Next month's issue

Last month's issue

If this is your favorite David Cassidy website, don't forget to vote every time you visit.

Go to the David Cassidy Fan Site of Norway

Go to the Shaun Cassidy Fan Site of Norway

Have you heard anything new about the Cassidys? Tips us!

Contact the David Cassidy Fan Club of Norway

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 Topica for keeping this Newsletter updated at any time.

(C) December 2000 by Erik Drilen.

DC HISTORY:

December 1, 1979: Shaun Cassidy married his first wife, Ann Victoria Pennington.

December 10, 1987: Patrick Cassidy married his first wife, Anja Clara Stewart.

December 12, 1976: Jack Cassidy, the father of the Cassidy brothers sadly passed away.

December 15, 1984: David married his second wife, Meryl Tanz.

December 18, 1971: TV Guide reported that "Some young viewers, confusing series life with reality, assume there actually is a group managed by Reuben Kincaid." Dave Madden (Reuben Kincaid in the TV series The Partridge Family) was besieged by kids seeking the Partridges for school dances: "With all the fan mail I'm getting, it takes me hours to clean the Crayola marks off my fingers."

December 18, 1998: David's single "No Bridge I Wouldn't Cross" from the "Old Trick New Dog" album climbed to no. 7 on the Gavin Adult Contemporary Charts. Gavin's charts are the most trusted name in radio when it comes to airplay. The seventh position is said to be the highest position any song in the US on an independent record label has ever reached. "No Bridge I Wouldn't Cross" also climbed to no. 17 on a different national airplay chart, Chartbytes, on January 22, 1999. 
 

DID YOU KNOW THAT...

David Cassidy in the early 70s was featured on the cover of 16 Magazine for 24 issues in a row?
 

RIO HOTEL & CASINO

HARRAH'S ENTERTAINMENT/RIO HOTEL AND DAVID CASSIDY ANNOUNCE NEW CHAPTER IN RELATIONSHIP AT THE COPA TO PLAY FINAL PERFORMANCE ON JAN 21ST 2001! (Dark dates are also December 11-25 - the show will close for Christmas).

(LAS VEGAS) - The Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino/Harrah's Entertainment Inc. is pleased to announce an evolution in its relationship with one of the brightest stars in Las Vegas today - David Cassidy. Generated by the success of "At The Copa" and David's concert performances at other Harrah's properties, in Atlantic City and Laughlin, (Nev.), Cassidy and Harrah's Entertainment will enter a new level of their relationship, focused on leveraging the entertainer's talents throughout the Harrah's brand, at many of Harrah's 21 U.S. properties.

This will also offer Cassidy the opportunity to pursue a number of other entertainment opportunities and allow him to spend more time with his family, after working six days a week for several years. "I so enjoyed my performances in Atlantic City and Laughlin (Nev.) and right now, more than ever before, I have the opportunity to begin work on many outside projects," Cassidy said. "I went to Harrah's with the idea of growing our relationship to the next level, reaching out to their customers across the country while creating freedom for myself to pursue other projects and, most importantly, spend more time with my family." As part of the new relationship, Cassidy has committed to perform Thanksgiving weekend 2001 in the Rio's new Samba Theatre. In lieu of the new relationship's appearance obligations, "At The Copa" will offer its final performance on January 21st 2001.

"David has demonstrated a tremendously loyal following," Rio President Jay Sevigny said. "With his overwhelming responses from audiences in our other markets as well, we immediately recognized the huge potential to grow his value for the Harrah's brand on a much larger scale, to include all 21 properties and outreach to the entire Harrah's customer base. So when David came to us with his idea, to perform in concert throughout the country, we felt it to be a natural and smart progression for the relationship."

David has hand written you a personal thank you and holiday greeting! To see it, please click on the link below...

http://www.davidcassidy.com/dcxmas.jpg

Thank you for your support throughout the year(s) and all of us here at davidcassidy.com wish you and yours a happy, healthy New Year and Festive season.

Cheers,
David,
Ruth, Lucy et al.

Don't forget to check out etoys.com and help Kids Charities at the same time!
Click this link: http://service.bfast.com/bfast/click?bfmid=38572&siteid=36073157&bfpage=htmlb_logo

We at KidsCharities.org wish you and your loved ones a happy, healthy and prosperous holiday season and 2001.

Thank you for your support of our organization. Thanks to your generosity, we have distributed over $115,000 since our first event in June to many wonderful worthy charities! We will be distributing many more thousands within the next month. 

We hope to see you in the future at one of our upcoming fundraisers which will include a special Valentine's Day auction, The 2nd David Cassidy Family Day at the Races, and several other live events around the country. In the meantime, please visit our website (http://www.kidscharities.org) where you can play games, shop,even take pictures in outer space, AND help kids all at the same time.

PLEASE, if you have not already done so, download the "Carebar" from our website. 
http://www.kidscharities.org/treeoflife/carebar.html
It is free for you, and just by having it on your desktop (opened or hidden), you are helping us raise much needed funds for our charities.

Happy Holidays!

Sue Cassidy, Marcy Tebbs and Pamela Niggemeier
KidsCharities.org

Have you been to any of their concerts or know anyone who has? VH1 is doing a show called Fan Frenzy and want stories from fans who have been to a David Cassidy concert. We're looking for great stories and or footage of the craziness (screaming, crying, shaking, fighting, etc.) 

Please email me ASAP!!!

Lee Solomon
Research Dept.
VH1 Series and Specials
Lee.Solomon@vh1staff.com

December 1, 2000: Las Vegas Review-Journal writes:

David Cassidy's "At the Copa" will close at the Rio in January, and he will play off the second year of his contract with Harrah's Entertainment Inc. performing concerts at other Harrah's properties. Cassidy and Rio President Jay Sevigny announced at a Thursday news conference that Cassidy will perform at least 30 dates for the company's 21 casinos next year.
     The current show, produced by Cassidy, will close in the Copacabana showroom Jan. 21. The singer will return to the Rio next Thanksgiving weekend for concerts in the Samba Theatre. Cassidy said he wanted to spend more time with his family and pursue pending offers for both a major-label recording contract and a low-budget movie.
     "My eyes are often bigger than my stomach when it comes to work," he said. "It's wonderful to be out onstage for 90 minutes" with the nightly show, "but the other 22 1/2 hours a day are very, very difficult."
     The future of the 10-month-old "At the Copa," a Broadway-styled musical in which Cassidy and Sheena Easton portray nightclub singers, was uncertain after it became apparent last month that Easton would leave the show.
     Cassidy addressed news reports of a fallout with the Scottish pop singer by telling reporters there was "never a problem with any of my work mates" and that he "never yelled and screamed at them."
He did serve notice to the "Copa" cast -- which includes three principal roles, five dancer-singers and an 18-piece band -- after Wednesday's show. And the singer recently performed concerts, which are cheaper to produce than the stage show, at Harrah's properties in Laughlin and Atlantic City, N.J.
     The 50-year-old former teen idol and "Partridge Family" star moved to Las Vegas in 1996 to star in "EFX" at the MGM Grand. He also co-produces "The Rat Pack is Back" at the Sahara.
     Sevigny said no decision has been made about a replacement show in the Copacabana.

December 1, 2000: The Las Vegas Sun writes: Tommy Tune is leaving his headline role in "EFX" at the MGM Grand hotel-casino after two years.
     The nine-time Tony Award winner's last performance in the $75 million stage production will be Jan. 13.
     "Tommy has been an integral part of 'EFX' and we'll miss his passion for perfection and dynamic performance style," said Richard Sturm, president of MGM Mirage Entertainment and Sports.
     Tune plans to return to the East Coast to pursue other opportunities.
     "I've really and truly loved performing and living these past two years in fabulous Las Vegas," he said.
     MGM Grand officials have not announced his replacement.
     Tune took over as headliner after David Cassidy left the show in January 1999. Cassidy is now starring in his own production at the Rio resort. (The Associated Press) 

December 1, 2000: The Las Vegas Sun writes: 

David Cassidy's "At the Copa" will close at the Rio in January, less than a year after the show's debut.
     Cassidy, who co-starred in the production with Sheena Easton, will play off the second year of his contract with Harrah's Entertainment Inc. performing concerts at other Harrah's properties.
     Cassidy will perform at least 30 dates for the company's 21 casinos next year.
     The current show, produced by Cassidy, will close in the Copacabana showroom Jan. 21. The singer will return to the Rio next Thanksgiving weekend for concerts in the Samba Theatre.
     Cassidy said he wanted to spend more time with his family and pursue pending offers for both a major-label recording contract and a low-budget movie.
     The future of the 10-month-old "At the Copa," a Broadway-styled musical in which Cassidy and Easton portray nightclub singers, was uncertain after it became apparent last month that Easton would leave the show.
     Cassidy addressed news reports of a fallout with the Scottish pop singer by telling reporters at a news conference Thursday there was "never a problem with any of my work mates" and that he "never yelled and screamed at them."
     He did, however, serve notice to the "Copa" cast - which includes three principal roles, five dancer-singers and an 18-piece band - after Wednesday's show.
     Cassidy recently performed concerts at Harrah's properties in Laughlin and Atlantic City, N.J.
     The 50-year-old former teen idol and "Partridge Family" star moved to Las Vegas in 1996 to star in "EFX" at the MGM Grand. He also co-produces "The Rat Pack is Back" at the Sahara.

