Monday, August 22, 2005
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

NORM: Roy gets ovation on Mirage return

Roy Horn greeted warmly at Mirage. Paris Hilton in town to record album. Shaquille O'Neal a guest deejay.

Roy Horn returned to The Mirage for the first time in almost two years Friday and received a familiar reception.

A capacity crowd at the Danny Gans Theatre gave the illusionist a standing ovation before the opening of a concert by Seal.

Horn has visited the Siegfried & Roy Secret Gardens at The Mirage, but this was his first time inside the property since Oct. 3, 2003, when he was severely injured by one of his performing white tigers in the Siegfried & Roy Theatre.

Horn, who was accompanied by Siegfried Fischbacher and Lynette Chappelle, the duo's assistant for their stage show, acknowledged the crowd by rising from his wheelchair and standing up. The trio had just come from a preconcert visit backstage with Seal and his wife, German supermodel Heidi Klum.

Sgt. David Kreuter R.I.P.

Nothing prepared us for the outpouring of support toward the family of fallen U.S. Marine Sgt. David Kreuter, who was buried Saturday in Cincinnati.

This hard-hit corner of Middle America has gone from reeling to rallying after five local boys were among the 16 from Ohio who fell days apart in Iraq.

David and 13 of his Marine brothers died Aug. 3 when a roadside bomb exploded under their vulnerable amphibious assault vehicle.

He was the last of the local Marines memorialized, and I left Sunday heartened to know that the family of my godson is not alone in dealing with their numbing pain.

Not since the 1981 homecoming of U.S. hostages held 444 days by Iran have I seen Americans so committed to rallying around their own. The difference: The hostages came home alive.

Among the images I won't forget: After spending eight hours meeting with friends and strangers at Thursday's visitation, David's parents, Pat and Ken Kreuter, returned home to a loving tribute from their neighbors.

This time their Miami Township streets, already lined with thousands of flags of all sizes, glowed from mile after mile of luminarias placed there by the nearby Oak Hills High School football team.

During Saturday's 20-mile caravan down Interstate 75 from Tri-County Baptist Church to his final resting place at Spring Grove Cemetery, the 500-car motorcade was greeted by suburban firetrucks parked on overpasses, with flags flying atop tall rescue ladders.

When we entered the final mile or so, we passed a Honda dealership off to the right. More than a dozen employees stood out front, hands over their hearts. Behind them, every car on the sales lot had its flasher lights blinking in respect.

"A lot of people here haven't forgotten how badly the Vietnam veterans were treated when they came home. That wasn't going to happen here," said Pete Green, a neighbor of Kreuter's parents.

Sightings

Paris Hilton, dining at Nobu with Hard Rock Hotel's Harry Morton and Jeff Beacher on Saturday night before going on to Body English. She was in town to record her second album. ... Shaquille O'Neal, standing in as a guest deejay Saturday at Pure, the Caesars Palace nightclub he owns with Celine Dion, Steffi Graf and Andre Agassi. He was in town to see the Ultimate Fighting Championships at the MGM Grand Garden between Chuck Liddell and Jeremy Horn. ... James Caan of NBC's "Las Vegas" and Ray Liotta, who played Frank Sinatra in HBO's "The Rat Pack," dining together Saturday at Wolfgang Puck's Bar & Grill (MGM Grand). ... Heather Locklear, shopping at Talulah G (Fashion Show mall). ... Superagent David Falk, dining on spaghetti with Kobe beef meatballs at FiAmma (MGM Grand) on Thursday. His SFX Agency represents Kobe Bryant. ... Dozens of flower arrangements being dropped at the base of Elvis Presley's statue in the Las Vegas Hilton lobby on Tuesday, the 28th anniversary of his death.

The Punch Line

"You know you're not a movie star when people would rather watch a penguin." -- Bill Maher on his HBO show, "Real Time with Bill Maher," on the box office hit "March of the Penguins."

Norm Clarke can be reached at 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com.