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 By
Judy Thorburn
Entertainment Reporter/Film Critic
Las Vegas Tribune
Owner/Editor in Chief/writer
www.theflickchicks.com
Canon
Corporation Holds Star-Studded Reception and Golf Tournament to Benefit
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
From Monday through Thursday of last week (January 7-10), the 2008
edition of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) the world’s largest
tradeshow for consumer technology, convened in Las Vegas at the
Convention Center and Sands Expo with over 2700 industry exhibitors
including Canon U.S.A., who unveiled their latest innovations, products
and technology. While in Las Vegas, Canon, the world renowned
manufacturer of cameras that has grown into a global multi media
corporation, did more than attract and display their latest gadgets and
must haves to hungry consumers. The corporation took the opportunity to
draw attention to a worthwhile cause they have been involved with for
ten years.
On the evening of January 8th Canon U.S.A. sponsored a lavish event at
Mandalay Bay which celebrated their commitment to protecting children.
As a member of the media, I was invited by award winning agent and one
of the nicest people in Las Vegas, Jaki Baskow co-producer of the event,
to attend The 9th Annual Canon U.S.A. Customer Appreciation Red Carpet
Reception to Benefit the National Center for Missing and Exploited
Children (NCMEC), the organization co-founded by John Walsh, host of
“America’s Most Wanted” and his wife Reve. Their son Adam was abducted
and found murdered in 1981 and as a result they became effective
advocates on behalf of missing children’s issues. Walsh was not able to
attend the event but he appeared on video with a message thanking Canon
for being such an avid supporter of NCMEC and for continuing to make
their mission a priority.
It was an amazing night filled with great food and musical entertainment
provided by the Polish born trio of singer/ violinists, the blonde and
beautiful Ocapiec Triplets and the Beatles tribute band, the Fab Four.
Plus, more than fifty celebrities from TV, music, sports, and film were
in attendance to show their support and mingle with guests during the
four hour gala affair. Among the cavalcade of stars were rock star Alice
Cooper, actor Blair Underwood, Jerry Mathers (Leave it to Beaver), Las
Vegas headliners the Scintas and ventriloquist Ronn Lucas, actor/dancer
Adrian Zmed (Grease 2), actor Richard Burgi (Desperate Housewives),
actor Bryan Cranston (Malcolm in the Middle), comedian Gary Mule deer,
singer Rudy Gatlin, football’s Willie James Gault and Edward Payton,
actor Joel Gretch (The 4400), actor and former Monkee Davy Jones, actor
Ed O’Ross (Six Feet Under), soap opera star Michael Storm,
comedian/actor Gary Valentine (King of Queens), Murray Sawchuck (Celebracadabra
VH1), Bobby Badfingers, and many, many more.
The Ocapiec Triplets performing on stage
Photo by Stephen Thorburn
The Fab Four perform
Photo by Stephen Thorburn
The Scintas
Photo by Judy Thorburn
The Ocapiec Triplets
Photo by Judy Thorburn
Judy Thorburn with Davy Jones
Photo by Dianne R. Davis
Ronn Lucas
Photo by Judy Thorburn
Richard Burgi
Photo by Judy Thorburn
Murray Sawchuck
Photo by Judy Thorburn
Jerry Mathers
Photo by Judy Thorburn
Gary Valentine
Photo by Judy Thorburn
Bryan Cranston and his wife
Photo by Judy Thorburn
Bobby Badfingers with Judy Thorburn
Photo by Stephen Thorburn
Blair Underwood
Photo by Judy Thorburn
Alice Cooper
Photo by Judy Thorburn
Celebrities gathered on stage
Photo by Stephen Thorburn
Silent Auction items
   
Photos by Stephen Thorburn
Both silent as well as live fund raising auctions
also took place with proceeds going to NCMEC. The silent auction
included tables displaying an array of approximately 150 great items and
dream getaways such as two nights at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in the
Big Apple (NYC) with dinner and $100 gift card to Tavern on the Green
and four VIP tickets to a taping of Martha Stewart’s Show; a 32” Samsung
LCD/HD TV, sports memorabilia including a framed, autographed tennis
racket owned by Andre Agassi, and a framed tennis racket owned by Maria
Sharapova.