December 1, 2000: The Las Vegas Sun writes: 

Johnny Flamingo has left the building. David Cassidy, who has starred in the Rio's "At the Copa" production with Sheena Easton for a little more than a year, is closing up shop. The singer/actor announced at a Thursday news conference that he would no longer do his show and will instead work with Harrah's in a strictly concert-performance capacity.
     Cassidy intends to tour most of Harrah's 21 U.S. properties, giving 30 concerts over the next year.
     For Cassidy the change had more to do with an overloaded schedule than unhappiness with his current production. Cassidy says this freshly inked deal will allow him "more freedom" and "a better quality of life overall."
     The former teen dream also said that recent concerts at Harrah's properties in Atlantic City and Laughlin made him realize just how popular he still is with his fans. "People still want to see me, thank God," Cassidy said. "I miss that kind of connection with the audience."
     Cassidy intends to perform worldwide over the next year and mentioned plans for two gigs at Royal Albert Hall in London. He's also close to signing a new record deal with "a major label" and heading into the studio to record a double-album set for release in the summer of 2001.
     Cassidy also hopes to resuscitate his acting career. The singer has a part in a low-budget indie feature scheduled to begin filming in February. Cassidy described the flick as "dark, very dark," and said it's something along the lines of "Pulp Fiction." Cassidy said production would begin as soon as a female co-star is cast. Paging Sheena Easton ... or, maybe not.
     Speaking of Easton, she has yet to announce her plans after "At the Copa" ends on Jan. 21. For the record, Cassidy did say that during his Rio stay he "never had any problems with workmates ... (I) never yelled and screamed ..." Curiously, however, Easton was absent from the news conference, and although Cassidy profusely thanked just about everyone who helped make his show at the Rio a success, he never once mentioned his co-star.

December 1, 2000: E-mail newsletter from the e-Vegas Exchange:

David Cassidy "At the Copa" may cease to exist now that it is certain that Sheena Easton will leave as soon as her year contract expires in mid January. David is not positive if he will find a substitute and continue the show, which has had a steady house, or become a one-man show. Cassidy recently did some very successful concerts in Laughlin and Atlantic City performing some of his own material and that of the Partridge Family. David Cassidy, who once had the largest fan club in the world, still seems to have the pull to bring in the crowds. Cassidy has an agreement to continue providing the Rio with entertainment, "At the Copa" has been averaging about 500 sold-seats a night. 

At the Copa - Last Update 

In a press conference at the Rio David Cassidy (50) announced that the elaborate show "At the Copa" he created little over a year ago will close. David Cassidy and co-star Sheena Easton did not get along to well specially in the last six months, and Easton contract expires in January 21st. Cassidy was not sure if he was going to replace Easton and continue the show, which drew partial houses mostly on the David Cassidy name. Or continue to use the room at the Rio as a headliner and perform songs from his thirty-year career, including the Partridge Family. In the press conference Cassidy stated that he wants to spend more time with his family, continue to pursue his recording career with offers coming in from major record labels, and the possibility of a low budget movie. Cassidy will not strange away from his home in Vegas and will perform 30 concerts within the next year at the 21 properties Harrah’s owns. So far Cassidy next engagement in at the Rio will be a Thanksgiving Concert in 2001. So try to catch him at the Copa if you want to see him before then. Cassidy is also the producer of "The Rat Pack is Back" at the Sahara Congo Room. 

Rick Springfield seems to be the replacement for Tommy Tune in MGM Grand’s EFX show. The former TV heartthrob and singer will be the fifth one to play the lead role in the special effects laden show. The show opened with Michael Crawford, then David Cassidy followed with a major overhaul, his brother Patrick has been his understudy and substituted on many occasion as Cassidy continued recording and touring. Tommy Tune took the position two years ago, and in recent months it has been a shoot out between Springfield and alternate choice Donny Osmond. The MGM Grand has not made their final choice public, but it seems that the word is out. (e-Vegas Exchange) 

December 2, 2000: From the Associated Press:

LAS VEGAS (AP) -- David Cassidy will try his luck on some different projects.
     His "At the Copa" show in Las Vegas will close Jan. 21, less than a year after its debut.
     Cassidy says he wants to spend more time with his family and pursue offers for a recording contract and a movie. He'll finish the second year of his contract with Harrah's Entertainment by performing concerts at other Harrah's properties.
     The future of the 10-month-old "At the Copa," a Broadway-styled musical in which Cassidy and Sheena Easton portray nightclub singers, was uncertain after it became apparent last month that Easton would leave the show. Cassidy is producer.
     Cassidy addressed news reports of a fallout with the Scottish pop singer by telling reporters Thursday there was "never a problem with any of my work mates."
     The 50-year-old former teen idol and "Partridge Family" star moved to Las Vegas in 1996 to star in "EFX'' at the MGM Grand. He also co-produces "The Rat Pack is Back" at the Sahara. 

December 5, 2000: The Las Vegas Review-Journal writes: The MGM Grand is expected to confirm in an 11 a.m. news conference today former pop star Rick Springfield will take over as the new star of "EFX" next year, replacing Tommy Tune. He will become the fourth headliner of the show that opened with Michael Crawford, followed by David Cassidy. 
     On the same day last week that the Rio announced Cassidy would close his "At the  Copa" show in January, "Bottom's Up" producer and star Breck Wall said he was "putting on roller skates" to zip over to that hotel.
     And who could blame him? A piece of prime showroom real estate doesn't come on the market very often.
     But entertainers or producers who have their sights on the Copacabana showroom might want to skate in with a fat bankroll.
     Though no one's saying it, it's fair to believe the next tenant will be there under some variation of a "four-wall," or rent-the-room, arrangement.
     It helps explain a question never completely answered at last week's news conference, in which Cassidy and Rio president Jay Sevigny announced the former teen idol would spend the second year of his contract touring other Harrah's properties as a concert headliner.
     Why retire the show when ticket sales were respectable to good?
     One answer is that "Copa" had an expensive payroll, including an 18-piece band, which could be trimmed with the concert format.
     Another answer is that hotel money was involved.
     Cassidy received an undisclosed producer's fee from the hotel for "At the Copa," and was guaranteed a minimum revenue against ticket sales: If sales didn't meet  the minimum, the hotel would make up the difference.
     That used to be a fairly standard arrangement on the Strip, but more and more has given way to outside producers assuming most or all of the risk, and working  solely for the money generated by ticket sales.
     Harrah's bought the Rio in January 1999, a full year before Cassidy's show opened. But key management at the hotel has changed since the show opened. And the Rio's earnings have fallen below last year's, partly due to a decline in entertainment revenues since the departure of impressionist Danny Gans, according to the parent company's third-quarter report.
     Cassidy acknowledged having to "reconnect" with the new regime, though he told reporters, "there was never a time when (Harrah's officials) said, `We don't want you here,' and there was never a time when I said, `I don't want to be here.' " (Mike Weatherford's column)

December 5, 2000: The Las Vegas Sun writes: Sheena Easton doesn't have much to say regarding her final days with David Cassidy in the Rio's "At the Copa." Unlike Cassidy, the pop songstress didn't have fond farewells or thank yous, not even the requisite "grateful for the opportunity" mush from most departing headliners in these parts.
     Speaking through her manager, Harriet Wasserman, Easton only managed a brief nod to her contractual obligation to the production, which is up on Jan. 18.
     "If David chooses to close the show, it's out of (Sheena's) realm of responsibility," Wasserman said. Easton announced in October, amid rumblings of a rocky relationship with her co-star, that she would fulfill her contracted dates and said nothing more.
     As for Easton's future dealings in Vegas, Wasserman didn't have an answer, but many speculate that Easton is shopping around for a one-woman show. One source close to the action is guessing the "Sugar Walls" singer might have trouble landing a deal without a "bigger name" attached to a production, but those working on Easton's behalf insist she's not ready to quit the Vegas game just yet. (Columnist Kate Maddox)

December 5, 2000: The Las Vegas Sun writes: 

LAS VEGAS  - Rocker and soap opera star Rick Springfield will take the stage as the lead in MGM Grand's production show "EFX" next month, company officials announced Tuesday.
     Springfield will make his debut Jan. 30, the same day his first album in 12 years, "Rick Springfield Alive - Greatest Hits Live," will be released.
     "Starring in a major Las Vegas production such as 'EFX' at the MGM Grand will allow me to do what I love most - mix theater and music," Springfield said in a statement.
     The Grammy and American Music Award-winning performer replaces Broadway star Tommy Tune, whose last performance in the $75 million stage production will be Jan. 13, said Richard Sturm, president of MGM Mirage Entertainment and Sports.
     "The combination of 'EFX' and Rick Springfield will allow us to maximize the original success of the show with Rick's many talents and his amazing charisma on stage," Sturm said.
     Springfield and the creators of "EFX" plan to infuse added elements of rock 'n' roll into the show to capitalize on the success of the rocker's 30-year career.
     "I hope we'll be able to make 'EFX' more exciting and bigger with the creation of show-oriented rock music," Springfield said.
     In "EFX," the star leads the audience on a journey beyond reality, exploring the worlds of the great wizard Merlin, legendary showman P.T. Barnum, illusionist Harry Houdini and time-traveling
author H.G. Wells.
     Springfield's hits include "Jessie's Girl," "Don't Talk to Strangers," and "Affair of the Heart."
     The critically acclaimed "EFX" opened in March 1995 with "Phantom of the Opera" star Michael Crawford in the lead followed by former teen idol David Cassidy.
     "The vibe in the city is so much different and healthier than before," Springfield said. "I am really looking forward to performing live in Las Vegas."

