Before impressionist Rich Little, there was Frank Gorshin.
Before Gorshin, there was Babe Pier.
Pier, 74, was impersonating Al Jolson, Ted Lewis and other legendary entertainers long before such noted impressionists as Bob Anderson, John Byner, Bill Acosta, Gordie Brown and Danny Gans stepped into the spotlight.
And Pier is among the best.
"When I was a teenager I used to play semipro ball in a factory league -- where only two players on the team were paid, the pitcher and the fourth batter," the New London, Conn., native recalled. "I was a pretty good second baseman, and I could hit the ball.
"But I clowned around in the dugout, doing impressions for the guys. And I played second base like Cary Grant."
The almost peerless Pier is opening for a couple of youngsters at the Suncoast this week and next -- 62-year-old Bobby Rydell (7:30 p.m. tonight through Sunday) and 64-year-old Frankie Avalon (7:30 p.m. Nov. 19-21).
The impersonator has opened for a lot of entertainment legends, including Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan and Tony Bennett, among many others.
When he started out at the age of 16, Pier played saxophone, even though he was gifted at mimicking others.
"I played nightclubs all over Connecticut," he said.
But Pier's sideline of impersonating such celebrities as Grant and Jimmy Cagney eventually became his main line.
"My first gigs were the old VFW halls and the Elks clubs," Pier said.
He caught the attention of vocalist Roberta Sherwood ("Up the Lazy River") and began opening for her in the early '50s. And she put him in touch with the Vagabonds, a quartet of musicians/vocalists who were popular at the time.
Pier became the Vagabonds' opening act, touring extensively with them.
"I got lucky," he said. "They worked in the big leagues."
He appeared on a lot of radio and television shows -- Arthur Godfrey, Ed Sullivan, Mike Douglas, Merv Griffin.
The first time he came to Vegas was with the Vagabonds in 1955.
"I started in the main rooms and worked my way down to the lounges and out of town," Pier joked.
Eventually, in 1960, he made Las Vegas his home -- but he continued to spend a lot of time performing with others around the country.
"Most of the work was out of town till I got with the Happy Jesters," Pier said. "We were at the Desert Inn and the Stardust for a long time."
Lounges were hot, thanks to such performers as Louis Prima and the Mary Kaye Trio.
"I did all the lounges -- the DI, the Riviera when Shecky Greene was out of town," Pier said. "Johnny Mathis, Duke Ellington -- they were in the lounge at the Riviera."
Pier and saxophonist Jay Orlando and his band had a five-year gig at the old Hacienda (where Mandalay Bay now stands).
"I worked both the lounge and the main room at the Hacienda," he said. "That was my longest gig here."
Pier's act has changed somewhat over the years. Jolson and Lewis are out, replaced by Joe Pesci, Robert De Niro, Jack Nicholson and others. Some are classics almost everyone knows, regardless of age -- Cagney, Grant, James Stewart.
Pier stresses the humor in his act.
"You can always do the old favorites, as long as you're funny," he said. "I can do guys nobody really knows, as long as I'm funny."
Pier, who did some boxing in his early years, stays in shape by sparring.
"We box every Saturday," he said. "We put on the gloves and the headgear and move around and throw punches. What have I got to lose, my good looks?"
Bocelli Saturday
Pop-opera sensation Andre Bocelli will be accompanied by the Las Vegas Philharmonic for a concert at 9 p.m. Saturday at Mandalay Bay.
Bocelli and the orchestra first paired up for a concert in December 2001. They were in such accord that the Las Vegas musicians then joined Bocelli for cocnerts in Denver and Phoenix.
Steven Mercurio will conduct. Soprano Sandra Lopez also will perform.
Bocelli has sold more than 45 million albums worldwide.
Tickets range from $52.50 to $315. For information call 632-7580.
Wine & fine art
Some people think outside the box.
Roger Palas thinks outside the bottle.