The live auction gave guests a chance to bid and own
a Beatle’s guitar signed by Ringo Star and Paul McCartney, win a five
night vacation in Maui or other goodies such as a personal home barbeque
for up to 25 people prepared by Chef Heinz Lauer of Le Coedon Bleu.
In addition to the evening’s event, the following
morning several of the attending celebrities including Alice Cooper,
Davey Jones, and Joel Gretch participated in the Canon sponsored NCMEC
Celebrity Golf Tournament which was held at TPC – The Canyons to benefit
the NCMEC. All in all, the proceeds from the auctions and the golf
tournament combined came to a total of approximately $355,000 to help
raise awareness and funds for NCMEC’s child recovery programs. In
previous years, Canon and NCMEC have raised nearly $3 million dollars
from a fundraiser auction at the Canon Customer Appreciation Reception
and NCMEC Celebrity Golf Tournament.
In the last decade, Canon U.S.A and NCMEC have collaborated to raise
public awareness about the growing issue of child abduction. The
partnership has already had an impact in the lives of countless children
and continues to help NCMEC achieve so much regarding child safety.
Through the Canon4Kids program, generous donations of cameras,
faxes-phones, printers and scanners have been distributed to law
enforcement agencies in 38 states, Puerto Rico and all over the world,
as well as a program that offers tips for families and guardians to keep
an updated digital picture of their children, an important tool
available in case a child is reported missing. The program also includes
the placement of public service announcements with photographs of
missing children in newspapers and magazines across the country to help
in the recovery process. Many children’s lives have been saved because
of the power of a photograph and that recognition factor has led the
charge against child sexual exploitation.
For more information on The National Center for Missing and Exploited
Children visit
http://www.missingkids.com . The center’s hotline number is
1-800-843-5678.
On another note - I have been getting some tips on celebrity sightings
around town and so, as an addition to this column, I have decided to
share these tidbits with you, my readers, on a weekly basis. The
following is the most recent scoop on who was where and when.
After having dinner at AGO On January 7 actor Damon Wayans was spotted
having lunch at Mr. Lucky's the following afternoon.
American Chopper star Paul Teutul, Sr. was spotted shopping at the Hard
Rock retail store the evening of January 8 and purchased a hoodie by
Wicked Quick Apparel.
Adult film star Tera Patrick, who is in town for the Adult Video Awards,
and rocker Vince Neil were joined by their significant others the
evening of January 9 as they celebrated their wedding anniversaries at
AGO inside the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.
On Friday evening, January 11, actor Dean Cain and baseball star Jose
Conseco were spotted dining in separate parties at AGO. Both were in
town to take part in Randy Couture’s poker tournament happening Saturday
night at The Joint.
Other
current or upcoming “happenings” in and around Las Vegas include:
Last week, 70-year-old Jerry Herbst, owner of Terrible’s Hotel and
Casino, located east of the Las Vegas strip on Paradise Road and
Flamingo, and gas stations and other retail operations is reported to
have bought actor Nicholas Cage’s home in Newport Beach California for
$35 million, a new record for Orange County according to local brokers.
It's next door to the former home of John Wayne. Mr. Cage asked $40
million for the house but never officially put it on the market.
The Nevada Ballet Theatre (NBT) announced that Artistic Director Bruce
Steivel has decided to step down after 10 years with the Company. The
Company’s board of directors will soon begin an international search for
a successor. Steivel joined NBT in 1997 as NBT’s second artistic
director, succeeding predecessor and Founding Artistic Director Vassili
Sulich. During his tenure, the Company made a major move to its
Summerlin facility, which features seven dance studios for the
professional company and the Academy of Nevada Ballet Theatre.
Menopause The Musical®, which debuted at the Las Vegas Hilton on
February 1, 2006 after playing in forty cities and six countries,
celebrated its 1,000th show on Saturday, January 12, during the 7 p.m.
performance. Since its first performance, the show has evolved as a
"grassroots" movement of women who deal with life after 40 and all the
challenges that result in the mental, physical and spiritual freedom of
the post-World War II baby boomer generation. I totally agree with Ken
Ciancimino, executive vice president of the Las Vegas Hilton who says,
“The show transcends gender, touching on something profoundly human and
making it entertaining.” Showtimes for Menopause The Musical® in the Las
Vegas Hilton’s Shimmer Cabaret are Mon. & Tues., Thurs. & Fri. 7:00
p.m., Wed. 2:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m., Sat. & Sun 4:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m.