December 7, 2000: The Las Vegas Sun writes: Wayne Newton closes tonight (Stardust) and returns Dec. 26-Jan. 7 ... The E! channel (Cox cable channel 36) aired a two-hour documentary on Newton that was well produced and worth viewing ... We enjoyed being part of it ... Country comedian Bill Engvall performs in the Stardust's Wayne Newton Theater Friday and Saturday, with singing impressionist Bob Anderson in Sunday through Dec. 22, making room for Asian Nights on Dec. 16 and 23.
     "Legends of Comedy" is a new nightly offering at the New Frontier with replications of Jack Benny, George Burns, Rodney Dangerfield, Jay Leno and Roseanne, each well done ... Critique appears in Friday's Sun.
     More alternative choices: Check out the entire Flamingo Las Vegas lineup: "Bottoms Up," afternoons; "Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus," 7:30 p.m., Acosta's "Lasting Impressions," 10 p.m., Justin Tranz' "Hip-nosis," midnight Friday and Saturday, plus "Forever Plaid."

The late Bobby Darin was prominently featured in the aforementioned Newton documentary ... He was a major factor in developing Newton's career ... Darin was taught the lyrics of "Mack the Knife" by the late Frank Assunto of the original Dukes of Dixieland ... The Dukes were playing at the Cloisters on the Sunset Strip in Los Angeles in the mid-1950s.
     Darin would sit in with the group nightly ... The Dukes' arrangement was loosely based on an earlier Louis Armstrong version ... Darin's arrangement was based on the Dukes' chart but using a full orchestra ... He wanted Assunto to cancel their dates and go on tour with him.
     The bookings were lucrative and the Dukes refused Darin ... He prevailed upon me to intercede and I refused ... Darin was insistent and I finally told him that his ego-talent ratio needed an adjustment. "If your talent ever equalled your ego, you would be the next Al Jolson."

From that time until his too-early death in December 1973, we became great friends ... Darin was a concerned citizen, very bright, a tremendous talent ... He would drop by the house in the afternoon when playing Las Vegas ... At the start or the close of each time we spent together, he would ask how his ego-talent ratio was coming along.
     His life story, properly told, would make a powerful motion picture ... It should be done ... He has been gone 27 years and three stars -- Newton, Paul Anka and Tony Orlando -- still include Darin tributes in their performances.
     There is a great deal of Darin in David Cassidy ... There is a great deal of a lot of people in Cassidy, to the point where his own persona is obscured ... He is a great salesman, but needs a better ego-talent ratio, if this be possible ... Query: Who is the real David Cassidy? (Joe Delaney's column)

December 8, 2000: The Las Vegas Review-Journal writes: Someone pulled a ratty stunt the other night during a performance of "The Rat Pack is Back." Veteran song-and-dance man Tony Tillman, who portrays Sammy Davis Jr. in the show, was in the midst of Davis' signature song, "Mr. Bojangles" during Saturday's 10 p.m. performance when a voice rang out: "Where's the melody?" My spies tell me the voice came from a front-row table where David Cassidy, the show's co-producer, was seated. ... (Norm Clarke's column)

December 10, 2000: The Las Vegas Review-Journal writes: David Cassidy says he will apologize to Tony Tillman, Sammy Davis Jr.'s character in "The Rat Pack is Back!," if Tillman "misinterpreted" a comment during a performance. 
     Tillman was performing Davis' "Mr. Bojangles" during the 10 p.m. performance on Dec. 2 when he heard Cassidy, seated at a front-row table, bark, "Where's the melody?" 
     A miffed Tillman told me he plans to resign, effective Dec. 31. Cassidy co-produces the Sahara show.
     "There's only so much you can take," said Tillman. 
     "Fire me after the show; tell me I suck after the show, but don't drag me down during the show," said Tillman. "The guy put me down in a way no one has done before. Anyone else would have thrown the microphone down and walked off the stage. He would have done that. Don't treat me like a rank amateur, or like it's high school theater." 
     Cassidy said he couldn't recall making the remark but might have said it "in a joking way. I wasn't being disrespectful or chastising him." 
     Added Cassidy: "He may have misinterpreted that. If he did, I will apologize." Or, said Cassidy, "he might have another agenda" and wants to be fired so he can take another job. 
     Tillman said Cassidy has "mentioned to me before that I didn't sing the melody the way he wanted it. I told him he has the right to request anything from me as a performer. It is his production and it is my obligation to try to do the best I can. 
     "The most important thing to me -- more important than the show -- is I am representing Sammy Davis, his image and his memory. That's all I'm about. People know how important he was to me." 
     Cassidy said he's never had words with Tillman but said he's "had a problem with all of them getting away from the script." 
     Tillman said he informed the show's producer, Dionne Kirschner, that he was leaving. Cassidy said he's "baffled" by the blow-up because Tillman signed a contract extension last Sunday, a day after Cassidy's alleged remark. 
     "If he's unhappy, I don't want him to stay," said Cassidy. (Norm Clarke's column)

December 10, 2000: The Las Vegas Review-Journal writes: Rick Springfield has seen, or seen tapes of, the last three incarnations of "EFX" at the MGM Grand. 
     He knows what it can be, and what it doesn't have to be. 
     "My wife saw the photo of the first clown suit with the ball (nose), and she said, `You're not doing that show,' " the '80s heartthrob said earlier this week, recalling original star Michael Crawford's P.T. Barnum costume. 
     But Springfield will join the show Jan. 30, after realizing what an adaptable creature a fire-breathing dragon can be. 
     "EFX" stumbled out of the gate when it opened -- later than planned and plagued by technical difficulties -- in March of 1995. It has endured a bad rap in some quarters ever since. 
     Cirque du Soleil's "O" creators all but snickered while comparing the stylized "evocation" of their show to the literalism of the "EFX" time machines, spaceships and dragons. 
     "Michael Crawford doesn't need `EFX' but `EFX' certainly needs Michael Crawford," a leader of the first star's fan club said before he departed in August 1996. 
     She was wrong, of course. Once the technicians got control of little details such as 2,800 lights and 48 channels of sound, the music and story line became adaptable to each star. 
     Springfield thinks Crawford brought "great energy and flow" to the show. David Cassidy had "personality" and audience rapport. Tommy Tune "took it into a dance thing that I thought was really well done." 
     And Springfield wants it to rock. "I think people come to Vegas to party," he said. "(The show is) not Broadway, it's Vegas. Making it more rock 'n' roll and having more fun with it I think is the way to go." 
     So does incoming director Jerry Mitchell, who just choreographed "The Full Monty" and "The Rocky Horror Show" on Broadway: "This is a state-of-the-art (theater) and we hope to get it rocking." 
     Springfield already has written a new opening number and other "rock 'n' roll show tunes" for the update. "I pictured singing just straight rock songs up there, and it just didn't work. There is a bigness to the show, and the songs have to suit that." 
     Mitchell said the challenge is to take the standing elements "and make them work for the new star. I think it's also what makes this show fresh every couple of years. You've got a new idea, a new look. You've got the great effects, but you've got somebody new carrying the show." 
     Las Vegas found its reputation slipping because for so long, it didn't change. Even now, the Strip's block of headlining impressionists -- Danny Gans, Bill Acosta and André-Philippe Gagnon -- all share a common stubbornness, refusing to purge their acts of hackneyed or dated pop culture references. 
     But if the fire-breathing-dragon show can do it, there's hope for the rest. Mitchell plans to "bring `EFX' into the new millennium -- which actually starts next year." 
     And perhaps he will finally bring it respect. (Mike Weatherford's entertainment column) 

December 11, 2000: The Las Vegas Review-Journal writes: 

All-world shortstop Alex Rodriguez, soon to be signed to sports' biggest contract, at the Bellagio craps tables on Saturday night. He was with a six-foot-plus stunner who swore like a sailor and bore an amazing resemblance to a well-known beach volleyball star...At Prince's after-concert concert at Studio 54 (MGM Grand): 'N Sync's Chris Kirkpatrick, Magic Johnson, David Cassidy, and actress Holly Robinson Peete, formerly of "21 Jump Street." (Norm Clarke's column) 

December 11-25, 2000: Dark days at the Rio. David will not be performing these two weeks.

