B - BeatleShow Tribute! At Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino The Fab Four Show

26 December 2010

The Beatles show provides an hour and a half of great entertainment with singing that almost matches up to the originals and takes one back to the days when Paul, Ringo, George and John made the worst of the days seem better.

The theater is located right across the street from Bellagio and is very convenient to reach; being situated in the middle of the Strip. The vouchers for the Beatles show are easily available from online bookings through Viator and the VIP seats recently re-hauled offer an improved view of the show. It appears like a seamless experience as the tickets are easily handed over on presenting the vouchers at the box office in the theatre.

As for the show itself, the Fab four -- the main singers of the Beatles show -- are superb as they sing and they even look like the original Beatles. For a Beatles fan, it can be described as a delight to the eyes and the ears. The guys perform a few of the greatest hits including "I Want to Hold Your Hand", "Hard Days Night", "Twist and Shout", "Sergeant Peppers" and "Hey Jude".

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The Hippodrome Casino in London's Leicester Square hopes to launch in August 2011

24 November 2010

I was lucky enough today to have an opportunity to take a look around the current construction site of the soon to be Hippodrome Casino in Leicester Square, London.

Many a time have I walked past this construction site and wondered what on earth was going on inside, with the front boarded up and a make shift theatre ticket booth taking its place, it seemed that no one cared enough or was brave enough to do something with this prime location real estate.

About a year ago I started noticing that activity was taking place. There was the innovative circus show called La Clique which housed a short run show here, with great success. They went on to create the new show called La Soiree currently showing at the Big Top on the Southbank. This is a cool new show, I went there a few weeks ago and it’s a fabulously entertaining spin on traditional circus shows.

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Biography Of Eccentric Nightclub Owner Peter Stringfellow

17 June 2010

The Stringfellows nightclubs and gentleman’s clubs in London and Paris are considered some of the top nightlife locations in the world. Many famous celebrities frequent the Stringfellows night spots, and there have even been reports of famous individuals, like Canadian actor Keifer Sutherland, being thrown out for unruly behavior.

These nightclubs are hot spots for the wealthy because of one man, Peter Stringfellow. Peter not only provides a place for the rich and famous to gather, but he himself leads an eccentric and extravagant lifestyle. The multi-millionaire businessman and nightclub magnate is constantly the butt of tabloid rumors and media bashing.

Peter Stringfellow has a Paris Hilton-like relationship with media, in that his outlandish behavior and famous spending sprees are always receiving ridicule from British media. The 69-year-old Stringfellow is berated for dressing and acting like a teenager. He is also a supporter of the UK’s Conservative Party - a position that frequently earns disrespect in the mainstream.

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Legendary Folk-Rock Duo Simon and Garfunkel

23 May 2010

The widely successful American folk-rock group Simon & Garfunkel was formed in 1957 by singer-songwriters Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel. Although America’s mainstream might say otherwise, folk-rock and “cult concerts,” as they’re sometimes referred to, have an enormous following, as evidenced by bands like Phish and the Grateful Dead.

Simon & Garfunkel still won’t be certified by many with the credit they’re undoubtedly due, but the mainstream music scene has always been that way; and ever since the band’s first attempt at music in the late 1950s, the duo has had to settle for sometimes being misrepresented and even ignored by the pop-chart culture.

Paul Frederic Simon was born October 13, 1941 in Newark, New Jersey. He is the son of a musician and aspired to be a performer since a very young age. Arthur Ira Garfunkel was born November 5, 1941 in Forest Hills, New York. The two young men would meet and become fast friends while attending elementary school.

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Stringfellow's - The Gentleman's Club That's A Cut Above The Rest

02 May 2010

Stringfellow’s is currently one of the most popular night clubs in the UK. Now with two locations in London in the UK, and one in Paris, France, this line of clubs started by Peter Stringfellow has stood the test of time and is recognized the world over for offering a classy gentleman’s atmosphere that still manages to get down and dirty with wild parties and nude girls.

Peter Stringfellow was born to a modest family in Sheffield, Yorkshire, England in 1940 and lived in London as a child. This is where he picked the location for his first Stringfellow’s club, the now-famous Stringfellow’s at Covent Garden.

Offering more than average nude clubs with classier dancers and high-end clientele, this table-dancing club quickly became legendary.It wasn’t long before Peter took the plunge and opened up another club in London, Stringfellow’s Angels, but the original club remains the most popular and is where it all started. Stringfellow was no stranger to the business having owned and managed clubs before, like King Mojo, and his experience shines through in his London hot spot.

