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Thanks to all the people of  David Cassidy's management, the Las Vegas Review Journal, the Las Vegas Sun, Kidscharities.org, Just David Fan Club, Friends of the Cassidys,  and to those on the David  and Shaun Cassidy chatlists on Egroups for keeping this Newsletter updated at any time.

All photos in the  newsletter and on the David Cassidy Fan Site of Norway are copyrighted. They might not be used for any purpose without the agreement of the copyright owner. 

(C) June 2000 by Erik Drilen.

I was staying at the Rio Suites Resort from Monday, June 19 to 21. This was my first time in Las Vegas. This was the first time I was going to see a show Las Vegas style. And it was the first time I was going to see David Cassidy live. The gaming I didn't care much for, made sure I didn't lose more than I could deal with. Just figured I could buy a couple of souvenirs less, and I'd be back where I started. 

I went to see the first of the two shows on Tuesday, June 20 (7 pm):

David Cassidy at the Copa, co-starring Sheena Easton

David Cassidy and Sheena Easton at the Copa is a fun show with a lot of wonderful and familiar songs, and set in a 1940’s style lounge act. It is presented in the beautiful Copa lounge at the Rio Hotel. The show has a live orchestra, the Lon Bronsons Orchestra, and a core of dancers and supporting cast members which are all great.
    The songs are built around the semblance of a forties style lounge act and story. David Cassidy plays the role of Johnny Flamingo, a waiter that is thrust into the spotlight due to the death of another entertainer, and immediately becomes a star. Sheena Easton plays the role of Ruby Bombay, the diva of the lounge who has taken an interest in Flamingo, and subsequently falls in love with him. Through a certain amount of intrigue, Flamingo loses Bombay, falls into a deep depression, only to be reunited with her moments before she is killed.
    The story is told very cleverly with short little scenes between songs, as well as with songs. The ensemble deftly jumps in and out of different characters to support the story in a style that is very reminiscent of the musical Chicago. Narration helps move the story forward and cover a lot of the transitions.
    Initially, the story seems to be set in the forties, but after the first couple of scenes, the adherence to time period seems to be lost. The production really seems to be more of a vehicle and showcase for the two main performers, and with this in mind, it serves them well. After all, it is Cassidy and Easton that we have come to see. We have come to see them sing and perform, and not just act in a role, but we also come to see them with their own personalities. Not only do we get to hear each of them perform some classic oldies, but we also get to hear them sing some of their greatest hits. Cassidy seems to know this and works the room and the crowd wonderfully.
    One of the best elements of this production is the live orchestra - an element increasingly hard to find in a lot of productions. So many productions on the strip have opted for taped music for the sake of consistency and expense. This is always done, however, at the cost of the spontaneity and the dynamics of live performances. So often performers become static and uninspired with taped music. This will not happen with this production. The orchestra is great, and they follow the singers through all of their play with the songs and with the audience. The musicians also handle a tremendous variety of music and styles. "David Cassidy at the Copa" is written and produced by  David Cassidy and Don Reo.
    The songs of the show includes "Fever" (Sheena), "Mack the Knife" (David), "Try a Little Tenderness" (David), "River Deep Mountain High" (David and Sheena), "I Woke Up in Love This Morning" and "I Think I Love You" (David), "Cry" (David), "Morning Train" and "For Your Eyes Only" (Sheena), "If They Could See Me Now" (Stewart Daylida) and "My Kind of Town". 

After the show I met two of my chat friends from the David Cassidy Chatlist, Meesh and Lucy, who have both contributed with reviews and stories for previous issues of the Newsletter. Great having met you, gals! Unfortunately I didn't have much time to stay longer and talk with them, as I had another show to attend:

The Rat Pack is Back

The time is Dec. 12, 1961. The scene is the onstage birthday party for the Chairman of the Board, Frank, and he is toasted by his fellow Rat Pack members, Dean, Sammy and Joey. Last names are never used, but it is obvious that it is really the Sands and a reasonably accurate depiction of that special occasion.
    Following an overture a medley of songs associated with the original Frank, Dean and Sammy, Hiram Kasden, as Joey, does a solid 20 minutes of stand-up comedy. Joey introduces Frank (Bobby Caldwell) who sings "Come Fly With Me," "All of Me" and "Luck Be a Lady," pulls up a stool for "One for My Baby" when he is interrupted by Dean (Rick Michel), even stronger than his Desert Inn predecessor, Steve Apple.
    Dean has a present for Frank, some candy. It's really Candy, a stunner portrayed by Christine Anderson. Frank goes off with Candy, and Dean sings "Everybody Loves Somebody" and "That's Amore." Sammy (Tony Tillman) joins Dean for a comedy duet on "Sam's Song" that becomes "Dean's Song." Sammy has a present for Frank, and it's Mandy, Candy's twin sister, a dual role for Anderson. Frank and "Candy/Mandy" go off with Dean.
    Sammy is left alone for "That Old Black Magic," "What Kind of Fool Am I" and "Mr. Bojangles," shifting the show into high gear, a standard maintained until the finale. Frank and Dean return and do very funny lines as Sammy tries to sing "She's Funny That Way." They do let him finish "Hey, There," the real Sammy's first million-record seller.
    Joey returns with the booze trolley and gets to do more good comedic time. He stays on for the comedy medley and the quasi-serious medley that includes "You're Nobody Till Somebody Loves You," "A Foggy Day," "Embraceable You" and "Where or When." "Birth of the Blues" is the big closer, with the traditional "One More Time" tag, and finish.
    The show is a good one, and very entertaining, even for a person of a different generation who doesn't know any of the songs. It was very obvious, though, that a lot of the others did. The Sahara was packed, and the audience got into the spirit of the party early and never wavered.. Things worked well because there was a live band, Lon Bronson's second orchestra, and not pre-recorded music as in most Las Vegas shows. "The Rat Pack is Back" was written and produced by  David Cassidy and Don Reo.