December 12, 2000: The Las Vegas Sun writes: Even if he's on the outs with the cast of "The Rat Pack is Back," David Cassidy still has some business decisions to make regarding the future of the tribute show.
     Cassidy, who last week tangled with Sammy Davis Jr. character Tony Tillman, must decide if and when he's going to pull the plug on the production. Cassidy produces the show with partner Don Reo.
     Reps at the Sahara are hoping "The Rat Pack" doesn't leave town, and they've ponied up a new contract for the guys hoping that they'll stick around past the scheduled Feb. 18 closing date. The hotel is so certain about the Pack's bankability that they've offered an extended one-year contract.
     "It's on the table," one source says. "We're just waiting to hear what they're going to do."
     A rep for Cassidy, who departs "At the Copa" at the Rio next month, said that Cassidy probably wouldn't consider the offer until he returns from a two-week vacation, but adds that he has been happy with the Sahara and would like to stay.
     As for Tillman, who was hurt by an offensive remark critical of his singing that Cassidy made from the audience during a recent performance, he's outta there.
     The longest-running member of the "Rat Pack" team was said to have been furious with Cassidy and reportedly submitted his resignation, effective Dec. 31.
     But if you want to get to the pesky back-and-forth on this thing: Cassidy insists Tillman can't resign because of contractual restrictions, and according to the rep, Cassidy fired him effective immediately. Whether Tillman's compatriots decide to join their Packmate has yet to be determined.
     OK, but, um, wasn't it Cassidy who threw the first punch in this thing? "Sorry" seems to be the hardest word for that guy.
     "The Rat Pack is Back" is on hiatus until Dec. 26. (Kate Maddox's column)

December 13, 2000: The Las Vegas Review-Journal writes: "The Rat Pack is Back!" for another year, but Tony Tillman, Sammy Davis Jr.'s alter ego, will be missing from the cast.
     David Cassidy followed through on his promised apology to Tillman, then accepted Tillman's resignation after Saturday's performance of "The Rat Pack is Back!"
     Tillman's last appearance was Sunday, according to Robin Hadden, Cassidy's personal assistant. Tillman quit after hearing Cassidy make a critical remark --"Where's the melody?" -- during a Dec. 2 show.
     The one-year extension of the show is effective Feb. 18. The show, a theatrical flashback of Sinatra's 46th birthday (Dec. 12, 1961), resumes Dec. 26 after a two-week hiatus. (Norm Clarke's column)

December 17, 2000: The Las Vegas Review-Journal writes: A truce has been reached between David Cassidy and Tony Tillman, one of the standouts of "The Rat Pack is Back!" 
     Cassidy, co-producer of the theatrical show at the Sahara, issued a statement Saturday saying Tillman would return to work after the holidays. Tillman submitted his resignation two weeks ago after hearing Cassidy make a critical remark while Tillman, who plays Sammy Davis Jr., was performing "Mr. Bojangles." 
     "After numerous discussions between all parties, Tony Tillman will be doing (the show) Christmas week through New Year's ... and both sides are pleased with this arrangement," Cassidy said in the statement. 
     "All parties are working hard to arrive at agreement to keep Tony working in the show until the end of the run. Tony will honor his contract extension that he signed which stated that he would perform through New Year's Eve. 
     Joann Geffen, Cassidy's publicist, said the "end of the run" reference indicated Tillman might be staying until the one-year contract with the Sahara expires Feb. 18. A bogus report by another newspaper last week had Tillman fired by Cassidy. 
     Cassidy announced last week the Sahara has picked up the "Rat Pack" contract for another year. 

December 19, 2000: The Las Vegas Sun writes: I know my stuff pretty well. I check things out. Proper dates, locations, spellings, you know what I'm talking about. So how 'bout we not call me "bogus," at least not without checking the facts.
     Fact is, following an ego-driven altercation, David Cassidy did fire Sammy Davis Jr. character singer-actor Tony Tillman, despite what my counterpart at the morning paper reported Sunday.
     Sure, they kissed and made nice over the weekend (Tillman will stay with "The Rat Pack is Back" at least through the end of the year), but there was no disputing that Cassidy handed Tillman his walking papers after hearing Tillman's gripes.
     Jo-Ann Geffen (also take note, that's the correct way to spell her name), publicist for "Rat Pack" producer Cassidy, confirmed Monday that before the makeup session Tillman "absolutely was fired. He was fired." All's nice enough now, but unlike another bogus report filed elsewhere, Cassidy still hasn't signed a one-year renewal deal for the "Rat Pack" to remain at the Sahara. He's waiting on that decision until after he returns from vacation. (Kate Maddox's column) 

December 20, 2000: The Las Vegas Review-Journal writes: This David Cassidy-Tony Tillman feud just keeps getting nastier, although both are bound to silence.
     That was the deal last week when Tillman agreed to return to the show. No more shots through the media. But Cassidy's publicist, Jo-Ann Geffen, must have missed the memo. She's still hammering Tillman, who played Sammy Davis Jr., in "The Rat Pack is Back!" at the Sahara.
     Geffen violated the agreement Monday when she told another newspaper that Tillman absolutely was fired. I labeled it bogus because how do you fire someone  who resigned on Dec. 3 and didn't talk with Cassidy for a week?
     This is the same publicist who called me a month ago to rage and rant and demand a retraction for the item I ran that the Rio was pulling the plug on Cassidy's "At the Copa" show. When the news conference was held, confirming Cassidy's departure, Geffen was on the phone again, this time with the spin that Cassidy made the decision on his own "to pursue other entertainment opportunities and spend more time with his family."
     Ten days ago when I called Geffen for comment on Cassidy's "Where's-the-melody?" zinger during Tillman's "Rat Pack" performance, I was first told that "it didn't happen" and "why are you letting people make a fool of you?"
     Then after checking with Cassidy, the publicist changed her tune to "David can't  remember saying it." A while later the story changed to "things are often said in jest during a show all the time." Or it could have been Cassidy was being a cheerleader, she said, hollering out things such as "sing that song" or "come on, Sammy."
     Save that spin for a naive young columnist who is so green she's been fibbing about her age, adding three years, apparently so people don't consider her a cub  reporter.
     Now she's disputing my report that "The Rat is Back!" is being renewed for a year. Let's compare sources: Mine was Cassidy, who asked that it not be published yet. I honored his request. A few days later, at the height of the Tillman brouhaha, Cassidy personal assistant Robin Hadden called to say Cassidy had apologized, had accepted Tillman's resignation and, oh by the way, the show was being renewed for a year effective Feb. 18.
     Now I know they pulled one of the oldest tricks in P.R.: Leak "news" that deflates the controversy.
     So, to paraphrase that great philosopher Al Davis of the Oakland Raiders, "Just spin, baby." (Norm Clarke's column) 

December 21, 2000: The Las Vegas Sun writes: Tommy Tune is departing the MGM Grand's "EFX" Dec. 31, with Rick Springfield to take over the lead on Jan. 30 ... All three editions of "EFX" have been different, showing the vitality of the basic concept ... Michael Crawford had a mature approach and a tour de force attitude ... David Cassidy added a contemporary touch, with a romantic storyline ... Tune gave it a Broadway-musical feel.
     We've reported favorably on all three editions to date ... Crawford was our favorite; Tune a close second ... Speaking of Cassidy, his Rio run will end Jan. 21, but his association with Harrah's continues.

December 22, 2000: The Las Vegas Sun writes: Whoever's sources proved more accurate (i.e. mine) on the whole David Cassidy-Tony Tillman debacle, the main thing to remember is that it is indeed the holiday season, my friends, and can't we all just get along? (I know, disappointing to all of you who were hoping for an all-out catfight between me and my colleague at the morning paper.)
     Point is, if and when the whole "The Rat Pack is Back" mess gets ironed out, Tillman will get to do something that he has always loved to do and that he's always been good at: Entertain.
     So forget the lies, the name-calling, the insults and the age issue. (Add years?? Buddy, you really don't know women.)
     Instead, I say when the show returns from hiatus Tuesday, why don't those of you who want to decide for yourselves whether Tillman's really got the pipes, go check him out.  (Kate Maddox's column)

December 23, 2000: The Las Vegas Sun writes: 

