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In an article discussing the Westin (formerly the Maxim), General Manager Lezlie Young mentioned growing up in Las Vegas and seeing advertisements for performers at the Maxim like Red Skelton and Cook E. Jarr. Cook E. Jarr — now that's a flash from the past! How long was he a Las Vegas performer and whatever happened to him?
Cook E. Jarr’s real name is Anthony Pettine and he’s a native of Philadelphia. He trained as an auto and aircraft mechanic before launching a showbiz career as a singer and band front man. He was a fixture in Las Vegas for decades, the ultimate lounge lizard, the kind of cheesy performer Vegas visitors expected to see in the ’80s, ’90s, and even (as a throwback) well into the 21st century.
Cook E. Jarr first appeared in Las Vegas with his backup band the Krums (guitar and keyboards) in Nero’s Nook at Caesars Palace (which become Cleopatra’s Barge) in 1969 on the days off of the house act, the Checkmates. But he was about 10 years ahead of his time and didn’t go over at all. Caesars paid off his contract and sent him packing back to the East Coast, where he established himself in Atlantic City and performed there throughout the ’70s.
In 1982, the Cookster returned to Vegas for a stint at the Sands; he planned to stay for the two weeks of his gig, but he never left. Over the next 30-odd years, he performed in the lounges at the Silver Slipper, Dunes, Holiday (now Harrah’s), El Rancho, Continental (now Silver Sevens), Tropicana, Bally’s, Caesars again, MGM Grand, even the Tap House banquet room, right after Fellini’s opened next door.
The Continental and Harrah’s issued commemorative chips in his honor.
Looking like a cross between a young Buddy Hackett and Moe of the Three Stooges, Jarr’s trademarks were his helmet hairstyle (thanks to cans of Aquanet), a chestful of chains, customized jeans (most with his name embroidered down one leg), and a perpetual tan so deep that he looked like he’d just returned from a visit to the surface of the sun.
For most of his career, he sang along to pre-recorded backing tracks of an astonishing variety and styles of music. His stage presence was memorable, ad-libbing, kibbitzing with the audience and passersby, deprecating his self, particularly his daily sports-betting habit, and generally regaling the crowd with Jarrisms. He was also known for his sound effects, such as dog barks and engine revs. At every performance, he draped himself in an American flag and sang at least one patriotic song. And of course, his tip jar, “Feed the Jarr,” was legendary: a cookie jar in the shape of a slot machine.
Cook E. started to fade away around 2008, but his career was re-energized in 2009 by Jimmy Kimmel, who grew up in Las Vegas and aired him singing Nelly’s “Hot in Here” at Harrah’s. Subsequently, Jarr appeared at Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall (now the Cromwell), then Harrah’s, and finally Paris for a year or so between 2015 and 2016, which was, as far as we can tell, the last time he performed in Vegas. We figure him to be into his 70s by now, so we suspect he just retired.
If anyone has any more recent information about Cook E., please let us know.