Las Vegas is My Kind of Town!

Erik

David's August week off from "At The Copa"  has been changed. He will now be out of the show from August 7th until August 14th. Those who have tickets for any shows that week are advised to call the Rio box office to change for another date or obtain a refund.
David will be attending a charity event in Saratoga Springs, NY on August 12th to benefit a number of children's charities.  There will be a kids' tent set up near the racetrack with various arts and crafts and games for children that you can take part in for a small donation.  There is also a $150 per person luncheon in the Pavilion. For more information, call:   518-581-7610
David's brother, Patrick, will be co-starring with Sheena in "At The Copa" for the week David is out. (Thanks to Barbara from Just David Fan Club for this information).

David Cassidy items and more on the Yahoo Auction site from June 8 to June 22 - benefiting kidscharities.org - hurry on in - items bidding up fast!

http://auctions.yahoo.com/booth/kidscharitiesorg

We will ship Internationally so don't be shy - items from Sammy Davis Jr, Ricky Martin, Sharon Stone, Tom Jones,Andre Agassi, John McEnroe, and David Cassidy memorablia too...stop on by and help Kids in need......

May 30 - June 5, 2000: Dark days at the Rio. David Cassidy will not perform this week.

June 13, 2000: The Las Vegas Sun writes: I'm not a big fan of the whole '70s thing (mainly because I don't remember them), but those who were a part of feathered-hair-and-bell-bottoms scene seem to stay pretty attached to the era. Just ask David Cassidy.
     The singer and former teen idol threw the Totally Groovy '70s Polyester Ball at the Rio on Sunday to help raise money for Cassidy's KidsCharities.org program. Cassidy and a crowd of about 400 partyers turned out in their finest polyester to jam to Boogie Knights and watch Shirley Jones bust a move. Another highlight included Cassidy's wife, Sue, donning a vintage Cassidy jumpsuit rescued from storage. In fact, the rhinestone-studded jumpsuit (words that only emphasize the reason why '70s style has yet to make a return to fashion runways) was the very same ensemble worn by Cassidy when he performed at London's Wembley Stadium back in the '70s.
     The charity event also included an auction emceed by Leach (him again). Items that weren't picked up at the party can be found at yahoo.com's charity auction website. (Kate Maddox of the Sun).

June 14, 2000: The Las Vegas Sun writes: I'm not a big fan of the whole '70s thing (mainly because I don't remember them), but those who were a part of feathered-hair-and-bell-bottoms scene seem to stay pretty attached to the era. Just ask David Cassidy.
    The singer and former teen idol threw the Totally Groovy '70s Polyester Ball at the Rio on Sunday to help raise money for Cassidy's KidsCharities.org program. Cassidy and a crowd of about 400 partyers turned out in their finest polyester to jam to Boogie Knights and watch Shirley Jones bust a move. Another highlight included Cassidy's wife, Sue, donning a vintage Cassidy jumpsuit rescued from storage. In fact, the rhinestone-studded jumpsuit (words that only emphasize the reason why '70s style has yet to make a return to fashion runways) was the very same ensemble worn by Cassidy when he performed at London's Wembley Stadium back in the '70s.
    The charity event also included an auction emceed by Leach. Items that weren't picked up at the party can be found at yahoo.com's charity auction website. (by columnist Kate Maddox, www.lasvegassun.com)
 

June 18, 2000: The Las Vegas Review-Journal writes: COLUMN: ENTERTAINMENT: Mike Weatherford 

