Saluting "The Greatest
Generation"
to
Keep the Spirit of
'45 Alive
It just doesn't get any better
than it did on April 16th when our first "Keep the Spirit of '45 Alive" show was
held at the Henderson Pavilion.
And if you didn't
catch it....you missed "a moment in time" that will be remembered by all who
were there.
A
preliminary show conducted by John Rothman followed by the main production which I was
privileged to have been a part of, sent people home with both cheers and tears,
as World War II veterans were honored by Congressman Joe Heck,
Henderson Councilwoman Debra March, Judge Mark Stevens of the Henderson Veteran's Treatment
Court, alongside a cast of some of the most talented and generous entertainers
we are so fortunate to have as part of the Las Vegas community, including Grand
Marshall, Marty
Allen.
Grand Marshall Marty
Allen
Host Mark OToole of
our Sunset Station "An Afternoon Affair" show, a man so dedicated to
entertainment perfection (and humor).....was joined by a number of gracious
performers who donated their talents to honor "The Greatest Generation" as he
opened the show with "I Don't Want to Walk Without
You".
Lou Gazzara, Denise Clemente, Mark
OToole
Genevieve, Corrie Sachs, and Gary
Anthony
Dangerous Curves
Incidentally Mark's going to be at The Smith
Center's Cabaret Jazz on June 3rd...and the tickets are going at
lightning speed !
Denise Clemente...an icon of Las Vegas
entertainment who Liberace once accompanied, began the tribute with her a
cappella rendition of The National Anthem; and former "Vegas the Show" and
"American Idol" finalist, Lou Gazzara, closed the event with "God
Bless America", a rendition that should be a part of any event honoring
this nation.... so inspiring in his emotion that it should be considered
his "signature" gift to America.
Denise returned later to do "Stuff Like That
There" from the Bette Midler movie "For the Boys", and Lou also performed
"I'm Gonna Live Til I
Die".
In addition, our Red Rock Casino's "An Afternoon Affair"
host, Gary
Anthony, in his smooth Sinatra style, did World War II classic songs,
"Saturday Night is the Loneliest Night of the Week",
and also "Night and Day" with dancers from Bally's
“Dancing Like the Stars" accompanying him in the
background, recreating an elegant moment of the time
period.
When I saw Genevieve backstage in her 40s glamorous evening gown,
I had to take matters in my own hands; and, as she took my arm, I escorted this
"goddess" on stage myself, bowing to her beauty, taking the liberty to kiss her
hand, and I left the stage looking for something to calm the beat of my heart
!
I
adore Genevieve, and so did the audience as she first sang "Almost Like Being in Love" (I already was !), then
returning near the end of the show with a song which best described the spirit
of the day....."One Moment In
Time".
The trio of Dangerous Curves, including the lovely Lisa Smith, Margaret Menzies,
and Karen
Michaels, came to the stage in gowns that were so beautiful they looked
like they had been made by "the gods"!
Their Andrews Sisters medley and salute to each branch of our
armed forces had the crowd on their feet, and I could see just about every
veteran in the audience cheering as their respective branch of the service was
being saluted.
But...I have to save the most emotional moment for last....the
wonderful performances of Corrie Sachs of
Country Superstars, and Co-host of the Dennis Bono
Show.
Early in the show, Corrie, in a homemade polka dot dress which
she and her mom, Alice, had made specifically for the show to honor the World
War II fashion era...along with implementing a popular hairstyle of the war
years, appeared on stage to first do "Jump Shout
Boogie".
It was Corrie's second appearance
that created a special moment that left the entire crowd looking for a
handkerchief...
After Congressman Joe Heck presented the
individualized "Certificates of
Appreciation" to the various veteran groups, he asked Corrie to come back on
stage to give him a hand with the last
one.
Alice and Frank Bedell, Corrie's folks, were sitting in the
audience when we sent out one of our ushers to "kidnap" Frank, who is wheelchair
bound.
He was brought back stage, and
when Congressman Heck asked Corrie to return to the stage, we brought Frank
Bedell from behind the curtain so that they could present him with a
Certificate of Appreciation for his being a World War II
veteran.
But it didn't stop there ! Corrie took the microphone, looked at
her dad, and as the band began to play, sang "You'll Never
Know" (How Much I Love
You).
...while we watched Poppa Frank
gaze at his daughter singing the words back to her...as a teary audience
witnessed what could never have been scripted
!
And Corrie....always the sweet
lady she's been from the first time I met her, took a few moments to thank each
and every veteran on stage for their service to our
country.
Yes indeed, it was special....so special that after the show, Dan
Roberts, the publisher of The Vegas Voice, looked at me and said...
"Dick, you realize we're in big trouble...How do we ever do anything like this
again?"
Well, Dan...as you have often said
to me, "I haven't figured that out
yet"....
...but to our
readers....
We'll do our best !
Thanks SO MUCH to those who shared this
afternoon with us in saluting these marvelous
individuals.
Next Spirit of '45 show is at Palace
Station on May 10th.