Frank Marino - June, 2000
Frank Marino - June, 2000
Please keep in mind that some of this page came from Frank Marino's book "His Majesty, the Queen", Copyright 1997, LOC #96-077477. I was given full permission by Frank to use his book in addition to what he had already sent to me to prepare his page. If you are interested in obtaining an autographed copy of his book, please visit his site. All quotes on this page are Frank's. I will be updating this page with other information on Marino that will not be in his book.
Marino has been a consistent star on the Strip as well as the Riviera since September of 1985, starring in the show An Evening at La Cage as Joan Rivers.
Marino was born on November 20, 1963, in Brooklyn, New York, the only child of Sandra and Frank Marino.
When Marino was six years old when his mother died of breast cancer and when he was nine, his father died of lung cancer. During their illness and subsequent deaths, Marino moved in with relatives, in Oceanside, Long Island, first with his uncle and aunt, and then with his godparents, Sarah and Ace Paz, who already had three daughters and one son of which he calls his sisters and brother.
Marino became a junior workaholic for the next four years having two to three paper routes at the same time, as well as raking leaves, mowing lawns, shoveling snow, and baby-sitting jobs.
At the age of 16 Marino decided he needed a nose job. After the surgery, this new confidence lead him to enter dancing contests mostly in Brooklyn. Later he met and teamed up with Laura Greco to win a few dancing contests.
After high school, Marino started college and worked for Drug-A-Rama, a local pharmacy not far from his house.
It was during this time he had a role model in Diana Ross.
"As far as I was concerned, she had it all. She had both class and pizazz. I began to lip sync to her music and emulate her movements in front of the mirror at night while I was getting ready to go out. Before the end of the summer, I could move almost as well as Diana could. I was not aware of the significance this ability to mimic peoples' gestures would later play in my life."
In 1981, the club Starz, was hosting a special Halloween night lip-sync contest offering a large cash prize. In preparation of this contest Marino spent a large portion of his paychecks buying eye shadows, blushes, foundations, liners and lashes, hiding them in the attic. He then proceeded to practice being Ross and won Best Costume. Marino was then approached by Greg Kramer of Universal Talent Showcase asking if he would be interested in performing at other clubs. Marino took the offer. He would leave the house as a male and then get into drag at whatever club he was performing in, usual in their filthy kitchens or basements along with the rats and roaches, and then change back to male clothing before going home. Marino became a content college student by day and female impersonator by night.
During his second year of college Marino discovered just how much he hated school. By the beginning of his third year he transferred out of Nassau Community College into NY University of Technology. He was determined to finish college only because that was his mother and father's last wish.
Marino also confided to his sisters about his weekend activities and asked them to come and watch him perform.
"I will say this much, whether they understood why I was doing female impersonation or not, they were very accepting and supportive of my choice. They took tons of pictures and congratulated me on my performance."
Marino looked at these pictures and realized he looked like a big old man, in a dress. He once again sought plastic surgery and over the next two years had a silicone implant put in his chin and mylar cheek implants to lift his cheekbones. He had to take several weekends off in order to let the surgery heal, and during this time he realized he was no longer limited to impersonating Diana Ross. With new high cheekbones, softer chin line and finely chiseled nose, Marino realized he could impersonate anyone. When he put on a blonde wig and added the right expressions, he was a dead ringer for Joan Rivers.
"Well,ok. Maybe a passable ringer if you'd already had a few scotch and sodas!"
This is when Marino began focusing his attention to studying Rivers' mannerisms on stage and her wardrobe. The hardest thing he had to learned was her tone of voice. With Diana Ross he moved his mouth and lip sync'd to a record. With Rivers, he had to learn how to use comedy monologues and tell jokes. He also had to develop a talent for making people laugh at what he said.
After becoming a hit the very first time he tried his new act, he started alternating his performances between Ross and Rivers.
Marino graduated college with a Bachelor's Degree in Business and then broke the news to everyone that he was a female impersonator and he was going to be a star.
To add to an already complicated life, Marino started to hear rumors that he was adopted. He sat his Godmother Sarah down and asked her about this rumor. She told him that Marino's biological mother had gotten pregnant at a very young age. The girl was not married and could now afford a baby. The Marinos had adopted him at birth.