Music fans find Bronson reason to stay up late 

If you woke up late to read this -- or perhaps are thumbing the paper before turning in from a long Saturday night -- you might already know about Lon Bronson. At midnight Saturday, Bronson was scheduled to celebrate the 10th anniversary of his "All-Star R&B, Rock & Soul Revue" at the Riviera's Le Bistro Lounge. That's 10 years of his Tower of Power-styled large band keeping Las Vegas' late-night reputation alive. 
These days, you might find it hard to believe the Strip's all-night party image was ever in jeopardy. But Bronson can testify that in April 1990 -- a time when the Strip was just starting to reinvent itself -- there was a big difference between a town that was merely open all night and one that gave you a reason to stay up. 
As a trumpet player who attended the New England Conservatory of Music, Bronson had no interest in the silly Top 40 combos that passed for late-night entertainment in most lounges. 
But Tower of Power? That woke him up. He reacquainted himself with the horn-powered Oakland funk 'n' soul outfit in a concert at the old Calamity Jayne's club on Boulder Highway. He told himself, "There's no reason why we can't have a band like this with purely homegrown Vegas talent." 
Though he wasn't working as a musician -- instead serving as stage manager for the Riviera's "Crazy Girls" and "An Evening at La Cage" -- he made cold calls to the best players he could find. He next made a deal with the Riviera's then-entertainment director, Sam Distefano. 
After finding 12 "alcohol-driven" musicians willing to play for drinks, Bronson canvassed all the showgirls and dancers on the Strip, who fulfilled his pledge to pack the lounge at 1:30 a.m. And on a Tuesday morning, no less. 
"It was the after-show thing to do, and took off like a rocket," Bronson says. In January 1992, the band expanded to two nights, adding Saturdays to let more tourists and civilians in on the action. 
Along the way he made fans of Drew Carey and David Cassidy. Both eventually employed him as a bandleader and music director -- Carey in "The Mr. Vegas All-Night Party" HBO special, and Cassidy in the Rio's "At the Copa" show. 
It's worth noting at this point that Bronson started all this just four months after the Musicians Union of Las Vegas had to sell its headquarters and rehearsal hall behind the San Remo to finance its 1989 strike against the hotels. 
That was the end of one era: Taxis pulling up in front of the hall after midnight to drop off tourists, and musicians arriving in their tuxes from other showroom jobs. For 20 years, they all gathered for late-night jam sessions in a room outfitted with cocktail tables and a cash bar. 
Bronson's band, by default, became the "throwback to the '50s and '60s, the way Vegas used to be." 
Now it's time to wonder if Bronson is the endangered species. When he began, the Riviera was on a more level playing field. Now the north end of the Strip fights for any action it can get. 
"I hear people say, `I'd rather go hang out at Mandalay Bay and (the nightclub) rumjungle. It's become tougher over the years to compete with that," he admits. 
The new wave of dance clubs -- which also includes Studio 54, Ra, Baby's and C2K -- has taken away most of the showgirls and the guys who came to ogle them. 
"Yeah, we're aging, definitely," says Bronson, who just turned 41 and now plays the Riviera only on Saturday nights. But along with "discerning musical listeners," the classic soul tunes always draw "people who fall in love with the music for the first time." 
Even if Bronson doesn't make it another 10 years, he'll still be remembered as the man who kept the lights on until the next tenant arrived. 
 

June 21, 2000: The Las Vegas Sun writes: Columnist Elizabeth Foyt: 

Polyester Ball proves to be groovy time for all 

KidsCharities.org, founded by Sue Shifrin Cassidy, is a nonprofit Internet-based organization that serves as an umbrella for many children's charities. Its efforts concentrate on those agencies that provide emergency and medical care, basic human needs, safety, education, the environment and the arts. Recently KidsCharities.org hosted the third annual David Cassidy Celebrity Golf Tournament. Highly successful, the tournament drew a select mix of celebrities and local supporters and followed the Emerging Artists and Talent in Music (EAT'M) conference. 
     Concluding the most pleasant day on the links at the Rio Secco Country Club was the "Totally Groovy '70s Polyester Ball" at the Rio hotel-casino. The spirited gathering was a benefit evening for the support of City of Hope, Special Olympics Nevada, Interfaith Hospitality Network (which provides basic needs to the homeless) and Planet Hope. The ball, a totally charming evening, was co-chaired by Sandy and Roger Peltyn with Sue and David Cassidy. 
     Incredibly, the attending crowd did their best to find suitable costumes for the dinner dance, with more than a few appearing in favorite remmants of their youthful wardrobes. Mingling in the flowered and bell-bottomed crowd were John Babcock, Deborah Levy with her young daughters, Kathy Herrill, Robert Holgate, Paula Gentile and the Cassidys' young son, Beau, who led the bidding on some of the spectacular silent auction treasures. 
     Gianna Orlandi, who has recently joined the Nevada Attorney General's legal staff in the Consumer Protection Division, attended with her sweetheart, James "Bucky" Buchanan. Present as well were Michael and Teresa Minden, Charlene Herst, Gene Viglione, Brian Maher, Tony Righelli, Steve Dezzi and Mrs. USA-Nevada Sandi Comito. 
     Stepping out to dance in the strobe-lit ballroom were Jack and Nancy Weinstein with daughter Polly, joined by Dr. Rob and Lynne Hunter, Mark and Yvonne Weber, Shelby Zync, Trish Mortenson and Jay Cohen. Adding a special sparkle to the gathering was David Cassidy's ever-elegant stepmom and former co-star Shirley Jones, who graciously posed for pictures with many fellow guests. Robin Leach, best known for his popular "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous" series, assisted auctioneer Christian Kolberg with the sale of top auction items, among them a splendid signature collection featuring Oscar-winning actresses over the duration of the Academy Awards. 
 