A couple of years ago he began miniaturizing canvas paintings and putting them on wine bottles. The artwork is created by such artists as Los Angeles painter Gary Schwebs and Las Vegan Jennifer Main.
This year Palas is introducing etched bottles that complement the wine art.
"This is the next level," Palas said. "I have hired sculptors to make one-of-a-kind pieces."
The sculptors create scenes on the bottles.
"I can complement a painting mounted on a bottle by sculpting the entire scene of the picture," Palas said. "For example, I can take a tiger painting and then sculpt a jungle scene into the bottle."
The prices can be a little steep. Palas says they start at about $3,000 and may go as high as $10,000.
That includes the price of the wine.
Palas says hundreds of hours are put into each bottle, which are packaged in wooden boxes specially made by Manning of Ireland -- renown for making wooden humidors for Ashton Cigars.
The boxes start at about $500.
Palas recently teamed up with someone else who thinks outside the box -- William Lane, noted for his work with shark cartilage in cancer treatment.
Lane, 81, owns the Gallery of Sculptures, Antiquities and Art at 5115 S. Decatur Blvd.
Originally, Lane opened the store to sell art and artifacts he collected on his world travels, but now it is a place where works of art owned by others are sold on consignment.
Today and Saturday, Palas and the gallery will host a party for about 400 people (two-thirds invited guests and one-third general public).
For the public, price of admission is $50 for singles, $75 for couples. Tickets may be purchased at the gallery. For information call 221-4868.
The price covers two days of events -- including one from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday that features gourmet food, wine, music and networking with others interested in art.
Saturday's event is from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and will include hors d'oeuvres, wine and the opportunity to visit with about a dozen artists whose work is on display at the gallery.
"We call it, 'All Senses Covered,' " Palas said. "Fine wine, great food, wonderful company, upbeat music."
The party is held monthly.
"The whole focus of the events is to put together people who have a cultural interest," Palas said. "Las Vegas, as rapidly as it has grown, hasn't had time to catch up from an art aspect.
"There is culture in this town, you just have to dig around and find it."
Dusk settles
Canadian jazz vocalist Matt Dusk may not be quite ready for prime time.
Dusk, who gained some national recognition starring in the 13-week reality series "Casino," is performing at the Las Vegas Hilton Theater at 7:30 p.m. through Nov. 21.
An audience of about 400 in the 1,500-seat room theater gave the 25-year-old crooner a lukewarm reception.
While some said they liked his voice, many thought he would do better in a lounge setting rather than a showroom -- especially one made famous by Elvis Presley.
Other comments were that he lacked charisma, didn't connect with the audience, on occasion sang off key and didn't have a wide enough variety in his songs.
However, he did have two fans that might surprise some -- Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt (a former lounge singer) and vocalist/radio host Dennis Bono.
One segment of "Casino," which was taped at the Golden Nugget, included a scene in which Hunt and Bono were invited by entertainment director Joe Leone to sing a song.
On the show that aired, it appeared that Dusk was complaining about Hunt and Bono.
"Let's call it creative editing and leave it at that," Dusk said.
And then he went into the audience and greeted Hunt and Bono.
"I would just like to apologize firsthand," Dusk said. "Thank you so much for coming. I appreciate it."
Hunt, who performed at the Hilton in the '70s, told the audience Dusk is "a tremendous new talent."
"We're so happy to be here tonight," she said. "You have a great career ahead of you ... there are a lot of good vibes in this room, and we are going to be there for you because you are a great talent."
Bono said Dusk is "a fine singer that brings back the style of vintage Vegas, and a youthful energy. I hope you have continued success."
In addition to singing a number of songs made popular by Frank Sinatra, Dusk sang such hits as the Beatles' "Please Please Me" -- but he sang it as a ballad, which irritated some Beatles purists.
George Benson's "The Masquerade" also was a little off the mark.