"I didn't know who I really was. That is, until Sarah reminded me that: I was Frank Marino! I had never been anyone else. She assured me that even though my biological parents were out there somewhere, Sandra and Frank Marino were my parents. They were the ones who had loved me. Sandra was the woman who had changed my diapers and walked the floor with me when I cried at night. Sandra was my mother. . . . I was almost twenty years old and I had already survived the third most devastating period of my life. I was beginning to wonder if my entire life would turn out to be one devastation and heartache after another. I was wondering if I would ever be able to find happiness. . . . Each time I began to feel sorry for myself, or if I dwell on my sorrows and disappointments too long, Sarah's words come back to comfort me. I can still hear her saying, 'You can do anything you want to do. You can be anything you want to be.' You just have to be willing to work hard at it and you can make it happen."
Marino went to see Rivers at Atlantic City. He was invited back stage and managed to have his picture taken with her. Rivers introduced him to Lou Paciocco who was the producer for the world renowned female impersonation revue La Cage. Paciocco offered to fly Marino to perform in his club in Beverly Hills, California and audition for the starring role of his new La Cage Show in Florida as Rivers. Marino passed the audition and he was committed to one show per night, six nights a week. His salary jumped from $150 a night to more than $1,500 a week.
"I still had my dream of one day seeing my name in the marquee lights on the Strip in Las Vegas."
To achieve this dream Marino worked harder. If there was a contest to be entered, he entered it. If there was an extra appearance to be made on his night off, he made it.
"I had one goal and one focus in life. Nothing was going to get in my way or slow me down. There was nothing or no one who could stop me from becoming the best female impersonator the world had ever seen!"
One person who had a reservation to see Marino's show was Meshalum Riklis. Riklis was married to Pia Zadora and the owner of the 9th lady on the Strip - Riviera Hotel. He was impressed with what he saw and decided it would be perfect for his hotel. Riklis then built a wing onto the Riviera and called it the Mardi Gras Plaza. They were adding three new showroom and La Cage was going to be the biggest of the three shows. They designed the La Cage Showroom with black walls and zebra-striped rugs. Marino's new manager Anthony Paciocco arranged a new contract for Marino to earn more than a quarter of a million dollars a year.
The show was booked only a three month run. La Cage producer and business mogul Norbert Aleman, and a determined Marino knew this was just the beginning.
"People go to Las Vegas to get rich! So did I, but I also wanted to be famous."
Marino saw his dream come true when he saw the Riviera's marquee.
Riviera Marquee & Billboard
From His Majesty The Queen
"I had worked and slaved and played some of the seediest nightclubs in the Tristate area. I had dressed in kitchens and basements with rats and roaches running up and down the walls. I had snuck out of my parents' home, hidden my clothes and makeup in the attic. . . . I had without a doubt, paid my dues and served my absolute apprenticeship. I would make this town sit up and take notice of me."
His mother Sarah appeared at the opening as well as Liberace. Liberace introduced Marino to Anna Nateece who made all his fur costumes. Marino remembers Liberace saying he thought she would be perfect for him.
"Not long after I arrived in Las Vegas, I had the opportunity to appear in a television special called, Milton Berle Joins La Cage. . . . The idea was that we'd battle back and forth on stage. He would tell a fat joke, then I'd tell a fat joke. He would tell an ugly joke, then I'd tell an ugly joke. Before the end of the night we were laughing as hard as the audience was."
By the time Marino was 21 years old he had a total of nine surgeries costing in excess of $50,000. He was becoming better friends with Rivers, spending lots of time with her on different occasions and had been invited to her house for dinner. She introduced Marino to her gown designer and gave him some old comedy material to use in his act.
During one of his shows in 1986, while performing to an audience of close to 1,000 people, Marino was served with a subpoena which stated that Rivers had filed a lawsuit against him for $5,000,000. Also named were the show's producers as well as the Riviera Hotel. This was the first time an impersonator was being sued by the actual celebrity and Marino was featured on the front cover of the National Enquirer, People Magazine, USA Today, Variety, and ten Show Biz Magazines. The lawsuit stated that Marino was lifting Rivers' jokes and stealing her comedy. Marino found out that one of his local competitors went to Rivers' people and said that he was doing her exact routine.
"Well, I was impersonating Joan Rivers. Whose act should I do, Roseanne Barr's?"
After six months, an amicable settlement was reached. Marino could continue performing as Riviera but he couldn't use any of her material including the term "Can We Talk".