June 23, 2000: The Las Vegas Sun writes: 

Bustling Bronson celebrates a decade on the Vegas stage 

By Kimberley McGee 

It's hip, hot and happenin', and maybe one of the best-kept secrets in Las Vegas. 
     Late-night band leader Lon Bronson preaches the solid classics of funk, soul, and rock 'n' roll from his pulpit at Le Bistro Lounge at the Riviera hotel-casino, to a crowd littered with the upper echelon of Las Vegas talent. 
     He may not be well-known among locals, but the booths and straight-backed chairs in the lounge shows are packed with his musical peers at his Saturday night shows. 
     The 41-year-old trumpet player has a boyish quality that belies his many talents: He is musical director and band leader for the 18-piece live band for David Cassidy's "At the Copa" co-starring Sheena Easton at the Rio hotel-casino; executive musical director for "The Rat Pack is Back" at the Sahara hotel-casino; production manager for the "La Cage" and "Crazy Girls" production shows at the Riviera; and a professor of music since 1996 at UNLV. 
     Whew. 
     "I wish I could clone myself," Bronson said. 
     Last Saturday he celebrated his 10th anniversary as front man for the "Lon Bronson All-Star R&B, Rock & Soul Revue" at the Riviera. 
     The audience was sprinkled, more than usual, with stars such as regular show-goers Drew Carey, Penn Jillette, Cassidy and local headliners. It was a bit of Old Las Vegas revisited, Bronson said, where headliners could hang out with local lounge acts and not be pestered. 
     The laid-back Bronson opted for black T-shirts, which listed the names of the "All Star" band members, black jeans and, of course, his trumpet in lieu of a tux and tails for the big event. 
     "It's about the music," Bronson said. 
     And that is the reason he commands respect among his peers and packs 'em in -- celebrities and all -- at his late-night shows on a regular basis. 
     While he bops on stage, there is a bit of concentration behind the joyous exterior, a keen sense of timing for the moment when that one burst of blaring horns will prompt the audience to jump out of their seats and dance to the music. 
     He plays the crowd, almost recklessly, with comic asides and fast-paced, horn-driven music. He's confident the audience will stay with him just to see what's next. 
     "That's really my philosophy," he said. "I'm trying to do a rock 'n' roll circus. I do a little bit of everything. You have to keep it fresh." 
     And he will do most anything to keep the audience guessing. 
     A drag-queen chimp made an appearance at the anniversary show on the small stage, flipping over the shoulders of its long-haired, young trainer and lip-syncing to a taped song. 
     "I just threw it in to blow people's minds. I only do that once a year, maybe," Bronson said. "You should never know what to expect next." 
     On a recent afternoon Bronson sat down at a local eatery to talk about why he plays so hard at work and what makes Las Vegas unique in the world of music. 
     "One of the reasons you haven't heard of me is because there has been no advertising, it's just been word-of-mouth," Bronson said. "It's that simple." 
     He began his silent rise to widespread acclaim when he built up a group of solid talent (singers and comics and musicians) in a casual atmosphere that lets the music shine. 
     "The show features vocalists in town (who) I respect, that type of (music that a) discerning, intelligent late-night audience is looking for," he said. 
     His collection of songs includes the grooves of the '50s and '60s hits, a bit of '70s funk and some recent tunes just to "keep things fresh," he said. "You get to the 10th year and if you did the same show every week, I don't care if you are the Beatles, there wouldn't be a 10th year. 
     "It doesn't matter if it's me or whether I'm known. Once you see that level of musicianship it doesn't matter who you are, it's the product that stands out." 

Epiphany of symphony 

Behind Bronson's self-effacing exterior is a businessman who believes in what he does.
     "You know what amazes me is that nobody has jumped on the bandwagon and done this," Bronson said. 
     "This" is the 13-piece "All-Star" band created by Bronson in the early '90s that has played with members of the group Tower of Power, stars such as Huey Lewis and Taylor Dayne, and lots of local talent from shows along the Strip. 
     The artists who appear with Bronson are paid handsomely to perform in showrooms at most hotels, but they belt out backup vocals or croon center stage with Bronson for free, for fun and -- most importantly -- for the music. 
     "We are there to entertain ... people who want to listen to good music and know the difference between (cover band) Boogie Knights and a live band," Bronson said. "It's that simple." 
     Maybe not that simple. 
     Bronson does admit that his powerful contacts, whom he has had the "sheer, blind luck" to know and work with, gave him a chance to perform in an unoccupied lounge at the Riviera and let his love of music play out. 
     Arranging the talent and myriad artists together on one stage, one night a week for 10 years takes more than luck, however. 
     "You really have to have a good relationship with all these different artists, because when it comes to this sort of thing it is a lot like old Vegas," Bronson said. "You respect the person you are playing with, (who) you are working with and you are all in this tight-knit artists' community." 
    Bronson graduated in 1981 ("most musicians don't, they get gigs and work -- not me") from the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. After a brief stint in Hawaii and on cruise ships ("too much of anything, even perfection, gets boring") he was offered a gig at the Riviera to open the new "La Cage" show. That was 1985. 
     He immediately fell in love with the town. 
     "The whole vibe of this was amazing," Bronson, a New Hampshire native, said. "It's a big city, but it's a small town in a lot of ways. I can have my suburbia lifestyle five minutes from the casino. That and there are more talented musicians here per capita than we have in Boston and New York. There is more opportunity to play music here, obviously with the casinos, (either) good or bad." 
     A night out in 1989 at the defunct Calamity Jayne's nightclub on Boulder Highway brought him back to the beauty of performing music on stage. 
     The widely respected horn band, Tower of Power, stood 8 feet away on a small stage -- and blew him away. "In an alcohol-induced epiphany, I said to myself, 'There is no reason why Vegas couldn't have a band just as talented as Tower with all homegrown talent,' " he said. 
     With the sound of the horns still fresh in his mind, young Bronson cajoled and plied local musicians with drinks to play on a Monday night, when most shows were closed, at the Riviera lounge. He obtained six of the original Tower of Power arrangements by pulling a favor for one of the members. 
     It was his hook. "To musicians that's pretty heavy because it's the actual music that they played, not a rearrangement," he said. 
     He convinced 11 musicians who backed up Natalie Cole, Tony Bennett and Frank Sinatra to show up at the gig. "These cats were the heaviest guys in town, in that professional perspective," Bronson said. 
     The city's musicians strike of 1987, over the casinos' choice to use taped music rather than live bands, reduced the number of local musicians from 400 to a few dozen. Only the best survived to play on. 
     The audiences, and local artists and musicians, were starved for good music. "The music angle isn't under-used in this town, the talent is," Bronson said. 

