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 Views,
Reviews, and Interviews
by Dianne R. Davis
diannerd@aol.com
Rita McKenzie
Captures Ethel Merman
Ethel Merman would have turned 100 on January 16th. In celebration, Las
Vegans were treated to a look at Ethel’s life and her body of work. Rita
McKenzie captures the essence of Ethel in her one woman show which
played at the Sun Coast from January 4-6th.
It isn’t easy to captivate an audience when you stand alone on stage,
but Rita’s talent and energy is more than enough to do the job. Ethel
Merman (Nee Ethel Agnes Zimmerman) did 17 Broadway shows and had more
than 100 songs written for her. In describing herself, Merman said, “I
have that one special quality, I’m loud.” Rita McKenzie can definitely
hold a candle to the legendary talent as she sings the songs of Merman.
Rita McKenzie
Photo by Stephen Thorburn
This one person show, written by Christopher Powich and Rita McKenzie
and directed by Mr. Powich, has been touring the country for 15 years
and is headed for New York. The device used to showcase the songs is
Merman talking about a movie to be made about her life.
Now, on with the show. I Got Rythmn, Life is Just a Bowl of Cherries.
Remember them? Rita/Ethel says, “My life was moving from bold to Cole,
Cole Porter that is. I Get a Kick Out of You. And from Annie Get Your
Gun, we were treated to Doin’ What Comes Naturally.
Rita McKenzie
Photo by Stephen Thorburn
Rita/Ethel created changes of costume over her glittery black dress as
she moved along musical theater history which was inseparable from Ethel
Merman’s history. She brought in her personal history including four
husbands and two children. From the highs of love to the lows of losing
her daughter, the character brings us into both the personal and
professional life of a legend of the business.
Musical Director David Snyder was delightful as he joined in on You’re
Just in Love. In the show, Ethel says, “Broadway was good to me and I
was good to Broadway.” The charming Rita McKenzie is good to Ethel
Merman. She is Delovely as she sings the songs of Cole Porter, George
and Ira Gershwin, Irving Berlin and Jule Styne. Everything’s Coming Up
Roses in Ethel Merman’s Broadway.
Rita McKenzie
Photo by Stephen Thorburn
"Pets" on Hand for Penthouse Club Opening
In LV
Penthouse Pets walked the Red Carpet at the opulent opening of Las
Vegas’ newest nightspot, The Penthouse Club. Located at 3525 Russell
Road, one block west of the I 15, a block off the south end of the Strip
behind the Mandalay Bay hotel and casino. The club occupies the space
formerly used by Sin. It is the largest Penthouse club in the world with
46,000 square feet of entertainment space. The club features a sumptuous
décor, a discreet VIP entrance, Penthouse Key Girls and a delicious
array of food, snacks, and drinks. In addition, this club features the R
U 702 “Locals Only” Lounge where only locals can gain access through an
exclusive membership.
Cali Taylor is both Penthouse’s newest and youngest Pet of the month,
February 2008. The 19 year old St. Louis resident spent Opening Night in
the Boutique signing autographs. Due to her age, she was not able to
enter the club itself.
According to Jeff Stoller, the Director of Global Club Licensing for the
Penthouse Clubs, the name recognition is a major factor in the success
of the clubs which are located throughout the US, in Canada, and in
Mexico. Deals are also in the works in China and Europe.
The Grand Opening, held January 10th, during AVN week, included a
private party for the press and VIP guests and featured dozens of
dancers and Key Girls throughout the club. The food was delicious, the
drinks were flowing, the private rooms were occupied, and the comments
from invited guests were favorable. The high ceilings and spacious
interior all but eliminated that smoky and claustrophobic uncomfortable
atmosphere found in some of the Vegas clubs. It looks like the Penthouse
organization has a winner.
Pets walking the red carpet included Jamie Lynn- 2006 Penthouse Pet of
the Year, Martina Warren- 2005 Penthouse Pet of theYear, Jaime Hammer-
November 2007 Penthouse Pet, Justine Jolie- October 2007 Penthouse Pet,
Erica Ellyson- January 2007 Penthouse Pet, Brea Lynn- November 2006,
Penthouse Pet, Melissa Jacobs- October 2005 Penthouse Pet, and Cali
Taylor – February 2008.
Poker Player Todd Brunson was on hand for the opening of the Penthouse
Club
Jeff Beacher came to the Penthouse Club with Mini Britney
CES
Brings Technological News to LV
CES, the world’s largest consumer technology tradeshow came to Las Vegas
from January 7 -10, 2008. The exhibit space for CES covered more than
1.8 million net square feet of space, roughly the equivalent of 35
football fields.