In addition to performing at La Cage, Marino opened a beauty salon "Frank Marino's La Cage", with the motto "You too can be a Star. Or just look like one." Marino realized he didn't have the time to dedicate to the salon and sold it to Russ Bono who moved the salon to a new location and renamed it "Russ Bono and Company."
In 1989, Marino had a bad year starting with La Cage's producer Norbert Aleman.
"I was preparing to go on stage one night when my producer, Norbert, and I got into a big argument. At that particular time I had a dressing room with a view of the Las Vegas Strip. As the argument escalated, I stormed into my dressing room, slamming the door behind me. I yelled through the locked door, "I quit." Talk about a temperamental bitch! Norbert was pounding on my dressing room door demanding that I let him in. I was screaming back "There's no problem. There's no need for a discussion, I quit! He kept banging on the door, yelling at me to let him in. I threw myself down on the couch, picked up the phone and proceeded to call my friend Jahna to let her know that I was furious and had just quit my job. Sometime during the course of my conversation, it became eerily quiet on the other side of the door. I wondered briefly what was going on. However, I really didn't care enough to get up and go find out!
I was laying on the couch pitching a bitch about how badly I thought I was being treated, when suddenly through the open window behind the couch Norbert appeared. I screamed! He jumped! Luckily, he fell in the window and not out, especially since we were on the fourth floor of the hotel."
He had gone through the cast's dressing room next door. He then climbed out on the ledge, and while hanging on to the building, he shimmied across a little catwalk and climbed into my window. When he came into the window he was as white as a ghost, and as red as a devil, both at the same time. Thankfully, though, he had managed to keep his balance even when I screamed. I have to admire his determination. This was my first clue that this man always gets what he wants, one way or another."
Also during 1989, Marino's new house was broken into in with the entire contents stolen. The next incident came when he visited a friend at a nightclub. He came out to find his car was smashed to pieces. Every window and door was broken and smashed, and all the furs he was taking to Anna Nateece were stolen. Also stolen was his car phone, all his paperwork, and money. Next, there was a fire at the shopping center where his salon was located. There was considerable smoke damage. Then his new cleaning lady clogged the toilet and when Marino came home, his living room was a Olympic-size pool, since the toilet had been overflowing for 11 hours.
Marino met a woman who conducted searches to reunite families. Marino asked her help to locate his birth mother. Two weeks later he was notified that his birth mother had been located and her name was Mary Minucci. It wasn't until two years later that Marino decided to act on this information. He called the number he was given and his birth mother told him the reasons for the adoption and he went to visit her in New York.
After the lawsuit, Marino became better friends with Rivers than ever and not only became a regular guest on her TV talk show but a spokesperson for her Gossip, Gossip, Gossip show.
After visiting his mother Mary in New York, relatives told Marino his birth mother's name was Corine, not Mary and his father's name was Louis. He asked Mary to undergo a DNA test to be positive. She agreed and he obtained the pertinent court documents to proceed with the procedure. The DNA test showed that Mary Minucci was indeed his mother.
Marino then found out that Corine Fiorri did exist but did not have her baby until December 6, 1963.
Marino then entered the talk show circuit including Entertainment Tonight, Vicki Lawrence Show, Montel Williams Show, Christina Show, Geraldo Show, The Jenny Jones Show, A Current Affair, Maury Povich Show, Leeza, The Rolanda Show, Danny Bonaduce Show, The Gordon Elliot Show, and Sally Jessy Raphael Show. Marino also has appeared in numerous commercials including Bianca Shoes, Celebrity Deli, The Junior League Foundation, Tiffany Dry Cleaners, Roland's Clothing Store. His TV show appearances include Baywatch Nights.
Whenever Rivers changes her look, Marino is quick to pick up on it. He starts the show with the new straight hair style Rivers wears and then it progresses into the showier more flamboyant Rivers.
In 1993, Marino was named Showgirl of the Year in Las Vegas, as well as Review Journal's Best Dressed Las Vegan Award.
In 1995 Marino was awarded with Entertainment Today's Tourist Top Choice for Best Female Impersonator.
During the 10th anniversary columnist/actress Jackie Brett met with Marino.
Marino also penned his 288 page autobiography entitled "His Majesty, The Queen" of which parts of this page came from. This book tells Marino's life story and includes makeup tips and beauty secrets, fashion advice, and exercise tips on how to keep that "girlish figure," making this not only an autobiography but a how-to-manual as well. The book is also full of all kinds of pictures. I found the book fascinating and read it in two days.