Star attractions 

Also among his television appearances, Bronson's band was featured as the stage band on the HBO special "Mr. Vegas Party Starring Drew Carey"; Comedy Central's "Viva Variety" and "Drew Carey Friar's Club Roast" cable television shows. 
     Carey, of the ABC prime-time sitcom "The Drew Carey Show," has sent his cast out in style at the end-of-season wrap parties featuring the soulful sounds of Bronson's band since 1995. "I thought it was just a really hot band," Carey commented at the anniversary show. 
     The accordion-playing Carey also enjoyed working with someone who was as professional -- and serious -- about music as he is. "It's more of a business decision," he said. "But he's just good." 
     The two met when Carey was knockin' out stand-up gigs at the Riviera in the mid-'90s. A fellow comic, Monty Hoffman, told him he had to check out the lounge act, Carey said. 
     Bronson said: "He wandered in the lounge ... tapped me on the shoulder and said, 'You don't know who I am but I'm a huge fan of yours.' " 
     Although Bronson was already a fan of Carey's stand-up act and was glad to play for a man who understood what it was all about. 
     "He's really into music," Bronson said. "That's the hook when you see the product on stage. It's not my name. Those are my arrangements and every choice of music is mine. But what makes that work is 12 or 13 of the best musicians in Las Vegas to be able to execute that show." 
     Another late-night regular is Jillette, who Bronson regularly jams with. The magician/comedian writes music and lyrics and plays bass guitar, and Bronson backs him on drums. Sometimes he visits Jillette's Southwest Las Vegas home to kick back and just play. 
     Bronson's star appeal is not relegated to this country, or even this hemisphere. The classic rock band Moody Blues was on tour in Australia when a member of another group mentioned a talented musician in Las Vegas who had to be experienced. 
     "It's a small community of professional musicians, that's all," Bronson said. 

Ten years of trumpets 

The star treatment from Bronson's peers has not gone to his head. The fair-skinned Bronson spends days by the pool, on the phone, and nights working at one of his various jobs. 
     He seems to keep going, and going, but he has a reason to take it easy midday and hang out at home as his 2-year-old daughter Alana runs around the house. "The parental plane is on top of everything," he said. "Parenting is a full- time job." 
     His wife of six years, JoAnn, (who was Lance Burton's assistant from 1991-'99) patiently puts up with his hectic schedule -- aA schedule he is paring down, with pleasure. Bronson has performed two nights a week for the last six years. 
     "The Saturdays (shows), thank God they are only once a week," he said. "I mean, I hate to admit it, I must be getting older because that's why it went down to one night." 
     When asked what he will be doing in the next 10 years, Bronson doesn't like to comment. He doesn't like to look over his shoulder, he said, or too far into the unknown. But he does hope "the curtain never closes on us." 

June 23, 2000: The Las Vegas Sun writes: Columnist Kate Maddox: 
Even though the rumors are still circulating that David Cassidy's show at the Rio is costing the hotel some losses in the ticket-sales department, his forever loyal fans are clamoring for the opportunity to see the former teen idol in action. Cassidy and several celebrity pals auctioned some memorabilia and trip packages on Yahoo! to raise money for the singer's KidsCharities.org program. 
     Although most of the items up for grabs received ho-hum bids (not even a nibble for the Sammy Davis Jr. three-piece green plaid suit!), everything Cassidy was hot. The online auction, which ended Thursday, had 94 people willing to duke it out for two tickets to "At the Copa" starring Cassidy and Sheena Easton, two nights at Cassidy's "personal suite" at the Rio, a backstage photo op and a "meet-and-greet" with the star. 
     Although the value of this extravaganza evening package is listed as "priceless," Cassidy fans managed to outbid one another all the way from $500 to the selling price of $6,260. A bargain? Well, I guess that depends on how big a fan you think you are. 
     Personally, I found myself inexplicably drawn to item No. 20, the autographed Tiger Beat magazine with young Cassidy on the cover. And I wasn't alone. Thirty-eight people bid on the mag (which also featured a secondary cover story entitled "The Hidden Osmonds"), and it ended up selling for $260. I'll never tell if I've added it to my personal collection of Tiger Beats, but I will say that the Cassidy photo -- all feathered hair and dimples -- is a clincher. 
 