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Legends of the 1960s - Minnie Riperton

01 May 2010

One of the original and only American pop stars to display a vocal range of more than five octaves, Minnie Riperton is undoubtedly best known for her smash hit Lovin’ You. Although Minnie passed away in 1979 at only 31 years of age, she left behind a strong musical legacy, and also a daughter, Maya, who is a successful comedian and actress.

Minnie Julia Riperton was born November 8, 1947 in Chicago, Illinois. Growing up in Chicago’s notoriously run down South Side, Minnie was the youngest of 8 children in a musically inclined family. She began at a young age with dancing, but after noticing her vocal talent, Riperton’s parents urged her to pursue a musical career.

Because of her unique octave range, Minnie’s opera music trainers taught her something unconventional and advised her to use her entire vocal range. However, Minnie didn’t last long in the opera world. She was drawn to rhythm and blues and other music with soul. By the time she was 15, Minnie was singing with a group named The Gems.

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Legends Of The 1970s - Slade

29 April 2010

Originally starting in 1966 and parting in 1991, the rock band Slade was one of the best bands in the world, and they were the UK’s number-one rock band during the 1970s. During a time in rock and roll where the band was competing with gargantuan bands like the Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin, Slade still managed to leave their mark on the genre.

Slade was started by Don Powell and Dave Hill after they left their group in the early sixties, the ‘N Betweens. Jim Lea would apply for the bass player gig and land it through a stellar audition, and Noddy Holder eventually became the band’s first lead vocalist after Don and Dave had met him earlier while Noddy was still with the Mavericks.

Originally starting in 1966 and parting in 1991, the rock band Slade was one of the best bands in the world, and they were the UK’s number-one rock band during the 1970s. During a time in rock and roll where the band was competing with gargantuan bands like the Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin, Slade still managed to leave their mark on the genre.

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The Story of Broadway Theater, New York

24 April 2010

New York City is absolutely filled with tourist attractions and historical landmarks that are more recognizable than in any other city in America. With the Statue of Liberty and Empire State Building acting as the sights to see, the historic Broadway Theatre acts as the city’s hub of artsy productions and is the New York art district’s crown jewel.

A lot of people confuse Broadway the district with Broadway the building. With 40 individual theaters in the district, the multiple structures single-handedly make Manhattan stand out as one of the foremost production cities on the planet. Even with much of the world in recession, Broadway still manages to pull in close to a billion US dollars annually in ticket fees alone.

However, Broadway Theatre, the 1,700-seat centerpiece of the district, remains the top theater in the district despite the competition. It’s the one stage which every theatrical performer wishes to appear on, and no matter how many names it has gone by in the past, this building has always been the crème de la crème of New York’s play scene.

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Andy Warhol - one of the most innovative artists our time

09 April 2010

Known for his eccentric lifestyle including diverse social acquaintances, avant-garde films and visual art, Andy Warhol was perhaps the most famous, innovative and influential artist of the 20th century.

From the start of his art career until his death in 1987 from complications following gallbladder surgery, Andy was an ironically revered figure in the mainstream.

Andy was born Andrew Warhol in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on August 6, 1928. Due to a childhood illness affecting his central nervous system, Andy’s extremities began to move sporadically and he developed hypochondria and always feared something was wrong. As a child that stayed mostly to himself and lived in fear, Andy’s artistic light began to shine.

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The Story of Abba, Swedens Top pop Band

10 March 2010

ABBA is undoubtedly one of Swedens top known pop bands in the world to this day. It has been over 20 years since they released their last album and the band split up, however their songs are still heard on the radio today.

All of this success leads us to question, who was ABBA, and how did the whole thing begin?   All of the members of ABBA were fairly well established artists in the music scene in Sweden prior to forming the group.

The group itself consisted of two couples, Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad, and Bjrn Ulvaeus and Agnetha Fltskog. Andersson and Ulvaeus had worked together prior to meeting the girls and forming the band, while the girls had previously worked as solo artists.

The first song they released together as a band was People Need Love, which became a top hit in Sweden almost immediately after its release. At this point the band was simply called Bjrn & Benny, Agnetha & Anni-Frid. Later, in an effort to shorten the name of the band, while continuing to incorporate all of the members names, the abbreviation ABBA was decided upon.

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Carnegie Hall - One of the world's best known concert halls

03 March 2010

Carnegie Hall, located on Seventh Avenue in Manhattan, New York is by far one of the worlds best known concert halls. The hall itself consists of three different performance spaces which include the Issac Stern Auditorium or the Main Hall, The Zankel Hall, and the Weill Recital Hall. All of these halls vary vastly in size with the Main Hall being the largest and having the seating capacity of 2,804 people.

