ann and is being telecast for the first time. The dynamic redhead, who precedes Perry Como as an August headliner in the Hilton showroom, joins him to make beautiful music singing "It Might As Well Be Spring" and "Put On A Happy Face." Nine other guest stars appear on the show in the person of Rich Little who affords Perry the opportunity to sing duets of some of his hit songs with John Wayne You're Don Rickles Just in Henry Kissinger and Paul Lynde Loves Little's monologue includes the likes of Como himself, Jack Benny, Foster Brooks, Hubert Horatio Humphrey, Johnny Carson and Dean Martin.

All three stars get together to discuss their careers in an informal nostalgia segment that includes vintage film clips from Como's very first show and childhood clips of Ann-Margret and Rich Little..