The names Frankie Randall and Frank Sinatra will always be somewhat connected, regardless of the outcome of a lawsuit filed earlier this year in Riverside, Calif., by Frank Sinatra Jr.
     The younger Sinatra is demanding the return of musical arrangements Randall claims the elder Sinatra, his friend of almost 40 years, gave him the year before the legendary singer died in 1998.
     Onstage, Randall (who is not an impersonator) pays tribute to Sinatra by singing some of Sinatra's songs and talking about their social and business relationship, as he will do when he performs at the Suncoast Thursday through New Year's Eve. His music conductor is Vinnie Falcone, Sinatra's musical director for 10 years.
     Last week Randall returned from his third "Sounds of Sinatra"-themed cruise engagement aboard a ship in the Caribbean Sea. The voyage coincided with Sinatra's birthday on Dec. 12.
     Meanwhile Randall awaits a judge's decision about whether the issue raised by Sinatra Jr. should go to trial.
     Las Vegas Sun: Can you discuss the lawsuit?
     Frankie Randall: My attorney, Gerald Margolis, says the case is without merit. But he said I can't talk about it while it's still pending.
     Sun: Can you discuss it in general terms?
     FR: They're trying to say I can't do (Sinatra's) music but, again, I can't make too many comments about it.
     Sun: What's the motive for the suit?
     FR: I don't have a clue. I don't know what would be the motivation. If I were an enemy of the family, of the father, I could understand.
     Frank used to tell me he was happy guys like me would be carrying on his music when he (was) gone. I do a very positive portrayal of somebody I liked and admired. I can't take the wildest guess what this is all about. It's got to be money, I would think, but I don't know.
     Sun: How did the lawsuit develop?
     FR: In Frank's will, there is one line in it -- they had to furnish us with everything his son's case consists of -- one line states (Sinatra Jr.) gets his father's sheet music. A month or so after his dad died, I got my first letter.
     This thing has been in progress for a while. Who knows where it is ultimately going to wind up? But I'm happy to say I was a friend of Frank's. I did the show during his lifetime and he never had a problem with it.
     Sun: What happens if you lose the suit and have to return the arrangements?
     FR: The important thing to recognize here is that of the songs that are associated with Frank Sinatra, he had no part in writing them anyway. All of them were written by Sammy Kahn or Jimmy Van Heusen or some of the other greatest songwriters in the world. We're not talking about anything that anybody has a real claim to. It won't affect my act at all. I will still sing the songs and talk about Frank.
     Look at what David Cassidy is doing with "The Rat Pack is Back." How do you keep people from singing "The Lady is a Tramp"? It's available to the public.
     Sun: How does being sued by your friend's son make you feel? Are you angry? Are you disappointed?
     FR: I'm trying to place my focus everywhere else but (on) this issue. I hope what's right will prevail. Our democratic judicial system was tested (recently during the presidential election), and I hope the legal system will work (in this case).
     The arrangements were released to me by Frank Sinatra through his librarian. They were something he gave me. How the court is going to find it, and why Junior feels they are his, I don't know.
     Sun: Were you close to Sinatra's son?
     FR: Not close to him, but certainly around him a lot. I used to be at Frank's house sometimes four or five nights a week. He used to love to have first-run movies flown down from L.A. and invite a couple of friends over, anywhere from two to 20, and sit around with a plate of macaroni and watch the movie and enjoy each other's company.
     Sun: How did you become acquainted with Sinatra?
     FR: I tell all this on stage. I met him in 1961 or '62 when I was working at Jilly's in New York. Jilly (Rizzo) was Frank's closest friend. Frank liked the way I sounded and opened the door for me in Las Vegas. I lived here from '68 to '75 and then bought a home in Rancho Mirage (California), just around the corner from Frank. I've lived there almost 26 years, and I've got a home here (in Las Vegas).
     In '82 I went to Atlantic City to work three weeks in a lounge at Steve Wynn's Golden Nugget and wound up being the entertainment director. That always cracks me up. After that Wynn signed Sinatra to a three-year contract. I used to travel around with Frank a lot on business, doing customer development parties (for the casino).
     Sun: Are you on good terms with the rest of Sinatra's family?
     FR: The suit is strictly Frank Jr.'s. I'm on very good terms with (his widow) Barbara ... (Daughter) Tina called me with regard to the Frank case right after it was filed. She's not a part of this.
     Sun: Is all of the trouble worth it?
     FR: After receiving Frank Sinatra's music and doing tributes to him and seeing how well he is received all over the world, from Italy to Manila, I've found that everyone wants to hear Sinatra. Do I want to do the songs anymore? Not really -- but people just love it.

December 24, 2000: The Las Vegas Review-Journal writes: One of the Harrah's donors, Mac King, even sent me a present/promotional item: A customized CD of Christmas songs, including an Ella Fitzgerald "Sleigh Ride" I'd never heard. (Thanks, Mac. We're not in copyright trouble, are we?) 
     So what do I give back? How about some sarcastic hypothetical gift ideas, the kind columnists often use to wrap up the year? 
     To Wyrick: An exorcist, to rid his Sahara showroom of past stars Buddy Hackett and Johnny Carson, who apparently cursed the shift to family entertainment. 
     To Gans and rival impressionist Bill Acosta: A giant coin to flip to decide who has to lose the "12 Days of Christmas" routine. 
     To David Cassidy: A copy of Sheena Easton's "No Strings" standards album, in case he misses his "At the Copa" co-star while on the road next year. 
     To the cast of "Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus": A recall of John Gray's "Practical Miracles from Mars and Venus" and other cash-in titles, which apparently killed the golden goose and wore out the show's welcome. 
     To De La Guarda: The Rosetta stone, which must be what it takes for people to figure out the dang thing. 
     To "Notre Dame de Paris," which folded in Vegas but plans to carry on: new lyrics by Tim Rice ("Evita," "The Lion King") to replace the ones by Will Jennings (that putrid Celine Dion "Titanic" song). 
     Don't bother thanking me. Somebody's got to be the Grinch. (Mike Weatherford's entertainment column) 

December 26, 2000: The Las Vegas Review-Journal writes: All the heated debate about "The Rat Pack Is Back" in dueling gossip columns focused on whether Tony Tillman quit or was fired from the Sammy role. The issue  detracted from the fact that, as of Friday, show producer David Cassidy still
hadn't signed a contract to renew the Sahara show past Feb. 18.
     This could be merely a detail, as Cassidy canceled some of his "At the Copa" shows due to illness recently and then went on holiday vacation with his family.  "The papers are on his desk, the offer is in and he has every intention of dealing with it," publicist Jo-Ann Geffen said Friday. ...
     You only have until Sunday to see Tommy Tune in "EFX" at the MGM Grand. The Texas hoofer originally planned to stay until mid-January, but now the show closes after New Year's Eve and won't reopen until Jan. 30, with Rick Springfield as the new star.
     The extra down time is to give the show a serious overhaul. The transition to Springfield as the fourth star includes a more rock-oriented soundtrack, and getting rid of four musical narrators whose roles were never clear to most audiences. (Mike Weatherford's entertainment column) 

December 28, 2000: The Las Vegas Sun writes: 

This is the penultimate column for 2000 ... Here are some capsule comments and a  suggestion or two, taking Las Vegas performers alphabetically ... 
     Bill Acosta: It was time for the move to the Flamingo, but the cost of that many musicians and dancers may not leave you as well off as you were at the Luxor ... Keep the musicians but halve the dancers, if necessary.
     David Brenner: You picked the right room and right hotel (Golden Nugget); other hotels in Casino Center should benefit from an entertainment standpoint ...
     Lance Burton: (Monte Carlo) Yours is definitely a win-win deal with the community, as an added beneficiary for your contributions in time and money to benefit disadvantaged children, especially.
     George Carlin: Bally's cupidity is the MGM Grand's gain in both the Hollywood and "EFX" theatres...
     David Cassidy: (Rio) A case of maximum mileage with minimal originality ... 
     Andrew "Dice" Clay: If you were less graphic, would you also be less successful? ... Most likely.
     David Copperfield: (MGM Grand) The Hollywood Theatre is good for close-up magic,  but you really need a 1,200-seat room (Paris Las Vegas?) and an opportunity to sit down for three or four weeks at a time ... 
     Dixie Dooley: (Plaza) You deserve  credit for perseverance, hang in there ... 
     Andre Philippe Gagnon: (Venetian) Your time will come -- elsewhere.
     Danny Gans: (Mirage) Your time is now and your fellow impressionists are the beneficiaries ... You are the Siegfried & Roy of that genre ...
     Clint Holmes: (Harrah's) You made it through 2000 but you need something extra ... Why not try
 a different jazz guest star each week?
     Mac King: (Harrah's) You've made a nice niche for yourself, afternoons in the Improv room, ride it for another year or so then try to move to evenings ...
     Jerry Lewis: (Orleans) Just changing the running order is no longer enough ... Ease up and try going one-on-one with your audience once more.
     Melinda, First Lady of Magic: (Venetian) We wish you a room where you can do your full show and not have to lay out so much of your own money to get the audience you deserve ... 
     Wayne Newton: (Stardust) You and the Stardust came together at the right time for both parties ... You are now at your best ever because you have a reason to be.
     Penn & Teller: (Rio) The Rio's Samba Theatre should be made to order for you ...  I predict longer engagements after your Jan. 5-17 date ... 
     Debbie Reynolds: (Orleans) We know you will always be an LV attraction; we also know you will
make your Hollywood Museum dream come true as well.
     Rita Rudner: (MGM Grand) When they let you go Sunday, it will be a mistake, one that some other hotel should pick up on in a hurry ... 
     The Scintas: (Las Vegas Hilton Nightclub) You deserve to be in a main showroom, but have to be patient and continue proving your point.
     Siegfried & Roy: (Mirage) Your success and that of Las Vegas has run a parallel course these past two decades ... Other magicians owe you at least their thanks... 
     Rick Thomas: (Tropicana) You've established yourself nicely with nighttime counts in the afternoon ... Enjoy it a while longer ... 
     Justin Tranz: (O'Sheas and the Flamingo Las Vegas) You may be the first hypnotist-comedian to deserve a  steady, small main showroom since the late Pat Collins.
     Tommy Tune: (MGM Grand "EFX" Theatre) It has been a good run, and our town was fortunate to have your presence this long, but it's time to apply those creative  juices where they belong -- on Broadway.
     Steve Wyrick: (Sahara) You put in your time at the Lady Luck, and a lot of money  was spent on creating a special showroom and advertising, especially during those months before you actually opened ... You have a long hard row to hoe to amortize the outlay of time and money prior to opening.