June 25, 2000: The Las Vegas Review-Journal writes: COLUMN: Mike Weatherford 

New shows still working, hoping for bright future 

Perhaps no one in Las Vegas was more hopeful about the dawn of a new century than the entertainment class of 2000. 
     Three new shows opened in as many weeks in January, followed by another in late February. (More still if you add Danny Gans and Wayne Newton, who brought old acts to new venues.) 
     All of them were, to varying degrees, risky. And they all bet on the hope that Las Vegas had entered a new era for entertainment. By now, you'd think we would have answered some of these questions: 
     -- Clint Holmes, "Takin' It Uptown," Harrah's Las Vegas. Question: Was impressionist Gans a one-time phenomenon, or could a singing star also be born of sheer talent, not name recognition? Basis for optimism: Holmes was a proven draw in Atlantic City and his talent is indisputable. 
     -- David Cassidy and Sheena Easton, "At the Copa," Rio. Question: Can washed-up pop stars reinvent themselves in a retro "book" musical? Basis for optimism: Even if the answer is no, die-hard fans of both stars would pay to see them read the phone book. 
     -- "Notre Dame de Paris," Paris. Question: Can a new-to-the-U.S. pop musical launch in Vegas instead of coming 10 years later as a proven commodity? Basis for optimism: It's based on the familiar "Hunchback of Notre Dame" and Celine Dion recorded one of its ballads. 
     -- "Blue Man Group: Live at Luxor." Question: Is Vegas ready for hard-rocking geek-chic comedy and weird science? Basis for optimism: The group has had a long run in the Big Apple and big-city hipster cachet. 
     Closing in on the midyear point, all we can say for certain is they're still here -- rumors to the contrary. "I heard we were closing on June 3, but I guess that turned out not to be true," says "Notre Dame" producer Wayne Baruch. 
     "Notre Dame" drew mixed reviews and has been subjected to the most negative gossip of the pack. Publicity tactics such as having its stars hang out in the hotel's retail area can be viewed as either brilliant or desperate. 
     "The lesson I have personally learned is that it's very important to stay constantly in touch with the opinion-makers in Las Vegas," Baruch says, meaning "the workers in the tourism industry." 
     An even more important lesson has been learned here: Patience. 
     "With our show, word of mouth is everything," says Blue Man co-founder Chris Wink. "When people come to town, they'll ask locals what to see. We view them as disproportionately important." 
     That's something the Blue Man producers are willing to pursue to the extent of two-for-one tickets for locals. Like the lobbying at the Paris, deep discounts can be construed as either a sign of trouble, or that a backer is playing long-term ball. 
     "If we do as well as we have in the last three weeks, we'll recoup as early as November or December," says Blue Man Wink. 
     Holmes also knows word of mouth works in his favor. Harrah's mailed free ticket offers to locals and didn't panic about empty seats. "That's one of the reasons I went there," Holmes says. "With other offers I felt an awful lot of pressure to fill the room from Day One." 
     The Cassidy-Easton show was a little different. The Feb. 3 media night was a train wreck, but the marquee value of the stars bought time to tighten and fix a show that's now on track. But even here, the Rio -- which is bankrolling the show -- was willing to wait it out. 
     It's often said that Vegas is no Broadway. And for that, the class of 2000 is grateful. Broadway shows -- at least until recent musicals -- were so undercapitalized that a bad review on opening night would close a show. 
     But in this new century on the Strip, the ultimate power lies with the ticket-buyers, who have been granted the time and power to decide for themselves. 
 

June 26, 2000: The Las Vegas Review-Journal writes: COLUMN: NORM! 

Cassidy loves the ponies: David Cassidy's idea of a vacation is to spend a week at the racetrack. 
Not as a big bettor, but as an aficionado of thoroughbred racehorses. 
     It happens to be his off-stage passion. He owns 15 horses and when he takes a week off from "At the Copa" in early August, he'll be at Saratoga Thoroughbred Racetrack in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. 
     Brother Patrick will be filling in for him at the Rio. 
     "I've been raising horses for 25 years," said Cassidy, who owned a horse farm in California in the 1980s.
     Raised in New York, Cassidy races mostly in New York, Canada and Florida. But two horses are under the stewardship of Jenine Sahadi, who won the Santa Anita Derby with The Deputy, a Kentucky Derby disappointment. One of the two, Lady Warship, won two of its first three races and finished second in another. 
     Cassidy will stage one of his biggest fund-raisers Aug. 12 at the Saratoga track for Kids Charities, which he sponsors. (On the Internet at kidcharities.org). 
 

June 27, 2000: The Las Vegas Review-Journal writes:

