Las Vegas Weekly

August 12, 2009 · 6:30 AM

Nathan Burton’s recent highlights include AGT and contract extension

By Robin Leach

Magician and Flamingo headliner Nathan Burton.

Photo: Ken Langdon/Heat Communications

While Mr. Vegas DeLuxe Robin Leach is on vacation and attempting to work as little as possible from afar, Vegas DeLuxe will be featuring celebrity guest columnists for the first half of this month until Robin’s return. If you’re knowledgeable about Las Vegas, the names should be familiar. Today, it’s time for a little comedy and magic with Flamingo headliner Nathan Burton.

By Nathan Burton

Looks like it’s time to infuse a little comedy magic into Robin Leach’s Vegas DeLuxe Web site. While Robin is sunning himself in a faraway land, I’m your guest columnist for today, comedy magician Nathan Burton. I have been in Las Vegas for more than 10 years performing magic. I now headline at the world-famous Flamingo Las Vegas at 4 p.m. in Nathan Burton Comedy Magic. I love my job.

It’s been a great year so far with many exciting things happening. The two biggest highlights were appearing again on NBC’s America’s Got Talent and the three-year extension of my contract at the Flamingo. On July 14, I appeared in a whirlwind spot on America’s Got Talent performing a brand new illusion. I made a showgirl disappear and reappear instantly on the other side of the stage. The response from the crowd and the judges was incredible.

Photo: Courtesy

Nathan Burton.

If you haven’t seen the performance, you can check it out here on YouTube:

As Robin has already reported, the Flamingo renewed the contract for Nathan Burton Comedy Magic for three more years until 2012. Being at the Flamingo is a great experience, with such wonderful support from the hotel and Harrah’s corporation. I believe strongly in creating as much exposure for my show as possible, and Harrah’s greatly helps in that effort. First of all, there’s the building wrap of my face on the front of the Flamingo. There also are Nathan Burton blackjack tables. In each hotel room at the Flamingo, there are Nathan Burton coasters and remote control covers. There’s no escaping me at the Flamingo!

Photo: Courtesy

Nathan Burton's image is imposed on the side of the Flamingo.

Because of the challenging economy that affects everything, especially the tourists walking the strip, Nathan Burton Comedy Magic has teamed up with the Flamingo to offer an extraordinary deal. For just $20, plus fees, locals and the tourists who can get their hands on the valuable coupon can purchase a ticket to Nathan Burton Comedy Magic and a meal at the Flamingo Paradise Garden Buffet. Imagine a show and dinner for $20! It’s the old school Vegas value that people are in need of right now. We have hundreds of people a day taking advantage of the offer. Just watch out for the long line at the buffet at 5:25 p.m. when my show is over.

Nathan Burton Comedy Magic has been at the Flamingo since April 2008, and the show has changed a lot since opening. We have added several new illusions and dance numbers. I now end the first half of my show by making a real custom-designed chopper appear. Making the chopper appear isn’t nearly enough, so I levitate the bike and make it disappear. The illusion I performed on this season of America’s Got Talent also is in the show. We have a new trick involving a showgirl in a bikini, but you’ll have to come see what that is about for yourself.

I also am lucky to have two incredibly talented guest acts in the show. The first act is comedian Russ Merlin, who also performs nightly in V -- The Ultimate Variety Show. Russ performs an indescribable act involving audience volunteers, four masks and some balloons. Without fail, Russ makes the audience laugh hysterically, often with tears running down their faces from laughing so hard. The second guest act is comedy juggler Michael Holly, a longtime veteran of the now closed Folies Bergere. Michael’s wacky humor and hilarious juggling has the audience rolling around the floor laughing every day.

Photo: Bryan Steffy

Nathan Burton at 2009 CineVegas in the Palms.

What you don’t get to see is the interaction of the guest acts, the showgirls and our tech crew backstage and in the dressing room. In my dressing room, Russ, Michael and I discuss different ideas for the shows, what’s happening with other performers in town, etc. Often, in the middle of our conversations, a near-naked showgirl will run through on her way to the bathroom. Or Donny Osmond will stop in for a chat. The dressing room also serves as an office for my team, which consists of my mother, Nancy Burton, as the executive producer, and my sister, Emily Burton, who is production manager for the show.

Being at the Flamingo is like being part of a large family of entertainers. Last week marked George Wallace’s birthday. It’s a yearly tradition that George’s team surprises him with guests on his birthday. This year, the surprise guests were Donny and myself. In the middle of George telling a joke, I simply walked onstage and informed George that we had a birthday surprise for him. Out walked two of my showgirls, which was only part of the surprise. A showgirl hopped in a pink dressing room, and the curtain dropped revealing Donny in a pink corset holding balloons, a cake and a Marie Osmond showgirl doll.

Photo: Harrah's

Nathan Burton, Donny Osmond and George Wallace.

The death of Michael Jackson has saddened the entertainment community. Upon hearing of his death, I immediately remembered meeting Michael when he attended my show last August. We had no idea he was attending the show until an hour before show time when his security team arrived at the box office. Emily escorted Michael, his three children and several security officers through a tunnel underneath the theater. Michael was wearing a surgical mask, glasses, a hooded sweatshirt and a hat.

After the show, I met Michael briefly, and he was incredibly nice, saying, “I enjoyed your show, Mr. Burton.” Michael wanted to know when I started performing and how long I would be at the Flamingo. Michael also introduced me to his children, who seemed very sweet and shy. My mother saved the napkin that Michael used during the show, and it is now taped to the mirror in our dressing room. I feel lucky that I had the chance to perform for the world’s premier entertainer.

Photo: Luxe Life

Michael Jackson (that's him, incognito, wearing the mask) and his kids attend a performance by Nathan Burton.

The latest exciting event at the Flamingo was the roast for Flamingo President Don Marrandino. On July 25, many entertainers from the Harrah’s properties and high rollers had a dinner and a roast for Don in a ballroom at the Flamingo. Vinnie Favorito hosted the roast. Some of the people on the panel for the roast were Donny and Marie, George, Anthony Cools, Alicia Jacobs and myself. For my speech, I introduced mini-Marrandino, which was a little person friend of mine dressed up as the hotel president, complete with a suit and a pink tie.

Thank you for reading the column. If you haven’t seen my show at the Flamingo, come check it out. To stay informed on my latest TV appearances, you can sign up for my e-newsletter HERE. I look forward to writing again during Robin’s next long vacation. In the meantime, be sure to check out Robin’s column daily for the latest and hottest Las Vegas news.

Tomorrow’s celebrity guest columnist is Kristen Hertzenberg, who portrays Christine Daae in Phantom -- the Las Vegas Spectacular at The Venetian.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter HERE.

Follow Vegas DeLuxe on Twitter HERE.

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