The top 25 greatest headliners in Las Vegas History

Per Las Vegas Weekly


http://www.lasvegasweekly.com/news/2012/dec/13/25-greatest-headliners-las-vegas-history/

 

I know it must have been hard to stick to 25. But, they left out Robert Goulet.

 

Liberace topped Elvis and the Rat Pack? Lame. Those guys are the epitome of Vegas. The absolute living organisms (okay, most of them are dead, but you know what I mean) that represent the town.

And Paul Oakenfold? WTF??!!
And how dare Celine get ranked above Siegfried and Roy?

 

I guess it all depends on criteria. I grew up about 10 minutes from Liberace's home when he lived in WI, so I have a soft spot, but #1, I don't think so.

How about the fact that Michael Douglas is supposed to play him in this new movie and Matt Damon plays his driver/lover. Wow, talk about atypical casting!

I did see Sinatra once, but unfortunately it was near the end of his career. Voice was going and he had to have teleprompters all around the 270 degree stage for the lyrics.

I also agree with Lola on Robert Goulet. Man that was a voice!

But their criteria seemed to be based on consecutive shows, sellouts etc. Hell, I'd also throw Don Rickles in there. We've seen him 4 times and I still LMAO! Latest was in 2009.

 

I'm surprised Englebert Humperdinck did not make this list. The women used to go bat s*%^ crazy over this guy. Maybe I missed it, but was Jimmy Durante on the list?

 

I have to say I've never heard of Paul Oakenfold and even after reading his little blurb I am still not entirely sure what he did (it sounds like he was just a club DJ, which doesn't really seem to qualify as a headliner)

Otherwise I think if you put Wayne Newton at #2 and move the others back the top 6 would be correct.

 

Yeah, Oakenfold is a DJ/ electronic dance music guy.
That's fine for the ravers and dance-club scene, but "Vegas Headliner"? Come on. There should be something ON STAGE to capture the audience's interest and attention. Not just a guy with a Macintosh computer and headphones . . unnnntzz untttzzz unnntzz weeeeeooooo!!!!! Yeah. BBBBOOOOORRRRRIIIINNNNNGGGG!!!!!!

This doesn't qualify as a Vegas headliner in any sense of the term if you ask me.

 

I also thought it was a bit odd for them to lump the Rat Pack, do not really agree with that.

 

“Nobody ever went broke underestimating the taste of the American public”

- H.L. Mencken

 

On that list I have seen:

Penn and Teller

Tom Jones

David Copperfield

Not on that list that I have seen is:

Elton John

Can't understand why he is not on that list, he is one of the best shows on the strip

 

Why is the late, great Rodney Dangerfield not on that list??? I saw him in 2001 at the MGM and it was absolutely classic!

 

Tom Jones should be top 5. He was Elvis's favorite singer, that says something. Elvis and Tom would hang out when Elvis was in town, I couldn't imagine all that went on when they were together.

 

How about Ann-Margret?

 

...it's so great to have you around, THANKS 'westie'!

 

I haven't heard of him either.

I guess in my generation there was no such thing as a celebrity deejay.

Well, maybe Ron Lundy or Herb Oscar Anderson or Harry Harrison, or ...

 

I saw Sherman Helmsley of "The Jeffersons" do a three person act at the Hacienda back in the day. Not top25 material but nevertheless it was an awesome show.

 

One of the better legacy acts I remember (but I don't remember which one it was) was one of the guys of the former duo Allen and Rossi. (I honestly forget which one it was but I remember the show well.)

This was at the old Maxim on Flamingo. The showroom was small but totally packed and I remember it was very smoky. (They allowed it back then.) Our extended family was on stools kind of by a pillar thing and I'm sure they violated some kind of fire code by putting that many people in such a small room. It was more of a party atmosphere in the showroom, compared to the sterile environment they have now. (And no, I'm not suggesting bringing back smoking in the showrooms!)

It was a hilarious show! I think it was Rossi, but due to rusty brain cells, I'm not really sure.