MAKE YOU HAPPY 
David Cassidy puts shows on Las Vegas stages
By Jan Hogan 

     Though most people will always associate him with his character Keith Partridge, David Cassidy is a man of many faces. 
     Born to theatrical parents, he acted on Broadway at age 18, shot to stardom on the 1970s show "The Partridge Family," wrote hit songs, performed at sold-out concerts, authored a book and produced television shows. 
     Today, he produces two Las Vegas shows, one of which he has a starring role. He also has a horse breeding business and is involved in charity events. All that, plus he says he's happier than ever. 
     "I've always felt an internal drive in areas other than people perceive me in," he said. "I've hungered to write and produce. A lot of things I've wanted to do, I've accomplished." 
     With partner Don Reo, Cassidy produces "The Rat Pack Is Back," a throwback to the Sinatra days. The nightclub-style show first appeared at the Desert Inn and cost him $100,000 to stage. 
     The show received positive reviews and drew a lot of attention. But some of that attention came from the estates of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr., which brought litigation against the show. Undeterred, Cassidy found a new home for the show at the Sahara in a deal that was approved with lightning speed and circumvented litigation. 
     "We had one meeting and it happened. It's so much easier to make a deal when there's just one person in charge," Cassidy said, speaking of Sahara owner Bill Bennett. "When you present an idea to a corporation, it takes forever because it has to be approved by 15 different people." 
     The fast-track moved against the show, though, when it opened with only three days of publicity to kick it off. Crowd counts initially foundered and the Sahara gave away tickets to fill the 550-seat room. But Cassidy said the show is now averaging 250 to 300 paying customers each night and, two months after opening, it is starting to make money. 
     Cassidy also headlines in the Rio's "At the Copa." He created the show's story line and serves as its executive producer. 
     "It has to sell $40,000 in tickets for it to make a dime," he said. Even though "Copa" is not sold as part of a hotel package, he said it, too, is bringing in people and making money. 
     Without giving away numbers, he said both his shows are extremely costly. Perhaps because of his own acting experience, he believes in paying top dollar for top performers. 
     "Live talent costs a lot to produce," he said. " `The Rat Pack' is the most expensive show to produce per person in Las Vegas, bar none -- it has 13 musicians plus the main guys." 
     Cassidy's contract lets him take a year off after the first two years and he said he is unsure if he will exercise that option. 
     In a town long-known for its showgirls, Cassidy called production shows without a headliner a "tired genre" and thinks performance-oriented shows are the next wave. 
     He came to Las Vegas in 1996 to revamp the "EFX" show at the MGM Grand. After 1,000 performances on the steel stage, Cassidy suffered Morgan's neuroma in his foot and had to have an operation. He is careful not to do anything physically stressful because one misstep can mean putting people out of work. But that doesn't keep him from attending his son Beau's baseball games or taking the family to Disney World. 
     Cassidy considers the entertainment climate in Las Vegas highly competitive, even bullish. Just this year, Las Vegas has seen 50,000 more theater seats added. 
     "There's an imbalance here that I'm uncomfortable with. The people in charge of developing entertainment are not entertainment people per se. That's why I'm successful. I know this business. For an executive to tell me how to run a show," he said, "is like me telling him how to run a hotel." 

NEVADANS AT WORK 
Name: David Cassidy. 
Age: 50. 
Position: Producer of "The Rat Pack is Back" at the Sahara, producer and star of "At the Copa" at the Rio. 
Family: Married in 1991 to Sue Shrifin-Cassidy, accomplished songwriter; son Beau. 
Education: Los Angeles Community College for one semester before stardom called. 
Work history: Broadway actor, "Partridge Family" TV show, rock star, author, producer. 
Hobbies: Reading, golf, watching his racehorses compete. 
Hometown: New York City. 
How long in Las Vegas: Since 1996. 
 

June 27, 2000: The Las Vegas Sun writes: Juggler Nino Frediani  said that Las Vegas "has gone cheap, but cheap in the wrong way. They spend millions on big shows, but then cut the speciality acts to save money." The speciality act, he added, is a dying art form, which is regrettable. 
     "When 200 Japanese or French or Filipino people go to see David Cassidy (in 'At the Copa' at the Rio hotel-casino) -- which is a concept show that involves a story and dialogue -- they don't understand it," he said. "There is nothing visual for them. I do my act in Japanese and it's the highlight of the show. 
     "I don't understand it. The hotels are bringing in these shows aimed at a certain class of people, a certain market, while every place else in the world wants Las Vegas type entertainment -- except Las Vegas." 
 

June 30, 2000: The Las Vegas Review-Journal writes: COLUMN: NORM! 

The Scene and Heard: Conger is returning to Las Vegas next week as the featured guest at Playboy's ''Wet 'n' Wild Party,'' in conjunction with a video distributors conference...In a local version of "Survivor," CBS' high-rated series, Danny Gans beat out David Cassidy in a poll conducted by Mark & Mercedes on the Mix morning show, KMXB-FM (94.1). The field of 16 included Judge Joseph Bonaventure, Rikki Cheese, Oscar Goodman and Siegfried & Roy...I'm hearing Margaret Rudin wants to dump her public defenders for an attorney willing to take the case based on what she could earn through movie or book rights. If she's found innocent, that is, of killing her husband Ron Rudin, a real estate magnate. 

PEOPLE Magazine reports in its June 12 issue that David Cassidy has autographed vintage copies of the teen mag Tiger Beat, up for bidding on auctions.yahoo.com June 8 to 22. They also write that David also rounded up such other celeb gems as a green plaid suit worn by Sammy Davis, Jr. to benefit children's charities: "I'm still on (fans') minds." 