On November 4, 1999, Marino was inducted into the Las Vegas Casino Hall of Fame at the Tropicana, along with singer/actress/dancer Juliet Prowse, and Englebert Humperdinck. This makes Marino the youngest star to ever be inducted into the Casino Legends Hall of Fame.
"This is another milestone in my career. People who are interested in Las Vegas show business history will love this exhibit. It will be an entire display case on me. This is one of the biggest things has has happened for me.
"After being inducted into the Las Vegas Hall of Fame on November 4th, I'll be back working on my all-new monologue. People return to La Cage time and time again because the material is always different. The characters are changed out too. I'm acquiring a new wardrobe with Bob Mackie gowns.
I can always change the material. It's the delivery that's so important to the audience. La Cage audiences just want to have fun and they expect risque stuff. I promise never to use any of Joan Rivers' lines again. I was sued for $5 million and now I'm building a $5 million Casa de Marino.
I'm the hardest working person in show business and I even clean my own floors. We're all having fun and working our way to the top of stardom." - Frank Marino
Also in 2000, Entertainment Today Magazine named him the Best Female Impersonator in Las Vegas, as well as signing a five year $3 million contract with the Riviera. This probably makes him the highest paid female impersonator in the world.
Again in 2000, Marino recorded a national distributed comedy CD entitled Live from Las Vegas. Marino headlines the show with some of America's hottest comedians.
Marino oversees a network of recording, film, and entertainment concerns as President of Frank Marino Enterprises. In addition to his regular projects like his annual calendar through Landmark where a portion of the proceeds are donated to AMFAR for AIDS research, just one of Marino's many charity involvements, Frank Marino Enterprises has created many unique and original products.
Marino's latest project is the newly released compilation video entitled Bold, Blond, & Beautiful. The video not only takes one through Marino's career with many celebrity guests but also includes a never before released Las Vegas live performance.
Marino also became the first Vegas headliner to have a website, a link of which is located on both the top and bottom of this page.
It's said that when tourists visit Las Vegas there are three things they come for; gambling, a trip to Hoover Dam, and to see Marino perform in the award winning La Cage at the Riviera.
"Right now the cast is just all A-1, and it's really what boosted the show to where it's at. I think we have the highest return business of any show." - Frank Marino on An Evening with La Cage, 1999
Marino's current partner is Shannon Schechter who has an advertising degree.
Marino in Liberace's Tub
Donated by John Neeland of the Riviera
In February, 2000, star of Riviera's An Evening at La Cage, Frank Marino, went to see David Cassidy and Sheena Easton in At The Copa showcasing at the Rio.
"I told him 'I think I love you' like his hit song says. I give his show a 10. It's one of the few shows in Las Vegas that I love. I like the whole concept. It's about a lounge singer who makes it big. Cassidy was very cordial to me backstage. We went backstage to meet the former teen idol. Sheena was sensational too. Cassidy promised me that the next show he sees is going to be An Evening at La Cage at the Riviera Hotel." - Frank Marino
In May of 2000, Marino auditioned for the part as the Lana Turner look-alike in movie The Mexican. He did not get the part but here is an audition picture.
In August, 2000, world famous gown designer Bob Mackie visited Frank Marino, star of An Evening at La Cage.
"Mackie is one of La Cage's biggest fans and loves the show when he comes to Las Vegas. I was in Rhode Island for a week and went over sketches and I ordered gown for the new show which opens September 21 for the 15th anniversary. I have gowns from everyone from Armani to Bob Mackie in my wardrobe. I spent another $100,000 to add to my $1 million wardrobe. He is designing 20 new gowns for the new show."To meet Bob Mackie you would never know he was as world renowned as he is. Not only does he design for such stars as Cher, Carol Burnett and Diana Ross, but for Madonna and Brooke Shields, as well. He also has a Barbie Doll collection and a brand new furniture line which I do the commercials for in Las Vegas. It's called LG Gallery (Libetry Glen Gallery)."
All of the acts in the show will have new music, costumes, lighting and sets. The audience will gasp when they see the new costumes. - Frank Marino
The extensive wardrobe is most essential in Marino's act. He changes about 20 times during the 90-minute production. His closet consists of over 2,000 costumes, which start at $5,000 a piece. An average Bob Mackie custom-made original gown is from $5,000 to $10,000. Marino has a wardrobe coordinator, Mitch Glad, who maintains the costumes and assists Marino in his many quick changes.
