Las Vegas Weekly

March 25, 2009 · 11:22 AM

Strip Scribbles: Mayor goes face to face with his double

By Robin Leach

Mayor Oscar and Carolyn Goodman.

Photo: Scott Harrison/Retna/www.harrisonphotos.com

Our Merry Mayor of Mirth, the legendary Oscar Goodman, will unveil a life-size wax figure of himself in a new, 27-superstar “Viva Vegas” exhibit at Madame Tussauds in The Venetian tomorrow. Oscar will be inducted into the museum’s permanent collection.

Madame Tussauds officials describe “Viva Vegas” as one of the most ambitious and interactive presentations ever by the 10-year-old wax museum here. They promise that it will feature all the swing, bling and hipness that have made Sin City a favorite of partygoers and gamblers for nearly a century -- all paying homage to the showstoppers who have made our city famous.

Included in the “Viva Vegas” extravaganza are fabulous, life-size wax figures in original wardrobe items often selected by the stars themselves. They include Sir Elton John, Tom Jones, Wayne Newton, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Liberace, Judy Garland, Siegfried & Roy, Elvis Presley, Bette Midler, Lance Burton, plus the infamous gangster Bugsy Siegel. Visitors can mingle up close with the personalities for photo opps!

Photo: Las Vegas Sun

Folies Bergere is on its last legs.

*The end of an era! Mourn and weep! Don’t forget that the final ticketed show for the 40-plus-year run of Tropicana’s Folies Bergere is this Friday. It was all those years ago that journalist Barbara Walters’ father, Lou Walters, launched the show. … Incidentally, magical Princess Scarlett has pulled her own disappearing act and ended her run at Planet Hollywood’s V Theater.

Photo: Denise Truscello/WireImage

Josh Duhamel and Fergie ring in 2009.

*Congratulations to Transformers filmmaker Michael Bay, who will be presented with the Vanguard Award for Excellence in Filmmaking at ShoWest here next week. He’ll attend the final night’s banquet and awards ceremony at Bally’s and Paris on April 2. “We are thrilled to be able to honor one of the most bold and imaginative filmmakers in the industry today,” said Mitch Neuhauser, co-managing director of the event. “Michael’s aggressive visual style and memorable action sequences leave audiences at the edge of their seats and running back to the theaters for more with each new release.” His next blockbuster will likely be Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, the highly anticipated sequel opening June 24. Transformers earned more than $700 million worldwide as the third-highest grossing picture and the best-selling DVD of 2007. The sequel marks the return of stars Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, Josh Duhamel, Tyrese Gibson and John Turturro and introduces several new characters played by Ramon Rodriguez, Isabel Lucas and Rainn Wilson. ShoWest begins Monday and will host celebrities among the 5,000 delegates from 50 different over four days.

Photo: Kirvin Doak Communications

Director Ken Burns, right, and a friend.

*Ken Burns is hailed as one of America’s best documentarians, and his newest film series will focus on our national parks. It will start airing on PBS in September, but Ken screened it at our Springs Preserve amphitheater.

*Las Vegas beauty Amanda Tamayo will be sitting pretty with a smile on her face this evening when she watches the T.I. concert at Thomas & Mack Center from the front row! She won the VIP tickets along with $500 and a contract to be a mixed martial arts ring girl in a contest search at the Hawaiian Tropic Zone in Planet Hollywood. Twenty girls took part and strutted the catwalk with official ring cards to be an official ring girl at Xplosion V. Fans in the crowd narrowed them down to five finalists, and then the HTZ judges selected the final three. Amanda won, Kathy Corpus was runner-up and Demai Thompson was third.

*I ran into actor-comedian Eddie Griffin last night drinking champagne at the bar in Lavo at the Palazzo. He was amazed I knew that, earlier in the day, he’d been spotted shopping at the Hard Rock Hotel. He said he was hoping to buy something special for a beautiful lady but wouldn’t tell me more. Eddie jumped between Lavo and Tao next door in The Venetian to experience both the same night!

Photo: Maury Phillips

Andrew Dice Clay.

Tonight’s tips

Comedy’s bad boy with the filthy mouth Andrew Dice Clay starts his run of four-letter humor at the SugarCane Lounge in the Palazzo. Click HERE for our story yesterday. … Scooter & LaVelle entertain at Body English in the Hard Rock Hotel. … A fabulous “Date Nite” food extravaganza kicks off for one month at The Venetian and Palazzo restaurants. Think of it as a Vegas stimulus package. The celebrity chefs there have come up with special $40 prix-fixe menus to make eating out with your true love extra special and less costly. At The Venetian, star chefs Wolfgang Puck and Mario Batali have created special meals at their Postrio and Enoteca San Marco restaurants, respectively. At the Palazzo, Charlie Trotter’s Bar Charlie, Mario Batali’s Carnevino, Dos Caminos, Morels Bistro and Sushi Samba also are participating with fine dining that won’t break the bank. “Date Nite” will run every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday through April 24.

Photo: Alex Loc Thieu/Tryst

Chester Bennington and Talinda Bentley.

Tomorrow’s teases

Linkin Park frontman Chester Bennington rolls up his sleeves and strips off his shirt to show us his tattoos and gives us a personal tour of his new Club Tattoo boutique in Planet Hollywood’s Miracle Mile. … Michael Jackson wants fan suggestions for his song set list for his upcoming concerts and promises that they will be shot for DVD release. … The ladies of mixed martial arts get ready to go fist to fist and prove that they are just as tough as the guys!

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.

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