There is more to Carnegie Hall than just its performances spaces; it also houses the Rose Museum which has been in operation since 1991, and the Carnegie Hall Archives which have been there since 1986. It is in both of these places that you can see and experience the history that Carnegie Hall holds. The studios above the hall also hold a lot of history, as artists from all walks of life have lived in them over the years.

Carnegie Hall has housed many big name performers in its venues over the years. Many of the greatest classical music performers have had the divine pleasure of being able to perform at this venue. Judy Garland, Harry Belefonte, and Stevie Ray Vaughan have all recorded live albums at Carnegie Hall.

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Ronnie Scott's London - The Legendary Jazz Club

21 January 2010

Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club is one of the hottest locations in London and has been for decades now. Although jazz isn’t necessarily the most popular music, especially true in London where electronic clubs and the young crowd rule the roost, the 1950s nostalgia still draws in a healthy crowd, and anybody who’s anybody in the world of jazz has played a spot at the now famous club. Opened in 1959, Ronnie Scott’s is pushing past half a century and is still going strong.

When a young Ronnie was only 20, he took a trip to New York - the height of the world’s jazz scene in the late 40s. Scott was a respected saxophonist in his own right, but he blended in with the crowd in New York’s plethora of middling jazz musicians.

However, the trip was well worth it to Ronnie, who, because he lived in England, had virtually no chance of ever seeing any of the legends in person that he did while in New York. After Scott’s two-week stay in the Big Apple, he headed back to London with aspirations of opening his own jazz club.

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Frank Sinatra - An Entertainer for 6 Decades

18 November 2009

Ol’ Blue Eyes, the Chairman of the Board, and the man everyone could recognize as simply "The Voice": That was Francis Albert Sinatra. Born on December 12, 1915 in Hoboken, New Jersey, Sinatra was the son of a fire-fighting boxer and a politically-driven mother.

To anyone examining Frank’s legacy, it seems his career spanned the entire 1900s - a accolade that isn’t far off the truth at all. Sinatra was a singer, award-winning actor, and a director and producer of both film and music. When he died in 1998, the world lost one its most famous and most talented icons.

Sinatra started out his life wanting to be a professional sportswriter. It wasn’t until hearing Bing Crosby on the radio that a young Sinatra decided to give singing a try. Around the time WWII started, Sinatra’s singing career began to take off.

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Peter Lawford Biography

24 June 2009

Peter Lawford’s role in American celebrity history is a bit different from others like Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin - all members of the same entertainment troupe, The Rat Pack. Lawford was a British-born actor whose rise to fame in America was rumored to be more for his marriage to Patricia Kennedy, John F. Kennedy’s sister, and less for his actual talent. Nonetheless, Lawford was a key element in the Rat Pack during its inception, playing off the mega-fame of Sinatra, Martin and Davis, Jr.

Peter Sidney Lawford was born September 7, 1923 in London, England. His father was a knighted vet of the First World War and actor. A young Peter wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps, and at the age of 8, he got his chance in the film Poor Old Bill. As the years passed, Lawford grew from an awkward young boy to a suave and debonair young man. In Britain, his fame would skyrocket and during the �40s, MGM managed his career very well.

Lawford’s acting experience is something of legend in the business circle. He was the first actor to kiss the hard-to-keep Elizabeth Taylor. But as tragedy to the triumph, Lawford was also the last person to ever see screen idol Marilyn Monroe alive.

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Dean Martin Biography

18 June 2009

Dean Martin, the man simply known as "Dino," was a worldwide success. Martin starred in movies, sang Swing Era classics and also introduced America to Italian classics with a new-age twist, and even hosted a hugely popular variety show, The Dean Martin Show.

These are just a few things that Dino did in his entertainment life. He was "second in command" behind Frank Sinatra during the affluent years of the Rat Pack. Martin’s story is the true American dream.

"Dino," contrary to popular belief, isn’t a nickname. Born to Italian immigrants in Steubenville, Ohio on June 17, 1917, Dean Martin was born Dino Paul Crocetti. Steubenville is directly on the Ohio-West Virginia line - not a lot of Italian immigrants had made the trek that far south from New York and New Jersey.

Dino stood out in this environment, only speaking Italian for a lot of his childhood, and quit school at the age of 16 to work in a steel mill. Dino ran liquor for bootleggers and worked as a croupier for the local speakeasy before deciding to follow in his idols’ - Bing Crosby’s - footsteps.

