Wayne Newton started out at the Fremont Hotel in 1959. I started out there also. Wayne and his brother Jerry were a act in the Carnival Room, a lounge just off the casino.

They were about 17 or 18 years old. They could not even come in to casino. After each show they would stand on the side of the lounge and meet and greet everyone.

I got to know him then. We would talk during by breaks from dealing craps and 21. They worked for Eddie Torries. I'll let Wayne tell you who he is.

The sang and played different instruments although it became apparent that Wayne was the most versatile and easily the most talented of the two.

In fact, Wayne was fantastic. He sang, played different instruments but even more importantly he really cared about and did all he could to make sure the audience was really entertained. He was so young but so seasoned in pleasing a audience.

They did great business. They became a "thing" downtown and before long all the locals were comming in to see them.

Jackie Gleason gave them a break.

Bobby Darin helped Wayne get going with his first hit and taught him a lot.

Anyway, Wayne ends up starring on the Strip in the mainrooms and becomes the talk of the town.

He worked for us at the Sands and did fantastic business. They lined up around the casino and out the door waiting to get into see him.

When Howard Hughes owned the Sands, Wayne was the major star we had.

Those stories about his standing ovations are true. I have never seen a show (and I've seen over 50 of them) or heard of a show he did, where he did not get a standing ovation at the end. Yes more than Sammy and Frank and Dean. This guy just had a show designed to end with everyone on their feet. Everytime and every night. Amazing.

To answer another question I get a lot. Which entertainers drew the most people etc.

The entertainer who got us in the casino the most business was Frank Sinatra. Nobody is even close. When Frank was at the Sands it was wall to wall action. Big players and big action.

The entertainer who drew the most people to the town was Elvis Presley. When he was in town, the whole town was booked solid. All hotel rooms were taken. Not much casino action but a full town.

The entertainer who played to the most people in all his years here was Wayne Newton. No one even close. There were some years he would be in the main room 35-40 weeks a year and did SRO business at every show.

He, like a lot of other entertainers (Sammy), did not take good care of himself. He worked till his voice and body gave out. Because of this and other problems he was forced into slowing down.

He is back at work and is presently playing Vegas and Branson, Mi.

If you ever get a chance to see him, do it. If he is anything like he used to be, you will see one great show.