As the first hotel and casino to open on what is now the world-famous Las Vegas Strip, the Flamingo made its debut the day after Christmas in 1946. That means the pink-hued landmark just passed its milestone 75th birthday, as if it needed anything else to cement its legacy as an icon of Las Vegas.
But wait, there’s more. This month, Mr. Las Vegas himself returned to the Flamingo to begin a new residency show. Wayne Newton, who first performed in Las Vegas in the late 1950s as a teenager with his brother Jerry, first achieved headliner status in 1963 at this very resort. And he’s recounting many of the memorable tales from his unique career in entertainment—in Vegas and beyond—with this latest evolution of his celebrated Wayne: Up Close and Personal performance.
The singer, actor, philanthropist and multi-instrument musician has of course had many residencies on and off the Strip through the years, at historic casinos including the Stardust, Las Vegas Hilton and Caesars Palace. He was part-owner of the Aladdin for several years and his multimillion-dollar deal at the Stardust, which occupied the Strip spot where the new Resorts World Las Vegas opened last year, is considered one of the first major modern residencies, predating Celine Dion’s historic run at Caesars Palace.
Newton made more Vegas history a little more than five years ago when he joined The Killers as the opening acts for T-Mobile Arena, the 20,000-seat home of the Vegas Golden Knights and one of the most popular sports and entertainment venues in the country. It’s estimated that Newton has performed more than 25,000 shows in Las Vegas for some 40 million people.
You simply cannot separate Las Vegas from Wayne Newton; one is not the same without the other. And that’s why his show at the Flamingo’s intimate Bugsy’s Cabaret theater space is so significant—every performance is making more history. Never before have his fans had such access and proximity to this legendary entertainer, and he’s going out of his way to connect with every member of the audience through music, stories and constant interaction.
He’s one of those rare artists who attracts fans of varied generations, too. Consider that an entire new audience fell in love with his signature song, “Danke Schoen,” after Matthew Broderick lip-synced the hit while crashing a parade in 1986 flick Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Newton is definitely revisiting that track in his Flamingo show, as well as favorites like “Red Roses for a Blue Lady,” “Summer Wind,” and “Daddy Don’t You Walk So Fast.” He shares some archival videos with highlights and personal moments from a life onstage, brings out the banjo to show his stuff, and allows plenty of time for audience questions and requests. Wayne: Up Close and Personal is aptly named and almost makes you feel like you’ve been friends with this superstar for years.
It’s hard not to feel a part of the special relationship Wayne Newton has with Las Vegas and the Flamingo hotel and casino. This performance is the epitome of what the city built its reputation on.
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