In August of 2000, Donovan Louis of The Thunder Down Under and Scott Kinworthy of the Blue Man Group was in the audience of An Evening with La Cage.
Every Tuesday night I try to get out to see one or two shows and see what else is going on in Las Vegas. . . . People from the shows that I attend come to see La Cage. I was so impressed with how nice these two entertainers were. It's a new breed after the Rat Pack days with their antics way before my time on the Strip. We have true professionals with a new genre of entertainment." - Frank Marino
In September of 2000, Marino was honored at Planet Hollywood with a 15th anniversary media party.
"I couldn't believe how much press turned out for the event. They even gave me a souvenir jacket. All of my friends were there for the momentous occasion only hours after press-VIP night for the new show. The critics were raving that it's 15 years old and better than ever. We're going to be here 15 years from now with our 30th anniversary."There is no place as exciting for me as to be on a stage performing for a live audience."
In November, 2000, Marino appeared live on Mark & Mercedes FM morning show.
"Mark & Mercedes compete against Howard Stern and Rick Dees and hold the No. 1 spot in Las Vegas. I'm the No. 1 female impersonator appearing on the No. 1 morning radio show. I did the show before my trip to Cancun. They are on 94.1FM. I talked about the 15-year anniversary that La Cage just celebrated and my 10-year contract for $10 million. I talked about being the longest continous running headliner in Las Vegas. I also told them about being inducted into the Caisno Hall of Fame. Listerners called in and did impersonations and what I guessed who they were doing, they won tickets to La Cage.There is a magazine called Out and I host a cover model search for them with the cast of La Cage. Channel 5 came in and taped it for FOX News. There's a show on FOX called Normal, Ohio, and it's on Wednesday night. The news waaanted us to do a piece from a gay establishment to show how normal life can be. We aren't all necessary gay, but we do support the freedome to chose your individual lifestyle." - Frank Marino
Also in November, 2000, Siegfried of Siegfried & Roy, stopped by to see Frank's show.
In January of 2001, Marino visited with Debbie Reynolds after her show.
"I went to see her show at the Debbie Reynolds Hotel & Casino about four years ago. After the hotel closed down she moved to another hotel in Las Vegas to perform occasionally. When I saw that she was performing again I just had to see her and meet with her again backstage.She has been in show business since I was a tiny child. She really is the unsinkable Molly Brown. Debbie Reynolds has been performing in Las Vegas since the 60s. I've always enjoyed watching her sing. She was recently on a newsmagazine show and revealed that she still had to work becuase the millions she made over the years are gone. That's what I admire about her, she just comes right out and tells the truth. People may be able to learn from her experience." - Frank Marino
Also in January 2001, magician Steve Wyrick visited Marino.
During an interview in January 2001, Marino gave the following answers:
Here is a publicity photo of Frank taken in his living room.
And his 2001 publicity photo.
This is a picture of Frank and the Village People when they appeared at the Riv in April of 2001.
"Sally liked the way the show turned out so much that she arranged to have it airing during Sweeps Week. It will be on Friday, May 18, 2001.I am grateful to my producers and the Riviera for giving me the time off to do this. It's the kind of publicity you just can't buy. Sally's producers arranged for my First Class flight, the limousines to and from everywhere including the luxurious Salisbury Hotel, where they treated me like Queen Co-Host For A Day!
Throughout the years I've appeared on and/or co-hosted Leeza Gibbons Show, Jenny Jones program, Jay Leno, David Letterman, Maury Povich �and the Joan Rivers Show, but recently had to stay away due to my voice problems that had developed. I did a lot of research regarding excess salivation. I had gone to a lot of doctors. I knew it was derived from stress. When your body is stressed out it shuts down. Certain foods make me salivate too. Any foods that are acidic such as tomato sauce make me salivate. I need to stay away from those foods. I recovered with a combination of body resistance, weight training and aerobic activity. I use Nautilus equipment and free weights in my home, along with cardiovascular resistance. I jog and jump rope too."
