Nevada Evening Gazette from Reno, Nevada • Page 21

6 NCVAOA HOOKS AHEAD February Evening State Journal Stars! They Shine in Nevada's Clubs By FOSTER CHURCH With one voice the top stars say it. For nightclubs, Nevada the only state. Only Miami Beach has a concentration of top entertainment rooms comparable to Nevada but even that sunny coast pales into insignificance next to the Las Vegas or the Reno Tahoe nightclub scene. Last year dozens of top stars made their debuts and opened big shows in Nevada rooms. Liza Minelli and Joel Gray appeared on the stage of the Riviera in Las Vegas, together for the first time since their appearances in the film, "Cabaret." "All in the Family" star Carroll O'Connor made his world nightclub premiere at Harrah's, Reno.

Ann- Margret premiered a new show at Sahara Tahoe that drew, unanimous critical raves. She took a spill off a prop at the Sahara Tahoe and two months later, opened at the Las Vegas Hilton, completely recovered, to even more enthusiastic notices. And Raquel Welch changed from film to nightclub siren on the stage of the Las Vegas Hilton and startled everyone oy her talent and professionalism. Wny do they come to Nevada? The answer is money. A talented nightclub star can make more yearly on the Nevada Sonny and Cher, among the hottest performers on world stages, are regulars onthe Nevada scene.

circuit than a top movie star will make at the height of his career. And because Nevada is the nightclub center of the nation, the prestige of a Nevada appearance can boost an entertainer career in every medium. The Reno-Tahoe entertainment metropolis rests at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains and offers in addition to gaming and nightlife, an offering of summer and winter recreational opportunities unmatched in the world for diversity. Harrah's in Reno presents top names year around. Among the stars who have appeared in the hotel-casino complex are Mitzi Gaynor, Sonny and Cher, and Bill Cosby.

Down the street, the Ponderosa features popular names in the country western field. They've just gone to a dinner show policy' nave starred Dottie West. Johnny Western, The Hagars and Tex Williams. Other smaller showrooms in the downtown Reno area such as the Mapes and Harolds Club feature rising young acts and established lounge names. John Ascuaga's -Nugget in the nearby city of Sparks presents top flight entertainment during the Spring, Summer and Autumn months.

They love country western. Buck Owens appears there regularly as does Roger Miller and Marty Robbins, but they also presented Kate Smith in her nightclub debut, and Carol Channingaswell. In Carson City, 30 miles from Reno, there's a new sight: The Ormsby House, built by the pioneer Laxalt family and named after the original Carson City major hotel. Ormsby' House features major lounge acts and a dance orchestra in its supper i om. Drive 17 miles into the rnoun-.

tains from Carson City and you'll reach Stateline, Lake Tahoe, dominated by three high rise hotels, Harvey's, the Sahara Tahoe and the soon to be completed Harrah's, Tahoe. The vast showrooms at the Sahara Tahoe and Harrah's present the likes of Tom Jones, Engelbert Hum- perdinck, Perry Como, the Carpenters and Red Skelton. Harvey's features round the clock lounge entertainment. Las Vegas, in Southern Nevada. offers the most glittering concentration of nightlife in the world.

There's riot a major nightclub star in the world that hasn't played Las Vegas: Marlene Dietrich, Maurice Chevalier, Jack Benny, Frank Sinatra. Last year the stars reported to Las Vegas in droves. The Osmond Brothers played there with Petula Clark on the same bill. Wayne Newton was shuttled back and forth, between the Frontier and the Sands. Paul Anka starred at Ceasar's Palace, Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash both appeared at the Las Vegas Hilton.

Many showrooms have switched to lavish revue shows. The Tropicana offers a luxuriant version of the "Volies Bergere," Circus, Circus has circus acts and aenalists flying above the gamblers and the Dunes offers the. Casino de Paris revue. Nevada is also a capital of lounge entertainment. Las Vegas features rising young acts and established lounge performers in Cleopatra's Barge of Ceasar's Palace and in the Casino Theatre of the Flamingo Hilton.

And in Reno-Tahoe, Harrah's presents lounge acts both in Reno and Lake Tahoe and the Sahara Tahoe draws names like Billy Joe Royal and the Treniers to its Juniper Lounge. Prices in Nevada showrooms are reasonable considering the quality of entertainment. Minimums for dinner- shows range from about $6.50 to $15 for superstar acts. Famous lesser names can be seen in the lounges for the price of a drink. Perry Como Sammy Davis Jr.

Liberace, Mr. Glitter of Show Biz, is a frequent performer at Reno, Lake Tahoe and Las Vegas establishments. LOOKS FOR PROPER 0 GROWTH CONTROL GOOD COMMUNITY PLANNING FOR ECOLOGY MAYOR James C. Lillard Councilmen Carl Steiner Michael Schultz Pete Lemberes Gordon Foote James D. Vernort City Manager: John R.

Brooke WE DON'T HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS BUT, WE ARE WORKING ON THEM. A CITY IN THEIR IS- NEWSJPAPER.