Tickets are $49.50 (plus tax and service charge).
Kim Flowers Talent Development Academy™ is giving away two pairs of
Hannah Montana concert tickets on Thursday, January 17. To be eligible
for the giveaway, interested parents, or people over the age of
eighteen, need to fill out an information form and attend an open house
seminar about the Kim Flowers Talent Development Academy™ now through
Wednesday, January 16, 2008. On Thursday, January 17, two lucky people
will be called letting them know they have won the Hannah Montana
concert tickets. The Kim Flowers Talent Development Academy is located
in Las Vegas at 9480 South Eastern Ave, Suite 233. Call (702) 877-2227
for more information.
Beginning January 14 and running though January 19th“, V-The Ultimate
Variety Show” is offering $5 tickets to Las Vegas locals in celebration
of the 5,000th performance on Saturday, January 19th, with all proceeds
benefiting the Alzheimer’s Association Desert Southwest Chapter, a
non-profit charitable organization providing services in Arizona and
Southern Nevada for those suffering from the incurable disease. V-The
Ultimate Variety Show performs nightly at 6:00 pm and 7:30 pm. For show
reservations call 702-932-1818 or visit www.varietytheater.com
Beginning January 14 through March 15, Bellagio’s Conservatory &
Botanical Gardens will unveil a unique display filled with hidden
meaning, in celebration of the 2008 Chinese New Year, the Year of the
Rat. The Conservatory’s design will be guided by the ancient practice of
Feng Shui – the art of using surroundings to attract harmony, balance
and positive life energy.
The dramatic centerpiece of this exhibit will be a botanical,
5-foot-tall rodent that appears to be watching guests with an
inquisitive eye. The auspicious rat’s lush coat will be made of red
Alternanthera, a low-growing herb, with a touch of pink Hypoestes, a
tropical plant, and his long curling tail and delicate whiskers will be
made of metal. The rat is revered for its place as first in the Asian
zodiac and is a symbol of renewal. Just steps away from Bellagio’s
delightful rodent ambassador, an 18-foot-tall Chinese God of Wealth and
Fortune will be found amidst gleaming I-Ching coins, a traditional
Chinese money symbol. Widely recognized as the strongest symbol of good
fortune in China, the God of Wealth and Fortune will be flanked by two
Ming Dynasty-styled dings, ancestral vessels that protect against bad
luck. Nearby, visitors will find a zigzag bridge leading to a beautiful,
wing-tipped gazebo painted a deep red lacquer with shimmering gold trim
and green-tiled roofs. The color red signifies happiness while the
upturned roofline will ward off evil spirits and the sharp pattern of
the bridge will protect against negative energy and bad spirits. A
majestic mountain, seen as a pillar between heaven and earth, will serve
as a dramatic backdrop.
As always, admission to the Ballagio’s Conservatory and Botanical Garden
is FREE and open to the public.
January 17 at 8 p.m. The Capitol Steps will appear in concert at The
UNLV Performing Arts Center in Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall as part of
the UNLV 50th anniversary celebration. The Washington-based troupe of
Congressional staffers turned songwriters will change politics into
comedy as a primer for the Nevada Caucus. For additional information or
to purchase tickets, contact the Performing Arts Center box office at
(702) 895-ARTS (2787) or online at http://pac.unlv.edu.
Friday, January 18 and Saturday, January 19 at 8 p.m. Michael John will
bring his tribute to Billy Joel to The Club at the Cannery Casino &
Hotel. Admission is just $5 at the door. John plays the piano, sings and
entertains with the same intensity and passion as Billy Joel. His
repertoire includes familiar songs such as “Only The Good Die Young” and
“Piano Man” to classics like “Scenes From An Italian Restaurant” and
“Angry Young Man.”