You can view and order prints of the weekend in Las Vegas which featured the DC Celebrity Gold Tournament and the Groovy Polyester Ball by clicking on: 
www.photozone.com/autoclientlogin.asp?cid=PZ249918D 
$1 from the sale of each picture goes to benefit kidscharities.org 

USA:
DAVID CASSIDY:
Behind the Music - The Partridge Family (60 minutes- In Stereo)
Studio musicians and singers created the music behind the 1970s TV series ``The Partridge Family.'' Includes interviews with David Cassidy and others. 
Wed  Jun  7  08:00P   VH1- Video Hits 1
Wed  Jun  7  11:00P   VH1- Video Hits 1
Sun   Jun 11  06:00P   VH1- Video Hits 1

Come on Get Happy: The Partridge Family Story (120 minutes- USA, 1999, In Stereo)
Directed by David Burton Morris and starring Eve Gordon, Rodney Scott, Kathy Wagner Shawn Pyfrom, Michael Chieffo, William Russ. Cast members of the popular TV show must cope with family problems and the pressures of their newfound fame. 
Wed  Jun  7  09:00P   VH1- Video Hits 1
Sun   Jun 11  07:00P   VH1- Video Hits 1

Matt Houston - Joey's Here (60 minutes- (CC), In Stereo)
Matt becomes involved in a bizarre case of murder involving an electronics genius (David Cassidy), the man's brother and a robot. 
Tue   Jun  6  10:00A   TNN- The Nashville Network
Wed  Jun  7  02:00A   TNN- The Nashville Network

The Partridge Family (30 minutes- In Stereo)
Thu    Jun  1  06:00P   FAME- The Family Channel
Fri      Jun  2  06:00P   FAME- The Family Channel
Mon   Jun  5  06:00P   FAME- The Family Channel
Tue    Jun  6  06:00P   FAME- The Family Channel
Wed   Jun  7  06:00P   FAME- The Family Channel
Thu    Jun  8  06:00P   FAME- The Family Channel
Fri      Jun  9  06:00P   FAME- The Family Channel
Mon  Jun 12  06:00P   FAME- The Family Channel
Tue   Jun 13  06:00P   FAME- The Family Channel
Wed  Jun 14  06:00P   FAME- The Family Channel
Thu   Jun 15  06:00P   FAME- The Family Channel
Fri     Jun 16  06:00P   FAME- The Family Channel
Mon  Jun 19  06:00P   FAME- The Family Channel
Tue   Jun 20  06:00P   FAME- The Family Channel
Wed  Jun 21  06:00P   FAME- The Family Channel
Thu   Jun 22  06:00P   FAME- The Family Channel
Fri     Jun 23  06:00P   FAME- The Family Channel
Mon  Jun 26  06:00P   FAME- The Family Channel
Tue   Jun 27  06:00P   FAME- The Family Channel
Wed  Jun 28  06:00P   FAME- The Family Channel
Thu   Jun 29  06:00P   FAME- The Family Channel
Fri     Jun 30  06:00P   FAME- The Family Channel

The Partridge Family - Reuben Kincaid Lives (30 minutes- In Stereo)
When the Partridges start treating him with kid gloves, Reuben feels he's not long for the world. 
Thu  Jun  1  12:30A   FAME- The Family Channel

Where Are They Now -- '70s Teen Idols (30 minutes- In Stereo)
Clips from the careers of past teen idols including Donny & Marie Osmond, David Cassidy and Leif Garrett. Host: Danny Bonaduce. 
Sun  Jun 11  04:30P   VH1- Video Hits 1

Fri Jun 16   11:00AM (centrl) TVLND Marcus Welby MD: Fun and Games and Michael Ambrose with David Cassidy

SHAUN CASSIDY:
Tues June 13  1-3 pm e.t.  Once Upon A Texas Train (2 hours) on KICU

PATRICK CASSIDY:
Sunday, June 4 at 6:00pm: "How the West was Fun" with the Olsen twins, on the Family channel.
Tuesday, June 13 at 12 pm Nanny: The Chatterbox w/ Patrick Cassidy on FOX. 
Thu June 15 at 8:45 pm (centrl-1hr. 45 min.) Follow your heart. This is a 1990 tv movie drama on the Lifetime Movie Network.  NOTE: LMN is a separate channel from Lifetime.
Sun June 25 at FX 2:30 pm The Fiance (2 hrs.)

JACK CASSIDY:
Jack's episode of Bonanza (the lost episodes) will ride into your corral Thursday, June 29th 10 am or 9 pm (centrl time-l hour, partners) on the Goodlife Channel. The episode name is Cassie. 

SUSAN DIOL:
Sun June 4 04:00P (Central)  Christy: The Road Home (1 hour) PAX 
Sun June 5 04:30P (Central)  Growing Pains: Carol Meets The Real World  (25 min.) DISNEY
Sat June 24 12:30 am (centrl)- Party of Five: All's Fair (1 hour) LIFETIME

MARTY INGELS:
6/6  TCM 9 pm If it's Tuesday, this must be Belgium w/ Marty Ingels.
6/14 TVLAND 4:30p or 8:30p ADAM-12 episode w/ Marty Ingels. 

CANADA:
DAVID CASSIDY:
Matt Houston Episodes w/David on 6/6 and 6/7 on the TNN Network

SHIRLEY JONES:
April Love with Shirley on 6/7 and 6/12 on MovieMax.
Two Rode Together on 6/15 on Boston Network
Celebrity Profile on Jodie Foster with Shirley being part of the interview on Startv network on 6/16

Fans in the US will find out when David's gonna be on by going to www.tv-now.com/stars/dcassidy.html , Shaun on www.tv-now.com/stars/shauncas.html, and Jack on www.tv-now.com/stars/jackcass.html   You can also visit www.tvguide.entertainment.aol.com/

For Norwegian and Scandinavian listings, go to www.sol.no/tv/, www.nettavisen.no/tvguide/index.htm or www.dagenstv.com/no/ntb/