In the Casino, he was a very difficult guy to handle. He was always "on". Once in a while, he would take a shot at getting behind the table and deal 21. He usually started out well. He is a talented guy and could learn anything fast. He would get going, settle down and be doing well. Although would be doing more "entertaining" than dealing.

He would draw a crowd every time. Along the way there was always some little incident that would make the shift in him that started trouble. Like, a full table and some guy would correct him on a total. There would be 4 or 5 cards in the hand and Jerry would have it wrong. This could happen to anyone but with Jerry, it would always start something. The guy would say "No, I beat you. I have 18." or whatever. Jerry would go into a routine and act like he was hurt or confused and just kidding around BUT then still take the person's chips. And from there on he would be out of control. He'd just start taking anyone's chips. Maybe just pay someone no matter what he had. All the time laughing and being funny. It was interesting to watch. At times it bordered on being mean and spiteful. If it was anyone but Jerry there would be people asking for their money back. But no one ever did. It was an amazing display of crowd control.

Jerry would be insulting one person, one second and then making the next person feel like a million dollars. It was in some ways, creative genius. In the casino, we deal in handling people so we we had a weird respect for his skill. He'd come to the guy's hand that corrected him and just take his money THEN give it to a nice lady who was learning how to play. He would look right at the guy he took the money from and say to the whole crowd. "What a nice man - He wants the lady to win too." The guy would be steaming but too embarrassed to say anything.

So when Jerry dealt, it was "showtime". There was times I would have to take the Green and Black chips off the table or we would lose everything.

I rarely stepped in on this. No matter what he was doing the crowd would be with him. Sometimes he'd start in on me. He was into cameras and was a expert with them. He'd get a new one, show it to me. Ask me if I wanted the old one or one like it. I'd say "sure." Then when I had to get him off the table or correct something, he'd announce to the crowd around the table "Oh don't pay any attention to Eddie, he's always begging me to give him a camera. I won't give him one. He's a bad boy. Do you want me to stay here and deal? I'll do what- ever you say?" Of course you know their answer. Jerry was a master at what he did.

But all in all, I look back at those times and realize why we at The Sands, were the talk of the town. And the country. Can you imagine the stories the people who witnessed these things told?

Jerry was difficult to handle in the casino, during those years but in the showroom he was and is a phenomenal entertainer. At The Sands we had a broad spectrum of talent. This was needed to get all types to come to Vegas and play. Those that loved Jerry, really did. Many would plan their yearly stay with us to coincide with Jerry being there.

And he put on one great show. A mixture of vaudeville and a nightclub act in one. He was a lot like Sammy, in that, he did whatever it took to get to them. If we had a show going long, we knew Jerry was either just having such a great time and didn't want to get off or he hadn't got the audience to a peak and was going to pull out all stops until he did.

Of course, the people that saw these shows had one of the great entertainment experiences of their lives.

I ran into Jerry in a supermarket a few years ago, here in Vegas. He looked so happy. He seemed relaxed and contented. I had never seen him like that. I hear he is now touring with a Broadway show - Damn Yankee's and getting rave reviews. From what he used to talk about in the late hours in the casino about his father and that he felt he never really achieved "legit" status, I would bet that for Jerry, starring in a Broadway show and being such a hit, must be a really personal validation for him.

He deserves it. A son of bitch at times in the casino but truly one of the greatest talents to ever walk the Copa Room boards.