Las Vegas’ golden oldies show for reunion

The band music was from the '50s and '60s, and the members of the crowd were well into their 70s.

Almost 500 in all, they filled a ballroom at The Orleans Sunday with echoes of old Vegas for the 15th Old-Time Reunion party.

"We call it the Alzheimer's reunion," whispered Myram Borders, who ran the United Press International office from 1965 to 1995.

A slide show on large screens flashed group photos of the Rhythmettes, the famed drill team that appeared on "The Ed Sullivan Show."

Among the crowd were many of the names from an era when Las Vegas was reaching critical mass: gaming pioneer Bill Boyd, crooner Steve Lawrence, illusionist Siegfried Fischbacher, former Desert Inn boss Burton Cohen, former Tropicana owner Fred Doumani, accordion king Pete Contino and bandleader Sasha Semenoff, who worked together at the Waldorf Astoria in New York in 1951; Sam Lionel of the powerhouse law firm Lionel Sawyer & Collins, civic leader Thalia Dondero -- who put together the reunion -- and Bill Flangas, a honcho at the Nevada Test Site when mushroom clouds billowed over the desert.

Also there: Corrine Entratter Sidney, Joan Shoofey, whose husband, Alex, was in charge of Kirk Kerkorian's The International when it opened with Barbra Streisand and Elvis Presley; Congresswoman Shelley Berkley, a former shoeshine girl and waitress at the Golden Steer steakhouse; Stardust PR whiz Jim Seagraves, former lieutenant governor and full-time character Lonnie Hammargren, media giants Jim Rogers and Bob Stoldal, Joannie Van, widow of former Strip orchestra leader Garwood Van, and Sporting House partner Lou Toomin.

THE SCENE AND HEARD

On a personal note: Bon voyage and happy retirement to Padmini Pai, longtime librarian at the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

She has been a true star and savior to those of us who need a name or a fact pulled out of a hat on deadline.

Happy travels.

SIGHTINGS

At the Palms on Saturday: Wayne Newton, actor Jesse Metcalf and Mark Salling of "Glee" at Rain; Arizona Cardinals linebacker Joey Porter at N9NE Steakhouse for his wife's birthday; Verne "Mini-Me" Troyer at Nove Italiano and the rock band Vampire Weekend at N9NE. ... In the crowd at Don Rickles' show at The Orleans on Saturday: Lawrence and Eydie Gorme and actor John Stamos. ... Mike Tyson, signing boxing gloves for $30 and taking photo ops for $100 a pop on Saturday at Painted With Oil, an art store at Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood Resort. A youngster approached a photographer and asked, "Is that the real Mike Tyson?" In a city where celebrity impersonation is a growth industry, who can blame him for the skepticism. ... Steven Van Zandt, who became as famous for his role on "The Sopranos" as for his years with Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, at N9NE on Thursday.

THE PUNCH LINE

"The (Chilean) miners were finally able to update their Facebook status to 'not trapped in a mine.' " -- Jimmy Kimmel

Norm Clarke can be reached at 702-383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find additional sightings and more online at www.normclarke.com.