Before I left I knew I would need some entertainment in my life so I ever so gently e-mailed John Neeland at the Riviera asking if he could get this poor child into some entertainment. He asked me what I wanted to see and I asked for Jay White, the Neil Diamond impersonator, and told him to choose another for me. He chose Dr. Scott for Monday night and White for Sunday.

I went out and walked towards the Riviera and just stood and looked at the Sahara. Who knows what was taking place at the resort the night before the grand opening back in 1952, but I could picture the El Rancho Las Vegas sitting right across the street, and the Thunderbird next door. By 1955, Riviera was up keeping the girls in good company. The Sahara is now by herself. The El Rancho long gone, and the Thunderbird is a mound of dirt. It is bit a walk to the Riviera. It is truly amazing that Sahara still stands. Other than Stratosphere which is also a bit of a walk, she is all alone. She can't depend upon the foot traffic that the Strip needs to survive. With the Dunes and Sands who were in the center of all the foot-work not being able to survive, you'd think Sahara would've been down long ago. All I can think of is pure stubbornness of the owners and the will to live on the property's part. I was quite sure when Bill Bennett bought Sahara, she was going to be imploded but in the back of my mind I knew that when he bought Circus Circus, he didn't implode the original casino, he added on to it instead. I've hears stories that he had a hell of job with the Sahara, in the renovations he spent a pretty penny taking the asbestos out, dealing with the old two story resort and the like. I'm sure glad he spent the money and she is still standing.

I also had to stop at the part of the old El Rancho Las Vegas property that Hilton is building her timeshare on and take a picture of her progress which can be found on El Rancho's page.

I went to the Riviera to see Jay White. The lady told me that Jay White wasn't playing as something came up so there was no ticket but she showed me a note saying that if I wanted to see who was playing John said to just let me have a seat. Now I'll try anything so I figured sure, why not. Sharon Owens was appearing in her tribute to Barbra Streisand. Owens sometimes appears with Jay White and they perform such songs as You Don't Bring Me Flowers, etc. I never saw her but I heard she was pretty good.

Now I want to take a moment to reiterate what I said in my June's report. I don't get impersonators when the celebrity is still alive. Elvis, Sinatra, etc, I can see because we will never see them perform but Barbra Streisand and Neil Diamond. Why? I was talking with some Vegas people and apparently I was missing the point. Impersonators are more or less like magicians creating an illusion. They have a similarity to the celebrity and can sing or talk like them and by the end of the show, if the impersonator is good, you come out saying the impersonator looks just like the celebrity, and you feel like you just saw the celebrity. Okay, so now I get it.

I enjoyed Jay White's Neil Diamond show but he looks so much like Diamond, it isn't a far stretch to see Diamond on stage. I never saw Diamond perform live, but White's show was sure good and I like Neil Diamond. Now Barbra Streisand is a different story. I like maybe 3 or 4 songs she has done and since I live in California where people who live near her and know her gave her a certain name shall we say, I'm not really a big fan, (although I loved James Brolin in Marcus Welby and Hotel, and once even spoke with him when he was with his previous wife strolling down Brand Boulevard in Glendale and he was super super nice). I went to the box office to grab a picture for Owens and she kinda, sorta, looked like Streisand. I also keep in mind that John Neeland knows very well, that no matter if the show is free or not, I find fault with the resort, I will report it to everyone, I figured why not. (To those who think I'm cruel about this, the resorts who give me things know this and I will e-mail them when I get back to tell them something is bad so they can cure the problem long before you ever read my experiences. Germaine Thompson at Sahara knew about my problems with the bellmen on October 8th.)

Owens came out and she did kinda, sorta, in a way looked like Streisand, but she did dress like her and talked and sung like her so I sat back to enjoy the show. Well, if the Vegas folks are right, she sure did a damn good job. After her final song, to me she really looked just like Streisand and I did have the impression I just saw Streisand so I'm going to say she is good.

I still prefer Jay White but I'm going on blind ignorance on my preference. I never saw Neil Diamond nor Barbra Streisand live in concert so I'm going to say these two performers probably are copying their concerts. White's show was full of energy, and it is easy to see he can get an audience really going. Owens was much more gentler and laid back, which I'm assuming is Streisand's concerts. White also has a back up band that is just terrific and you can see they were having fun. Owens had recorded music so it was pretty much left to her and her alone to entertain. Now again, I'm going to say that both White and Owens sounded just like their respective celebrities but I also have no idea if they lip-sync. It didn't look like it to me but I'm no expert.

Anyway, my final conclusion is that if you are a Streisand fan, and you are in Vegas when Owens is performing at the Riv, go to the show. You'll be pleased.

I then went to do some gambling at the Riv, Circus Circus, Stardust and of course Frontier. As you all know, I have a certain affection for the daughter of the second lady on the Strip - Frontier. She has been on her last leg so many times you'd think she was a centipede. I walked around doing some gambling, looking around and then out to the pool to sit down and think about her history and where I was sitting. I was sitting in the area which was the property for the Hotel Last Frontier, and just thought of all the stories this property could tell if she could talk. After my visit with this gutsy lady, I walked back to the Sahara.