Caesars Magical Empire features magicians and practitioners of the illusionary acts ... With a good meal and a variety of entertainment, it is a marvelous evening for less than the cost of many of the magic acts ... We have a special word of praise for Michael La Rocca, who continues to present his musical theater tribute nightly, always giving full measure, at the World Trade Center, off the beaten path.

December 31, 2000: Las Vegas Review-Journal writes: 

TOP 10 SHOWS

1. "Blue Man Group: Live at Luxor," (Luxor)
2. "Cabaret" (MGM Grand)
3. "Always, Patsy Cline" (Silverton)
4. Danny Gans (The Mirage)
5. "Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus" (Flamingo)
6. Penn & Teller (MGM Grand)
7. Rita Rudner (MGM Grand)
8. De La Guarda (Rio)
9. "At the Copa" (Rio)
10. "Footloose the Musical" (Rio)

9. "At the Copa" (Rio) -- David Cassidy's attempt to reinvent himself in a retro musical proved too  expensive to continue next year, but Sheena Easton and a live band made it one to root for. 
Mitigating factor: Cassidy proved that Sinatra et al. only made finger-popping swing look easy. 
(Mike Weatherford, the Las Vegas Review-Journal)

For a dead man, David Cassidy roars to life in a downbeat. 

Or just the suggestion of a downbeat. 

You see, it's post-show time--just post-show time--and a spent, juiceless Cassidy has slumped into a chair at Fiore's restaurant at the Rio as if he plans to retire into its plush upholstery and enjoy his coma in peace. Can't blame him. He's capping a day that took him through two magazine photo shoots, an E! interview and his nightly At the Copa performance opposite Sheena Easton with his usual go - for - broke, pour - me - in - a - glass - when - it's - over energy. 

And it's supposed to be over. Except for this nattering reporter at his elbow, interrupting his consumption of salad with questions he's surely heard hundreds, thousands, millions of times. 

Can't blame him at all. 

But then the nattering reporter broaches the subject of the late Bobby Darin, you know, the "Mack the Knife" guy. Didn't he have another great tune, uh, what was it? ... "Artificial Flowers"? 

The blood rushes back into Cassidy's cheeks. His body morphs from the slouch of pure exhaustion to the stance of killer cool. A forkful of his late leafy dinner idles on his plate, neglected. As he leans forward, lost in some sort of reverie, you look into his newly alive eyes and practically hear the waaa-waaa trumpets, feel the hipster "ho's!" and "heys!," see the tuxedoed panache of the past, as if materializing on cue with a shot glass and a cig. 

Oblivious to the birthday party hubbub a few tables away, Cassidy, eyes narrowed, head bobbing, fingers at full-throttle finger-snap, launches into the tune's tragic tale, curiously set to an exuberant swing tempo. 

"Alone in the world was poor little Anne, as sweet a young child as you'd find (ho! hey! ho!); her parents had gone to their final reward, leaving their baaaaby behind; didja hear this poor little child was only 9 years of age, when Mother and Dad went away (ho! hey! ho!), still she bravely worked at the one thing she knew, to earn her few pennies a day ..." 

Bobby Darin has returned to the living. So has David Cassidy. 

"It was so percussive, his singing," Cassidy, now safely reunited with his salad, says admiringly about the man he played in walks-ons in The Rat Pack Is Back. "The one thing my father [the late Jack Cassidy] and I had in common was we both loved 

Bobby Darin. My stepmom [Shirley Jones, a.k.a. Mama Partridge] worked with him quite a lot and loved him. He had as good or better phrasing than any artist I've ever heard. If he had been young and around today, he would have been the best white rapper--but musically rapping. He could sing the stuff that Sinatra could sing." 

Sinatra. Darin. Copacabana. Rat Packers. Hey, pallie, where are the broads? The whole ring-a-ding-ding! thing. This man doesn't just miss it, he craves it. And he isn't just reminiscing about it, he's reviving it. 

Which makes David Cassidy--the guy who thinks he loves you 'cause he woke up in love this morning, the guy with the Partridged past, the guy who 25 years ago could have been voted Least Likely To Be Crowned Mr. Las Vegas--the new Mr. Las Vegas. 

With respect to Danny Gans, Clint Holmes, Siegfried & Roy and Wayne Newton (Mr. Las Vegas Emeritus), the multitasking Cassidy--ex-EFX star, producer/writer/director of The Rat Pack Is Back, star/impresario of At the Copa, champion of children's charities and all-round man-about-town--is the runaway choice. 

But the designation, while entirely appropriate, requires clarification: David Cassidy is not New Vegas--that's "conceptual" stuff like O and De La Guarda and Blue Man Group--but postmodern Old Vegas. He's the Rat Pack 2000, surviving and thriving and swinging on the other side of the Eminem age. 

"It does feel that way to some extent," Cassidy says about taking on the title. "When you see an entertainer perform here now, they do it for a week, for a weekend, for a night, but to be here for 48 weeks and do it, that's really rare." 

" ... she made arrrrr-tificial flowers (ho! hey!), artificial flowers (hey! ho!), flowers for ladies of fashion to wear; she made artificial flowers (ho! hey!), you know those artificial flowers, fashioned from Annie's despair ..." 

We won't rehash the whole Partridge Family gestalt here (it's all in the official record--Behind the Music, The E! True Hollywood Story, Biography, Headliners & Legends, The David Cassidy Story--look it up). Nor the theatrical triumphs--Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Blood Brothers--that transitioned him out of teen dream hell. And for those who can't shake the old image of the shag-cut stud who adorned the bedroom walls of frenzied females in the C'mon Get Happy '70s, consider that he's 50 now. (We'll pause here while you reach for that can of Ensure ...). 

Besides, the man's true musical heart beats in plain sight on the At the Copa stage. 

Sure, Cassidy embraces his pop past in the show as singing waiter Johnny Flamingo, belting out his hits (as does Easton as chic chanteuse Ruby Bombay). 

But dig the retro rush, baby. Dig the Sammyish riffs of "That Old Black Magic." Dig the Basie-esque bops of the Lon Bronson Orchestra. Dig the, yes, Darinian dynamism of "Mack the Knife." Cassidy sells it all like Jolson on crystal meth, his Big Daddy-O dance stance--Darin again, from the scissored leg split to the ho!-hey!-ho! arm thrusts--rocketing the rhythm by pure force of will. 

Cool cat copycat? You bet. By design? You bet. 

And somewhere in the wings, the ghosts of the Sands are sippin' their Scotch and eyein' the broads. 

" ... wwwwwith paper and shears, with some wwwwwire and wax, she made up each tulip and mum (ho! hey! ho!), as snowflakes drifted into her tenament room, her baby little finnnnngers grew nummmmmb ..." 

The Throwback Kid. Who'da thunk it? 

"I was listening to my own music growing up, but my dad worshipped Sinatra and Bing, worshipped Gershwin and Cole Porter--he was hired to do Broadway shows that never had original soundtracks, those shows of Cole Porter where my father is the male vocalist when he was 21, 22. I had a real love and appreciation for it," Cassidy says. 

So the kid got a--ho!--kick out of Cole. And, after a brief detour into that bubble-gum-pop, teen-idol-god thing, he now talks like this, pallie: 

"I talked with Q" (that's legendary Quincy Jones--Q to his friends, Mr. Jones to you and me), "who came and saw The Rat Pack Is Back, and he wept. He was just blown away. And I said, 'You know, Q, your live album that you did with Frank at the Sands to me is still the greatest live album ever done. Those arrangements you did with the band, with Basie playing those killer notes, so incredible, man.' The bar was raised for me. I wanted a band that could play that [for At the Copa], but also get down in the groove with the pop stuff so we could span the latter part of the 20th century and the greatest music ever done." 

Old Vegas divided by New Vegas equals Mr. Vegas. 