It is overwhelming. I am not technologically advanced. I don’t speak the
language. But I can stand in awe of the advances being made and the
latest innovations. AT NXT, I saw transparent speakers with incredible
sound quality. At Panasonic, I saw a 150-inch plasma screen Panasonic
calls the Life Screen.
There were some items that did call out to me. It wasn’t the sound
systems for cars, it was the robots that wash and clean my floors. And
robots abounded.
The show is a good news-bad news event in Las Vegas. The good news is of
course the money that is funneled into our economy by more than 130,000
attendees. Keep in mind that this is not a show for tourists to wander
into to browse. This is an industry trade show. The likes of Microsoft
co-founder Bill Gates and General Motors Corp Chairman Rich Wagoner are
among the speakers.
The word circulating at the show is that Vegas prices, even mid week,
for moderate hotels go through the ceiling for CES and many companies
may scale down the number that attend or withdraw entirely. Look at
Comdex. It just isn’t here anymore.
But for the moment, CES is where its at for a glimpse into the future of
technology. And it looks good.
Adult
Entertainment Expo Brings Fans To Town
The AVN came to town during the second week of January and I was among
the thousands who checked it out. I took along my husband Burt for the
male point of view.
Burt was dressed and ready to check out the AVN. You too can get this
official uniform at
www.pornsceneinvestigaor.com .
The AVN, held at the Sands Expo Center, is the Adult Entertainment Expo,
the biggest adult playground in the world. The expo floor is filled with
elaborate booths, the latest in digital media, DVD's, novelty items, and
adult paraphernalia. Around 300 companies are represented and
approximately 30,000 people were expected
But beyond that, it is the opportunity for fans, mostly males, to meet
their favorite adult video performers, in the flesh, as it were. They
chat, they sign autographs, they don’t wear much at all What better
place than Las Vegas for this show.
But it is not inexpensive. A day pass was $80. A three day pass went for
$200. According to show officials, AVN has had past problems with
counterfeit tickets. The security is tight. ID’s were checked and ticket
holders were issued wrist bands for each day which were physically
placed on them by workers.
The booths vie for attention giving away Tee Shirts, blinking lights,
key rings, sample videos, and even battery operated devices. I “earned”
one of those battery devices by blowing up a balloon until it popped. We
got free Tee shirts that say “Gun Oil.” (the literature says that that’s
to keep your most important weapon well-oiled.)
Mixed in with the scantily clad women were booths of dental personal
ready to whiten teeth; handbag vendors, local vendors such as the
Spearmint Rhino Club and Sheri’s Ranch, clothing appropriate to the
industry, and of course food.
But CES doesn’t have the only cutting edge technology. This industry
also showed off some of the latest in technological development. It is,
after all, about video.
Invitations are distributed by hand and at the booths inviting attendees
to after hours parties during the show days and following the AVN
awards.
I met a few well known industry stars during my visit to the show. Ron
Jeremy is a lasting name in the “porn” industry. I found him easy to
chat with and honest in his responses. He was proudly showing off his
book which was on the New York Times best seller list. I asked him if he
would change anything in his life and he said he’d like to have
children. But, he added, it isn’t too late. And by the way, he has a
tortoise.
During our stop at the Jules Jordan booth, one of the largest, I spoke
with Jeff Marton, self proclaimed “Vice President of Minutia.” He told
me that the Expo was a little smaller than past years, but that was
okay. “We’ll definitely be back next year” he said. Jules Jordan had
eleven girls working their booth. They gave away 5 different Tee shirts,
as well as sample DVDs and lanyards. Yes, many conventions give those
items away, but how many Expo booths also distribute samples of lubes?
I spoke with T. M.of Illinois, a fan. T.came in especially for the AVN
and said yes, it was worth the trip, but to please not use his name..
Trade Show
The industry trade show is held simultaneously but is restricted to
trade only. There, vendors and buyers had access to the latest in the
industry’s products. Male enhancement pills, lubrications, and
fleshlights, the new male masturbation tool can be viewed, tested,
ordered, sampled, or simply wondered at.
Walking through the trade show is kindly like going to bizarre
wonderland. But not so bizarre really. There are many items to enhance
sexual enjoyment. Nothing wrong with that. There are costumes for men
and women designed to titillate. Nothing wrong with that. There are
features and belts and vibrators of every conceivable shape and size.
EVERY conceivable shape and size.
Well, some of us may be a little embarrassed by some of the items, but
bottom line is that it is a legitimate industry. After all, how many
adult shops are there in Las Vegas. Or in your town?
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