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 by
Jacqueline Monahan
jaxn8r@msn.com
Photos by Judy Thorburn
Entertainment
Consumers’ Exchange, Inc. Annual Awards Luncheon
The Entertainment Consumers’ Exchange (ECE) Awards luncheon took place
at De Stephano’s restaurant in Las Vegas on Saturday, November 10, 2007.
The restaurant’s charming interior featured an indoor tree decorated
with strings of white lights, which bordered several glass-topped
tables. Italian-themed prints adorned the walls. An intimate stage in
red velvet provided a festive backdrop, where MC Sweet Louie (aka Marvin
Smith) of the Checkmates kept the audience charmed with stories of
classic Las Vegas entertainment. While invited guests and honorees
enjoyed a penne pasta/green salad/tira misu lunch, the following awards
were presented:
Show of
the Year
The Las Vegas Tenors
Zee Matulonis & the Las Vegas Tenors
Entertainer(s)
of the Year
Bill Fayne,
Mark Giovi
Bobby Black Georgia roots
Teddy Davey
Producer and co-founder Bill Fayne is a classically trained singer.
Giovi and Black are more contemporary singers who are comfortable
singing Bon Jovi, Garth Brooks, R & B , as well as the classics. Davey
has experience in theater, pop and classical Italian songs. The Tenors
have performed with Clint Holmes at Harrah’s Las Vegas and George
Wallace at the Flamingo. They’ve sung the National Anthem for NCAA
basketball games and for the Las Vegas Gladiators. One of the top rated
entertainments in Las Vegas, many of their fans have seen their show
more than once.
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Sweet Louie, Zee Matulonis and Mark Giovi
Super fans and ECE members Barbara Cartucci and her mother Florence
Fowler (who have never missed a show) were on hand to congratulate their
favorite group, missing only Teddy Davey due to a previous commitment.
From the audience response, it’s clear that The Las Vegas Tenors are the
favorite sons of many locals, and bound to stay that way for years to
come.
Living
Legacy Award
Momma Fox
T Fox
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Momma Fox, Sweet Louie, T Fox
Momma performed with Dinah Washington, Sarah Vaughan and Billy Eckstine
back in the day and continues to sing and dance with spirit and grace.
Son T Fox inherited a love of entertaining from his mother. Taking over
a two-table alcove in the Tropicana Atrium Lounge, T Fox transformed it
from a 25 night gig into a seven year run, during which time 80 slot
machines were removed to enlarge his venue When does that ever happen?
When a mega-talented force of nature with a large repertoire, including
songs from the Phantom of the Opera, commands SRO performances on a
continual basis. Both mother and son have had days proclaimed in their
honor by Mayor Oscar Goodman (Momma – May 3, T Fox – August 24). These
two embody the Las Vegas entertainer spirit in charm, talent and
optimism to spare.
Spotlight
Actress Award
Horizon
Award (Star of Tomorrow)
Scarlett Pomers
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Scarlett Pomers
Accepting her Spotlight Actress Award for her work on the television
series Reba (2001-2007) and Star Trek Voyager (1998-2001) as well as the
Horizon Award as a Star of Tomorrow, the 18-year-old with cascading
waist-length red hair showed she could hold her own with more seasoned
Las Vegas entertainers. An accomplished vocalist, Pomers’ CD, Project
Chains, generates charitable proceeds to combat eating disorders. Pomers
also appeared with Julia Roberts in Erin Brockovich, has done dozens of
commercials and can be seen in the upcoming 2008 feature film release
Kentucky Fried Horror Show. The actress was accompanied by her
manager/mother, her “momager” as she called it, who looked more like an
older sister and beamed with pride as her daughter accepted her pair of
awards, one for past work, and one for the promising road ahead.
Appreciation
Awards
Bob Bandyk
Dale Matulonis
Mary Krovitz
Sweet Louie (Marvin Smith)
“Lady Zee” as she was called throughout the ceremony, surprised four of
her colleagues including her husband with appreciation awards for their
indispensable assistance in the name of local Las Vegas talent. Bandyk,
Krovitz and Sweet Louie serve as Directors for ECE, and Dale Matulonis
provides photography and livery services. Zee herself is the dynamic,
unifying force behind Excellence in Consumers’ Entertainment, supporting
local talent and visible in the effort to keep it alive and available
for the Las Vegas community.
ECE Appreciation Award winners
Sweet Louie and T Fox wrapped up the event with an Acappella rendition
of The Spaniels’ classic doo wop hit, Goodnight Sweetheart. One half of
the vocal group, The Checkmates, Sweet Louie has appeared in national
television commercials for Toyota, Bic pens and Kool-Aid. His signature
whimsical eyeglasses were in the shape of stars, an appropriate tribute
to the entertainers that comprise the true spirit of the Valley. Long
may they shine.
For more information, please visit:
http://www.communitylink.reviewjournal.com/lvrj/ece
http://www.foxcityproductions.com
http://www.lasvegastenors.com
http://www.scarlettpomers.com
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