No history of Las Vegas would be complete without a chapter devoted to Mr. Las Vegas himself, Wayne Newton. The tireless entertainer has been an integral part of this town for decades, stretching all the way back to the days when he would perform multiple shows a day back in the 1950s to the days when he headlined at major Strip properties, becoming one of the most successful entertainers in the city’s history.
For that alone, Newton has earned his legend status. But when you mix in the man’s other bona fides, including immortal songs like “Danke Schoen,” “Red Roses for a Blue Lady” and “Daddy, Don’t You Walk So Fast,” his work with the U.S. Armed Forces and his numerous charitable causes, Newton stakes a case for being the most influential Las Vegas resident of all time.
In case you need more proof, definitely get a ticket for his one-man show, Wayne: Up Close and Personal, in which the man himself holds court (with some surprise guest stars always thrown in), taking audiences through his life with the help of multimedia presentations and various songs.
What really sets Up Close and Personal apart from other Strip shows is that no two shows are ever the same, as Newton has so much material to draw from. One night, he’ll talk about his passion for Arabian horse breeding; another night, you’ll hear an anecdote about his appearance on a TV show; and another night, he’ll talk about learning the various instruments he so famously played during his heyday (name the instrument, and odds are Newton can probably pick it up and carry a tune!).
That’s the magic of Wayne Newton; everyone who comes to see his show probably remembers him differently, so varied has his career been. And just as everyone who loves Newton feels a connection to him, that’s reciprocated 10 times over; Newton is well known for coming into the audience and greeting as many people as he can. Because that’s been the man’s life for as long as he can remember. It’s what keeps him going.
Time to experience Vegas history in the flesh.
Flamingo, ticketmaster.com
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