I called Mike Christ and we chatted for quite awhile. He found out that Lee Fisher died that day. Lee was a great loss of history as he knew just about everything about the Dunes and Aladdin. Rest in Peace.

When I got back to my room I opened the drapes and the lights of the Stratosphere were so clear I thought I could reach out the window and touch her. It was so pretty together with all the lights of downtown, and the lights Sahara was giving off. I turned off the air conditioner, opened the window and read by the light of the Stratosphere. One of my favorite things to do is to go sleep with the ladies on the Strip shining in through the window.

I got up around 3:00am because I told Germaine I would go down to the Lounge around 4:00am to see if anyone needed help setting up after the lounge entertainers were done. I went down there and no one needed help so I gambled and then walked around the property outside. Stan Irwin had told me that Elvis Presley would sneak out the back of the LV Hilton and walk to the Sahara using the back of the property. Apparently Presley wore a path through the shrubs and dirt of the route he used to take. I tried to find the area where Stan explained where the path was but the property has had so many alterations I couldn't find the area.

I then went to the bell desk, took one of the today magazines with the 50th birthday on the front page, tore out the Sahara buffet coupon and went up for breakfast and read the magazine. The pictures were so cool I had to take it home. Isn't the cover great!

I was anticipating the press party and was very antsy. I meet so many wonderful people via on-line and never get to meet them in person. Sam Melchionne who has helped so much on this site wasn't sure whether he was going. I knew that he was working hard with Germaine Thompson in getting in touch with the Sahara veterans but I never found out who was actually going. I type the veterans' names so many times and maybe, just maybe, I'll get to see them - maybe actually be able to meet them. I already had the honor of meeting Mike Christ who also has contributed a lot to this site, and hopefully Sam was going so I can actually meet him.

I went the Lounge and sat next to this gentleman who was saving some seats so I sat a few down from him. People were coming in and finally asked him if he knew anyone. He proceeded to point out all the names I've typed and the pictures I've scanned since 1997. My mouth fell open, there they were - Sonny King, Carme, Nelson Sardelli, Sam Butera, Freddie Bell, Steve Rossi, Kenny Kerr (who preceded Frank Marino as the "Strip" female impersonator), and Karl Carsony.

I then looked around still looking and hoping Sam was going to be there. I asked this gentleman who he was holding seats for and he said some person's name and Sam Melchionne. I said what? He said he was holding a seat for Sam Melchionne. I said then he's coming. The gentleman said he talked to him a few minutes ago. A little while later the gentleman said there he is and he pointed. Well, son of a gun, there is the Sam I've e-mailed with all this time. I immediately got up, walked over to him and tapped him on the shoulder. He turned around and immediately said "Hi Deanna". I was so happy he was able to make it.

The conference was starting so I took my seat. Mayor Oscar Goodman was there proclaiming October 7th, Sahara Day and he gave a speech. Then Lt. Governor Lorraine Hunt gave a speech and she was telling the story about meeting her husband Blackie Hunt. Now I know I heard that name before and as she was talking I knew why. He was a member of the Characters, a name I typed many, many times on this site.

Now I'm going to give the quotes, etc., of the conference on Sahara's page so I won't go into it now, but I'll tell you it was just a good as any show on the Strip. Those veterans got up on stage and they were great. These guys were on stage, and they gave a performance that people would've paid money for.

I do have a need to talk about Charo for a moment though. She was there and gave a speech as she started at the Sahara, and her show is there now. I don't know about you, but I don't know much about her. I've typed her name on this site, I've seen her on Love Boat, and lately on a cell phone commercial, and knew all about her coochi coochi (sp) but that's about it.

She has made herself another fan! Not because of her singing or anything - this lady is a class act 100%. She gave a small speech and immediately ordered the veterans on stage and called each one by name telling them to come up on stage now. Not many stars will give up the spotlight where the press is attending, and not many would know after all these years all the names of the gentlemen in front of them. She quietly stood in back on the stage while the masters performed. Then afterwards people were serving cake, punch, and champagne and she took it upon herself to be a waitress and going up into the audience asking people if they want whatever she had in her hand, cake, punch, champagne. I was looking around the room and all of a sudden I hear "Nice lady do you want champagne?" and there she was dressed to the hilt playing a waitress. Yep, she had no problem being in the spotlight, giving up the spotlight, and then playing a waitress. Two thumbs up for Charo. I still have no idea what her show is about, but as a person - she got herself a fan!

After the conference I went to find Sam as he said he was going to give me a tour of the Sahara as he remembered it. I found him and discovered the gentleman I had been talking to in the seats was his bassist, Chuck Diamond. Sam and I found him and I took a picture. Then Sam gave me a thrill and he was introducing me to all the veterans. Here I was meeting Sam Butera, Carme, Nelson Sardelli, Karl Carsony - I couldn't believe it! These names I've been typing are here in front of me, allowing me to take pictures. Hell, my camera started to give out and Nelson Sardelli had me take pictures with his digital camera and he promised to send me some. I also found out Nelson and Carme have their own websites of which I'm adding to my links page, as well as on the bottom of this page. This was definitely a dream come true! (I've added my pictures, stories and quotes to the Sahara's page.) Then Sam took me on a tour of the Sahara he remembered. That was fascinating to see what Sam saw back in he 60s.

