New business mixes mob, buses, comedy
Another mob-themed business is rolling the dice in hard-hit Las Vegas, hoping to cash in on the city's colorful gangster--run era.
The latest to hit the streets is the Las Vegas Comedy Jail Bus Tour, which starts rolling April 29 on buses that once transported bad guys, including Las Vegas hit man Tony Spilotro.
A comedian will offer "inside information" on the hotels, casinos and Sin City's sordid past.
Robert Allen, a longtime comedian on the Strip, is teaming up with Vegas Con Xpress, operators of former prison buses that show up at regional fairs, including one that hauled Charles Manson.
Allen said he started the mob-themed trend. He has been operating the Haunted Vegas Tour since 2004 and Vegas Mob Tour since 2006.
Restaurateur Nico Santucci jumped on board with his own concept: two Capo's eateries, including one on West Sahara, which is modeled after a 1920s speakeasy.
The Las Vegas Mob Experience opened last week at the Tropicana, getting the jump on its rival, the Las Vegas Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement, aka the Mob Museum.
Allen isn't surprised by the growing number of businesses.
"We've been doing good business for five years," he said. "People have an obsession with it."
WENK LEAVES UFC
Jen Wenk, public relations director for the UFC since 2005, has left to open her own public relations company and join a prominent sports management company.
Wenk and her firm, StarPR Las Vegas, has signed an agreement with Authentic Sports Management to represent ASM and its elite fighters, including 23-year-old phenom Jon Jones, the UFC light heavyweight, and Rashad "Suga" Evans, former UFC light heavyweight champion.
She left the UFC last week.
THE SCENE AND HEARD
Jerry Gordon knew it wasn't an April Fools' joke when he was let go last Friday after 16 years as a news anchor at KNUU-radio, 970 AM. He's hoping to weather the economic storm by landing more voice-over work with a voice that made "The Voice of Disney" for a decade.
"Under Paris Skies," a photo exhibit featuring "Peepshow" star Holly Madison's recent trip to France, will be showcased from 6-9 p.m. today at the Bellagio's Caramel by local celebrity photographer Denise Truscello, who started her career in Paris.
SIGHTINGS
Gladys Knight's preview shows at the Tropicana have been drawing a parade of entertainment names: Lamonte McLemore of the original Fifth Dimension, members of The Scintas, Zowie Bowie's Marley Taylor and Chris Phillips, with dates; Rich Little, Clint Holmes and Kelly Clinton Holmes, Earl Turner and Mosaic.
THE PUNCH LINE
"It's called an 'air' plane, not an 'airtight' plane." -- From David Letterman's "Top Ten Southwest Airlines Excuses."
Norm Clarke can be reached at (702) 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find additional sightings and more online at www.normclarke.com. Follow Norm on Twitter @Norm_Clarke.
