‘Camelot’ to tinge Goulet’s funeral

Echoes of the "Camelot" era will be heard today at the funeral of Broadway legend Robert Goulet.

He made his Broadway debut as a big-voiced Sir Lancelot in Lerner and Loewe's 1960 hit musical, which became a metaphor for the presidency of John F. Kennedy.

"I think he's the one who really inspired 'Camelot,'" said former Broadway producer Mike Merrick, a longtime Goulet pal. "The first time you hear 'Camelot,' it is Robert's voice."

Merrick will be among the speakers saying farewell to Goulet, 73, who died Oct. 30 after battling a rare lung condition.

Goulet's services will be held at the Shrine of the Holy Redeemer Church, 55 E. Reno Ave.

Sons Michael and Christopher, daughter Nicolette and grandchildren are in the program, as is Dr. David Kipper of Los Angeles.

Merrick, a Las Vegas resident, was Goulet's publicist for a decade, starting with "Camelot," which opened Dec. 3, 1960, at the Majestic Theater and closed Jan. 5, 1963.

After the assassination of Kennedy, his wife, Jacqueline, said in an interview that the president loved the original cast recording, especially the final number in which a young boy knighted by King Arthur is told to keep the story of Camelot alive.

Merrick said Goulet's wife, Vera, told him a large photo of Goulet as Lancelot is featured at the entrance of a JFK museum in Dallas, where Kennedy was killed Nov. 22, 1963.

CIRQUE DU O.J. DU JOUR

You're out of luck if you want to stay in the O.J. room at Palace Station, where the memorabilia grab occurred.

"There has been great fascination about the room where the incident took place," but the parent company, Station Casinos, has no plans to open it to the public or the media, company spokesman Lori Nelson said.

The requests are from people who want to tour the room or from media, including national news outlets, that asked to be the first to stay in the room and report from it.

"Because we knew this would become a media circus anyway, we chose to take the high road," Nelson said.

"But we did have a couple people come up to the hotel registration, toss their credit card on the desk and say, 'Charge me whatever you want so I can stay in the room.'"

THE SCENE AND HEARD

Beacher's Madhouse creator Jeff Beacher is donating the net proceeds from tonight's show at the Hard Rock Hotel for one of his little-people performers. Robin Sherwood, a member of Beacher's Oompa Loompas troupe, the Tiny Kiss band and a member of a wrestling team that spoofs the UFC, has been hospitalized with kidney failure. Beacher said he is forming the Robin Sherwood Oompa Loompa Foundation. Gene Simmons of KISS is the featured "Madhouse" act tonight at The Joint. ...

Actor-comedian Kevin Pollack will open for Barbra Streisand, who performs at a private grand-opening weekend event Nov. 17 at Planet Hollywood Resort. Pollack, a friend of founding Planet Hollywood investor Bruce Willis, will join him and more than 100 celebrities on the red carpet.

MAY I RECOMMEND ...

Tao, the nightclub and restaurant at The Venetian, is celebrating its second anniversary Saturday with a celebrity crowd that includes "American Idol" runner-up Katharine McPhee and actresses Emmy Rossum and Rosario Dawson.

SIGHTINGS

Blue Man Group, performing the opening act with singer Ricky Martin for the Latin Grammys on Thursday in Mandalay Bay. ... Steffi Graf and Andre Agassi, sharing sushi Wednesday at Social House, in Treasure Island. ... At Wednesday's private Latin Grammy party at Pure nightclub inside Caesars Palace: Latin Grammy winner Juan Luis Guerra, soap opera star Barbara Mori with boyfriend and actor Jose Maria Torre, singer-songwriter Ilona, model Mayra Veronica, salsa singer Michael Stuart, singer-composer Diego Torres and members of the pop music group Voz Veis. ... Rising Latin Grammy stars Alejandra Alberti and rock group Kinky, performing at a Latin Grammy event Wednesday at Jet, in The Mirage. Others in attendance: Veronica, Puerto Rican reggaetón artist Zion, and Latin hip-hop artist Malverde. ... Mixed-martial artists Keith Jardine, George St. Pierre and Tyson Griffin, checking out LAX nightclub Wednesday at the Luxor. ... Harrah's headliner Rita Rudner and Las Vegas Tenors, performing at the Crimestoppers of Nevada annual Law Enforcement Recognition Awards lunch Wednesday at The Orleans.