Now, I am 100 percent better and was certainly ready for Sally's call. On the show I sat alongside Sally and co-hosted the hour, introducing star divas like Cher, Janet Jackson and Jennifer Lopez, all played by top female impersonators, much like we do in 'La Cage.' The show came out so great, Sally said she wanted it to air during Sweeps Week, so look for it on Friday, May 18. Check your listings. I hope all my fans and friends who read this will tune in, since this really is my return to national television after a two year hiatus. Sally is syndicated all over the country." - Frank Marino
In June of 2001, Marino signed a $100,000 deal with Donna Salyer's Fabulous Furs. The contract came about after a La Cage fan showed Salyers, a PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) Anti-Fur ad Marino did in 1999, in which he posed naked as his character, Joan Rivers, with the slogan "I'd rather go naked than wear fur!" Flyers and posters were plastered all over Manhattan's construction sites, as well as adorning all of New York's subway cars, so much so, that the New York Post did a special story featuring the controversial ad.
"I've held your interest this far; the trus is the fur is faux . . . fake. They are gorgeous! The new slogan for Donna's furs will be 'Sometimes it's better for a woman to fake it!'"
In August of 2001, Marino co-hosted a Madonna look alike, sound alike contest, with Survivor star Susan Hawk. The grand prize for the winner was a pair of tickets to see the real Madonna in her Las Vegas Labor Day weekend concerts.
"Susan and I selected a winner from the five contestants but the station was very generous and decided to give each performer a pair of tickets for their efforts. You never saw such an excited bunch of Madonna clones! Meanwhile, I taught Sue how o put on make-up and she taught me how to survive in the jungle." - Frank Marino
In September of 2001, Jo Anne Worley went to see An Evening At La Cage while in town for a Riviera celebrity slot tournament.
"I love Las Vegas and I love the Riviera, and La Cage is the best!" - Jo Anne Worley"I think Jo Anne's the greatest. Besides her fame from Rowan and Martin's Laugh In, fans recall her many appearances on The Andy Williams Show in the latter 60's. This gal has done 'em all! She's been seen floating on The Love Boat, playing Aunt Beulah on Sabrina, The Teenage Witch, cavorting with Jack Lord in Hawaii Five-O, and even playing herself in such shows as Caroline in the City, CHiPS, and Mad About You. Not many people know Jo Anne has done quite a few TV movies and has provided voice work in the motion pictures Beatury and the Beast, A Goofy Movie, and Disney's Belle's Magical World in 1997. She also was Katrinka Muggelberg in The Shaggy D.A. and she was hysterical as Dr. Debby Inglefinger in The Feminist and the Fuzz. Jo Anne's a fan of La Cage and I know she'll be back." - Frank Marino
Frank maybe early but he gets ready for Christmas in October of 2001.
Marino is preparing for Thanksgiving and has shared his recipe for pumpkin and pecan pie with us. Keep in mind that this recipe can be found in "Vintage Vegas, Recipes of the Celebrities" published by Goodwill Industries of Nevada.
"This recipe's been in the family for years. I've served it every year to friends and relatives. They're crazy about it and it's not just because I say, 'use a quarter cup of rum - or to taste!'
You combine a cup and a half of pumpkin puree and pecans in a food processor; process until smooth. Combine four eggs in a bowl and mix well, adding three-quarters cups of sugar with the aforementioned rum (if you're driving, better use just a quarter cup)!
Continue adding one teaspoon of cinnamon and ginger each with a half teaspoon of cloves. Stir in one and half cups of whipped cream, then spoon in to a nine inch pie shell. Bake at 400 degrees for ten minutes, reduce to 300 degrees and bake 40 minutes longer. Serve warm or at room temperature with whipped cream. Any excess makes wonderful cupcakes! You can get about eight servings out of this, unless you invite Roseanna Barr to your house! Then it's catch as catch can!" - Frank Marino
In October of 2001, Marino invited a select group of local celebrities to participate in the opening of Happy Harry's Hot Baked Celebrity Subs, Coffee and Beignets, of which a dish was going to be named after him.
Las Vegas entrepreneur, known simply as "Happy Harry," was the owner of many well-known nightclubs, restaurants, bars and celebrity sandwich haunts in northern and southern California. He came to Vegas ten years ago and opened the area's largest furniture liquidator outfit, which handles most of the resorts in Vegas. Harry decided it was time to do other things. Located in the Flamingo West Plaza, half a block west of the new Palms hotel/casino, Harry promises his trendy venue will be the hottest thing going in town.