I want to take this moment to thank Sam for everything he did. First, Germaine wanted some pictures on my site and they were Sam's. Sam rescanned them all for her. Since no one knew where the Strip veterans were, Sam called/e-mailed them and made all the initial contacts. Sam you're awesome and I want to thank you for everything you did! The only e-mail address I had was Nelson Sardelli's but that was only because John Neeland sent me a joke that came from him. Since I never met Nelson, I didn't think it was right to contact him, but Sam had it all taken care of.

I will say I was a bit upset over something that happened the week before. Stan Irwin, who I've been told by many, including the late Herb McDonald, named the resort and created the theme, as well as everything else you read on the Sahara's page was invited to go to the gathering. He lives in California and asked to have his room and board paid for by the Sahara for his appearance. The big shots said no way and therefore he didn't appear. I know this isn't Germaine's fault but her higher ups, but I think they should've paid the $144 for the plane ticket and gave him a room as well as meals. He is so vital to the history of not only the Sahara but the Strip, he should've been there to see the resort he helped started 50 years ago.

After the morning excitement, I walked around the property and took some pictures of the pool which I also added to the Sahara's page.

My daughter and I collect pins so I went to Circus Circus, Riviera, and Stardust to get pins. Unfortunately, Frontier has very few logo items and no pins at all. When I left the Frontier I looked across the street at the Desert Inn and said what the hell, I'm going over there to see what Wynn is doing.

I walked into the Desert Inn and it was weird. It was the Desert Inn I remembered and walked around in but it wasn't. I knew exactly where I was when it was a resort, and now seeing it, part resort, part business building was a unique feeling. I wanted to go outside to see if the time capsules were still there as Wynn has kept a part of the gardens but I could only go as far as the balcony as there was a sign saying past that was employees only. I then walked around and found Wynn's logo shop. I went in there to get a pin with his logo but he didn't have any. He had pens, shirts, prints, books, etc., but no pins. Hey Mr. Wynn, how come no pins of us collectors?

I walked around and had a memory shock when I went to where the casino was and there was a wall. Now I know the tower they knocked down was where the Crystal Room and casino was located, but knowing it and then experiencing it are two different things. I then decided to walk back and I saw a model. It was kinda strange because it was all grass and water falls, with two almost shadows of buildings. I went to the front desk and asked the gentleman behind the desk what it was. He was very nice and explained to me that it was the mock up for the new golf course. Hmmm, Wynn is going to have a golf course at the Le Reve? He said so far it looks that way. I asked if I could take pictures and he said sure. I took a lot of pictures but I had to change film and that film is still in the camera so I am only able to put two pictures up on the Desert Inn's page. I also found out all the information on the Wynn Collection which I also added on the Desert's Inn page.

I do want to stress to you that the Crystal Room and the casino were not the originals that went up in 1950. Even before Wynn bought her, all the original structures were replaced. My gripe was tearing the daughter of the original Desert Inn, the very first tower that went up on the property and the 9th floor that Howard Hughes occupied. As we know, Wynn tore down the tower but not the daughter. She is still on the property as you can see on the Desert Inn's page and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Wynn has decided to incorporate her into the Le Reve, very much like Kerkorian did with the Marina and his MGM Grand.

I looked at my watch and realized I was close to the Riv's next show so I walked back there. John had chosen for me Dr. Scott's Hypno-larious show. So I raced down there, ordered my drink and settled in. This show was also good. He put people under and had some fun. They are all volunteers from the audience and I really had a good time. I won't tell you about the show because I don't know if he does the same thing every single show so I'll just say, he was good and it was a fun show to attend. Hey, I'm female, even if the show wasn't good, Dr. Scott is sure cute so he was worth watching anyway.

I'm going to take this moment to thank John Neeland for allowing me to see shows at the Riv. Without you I wouldn't be seeing any shows and they sure are fun. John, you're terrific!

Tuesday morning I had to leave and here was the moment to wait for. Will Bell forget me like they did in the past and I don't use them for another three or four years or did they get their act together. I'm happy to say he was right on time so maybe enough people complained and they straightened out their act.

Well, it was a really short trip, too short, but it was wonderful. Unless I win the Lotto, I won't be going to Vegas again until February, 2003. Dan Kubota told me the annual paper show is at the Plaza in February and we all know I have to be there for that!

The following is my references for my experiences. Just hit the back button if you want to come back to this page.

Until my next visit and report - may lady luck be with you all!

Sahara
Riviera
Desert Inn
El Rancho Las Vegas
The Official Site for Nelson Sardelli
The Official Site for Carme
Nelson Sardelli's Cast Inc.