Lounge legend inducted into Entertainment Hall

Lounge legend Buddy Greco was back home — the stage — during a rare public appearance Wednesday.

He's 89 now and too weak to sing. His last performance was May 2014 at the Hippodrome in London when he finished with "Yesterday When I was Young."

Assisted by friends, Greco went onstage for his induction into the Las Vegas Entertainment Hall of Fame.

Fellow entertainer Carmine Petrillo, the presenter and a longtime friend, welcomed Greco by singing "The Lady is a Tramp," Greco's most successful song.

After sharing a few memories from his many years in Las Vegas, Greco had two words for the packed ballroom at the Italian American Club.

"Never quit," said Greco, who recorded 71 albums, hung out with the Rat Pack and was a friend of Marilyn Monroe.

Petrillo bid an emotional farewell by singing "If I Never Sing Another Song," first popularized by Frankie Laine and Matt Monro.

"I had a tough time getting through it," Petrillo said later.

Also inducted Wednesday: singing impressionist Bob Anderson, comedian and musician Pete Barbutti, lounge star Joe Darro, legendary impressionist Rich Little and Jonas Vece, lead singer of The McCoys.

The scene and heard

Britney Spears lights a 30-foot Christmas tree at 5 p.m. Saturday at The Linq Promenade. Entertainers and carolers will add a holiday touch nightly until 9 p.m. BMX stunt riders will start performing Dec. 11 between 8 and 11 p.m. ...

Hall of Fame boxing analyst Al Bernstein will appear in the Orchid Lounge at Mandalay Bay at 4 p.m. today for a Q&A, meet-and-greet and book signing. The first 50 people will receive a free signed copy of his book "30 Years, 30 Undeniable Truths About Boxing, Sports and TV." Bernstein, the main analyst for Showtime since 2003, is predicting Britain's 6-foot-6 Anthony Joshua "might be one of the best heavyweights in 30 years." Joshua, 26, was the 2012 Olympics super heavyweight gold medalist. "He's 14-0," said Bernstein. "Within a year he'll be challenging someone for the title."

On this day

Nov. 20, 1994: Lawyers for competing groups of Elvis-impersonating skydivers — the Flying Elvises and the Flying Elvi — put final touches on lawsuits filed the next day, each claiming exclusive right to the honor. The singer's estate recognizes the Elvi, and the Elvises ultimately change their name.

Nov. 21, 1980: An electrical fire that starts in a deli at the MGM Grand Hotel (now Bally's Las Vegas) sends a fireball through the front lobby and casino and deadly smoke throughout the 26-story hotel. The tragic toll — 87 dead and more than 600 injured — makes it the worst disaster in Nevada history.

Sightings

Poker star Vanessa Rousso, a finalist on the "Big Brother" reality show, at Strip House in Planet Hollywood on Wednesday.

The punch line

(The new Hello Barbie doll) "speaks 8,000 different phrases, which is incredible because real fashion models only have three or four phrases." — James Corden

— Norm Clarke's column appears Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. He can be reached at 702-383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find more online at www.normclarke.com. On Twitter: @Norm_Clarke.