Wynn to scalpers: Oh no you don’t
Steve Wynn is vowing to scalp the scalpers.
With Garth Brooks tickets already going for as high as $700 on ticket broker Web sites in less than 24 hours after Saturday's sellout of Brooks' first five weeks -- 20 performances -- Wynn "has an action plan for the scalpers," a Wynn Las Vegas spokeswoman said Sunday.
"We have a number of people mobilized to take the necessary steps to see that the scalper tickets are canceled," said Jennifer Dunne, vice president of public relations and advertising for Wynn Resorts.
"We won't stop until we succeed," she said.
Brooks tickets went on sale at 8 a.m. Saturday and were sold out by 1 p.m. Theater capacity is about 1,500.
A BRONX REUNION
Among the long line of admirers outside Chazz Palminteri's dressing room at The Venetian was a family friend with some Bronx tales of his own.
Joe Cortez, then a teenage Golden Gloves national champion, not only grew up in the same Italian neighborhood, but his boxing trainer was Palminteri's father, Lorenzo.
When Cortez entered the room where Chazz Palminteri was holding court after Thursday's performance of "A Bronx Tale," the air turned electric.
"My father loved you so much," Palminteri told Cortez, now 66 and a veteran of refereeing more than 160 international championship fights.
In 1994, two years after Cortez moved from New York City to Las Vegas to continue his career as an elite boxing referee, he received a telephone call from Palminteri.
"He told me his parents were celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. He said I was part of the family," Cortez recalled.
At the anniversary party, Cortez sat with Robert De Niro and Palminteri, who both had just co-starred in the film "A Bronx Tale."
"I was on Cloud Nine, in another world," Cortez said.
Years before Cortez moved to Las Vegas, Lorenzo Palminteri, a bus driver, often stopped at Cortez's deli in Yonkers to chat.
"I remember him telling me, 'My son is going to make it on Broadway some day,'" Cortez said.
Chazz Palminteri wrote "A Bronx Tale," which he first performed off-Broadway in 1989. When De Niro saw it, he fell in love with it and not only co-starred in the big-screen version but made his directorial debut in it. A year later, Palminteri was nominated for a Supporting Actor Oscar in 1994 for "Bullets Over Broadway."
Palminteri's three-week run at The Venetian has been such a success that there are rumblings that the show could find a long-term home here.
THE SCENE AND HEARD
The Twitter site lvcabchronicles posted this tweet Saturday: "My pal had Wayne Gretzky in his cab tonight. The Great One told him that Las Vegas will have an NHL team within 5 years." ...
It was announced over the weekend that the 30th Wine Spectator Wine Experience will be in Las Vegas on Oct. 28-30, 2010.
DEAL OF THE DAY
Judy Garland impersonator David de Alba of San Francisco's legendary drag club Finocchio's performs at the Clark County Library's main theater, 1401 E. Flamingo Road, 2 p.m. Sunday.
SIGHTINGS
ESPN talk show host Colin Cowherd, dining at the Pasta Shop, 2495 E. Tropicana Ave., on Saturday. ... At N9NE Steakhouse, in the Palms, on Saturday: Singer Rob Thomas and at another table Minnesota Twins catcher Joe Mauer, the American League batting champ, celebrating his third title in four seasons. ... Paris Hilton and boyfriend Doug Reinhardt, riding the roller coaster and bumper cars Saturday night at Circus Circus' Fright Dome. They arrived in the Fright Dome custom hearse with owner Jason Egan at the wheel. ... Denver Broncos star receiver Brandon Marshall spotted Saturday at Encore's XS nightclub. ... Alice Cooper and Steve Miller, sharing maple-glazed rib-eye Saturday at Simon at Palms Place. Later Saturday, Cooper and his band, playing a set at Aces & Ales, 3740 S. Nellis Blvd., after their show at The Orleans. ... Tiger Woods, Thursday night at Bellagio's The Bank.
THE PUNCH LINE
"The White House is calling for bailed out executives to get a 90 percent pay cut, so it's more in line with the job they are doing. Here's my question: 'Why can't we get this for Congress?'" -- Jay Leno
Norm Clarke can be reached at 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find additional sightings and more online at www.normclarke.com.