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Sammy Davis Jr, the World's Greatest Entertainer

30 May 2009

Earning the title of "World’s Greatest Entertainer" is no small feat, even in the 1950s. Sammy Davis, Jr., an unmistakable talent who would break down many walls for African-Americans in the entertainment world, earned and kept that title for nearly 30 years.

As a singer, dancer and actor, Davis was the quintessential showman. Even without the success of The Rat Pack in the 1960s, Davis’ solo shows drew in thousands of fans, eager to see him tap-dance his way through a song before breaking out into a comedy routine.

Sammy Davis, Jr. was born December 8, 1925 in Harlem, New York City. Davis would live with his father exclusively after his parents were divorced when he was only 3-years-old. Davis then began tap-dancing lessons and always inspired to be an entertainer.

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Biography of Joey Bishop of the Rat Pack

14 May 2009

Joey Bishop’s life can quite possibly read as a "how-to" manual when dealing with fame. Even though he was one of the least noted members of the famous Rat Pack, Bishop outlived the other members (Sinatra, Martin, Lawford, Davis, Jr,) by years.

The other men had been worn down by years of hard partying; Bishop made it to 89 years of age. Bishop was an accomplished comedian in his heyday. He also starred on the silver screen in some of Hollywood’s earliest knee-slapping classics.

Joseph Abraham Gottlieb was born February 3, 1918 in the Bronx, New York. His family would then move to South Philadelphia a few years later. Bishop, the son of Jewish parents, found humor in his family’s behavior compared to some other families in the neighborhood.

He developed a sense of humor a very young age, and was always performing. By the time Joey entered high school, he already knew comedy was the career for him. After graduating, he went on to experience minor success on the stand-up circuit; but like thousands of young Americans during the time, he enlisted in the Army during World War II.

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The rise and fall of Elvis Presley

23 October 2008

Of the billions of people born throughout history, only a select few will be remembered through the times. Of those select few, most will be forgotten in generations to come. But for the rest, a very small and select group, their legacy and names live on forever.

One of these names near the top of everyone’s list is Elvis Presley. Whether or not you are a fan of his music, his fame is undeniable. For millions of people worldwide, he was and always will be the King.

Elvis wasn’t born into fame or riches. Like so many of us, his beginnings are humble, to say the least. Born January 8, 1935, in Tupelo, Mississippi, Elvis Aaron Presley was one of two sons born that day to Gladys Presley.

His twin brother, Jesse Garon Presley, was stillborn. Elvis spent his youth in a rundown shack with only one electrical outlet. Rather than let their son starve, Vernon and Gladys Presley worked hard to ensure that Elvis wanted for nothing. Elvis lived the quintessential Southern-American life. He went to church, respected his elders, and began singing and playing instruments in church.

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Top 5 James Bond Villains

27 June 2008

Throughout the history of cinema, few movies have had an impact quite like the James Bond series. 007’s legacy is unwavering, and even in 2008, the Bond character is kept alive by Daniel Craig. The universe loves symmetry and always finds a way to pit hero against villain as a way to even things out.

For every great James Bond mission, there has been an impressive villain there attempting to stop Her Majesty’s top agent from saving the day.

In no particular order, here are the top 5 James Bond villains of all time.

1 - Jaws. This 7-foot giant with the metal mouth was introduced first in The Spy Who Loved Me, and became an instant hit. The sheer size of this bad-guy made for an impressive showing on the silver screen. Able to chew through everything from bone to steel, Jaws was a worthy adversary for Bond, giving this super-spy all he could handle. Because of the popularity of Jaws, he made yet another appearance in Moonraker. But brawn did not prevail in the end. It was Jaws’ lack of brainpower which always left him defeated. In the end, Jaws found love and abandoned his life of crime.

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Where did Burlesque and Cabaret Dancing Come From

26 June 2008

Cabaret is a form of entertainment featuring comedy, song, dance, and theatre, distinguished mainly by the particular performance venue: restaurants and nightclubs. This form of entertainment is nothing new at all. Civilizations as early as the Greeks and Egyptians held forms of plays and theater, what we might call "Sketch Comedy."

The word itself, "Cabaret," is a French word for the taprooms or cafes where this form of entertainment was born. It is derived from Middle Dutch "cabret", through Old North French "camberette", it essentially means "small room."

The performers are in close quarter with their audience, who are usually dining and/or drinking while enjoying the show. As the word suggests, the venue itself can also be called Cabaret. The turn of the 20th century introduced and revolutionized the cabaret culture.

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