David Copperfield’s Fountain of Youth
& Potential Vegas Premieres of Oceans 13 and Rocky 6
Is it a
magical illusion or the real ‘Fountain of Youth’? That’s the question I want to
ask incredible illusionist David Copperfield when he gets
here next week for an almost month-long run at MGM’s Hollywood Theater on
Thursday, Aug 24. David, who keeps his top-secret magic tricks under massive
security at a private, off-Strip location, says he’s discovered “legendary
waters that could bestow perpetual youth and make wrinkles and old age a thing
of the past!” Recently he shelled out a whopping $50-million to purchase four
small neighboring islands in the Exuma chain of the Bahamas. His Musha Cay private
resort is probably the most expensive private hideaway island in the world for
rent up to $300,000 a week to super-rich celebrities and corporate chieftains.
The other 3 enclaves are a buffer-zone to keep prying paparazzi far away from his well-heeled guests. David has told his closest pals that the archipelago contains the mystical “Fountain of Youth” waters. He claims, “It’s a true phenomenon. Dead leaves return to full life when in contact with the water. It's an amazing thing and very, very exciting. Bugs and insects that are near death come into contact with the water and they come back to life again and fly away.” David says that he’s hiring top scientists to study the waters and its supernatural qualities before he allows tests on humans and then allows visitors to swim in it and drink from it. David, who will celebrate his 50th birthday while in Vegas next month, and has wowed critics and cynics with his ability to vanish everything from a Boeing 747 jet plane to the Statue of Liberty, believes he will soon be able to vanish ‘old-age’. Luxe Life hopes to get more of the illusionist’s secrets on his amazing discovery while he’s in town.
MOVIE PREMIERES
Hollywood moviemakers are really falling in love with Vegas -- so much so that Sylvester Stallone may well premiere his December 'Rocky 6' movie here and George Clooney has asked if we could host the premiere of his new 'Oceans 13' film too. My friend, Planet Hollywood CEO Robert Earl telephoned me before lunching with Review-Journal gossip columnist, Norm Clark to say that Stallone is trying to have the 'Rocky 6' premiere at his Aladdin hotel casino as it nears completion of its transformation into the Planet Hollywood resort. It would probably be the same week, shortly after Thanksgiving, as its simultaneous premiere in Philadelphia. Stallone’s sixth saga was filmed in both cities earlier this year with the fight-scenes shot at Mandalay Bay. He screened its first preview cut to rave praise from startled moviegoers out at Sam’s Town on the Boulder Highway. (Click here for our previous Luxe Life stories of Sly’s Rocky 6 and his big birthday celebration at the Aladdin)
Sly may premiere 'Rocky 6' in Vegas, where parts of the movie were filmed.
Meantime, while Clooney, and co-stars Brad Pitt, Al Pacino, Matt Damon and Andy Garcia filmed sequences of the third Oceans' sequel, producer Jerry Weintraub said he’s already talked about the possibility of the Bellagio being the site for that premiere. Scenes were shot at the Bellagio, as well as at McCarran International Airport and on the construction site of The Venetian’s new $1.5 billion sister resort The Palazzo. In the new movie, Pacino plays a casino owner Willie Bank who is building a new resort, 'The Bank.' The entire cast was on The Palazzo’s construction property and one lucky hard-hat worker was selected from a volunteer lineup to be placed in a scene opposite Pacino. Cameras rolled as Pacino yelled at the worker to speed things up and afterwards Pacino rewarded him with a round of heavy hugs for being willing to undergo the shouting scream scene! Ron Reese of the Venetian told Luxe Life that Brad Pitt, who has a well known interest in architecture, was very curious regarding the building of the new hotel. “I answered all of his questions and we wound up inviting all the cast to the grand-gala opening of The Palazzo in September next year,” said Ron. Originally the premiere of 'Oceans 11' was to have been held at the Bellagio back in 2001, but was cancelled because of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center that temporarily affected tourism to our desert kingdom. Producer Weintraub confirmed, “Those issues don’t exist now so we’re already working on some ideas to do something special for Vegas.” By the way, if you see tabloid headlines screaming that Clooney has a sparked romance with co-star Ellen Barkin please be aware that when they had their cozy dinners in the Bellagio restaurants their producer was right alongside throughout!!
MEDICAL MANILOW
Our thoughts will be with Barry when he undergoes hip surgery.
Hilton headliner Barry Manilow will have his fans on pins and needles, and possibly an enthusiastic candlelight vigil, next week when he cancels some of his upcoming performances to go “under the knife”. He faces surgery on both hips for a labrum cartilage tear that has been made worse by his on-stage theatrics. He’ll perform through this week and then, after an Emmy’s appearance the following Sunday, August 27, in a musical salute to Dick Clark, Barry will undergo outpatient arthroscopic surgery at a Southern California hospital near his Palm Springs home. Medics have told him that he’ll be out of play for about 8-weeks and thus will miss about 20 Hilton shows. The hotel has agreed to reschedule those next year with added dates. "I'm anxious to make it through the Emmy Awards and then go right to the hospital. The doctors have promised me that I'll come back even better than before,” he told us.
