Las Vegas Weekly

March 12, 2009 · 11:03 AM

Strip Scribbles: Anthony Cools to debut his Freaks show at O’Sheas

By Robin Leach

Anthony Cools.

Photo: Scott Doctor/www.greatscottstudios.com

It sounds like major madness and mayhem complete with partial nudity, adult language and graphic stunts, so don’t say you haven’t been warned! Comedy hypnotist Anthony Cools, who appears at the Paris, has created a new show, Freaks, which debuts tomorrow night at O’Sheas.

The cast of wackos includes glass eaters, contortionists and knife throwers. Says Anthony: “It’s the most extreme, freakish human behavior, including human shish kabobs and sword swallowing. The 70-minute variety show is intended to take audiences on an emotional roller coaster, making the spectators cry, squirm, cringe, gasp -- and then applaud!

“This form of entertainment is rich in history, and the intimate showroom at O’Sheas is the ideal setting because the onlookers are right in the middle of the action. The landscape of Vegas entertainment is about to get a bit more interesting -- to say the least.”

Freaks is described as an extremely adult-oriented production and thus is only for adults 18 years and older. It plays twice nightly Wednesdays through Saturdays.

Photo: Pure Management Group

Vanilla Ice performs at Pure.

Photo: Pure Management Group

Vanilla Ice and Dale Earnhardt Jr. at Pure.

*Rapper and reality star Vanilla Ice caused such a sensation with his performance at Pure in Caesars Palace that managers promptly invited him back for a return engagement next month. Rob Van Winkle starred on VH1’s Fame Game I hosted and shot here in Vegas. On the show, he memorably demolished a drum set and sent cymbals flying in my direction, duplicating the scene with Oddjob’s lethal hat in the James Bond movie Goldfinger! Ice kept his cool this visit, so it’s a pleasure to show these photos from his night of purity, which included NASCAR fan favorite Dale Earnhardt Jr.!

*Today’s the first day of summer, at least according to the folks at the Bare pool club in The Mirage! That’s because they’re the first pool to open for the season. I’ll be there to check it all out but am taking a sweater in case it’s too chilly to be in shorts! Think I may have to order hot soup to stay warm rather than a cold gazpacho? Tomorrow, we’ll have a rundown of all the pool club activities in town set for this first outdoor party weekend of the season!

Poetry Nightclub.

*This morning, the battleground for the fight between Poetry nightclub and Simon Property Group, who owns the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace, moves to a courtroom. Poetry, located above Wolfgang Puck’s Chinois, claims that its patrons have to walk through side doors and littered service hallways to reach the club when Caesars Palace shuts the main fire door between the casino and the stores four nights a week. Poetry’s owners claim racism against its African American clientele, and now judge and jury will decide the merits!

Photo: CineVegas

From left, Daniel Greenspun, Victoria Duffy, Kerry Simon, Robin Greenspun and Dennis Hopper.

*The annual kickoff dinner party for this year’s CineVegas Film Festival took place at festival Chairman Dennis Hopper’s home in Venice, Cali. Some 70 guests led by festival President Robin Greenspun and her husband, our fearless leader Danny Greenspun, joined with artistic director Trevor Groth for a dinner catered by Iron Chef Kerry Simon, who has restaurants at Palms Place and the Luxor here and at the Sofitel Hotel in L.A. Kerry served up his signature brick roasted organic chicken, seared yellowfish tuna, vine-ripe Campari tomatoes and avocado sesame cones, and as usual his Junk Food dessert platter with cookies, cupcakes and cotton candy. Katie Harris and her jazz trio provided the music.

*If you love to play 21, you could win the keys to a 2008 silver Porsche 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet during the exclusive Zero to Sixty blackjack tournament at the Hard Rock Hotel. Play gets underway tomorrow in the luxury poker lounge and runs through Sunday. Only 30 competitors will be playing, while six walk away winners with the car going to the top winner.

Photo: Jerry Metellus

The Men of X.

Photo: Jerry Metellus

The Men of X.

*For the first time in three years, Gerry McCambridge, aka The Mentalist who stars at Hooters resort casino, is getting three consecutive days off! Electricians are installing a new lighting and sound system in the showroom to welcome The Men of X, who debut their male burlesque strip down tomorrow night. The hard-bodied hunks posed for an incredible set of hot, steamy and spicy promotional photographs in advance of their premiere, and Vegas DeLuxe got a first look. Meantime, a fully clothed Gerry will be back Saturday!

*Four worldwide gardens will make up the new springtime attraction at the Bellagio’s lobby Conservatory and Botanical Garden. In one corner will be a charming English free-flowing garden; steps away will be the orderly landscaped French jardin; and an Italian giardino showcases the elegant villa-style with cascading water features and stone statues. A traditional Japanese garden completes the botanical journey around the world.

Photo: Sandy Kastel

Wayne Newton and Sandy Kastel.

Photo: Bally's

When Doug Davidson isn't playing investigator Paul Williams on the CBS soap opera The Young and the Restless, he is hosting The Price is Right! - Live at Harrah's resorts.

Photo: Bally's

Doug Davidson of long-running CBS soap operaThe Young and the Restless hosts The Price is Right- Live! at Bally's.

Star surveillance

Wayne Newton gave a warm welcome to Vegas-based singer Sandy Kastel when she visited him backstage. She gave him a copy of her debut album This Time Around, which features a new arrangement of Wayne’s trademark hit song “Danke Schoen.” They are longtime pals because Sandy’s father played in Wayne’s band when he was much younger and performing downtown! … Checking up on the competition, Anita Mann, the producer of adult cabaret show Fantasy at the Luxor, was spotted at the rival topless show X Burlesque at the Flamingo. No, security wasn’t called in! … Laugh Out Loud With the Scintas ends its run at the Shimmer Cabaret in the Hilton this weekend. The popular foursome from Buffalo, N.Y., have been there since 2007 and leave now for cross-country-touring concert dates and work on their upcoming syndicated TV show. Frankie, Joey and Chrissie Scinta along with drummer Pete O’Donnell have been entertaining for more than 20 years! … Award-winning actor Doug Davidson, who stars on the daytime drama The Young and the Restless, is the guest host of Bally’s live The Price is Right interactive stage game show through Saturday. Doug has been on the soap as private investigator Paul Williams for more than 30 years!

*A reminder that St. Patrick’s Day celebrations begin this weekend in advance of next Tuesday. That’s way early for the Grand Canal at the Shoppes in The Venetian, but as of 10 a.m. today, the water turned green! It will remain that color until St. Paddy’s has wrapped up another year of celebrations with green beer, green popcorn and green whatever else can be dyed!

Photo: LAX

Jonathan Davis at LAX.

Tonight’s tips

Multiplatinum-selling Korn frontman Jonathan Davis spins the wheels of steel in an exclusive guest DJ set at the Voodoo Lounge 51 stories above The Rio. … For more than 40 years, the Temptations have been performing classic Motown, and they bring the sounds of “My Girl” and “Get Ready” to The Orleans for four nights through Sunday. Even after all this time, Otis Williams, Bruce Williamson, Terry Weeks, Ron Tyson and Joe Herndon will smooth step in perfect unison to show their style, flair, flash and flawless footwork.

Photo: The Mirage

Terry Fator.

Tomorrow’s teases

The sexy, sensuous, sun-kissed, pulsating pool scene of day clubs heats up this weekend, and Vegas DeLuxe has the full, swim-saturated rundown. … Singing ventriloquist Terry Fator will have a star turnout on the red carpet for his Mirage premiere, and Mayor Oscar Goodman is roasted as we all get ready to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day!

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