" ... from making arrrrrtificial flowers (waaa-waaa-waaa!), those artificial flowers (waaa-waaa-waaa!), flowers for ladies of high fashion to wear; she made artificial flowers (waaa-waaa-waaa!), artificial flowers (waaa-waaa-waaa!), made from Annie's despair ..." 

His chronically competitive dad--with whom he had a tempestuous (and well-chronicled) relationship fueled by equal parts love and envy--brought him to Vegas at age 12. "He loved it and hated it; hated it because he couldn't quite be The Guy"--this is Cassidy's mantra, meant to separate dream fulfillment from disillusioned defeat--"and loved it because he wanted to be, because it stood for Sinatra and Darin. He could walk into a room and take it over. He was an actor and a great singer and the funniest man I ever knew. But he wasn't That Guy." 

During his heartthrob heyday, rockin' out stadiums, arenas, the Astrodome, Cassidy rejected the de rigueur rockers' ridicule of his fantasy playground (Vegas? Death, man!), coveting a place in the casinoed crazy quilt of this town. 

Even as pre-pubescent girls dissolved around him--he smiled, they screamed, he spoke, they cried, he sang, they fainted--the rock star indulged his inner hepcat: 

"This act is so Las Vegas. He's like a male Ann-Margret." That's a woman close to the Cassidy camp talking to Rolling Stone magazine. In 1972. She didn't mean it kindly, but if a dream is made of solid stuff, it outlives disdain. 

"In the '70s, when I was The Guy, I was compared to Elvis. I had such respect for his talent, even though I could see there was a very sad man there. But I envied the fact that he was at a place in his life that he could come here and be That Guy," Cassidy says. 

"A lot of the people I admired big-time--Darin, Sinatra, Sammy--were all still playing here. They meant something to me. They were old guys, and I was young, contemporary, happening, playing the stadiums they couldn't play. But I thought, 'wouldn't it be nice to be like the people you admire? Wouldn't you love to be That Guy at that stage of your life?' " 

Even rock stars with groupies offering up undergarments and what's underneath them must have a dream, right? "My brother Shaun and I used to joke about it: Someday I'll be up there on a billboard with my hand going like this"--his gaze glazes over, his hand jerking robotically a la Vegas Vic--"and while we joked about it in a cynical way, it was also in a revering way. There is something great about being That Guy here." 

" ... they found little Annie all covered with ice, still clutching her poor frozen shears (waaa-waaa-waaa-waaa-waaa-waaa-waaa-waaa!); amidst all the blossoms she had fashioned by hand, and watered by all her young tears (ho!-WAAAA-ho!-WAAAAAA!) ..." 

The Guy loves The Town. You can hear it in his reverence. And in his frustration. The Vegas he grew up loving is the Vegas he feels he's losing. The Vegas he's hellbent to rescue. 

"People forget that there were individuals who came here, who changed the face of it, who created its mystique and ambience, not corporations," Cassidy says, his words coming slower now and chosen with more care, lest he incur the wrath of corporate demigods whose business instincts can be far more frightening than Bugsy's temper ever was. "Steve Wynn and Kerk Kerkorian built these fabulous properties, the most beautiful resorts. But you can get carried away with a corporate idea, which is, let's make everything a fantasy, let's make everything a novelty, let's make Cirque du Soleil live in every property. Well, eventually people will get tired of it. 

"O and Mystere, you've got some acrobats and a whole lot of weird music. They're wonderful shows for what they are, fabulous sets, very cleverly done and well-produced, but where everything comes from is the entertainer. Writing and directing and producing The Rat Pack Is Back, I tried to pay homage to the entertainers responsible for making Las Vegas Las Vegas." 

Flash back almost three decades and ask yourself if Frank, Dino, Sammy, Joey and Peter ever envisioned that the guardian of their legacy would emerge out of a tacky day-glo bus on a pop-band sitcom from a smiley-face decade. Not likely, pallie. 

And not entirely appreciated, either. While admiring the show, Tina Sinatra tied Cassidy up in legal knots (Sammy's widow, Altovise, later tightened the noose) over the Rat Packers' depictions, slapping the show's original home, the Desert Inn, with a trademark infringement lawsuit (a judgment is still pending). 

As Las Vegas Sun columnist John Katsilometes reported, "the show created a stir among 'old school' Las Vegas entertainment figures. Representatives of more established, rival performers began grumbling about (what they termed) Cassidy's grandiose representation" of the fabled carousers. 

OK, so Cassidy's ardor was taken for arrogance in some circles. Perhaps a town's heyday should be memorialized as a museum piece, gently lit, under glass, untouchable. Perhaps a living, breathing reminder of Vegas' swingin' sizzle shouldn't be perpetuated by some pop prince who wasn't old enough to drink while Rat Packers were closing the bars. Perhaps the legacy should die with its generation. You decide. 

But showing its spunk, The Rat Pack Is Back came back, eventually deserting the Desert Inn for the Sahara where, despite constant rumors of demise, it swings on. 

Safer by far--or at least less likely to double-book a showroom and a courtroom--is the Rat Packer-less At the Copa, where the music is true but the names have been changed to protect the producer. 

"... there must be a heaven where little Annie can play (waaa!), in heavenly gardens and bowers; and in-st-he-he-hed of a halo (waaa!) she'll wear 'round her head (waaa!) a garland of gen-u-ine flowers (waaa-waaa-waaa-waaa-waaaaaa!)..." 

Feeding off the town's storied past? True. Feeding the needs of others? Also true. Moved by the tragedies in Kosovo, Cassidy and his wife, songwriter Sue Shifrin-Cassidy, penned the tune "Message to the World" to aid WarChild USA's efforts on behalf of Kosovo refugee families. Inspired, Shifrin-Cassidy created KidsCharities.org, an umbrella organization that benefits numerous charities--including Special Olympics, Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, Kids Voting USA, Planet Hope and Wheels for Humanity--for children. 

"My wife is the kind of person who, when she decides to do something, it's over," Cassidy says, nothing that, for his part, payback is the pleasure. "I was the junior chairman of the Special Olympics during the '70s. Eunice Kennedy asked me to do that when I was The Guy in the '70s. I always felt that children were a big part of my success and my fame and my being able to do what I love to do. I felt I could give back to them." 

" ... nooooo more artificial flowers (waaa!-waaa!-waaa!), throw away those artificial flowers (waaa!-waaa!-waaa!), flowers for ladies of SO-CI-E-TY to wear ..." 

The midlife life of an ex-teen dream? Cool, man. He's at peace with his past ("I'm proud of The Partridge Family and I love those people I worked with back then"). He's got a wife and 9-year-old son, Beau, who leave him at a loss for love-laden superlatives ("my son is the light of my life"). He's groovin' with his stepmom ("Shirley's a fan of mine, which is so nice to say. She's my friend. I gave her an introduction at the show that made her cry"). 

" ... throw away those artificial flowers, those dumb-dumb FLOW-ERS, fashioned from Annie's--waaa!-waaa!-waaa!-WAAA!-waaa!-waaa!--fashioned from A-A-A-Annie's depaaaaair ..." 

He's even come to terms with the dichotomy of his dad. 

How would Jack Cassidy feel about David Cassidy being Mr. Vegas? Being--forgive us, we can't resist--The Guy? 

"To be honest with you," Cassidy says without missing a beat, "he'd be pretty pissed off about it. And yet, he'd be proud of me." 

" ... WAAAAAAAA-YEAH!"

This story is located at  http://www.lvlife.com/dec2000/features/story02.html or you can order the magazine from Las Vegas Life, 2290 Corporate Circle Dr., Suite 250, Henderson, NV 89014, or by phone (702) 990-2440 to charge your credit card. The magazine contains several photos of David. 

Feature story in the Gambler Magazine (December 2000 issue):

David Cassidy has gone through so much it's inspiring to see that he has survived it all and is now thriving in his role as actor, singer, writer, producer and, most importantly, husband and father. His incredible rise to stardom came when he was very young. It isn't surprising that he chose the life of a performer, considering that his mother, Evelyn Ward, and father, Jack Cassidy, were actors and had stage and television careers.

We all remember David Cassidy as Keith Partridge in the 1970s TV show The Partridge Family, which captured the attention of a generation of young viewers and catapulted him to international stardom. From 1970 to 1974 he reined supreme on the hit show. Magazine covers featured him endlessly and 
he became a teenage idol to millions of kids the world over. By the time he was 21 he had become the highest-paid solo performer and had a fan club bigger than Elvis Presley's or the Beatles'. Cassidy was in such demand he would tape his shows during the week and give concerts on the weekends to sell-out audiences in the largest venues that were available.

During this time the pace was gruelling, and he was the centre of attention for so many. Through it all he was nominated for several Grammy awards and had seven chart-topping singles, including "I Think I Love You," the number-one-selling record of 1971. As a solo artist he had five hit singles, including one of my favourites, "Lying to Myself," a 1990 pop hit for Enigma. Cassidy has sold over 25 million units to date and toured the world countless times over.