5 MORE YEARS
Fans of magician Mac King will be able to enjoy his comedy/magic for at least five more years.
Congratulations to my magical pal, Mac King, who has had his Comedy Magic Show extended for five more years at Harrah’s. Mac, who has been there daily since 2000, commented, “To be able to continue performing at this amazing venue and make people laugh every day is a great feeling." Mac posed for this special and unique portrait photo and explained that, "Each of the items in the photo play an important roll in my show. Some things are visible during the performance (like carrots, goldfish, Fig Newtons, breakfast cereal, and rope), and some are secret, behind the scenes things that make the magic happen (like rubber cement, duct tape, and lighter fluid). I’ve done so many shows that it seems like these things are a part of me. King, one of today’s brightest and most talented magicians, takes the stage twice daily, at 1PM and 3PM, Tuesday through Saturday, at Harrah’s. He was named Magician of the Year by The Magic Castle, “Entertainer of the Year” and is a Guinness Book of World Records holder in 2004 for “The World’s Longest Game of Telephone.” Mac has made numerous TV appearances has the distinction of being the only performer to have appeared on all five of NBC’s “World’s Greatest Magic” shows.
X-GIRLS XPAND
The X Girls always make us feel patriotic.
We never need a real excuse to run saucy sexy photos of the xciting xotic X Girls - but it's nice when there is something to celebrate. Congratulations to all eight beauties who will move to the Aladdin as of Labor Day weekend as it continues with its makeover into Planet Hollywood. They’d been due to depart the V Theater in the Desert Passages mid-month so this may go into the record books as the shortest move in showbiz history to a new cabaret theater, just two floors up!!
OUR FAVORITE PARTY GIRL
As super socialite Paris Hilton readies for her August 29 release party at the opening of Beachers Rockhouse, and her party in PURE, Luxe Life invites you to click here and listen to her new CD at AOL Music. You can be sure that we will keep you informed about all the exciting details of the release party and the exciting new Rockhouse.
STARS AT PLAY
'Oceans 13' star Andy Garcia (center) with the cast of 'LOVE'.
Andy Garcia took a break from 'Oceans 13' filming to take his wife and three kids to the Cirque du Soleil Beatles LOVE show and met the cast backstage afterwards. … Kim Basinger, on a rare Vegas visit, also saw the LOVE show, dining afterwards at Sushi Roku in the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace and next night caught the Blue Man Group show at the Venetian. … Gladys Knight dropped in unexpectedly at her old Flamingo showroom to watch newcomer Toni Braxton and, after the singer acknowledged her from the stage, Gladys got a standing ovation. The duo chatted up a storm backstage in Gladys’ former dressing room.
TONIGHT'S TIPS
Miss Hooters International Michelle Nunes shows off her pitching skills tonight.
Michelle Nunes, the recently crowned Miss Hooters International, will throw out the first pitch at the 51's game against the Portland Beavers at Cashman Field. The game starts at 7PM it will be fun to see if Michelle's fast ball is as good as her curves. … Thursday night at Tao is still proving that locals and celebrities alike both love the hotspot’s Worship parties. Korn lead singer Jonathan Davis and UFC Champ Chuck Liddell were both spotted in the VIP lounge last week and DJ Mix Master Mike of The Beastie Boys spins this evening. … Comedy heavyweight Drew Carey brings his Improv All-Stars, including Ryan Stiles and Greg Proops for four nights of fun at the Luxor. … The unusual team of Robert Cray and legendary Buddy Guy wail with their guitars at the House of Blues. … And if you’re into punches, pummeling and pounding, two young welterweights strike blows for the Ultimate Fighting Championship up at the new Red Rock.
TOMORROW’S TEASE
More than 15,000 Trekkies from around the world invade the Hilton for the 5th annual official Star Trek Convention which also celebrates the 40th anniversary of the outer-space phenomenon with both William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy on hand to help beam you up!
CONTACT US
You can
Klingon to us anytime with an email to robinsvegas@aol.com. To ensure you don’t
miss one exciting edition like ‘never before’ click
here or at the 'Alert Me'
up top if you’d like to know the split-second we post the brand new
Luxe Life.
Go to AOL Vegasfor much more on hotels, casinos, restaurants, nightlife, and everything Las Vegas! Check our travel section for great deals on hotels, airfare and much more! And when visiting Vegas, be sure to see Las Vegas Magazine in your hotel suite featuring a print edition of AOL Vegas Luxe Life, and an incredible directory of attractions, shows and restaurants.
Read previous columns from Robin Leach at: journals.aol.com/robinsvegas/LuxeLifeVegas Articles and photos from Robin Leach's Luxe Life: Vegas column on AOL cityguide are used by permission.