"Harry's naming a fruit salad after me. Natch! I love all types of submarine sandwiches, I couldn't make up my mind, so being health-minded I thought the mixture of melons, pineapple, pears, peaches and of course, cheeries would be the perfect compliment bearing my name. The VIP/Celebrity subs will no doubt have loads of ham! I wish Harry loads of luck with his new venue, but right now I have to get a dictionary and look up 'beignet.'" - Frank Marino
In December of 2001, Marino was chauffeured to Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman's office. In his chambers, Goodman presented Marino with a Key to the City. The red purse in the shape of a star, patriotically adorned in red crystal, was a Judith Leiber number valued at $5,000.
"People are recommended to the Mayor's office all the time for this honor, but few are chosen. I am grateful to the people who recommended me. The Mayor cited my 20 years in show business and my 17 years of performing in one major show on the Strip. One letter talked about my contributions to charities and my participation in Las Vegas community events. I am not suppose to know about these letters, but I have my own 'eye in the sky.' I believe I am the first female impersonator to ever receive a Key to a city. I know I am the first in Las Vegas.I had this red, white and blue stole made especially for me to match the Mackie. I am the spokesperson for Fabulous Furs, so the threads were fake, of course. I have to confess I have had some very, very special moments in my life, on stage and off, the most recent being my performance in the Las Vegas USO show last month, a segment that featured many other well-known impersonators (mostly male); however, receiving this key from our Mayor got my adrenaline flowing! I'll never forget this as long as I live. Thank you, Mayor Goodman and many thanks to the fans who recommended me for this honor. This is the most perfect way for me to start the New Year!" - Frank Marino
The annual conference of the National Association Television Programming Executives (NATPE) will be from January 21st through 24th. Marino was asked to host their Floor Talk segments.
"We're so delighted that Frank Marino is available and interested in being the host of our segments." - Shirley Neal, NATPE Vice President of Video Production."Host or hostess? I'll be dressed as Joan Rivers doing the intros and closes on various subjects. The five-minute Floor Talk segments will be shown daily at the NATPE membership booth located on the Convention Center exhibit floor, but the world can watch on the Internet. Their website is http://www.natpe.org. This is also great exposure for La Cage and the Riviera. I am honored to receive this call. Not only will approximately 15,000 attendees be viewing my work, but no telling how many hundred of thousands will be clicking on the website." - Frank Marino
In November, 2001, Marino met up with Stardust's Wayne Newton and had their picture taken together.
Marino went on vacation and I'll let him tell you the rest of the story:
"Every December I take my family down to Orlando for the Disney World/Universal Studios experience. We ride all the rides and sometimes I am so worn out, I feel like I need a vacation from the vacation. But, it's worth every minute, being able to do this for my family members.And, usually before the Spring, I try to get away to a new adventure and this year it was a Mexican cruise with a stopover in Florida. While in Florida, I happened upon an auction of celebrity clothing and memorabilia, with all the proceeds going to AIDS charities. They had rounded up pictures, old suits, shoes, personal items like lights, children's toys, dresses and monogrammed towels; all these various items from the likes of Tom Selleck, Bette Midler, Chita Rivera and Burt Reynolds. And dresses? Did I say dresses? Well, out they came with this black and pink number, a gown that once belonged to, yup - you guessed it .. . . Joan Rivers! I think I remember her wearing it on the Tonight Show but I could be wrong. Anyway, the bidding was furious . . . but I landed the threads for $5,000. It was for charity and I couldn't leave without that dress! It is a very, very, very special souvenir, you might say." Frank Marino
In 2002, Marino had his tongue-in-cheek picture taken.
In May, 2002, Marino had his picture taken with Dr. Scott Lewis who hypnotized him at this home to help him temper his love for chocolate.
"I've been hearing about Dr. Scott for years. The session was remarkable and every since he hypnotized me it's been easy for me to control my sweet tooth." Frank Marino"Frank was an exraordinary hypnotic subject. people who are intelligent and highly imaginative always to great with hypnosis. - Dr. Scott Lewis
During this time, Marino was invited to Ozzy Osbourne's birthday party at the Beverly Hills Hotel.
"After I looked around the room, I felt like Donna Reed at a rave party. I was able to show off my legs with the short skirt, but honestly, it's not that I have such great legs, I just know how to use them. At the party, there were so many rock stars there with dyed-blue hair, tattoos and rings in various parts of their bodies, it made me look almost normal."
