Luncheon is more old-school conclave than speakers bureau stint

It was one of those times I wished I was listening instead of doing the talking.

Nelson Sardelli and the gang at F.I.O.R.E were kind enough to invite me to address the group’s monthly luncheon Thursday at the Italian American Club. The buffet was great, but the characters in the crowd were even better.

Dozens of entertainers, musicians, singers, comedians, and business owners were there. Some have been part of the Southern Nevada scene for more than half a century. Others are relative newcomers.

They all made me want to grab a seat and hear their stories.

Any day you can spend a lunch hour laughing with Marty Allen and Peter Anthony; getting the latest from former Lt. Gov. Lonnie Hammargren; sharing a memory with former judges Donald Mosley and Bill Jansen; kibitzing with Strip scribes Norm Clarke, Norm Johnson, and Jackie Brett; and visiting with business owners Jim Marsh and Tony Tegano is time well-spent.

I should have taken more notes.

For his part, Allen reminisced about his time spent with Elvis Presley, who was born Jan. 8, 1935. Allen’s 92 and funnier than ever.

Although the club’s title stands for Fun Italians Organizing Ridiculous Events, F.I.O.R.E’s not a closed society. For more information, go to Facebook.com/nonclubfiore.

LABOR POWER: The December passing of former Operating Engineers Local 501 boss Bob Fox, one of the powerhouse leaders of organized labor in Southern Nevada history, deserved a lot more notice than it has received.

Fox, who was nearly 92 when he died, must have had an amazing constitution. His life was riddled with all manner of pressure from a wide spectrum of people ranging from casino bosses and organized crime associates to federal officials.

Fox and former local Teamsters boss Dick Thomas were involved in high-wire labor pension fund politics and wielded considerable clout on the Strip a generation ago. Casino industry and organized crime fixer Sidney Korshak mentioned Fox and Thomas in a scathing letter castigating Barron Hilton for the casino man’s perceived disloyalty. The letter became part of the Korshak legend.

He wrote in part to Hilton, “Do you remember calling me in Las Vegas at 6 one morning while you were with Kirk Kerkorian and Frank Rothman for me to ask the unions not to strike you, namely Dick Thomas of the Teamsters and Bob Fox of the Engineers? As you know, there was no fee involved.”

Fox could have written a book on all he experienced. Some local casino titans are probably lucky he didn’t.

MANNY’S SENTENCE: If federal investigators were hoping a stiff prison sentence for well-connected local escort service operator Manny Varagiannis might induce his cooperation in other matters, they had to be disappointed in the 15-month hitch he received Monday in U.S. District Court.

Varagiannis, once the operator of Midnight Entertainers and a former employee of the Olympic Garden topless club, could have been hit with as much as 33 months.

Word has circulated for months that he continued to operate his prostitution front even after his arrest.

Some of us are left wondering what he might know about the owners and business operations at various topless joints and escort services in the valley.

Looks like we’ll have to keep wondering.

LAMPMAN’S FALL: As a real estate developer, Shawn Lampman had plenty going for him — including a cozy relationship with then-North Las Vegas Mayor Michael Montandon.

Lampman is now scheduled to serve 10 months in prison after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor tax conviction. He has agreed to pay $2.5 million in restitution.

For those keeping score, this makes another pal of Montandon to take a criminal fall. Montandon’s friend Steve Wark pleaded guilty in the ongoing FBI investigation of homeowners association corruption.

ON THE BOULEVARD: Lonnie Hammargren, just your average neurosurgeon/politician, is polishing what figures to be an entertaining memoir. … City Councilman Stavros Anthony doesn’t speak a lot during meetings, but wait until you read what he has to say about the proposed $200 million downtown soccer stadium. It’s coming in Sunday’s column.

Have an item for the Bard of the Boulevard? Email comments and contributions to Smith@reviewjournal.com or call 702-383-0295. Follow him on Twitter @jlnevadasmith.