With such early success, performers often experience a period of fatigue and burnout. Cassidy was not immune to this, and through the late '70s and early '80s he fell on rough times. Like the thoroughbred horses he loves so much, however, he was able to pick himself up and continue performing to audiences 
that truly were devoted to this incredible talent.

In 1981, Cassidy's career took a new path when he started performing in theatre. He began in George M. Cohen's Little Johnny Jones and later, in 1983, starred on Broadway in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. He had a marvellous six-month run before he moved to England to resume his musical career. "Last Kiss" rose to number 6 on the British charts in March of 1985, and his album, Romance, made it to number 20 on the British album charts. This followed a fantastic sold-out concert tour of England.

The British have always treated Cassidy with absolute adulation and come out in droves to support him, but he yearned for a breakthrough back home. None of his new songs got any support in the States, and without the help of a major label it is almost impossible to achieve any longevity. It was frustrating for him. It's certainly ironic that when Cassidy was making everyone lots of money, they would never leave him alone; now there was dead silence.

Fate has a funny way of entering our lives when we really need a little help - a ray of sunshine that changes everything. In Cassidy's life, that ray was his wife, Sue Shifrin-Cassidy. "What I have been able to do from 1987 until now - I'm talking about rebuilding my life, from the bottom up - I surely could not have done without [her]."

It is a fact that behind every great man there is a great woman. With this realization Cassidy moved forward and prospered. Now with a much more positive outlook and a support base that was real in his life, he was able to start working on projects that were meaningful.

In the early 1990s he wrote the theme song to NBC-TV's The John Larroquette Show and starred on Broadway in Blood Brothers with his brother, also a former teen idol, Shaun Cassidy. The experience of working in Blood Brothers, which went on a national tour and broke box-office records, was very rewarding, and fuelled a creative fire that is obviously still burning today. Other career milestones include being nominated for an Emmy for his role in A Chance to Live, as well as performing in Time with Sir Lawrence Olivier in London's West End theatre district.

In 1994 Cassidy wrote his memoirs. C'mon Get Happy - Fear and Loathing on the Partridge Family Bus is definitely a tell-all book about his life, including all those juicy details the paparazzi clamour for. We won't get into the sex-and-drugs-and-rock-'n'-roll particulars of Cassidy's life here. If you're interested, you can log on to www.davidcassidy.com.

In 1996, with Shifrin-Cassidy and their son, Beau, by his side, Cassidy moved to Las Vegas to star in EFX, the $75 million special-effects-laden show. Cassidy was responsible for re-creating the starring role as well as writing original music. In his two-year run, it became the most successful show in Las Vegas history and drew over one-million paying customers. It must have been an incredible feeling to be back in demand and receiving critical acclaim. In 1999, for the second time in three years, Cassidy was named "Best All Around Performer" by Review Journal's Best of Las Vegas.

Today, David is hard at work in not one but two shows in Las Vegas. The Rat Pack is Back, which debuted at the Desert Inn in July of 1999 to positive reviews and sold-out audiences, is the creation of Cassidy and writer/producer Don Reo. It's now running at the Sahara Hotel and Casino in the famous Congo Room, which has featured the first-time appearances of legendary performers like Tony Bennet and Marlene Dietrich. This show takes us back to the era that made this town the entertainment mecca it is.

Another Cassidy-Reo creation is At the Copa, being staged at the Rio All-Suite Casino Resort in the fabulous Copacabana Showroom. Cassidy is both the producer and leading performer of this Broadway-type musical. He plays Johnny Flamingo, a waiter who rises to stardom at the Copa nightclub and is the love interest of Copa singer Ruby Bombay, played by Sheena Easton. It is a marvellous mix of drama, music and comedy. The two leading characters fight desperately to be together, battling dark forces in the form of Copa nightclub owner Lefty, played by Rick Pessagno, who will stop at nothing to 
make Ruby his girl. The comedic side of the show rests on the capable shoulders of Stewart Daylida, who plays Beaumont, a buffoon-type character, to a tee.

As the show's writer, Cassidy hopes to convey the message that, with love, time has no meaning and true love always perseveres. "The story has a wide and dramatic arc. We never take ourselves too seriously. It's about making people laugh while blowing the roof off."

The dancing in the show is spectacular, and the crowd is always receptive to the blend of stage performance and individual solos that makes you feel you are at a show and a concert. Cassidy provides the opportunity to see a master at work, and he doesn't disappoint; he performs some new and original 
material as well as his earlier hits, "I Woke Up in Love this Morning" and the crowd-pleaser "I Think I Love You." The fact that he ventures into the audience adds a human element that makes all the women in attendance go wild. The largest orchestra in Las Vegas is led by Lon Bronson and showcases many tunes from the second half of the 20th century, including "Steam Heat," "Mack the Knife," "Try a Little Tenderness," "Can't Help Lovin' That Man of Mine" and "If They Could See Me Now." Easton's singing is a joy, and no one is disappointed to hear her sing "For Your Eyes Only" and "Morning Train."

The onstage chemistry between Cassidy and Easton makes this show a gem. You take leave of your surroundings for a while and forget about everything else. Ultimately, that is the most important aspect of any successful show.

In a recent interview with Cassidy it was clear that he is grateful for all the support of his fans over the years, and for his happiness today. He is very active in charitable causes, along with Shifrin-Cassidy, and enjoys spending quality time with their son. In 1994 the Cassidys played a significant part in the Rebuild LA campaign: they composed the cause's anthem, "Stand Up and Be Proud," and in 1999 they helped out again by donating their song "Message to the World" to benefit War Child USA, which supported the Kosovo child refugees.

Supporting children's causes has been a big part of the Cassidys' lives, especially of Shifrin-Cassidy's, who founded www.kidscharities.org. This non-profit Internet-based organization is an umbrella for many worthy children's organizations. Most recently the third annual David Cassidy Celebrity Golf Tournament was held at the Rio Secco Golf Course in Las Vegas to raise funds for www.kidscharities.org. Some of the charities that benefited from the event were City of Hope, Special Olympics Nevada, Interfaith Hospitality Network and Planet Hope. For more information or to make a donation to the organization, log on to the above web site.

Cassidy's road hasn't always been paved with gold, but it's been filled with hard work and dedication to not only his fans but also to his family and friends. He's happy to be where he is now, and feels blessed every new day. When you've had so much at such a young age and then lost it, things are put in perspective. David Cassidy knows that time is the most precious commodity of all, and he is certainly using it wisely. (www.thegamblermagazine.com)

Sources have informed us that David Cassidy lit the Christmas tree at the Rio in Las Vegas on November 29. It was on the local news. 

Dr. Dre, members of 'N Sync and Bon Jovi, rapper Jay-Z and Snoop Dogg, rocker Tommy Lee and pop diva Christina Aguilera are just a few of the artists planning to attend the VH1 awards after party at the Hard Rock Café Los Angeles. The bash -- which will include a performance by Duncan Sheik, among others -- pays tribute to rock 'n' roll photographer Henry Diltz. Diltz has shot many legendary album covers during the past 30 years with artists ranging from The Doors, Jackson Browne, Crosby Stills & Nash, The Beatles, Nirvana and David Cassidy. Photographs highlighting Diltz's career will be auction off during the party, with a portion of the sales benefitting the Art of Elysium, a non-profit organization that teaches the arts to terminally ill children in L.A. (Thanks to Lynn R. for this info)

For those who are in California in Jan, 20, 21 and 22, apparently Shirley will be at the Hollywood collectors show signing autographs at the Beverly Garland Hotel. (Thanks to Valinda on the Shaun Cassidy chat list for this information.)

Message from DavidCassidy.com: Dear DC list member, we are building a new site for the New Year and would like your feedback as to what you would like to see at the site....
Please log on to: http://www.davidcassidy.com/fans.html, but try to keep your comments short and sweet as we need to read, poll and assess them all. Thanks for your valuable input and Happy Holidays. Lucy.

Don't forget to check out the latest David Cassidy website made by fans for fans: Cassidyland

On December 15th Patrick signed the contract to star as "Radames" on the National Tour of the Elton John and Tim Rice musical production of AIDA! The tour will begin March 27, 2001 and will continue for one year! Patrick will begin rehearsals in February. 
The first city is on sale January 2001: Minneapolis, MN---Orpheum Theatre---Mar. 27 -Apr. 22
Other dates so far (subject to change):
St. Louis, MO---Fox Theatre---Apr.27 -May 06
Seattle, WA---Paramount Theatre---May 12 - 26
Portland, Oregon---Keller Auditorium---May 29 - June 3 

David Cassidy and his wife Sue came to see his brother Patrick in "Annie Get Your Gun" at The Marquis Theatre on Broadway on the evening of December 16th. The youngest Cassidy brother, Ryan, was in New York to see the December 28th evening performance of "Annie" (see photo of Ryan and Patrick, thanks to Nadine). 

Thanks to Barbara Pazmino of the Just David Fan Club for this info.

Shaun's mother Shirley Jones will be starring in two brand new episodes of Cover Me on January 14 and January 21 on NBC. Check the TV Guide for January.