A couple of weeks ago, I found myself in Las Vegas at a conference. Due to the flight connections home, I had to spend a Saturday night. So, searching for a concert in Las Vegas occupied my time.
No concerts were playing in the Sphere, although its movie, Postcards from Earth was playing. I have already seen the show. Watching a movie about how we need to abandon the earth to let the environment heal while sitting in the building that uses the most power per square inch of any entertainment venue on earth drips in irony.
Adele was finishing her residency at Caesar’s Palace. The ticket price of $1615 for a two-hour concert seemed a little extreme.
Wayne Newton was across the street performing in Bugsy’s Cabaret in the Flamingo Hotel. I must admit that my reaction to the possibility of seeing Mr. Newton was a resounding “Meh!”
But Las Vegas was all carved up due to the Grand Prix preparations, so that walking distance to any show became a real factor. So, $100 for a ticket, across the street it was.
Attending the concert was one of the best off-the-cuff decisions I’ve ever made.
Bugsy’s Cabaret is a small venue seating 150 people. Every seat in the theater is within feet of the stage. No one sits in a bad seat.
Newton, at 82 years old, is approaching performing upwards of his 60,000th show in Las Vegas. While no longer twenty-eight, his voice is strong.
How does one get to perform over 60,000 shows in Las Vegas? The answer is obvious, now. He’s a very talented entertainer.
The show is an up close and personal retrospective of Newton’s career spanning 65 years in Las Vegas. He began performing six shows a day, six days per week at the Frontier Hotel, downtown. He was too young to stay in the casino, so he had to go stand outside between shows.
My initial lackadaisical impression of Wayne Newton vanished within a minute of him taking the stage.
As one enters the show, the Matre’d the audience to fill out cards describing questions or special occasions. At the beginning of the show, Newton introduces a lawyer from Ohio, Kathleen McCrone, as the Emcee. McCrone reads those questions from the cards, and Newton answers them.
Some of the questions may be scripted, but the people sitting next to me were celebrating their marriage. Newton came off the stage, held the bride’s hand and serenaded her, in what is a moment will last with them forever.
Within a few minutes of Newton taking the stage, Newton showed how much he cared about the audience. He was going to do everything he could to show each attendee a good time.
Newton is a musical virtuoso, playing 13 self-taught instruments. He demonstrates his range of talent playing everything from slide steel guitar to violin.
Wayne Newton is part of the history of Las Vegas. Most of his contemporaries are gone, now. He tells the story of meeting Elvis Presley, while Presley was filming Viva Las Vegas on the soundstage next to where Newton was guest starring on Bonanza. Newton and Presley went on to become close friends.
I do not want to spoil any surprises. Hearing the practical jokes Newton played on Beverly D’Angelo while filming the movie Vacation will make the trip to Vegas worth your time.
Newton shares stories of many of the Las Vegas greats. He is one of the last of a dying breed – the showmen from the intimate venues on the Strip -- like Sinatra, Martin and Davis, Jr.
Newton may be our last opportunity see vintage Las Vegas greatness.
One story he shares is getting a call while in London from a guitarist from the Wrecking Crew. The famous guitarist asked him to perform without rehearsal on a TV special the next morning. Glen Campbell said, “I know you. No rehearsal is necessary.” Newton and Glen Campbell flawlessly performed three songs together, later that morning.
When he performed “Red Roses for a Blue Lady,” I had a flashback to my parents dancing together at the Legion Club in Buffalo after a fun day at Lake DeSmet. Newton is intertwined in the fabric of our culture.
This show is not just for blue haired ladies coming to relive their youth. Put the “meh” prejudices like I had away. Newton is a one-of-a-kind performer who puts on a show that makes everyone truly welcome.
Load up the Wagon Queen Family Truckster and take a quick vacation to Vegas to see this show. You’ll be glad you did.
Wayne Newton performs most Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays at 7:00 pm at Bugsy’s Cabaret in the Flamingo Hilton. The show will be two hours well-spent.
Finally, on this Thanksgiving Day, from my family to yours, I wish you all of God’s blessing and joy on this joyous day.
Tom Lubnau served in the Wyoming Legislature from 2004 - 2015 and is a former Speaker of the House. He can be reached at: YourInputAppreciated@gmail.com