Friday, Jan. 18 from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. Australian abstract artist Stephen
Borzi will be making his American debut showcasing and selling his
one-of-a-kind and limited edition works of art in a unique exhibition
presented by Peter Lik Galleries inside Mandalay Place. Considered an
Abstract Expressionist, Borzi’s timeless images are the product of his
emotions expressed as art. Inspired buy thought provoking artists as
Jackson Pollack William De Kooning and Mark Rothko, Borzi combines their
technique and transcends the casual viewer into a realm of elusive chaos
that forces one to seek their own personal journey within the image.
Due to popular demand MAMMA MIA!, the smash hit musical based on the
songs of ABBA, which was previously scheduled to end its run at the
Mandalay Bay Theatre in August after more than 2,300 performances, will
now play through January 4, 2009. The musical is the longest running
full Broadway play to ever play the Las Vegas strip and February 13
marks its fifth anniversary in Las Vegas. Tickets for MAMMA MIA! are
$110, $82.50 and $49.50, tax inclusive.
While thousands of football fans are in town for the Big Game Weekend,
fans of rocker Sammy Hagar would rather go see him perform in concert at
the Pearl at the Palms on February 2. Tickets for his 8 p.m. concert are
$50.00 and $75.00, (plus applicable fees) and go on-sale noon, Saturday,
January 12, 2008. The Pearl Box Office is open from noon – 7 p.m. daily.
For more information on upcoming concerts, please call 702-942-6888.
Inspired by the Big Daddy of country music, Toby Keith brings the Wild
West to the casino floor of his famed restaurant Toby Keith’s: I Love
This Bar & Grill, inside Harrah’s Las Vegas with the addition of the
country-themed Toby Keith gaming pit. The area now includes eight gaming
tables and a unique mix of games including Casino War, Triple Shot, and
Blackjack.
The American Superstars show at the Stratosphere Casino Hotel and Tower
has added veteran tribute artist John Anthony as Rod Stewart to its
line-up of celebrity tributes to legendary past and present music stars.
Showtimes are Sunday through Tuesday at 7 p.m. and Wednesday, Friday,
and Saturday at 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.(dark on Thursday) in the
Stratosphere’s Theater of the Stars Showroom. Tickets are $42.75 for
adults and $31.95 for children ages 5 to 12. For tickets or more
information call (702) 380-7711 or (800) 99-TOWER.
Attention movie lovers. The 10th Annual CineVegas Film Festival, which
will be held June 12 – 21, 2008 at the Palms Casino Resort, is searching
for SEASONAL EMPLOYEES AND VOLUNTEERS FOR CineVegas 2008. The dates and
pay for each position vary. For detailed job descriptions and additional
information, please visit
http://www.cinevegas.com/takepart/jobs/ .
CineVegas is also looking for part-time and full-time volunteers to
assist with the 2008 Festival. For additional information and to apply,
please visit
http://www.cinevegas.com/takepart/volunteer/ .
Author, lecturer and psychic medium, John Edward,
will appear for a limited time Feb. 12-14 and March 11-16 at Flamingo
Las Vegas. Known for his popular internationally syndicated television
shows, “Crossing Over with John Edward” and “John Edward Cross Country,”
Edward has become notable for his unique ability to connect with those
who have passed on and his compelling, down-to-earth approach to his
work. Each two hour seminar consists of a Question and Answer session
and an exciting opportunity to witness messages from the other side.
Tickets to see Edward’s in February and March are on sale now at the
Flamingo Box Office, by phone at (702) 733-3333 or (800) 221-7299 or by
visiting
www.flamingolasvegas.com . Tickets are $181.55 including tax and
fees. Showtime is 11 a.m.
On Saturday, February 9, 2008 Children's Heart
Foundation will present the 5th Annual Walk with the Heart of a Child at
Fashion Show Mall to help generate funds to improve the care and quality
of life for children in Nevada who are born with or develop heart
problems. The Foundation has four main goals: to provide a carefree camp
experience for children with heart conditions; to educate healthcare
professionals and the general public on pediatric cardiology issues; to
lend support to families as they deal with the emotional and financial
toll exacted by a child's heart problems; and to support research
efforts in the field of pediatric cardiology. Children's Heart
Foundation is located at 3006 S. Maryland Parkway, Las Vegas, NV 89109.
For more information please call (702) 967-3522 or visit
www.chfn.org .
I’ll be back next week with more of what’s “happening” in and around Las
Vegas.
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