Dusk closed with "Two Shots of Happy, One Shot of Sad," from his CD "Two Shots."
The song was written by U2 vocalist Bono for Sinatra, who died before he could record it.
A gay blade
Singer/actor/director James Darren is Cary Grant-suave.
Dressed in a tailored tuxedo, backed by a 17-piece orchestra, the youthful, 68-year-old performer crooned pop and jazz numbers made popular by Sinatra for 90 minutes at the Suncoast more than week ago.
In the middle of his last show he invited a woman, about 60, who had been taking his picture during his performance, to come onstage for a photo op.
The woman hurried to his side and said, "If I was straight, I would go for you."
Unflustered, Darren invited the fan's mate of 21 years to join them, and the two women started good-natured bickering about who was going to stand next to the star and who was going to take the picture.
"I've never had two gay women fight over me before," Darren said to the audience, which laughed in approval.
He resolved the conflict by standing between the two and having someone else take the photograph.
"This is what it's all about," he said as he kissed them and they returned to their seats.
What it was all about was a great evening of entertainment.
Darren, propelled to stardom in the early '60s as Moondoggie in three "Gidget" movies, gave up singing for several years after becoming a television director.
But even after a long absence from the stage his pipes are still good.
Darren crammed a lot of great Sinatra tunes into the evening, which sped by as he reminisced about his career, ran a few clips from his films and his TV series "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine."
He entertained his fans with "I Get a kick Out of You," "I Only Have Eyes for You," "Night and Day," " Summer Wind," "I've Got You Under My Skin" and many, many more.
If you missed him this time around, be sure to make his next engagement.
Making a good impression
Impressionist Danny Gans, who does a great takeoff of Tony Bennett and Kirk Douglas, has had a stellar week.
He attended a recent performance at the Golden Nugget by Bennett, who has seen Gans perform at the Mirage.
"In the audience is a wonderful performer," Bennett said. "I saw his show a few months ago and he knocked my socks off. Everyone tells me he owns the Strip, and with his talent, I believe them."
Gans was touched by the introduction.
"(It) was so surreal as I was thinking of all the time I spent on the road doing corporate dates and finally making it here in Las Vegas," he said. "Now, one of the greatest singers in American history is introducing me. It was really a highlight in my career and one that I wish my parents could have seen."
Tuesday night actor Michael Douglas attended a performance by Gans, and Gans introduced him to the audience -- in the guise of Douglas' father.
"I thought it might be kinda fun if his father introduced him," Gans said.
Gans, while adept at the older performers, wouldn't mind meeting some of the younger celebrities he impersonates, such as Bryan Adams, John Mayer, Dave Matthews and the groups Five for Fighting and Train.
Pat Monahan, lead singer of Train, attended a recent performance and commented that, "Danny does me better than I do."
Veterans' benefits
Veterans are getting in free to see the new Bruce Springsteen tribute show, "Bruce in the USA," at the V Theater in the Aladdin's Desert Passage.
Theater owner David Saxe says veterans with VA or VFW cards, or honorable discharge papers, will be admitted without charge through Thursday.
The offer may be extended, depending upon demand, Saxe says.
In addition to free admission, veterans will receive a complimentary dinner (pizza, hamburgers, corn dogs), cocktails and non-alcoholic drinks.
Doors open at 5 p.m. Regular tickets are $22 (children 12 and under), $49 (13 and older, general admission) and $59 (13 and older, preferred seating).
Blues Bros.
If your taste is more to comedy and blues than pop-opera, check out the Blues Brothers ($9.95) at the Cannery on Saturday.
Eric Martin and Carmen Romano will perform at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. at The Club.
Hail no
It was a brief "Hail" storm.
The tribute show "Hail, Hail Rock 'n' Roll," which opened last month, closed last week at the Riviera's Le Bistro Theatre.
A spokesman for the troupe said it was not economically feasible to four-wall the room with five or six performers in the cast.
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