Frank Marino is preparing to celebrate his 20th Anniversary!
"Like everybody else, I came to Las Vegas to become rich, and now I am in more ways that one. I think the public for all their love and support because it costs a lot of money to look this cheap!
To commemorate my 20 years in show business, I had commissioned a four-color poster featuring my many looks throughout the years. From an early Joan Rivers to a nowadays Joan Rivers, from a Lana Turner look-a-like to a Ru Paul impression, the poster reflects it all. I used top photographs from all over the country and Europe. The photo sessions themselves cost over $20,000. I wanted something to give my fans, and believe it or not, I've had a fan club from the very beginning. My initial order sold out immediately on my website, so I had to order another batch and I am happy to say the Riviera is carrying them in their gift shops. Many fans have been bringing them up after the show for autographs. One fan asked me to kiss the poster next to my signature, then he slapped a piece of laminate plastic over it, so the print would not smudge. Now why didn't I think of that?
My basic goal has always been to go out there entertain people. It's been a wonderful 20 years in heels, but rather than impersonator I tell people I am an entertainer. I am a comedian. I'm up there telling jokes. Big deal, I'm wearing a dress. I'm still a comedian and I look forward to the next 20 years doing the same basic thing . . . entertaining people." - Frank Marino
Frank Marino paces nervously in the wings of the La Cage Theatre at the Riviera Hotel and Casino, where the smash hit �An Evening At La Cage� is firmly ensconced.
�I am trying out these new jokes tonight. If they don�t work, I�ll just have to go back to the drawing board. We are getting ready to enter ur 18th year here on September 18. This is the time of year that we make changes. Some cast members are going on to other pastures. New kids will be coming in. I don�t even know their names yet. My jokes have just got to work. The new version should be ready by our birthday. It also marks my 20 years in show business." - Frank Marino
In July of 2002, Marino and La Cage had a visit from Priscilla Presley. The show was enjoyed so much by Presley and her entourage, she lated confided to pals that she would return again and again. After the sold-out performance, she posed for photographs with the cast and many of her fans.
"What an honor to have this woman at our show! She was born Priscilla Beaulieu in Brooklyn, New York; started dating Rock icon Elvis Presley at the age of 14, and is said to have remained a virgin until their wedding night. At the age of 21, in 1967, she married Elvis, and nine months later, she gave birth to Lisa Marie. Her stories have been shared in countless volumes. After a painful divorce in 1973, her other relationships included Karate instructor Mike Stone, model Michael Edwards (who wrote a nasty tell-all book about Priscilla) and Marco Girabaldi, who fathered her second child, Navarone Girabaldi, in 1987. When Elvis died in 1977, Priscilla took over the Presley empire and turned it into a very lucrative business. She and her family were set for life. She then went on to pursue an acting career, which notably includes her performances in the Naked Gun motion picture series, starring Lesile Nielsen. This year has special meaning for Priscilla and its good to see her get out and have some fun, one thing our show surely assures!" - Frank Marino
In October, 2003, Marino shows he still has the figure of a teenager, even after 18 years appearing in La Cage.
This birthday will also mark my 21st year as a drag star! Last year I commissioned a four-color poster featuring my many looks throughout the years. From an early Joan Rivers to a nowadays Joan Rivers, from a Lana Turner look-a-like to a Ru Paul impression, the poster reflects all the looks. This year I am introducing a Frank Marino bobble head to the public. Half me, half femme fatale. It�s already on sale in the hotel gift shop. Audience members grab them up after each show. It�s a great souvenir, because it can only be bought in Las Vegas. It�s hard to believe I�ve done this show for 18 years! It�s a record! My basic goal has always been to go out there and entertain people. I am a comedian. I�m up there telling jokes. So what if I wear a dress? I�m still a comedian and I look forward to the next 18 years doing the same basic thing�entertaining people.� - Frank Marino, September, 2003
�We are getting ready for our 18th birthday! Another milestone. An Evening At La Cage� opened on September 18, 1985. I know what Jay Leno must feel like every night. . . actually any daily talk show host. The monologue. It�s your introduction to the audience. I do mine as Joan Rivers, but the material must be topical. OJ Simpson jokes don�t cut it anymore. The material must be fresh, almost a take-off on your current headlines. I watch the war jokes, but Hussein will be the butt of one-liners for years to come.
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