We received this question a few weeks ago but threw it on a back burner, since we weren't aware of any news. We should have known better.
We really don't like to be the bearers of bad tidings (okay, yes, every now and then there's someone we figure has it coming to them and we can't help but revel in a little poetic justice being meted out, but essentially we consider our mission as being to inform and entertain); however, with Mr Las Vegas, it's been tough finding that silver lining of late. For Wayne Newton, it sure seems like it never rains but it pours, although to the best of our knowledge his principal "crimes" would be some dubious plastic surgery, a gravity-defying coiffeur, an act that was distinctly cheesy even in its prime, and the kind of money-management skills that make Tori Spelling and Michael Jackson look like Warren Buffett.
We don't think we've ever heard a nasty accusation leveled at Newton (aside from unpaid debts), who's a famous animal lover, a self-appointed custodian of Las Vegas entertainment history, and one of those rare entertainers who doesn't seem to take himself too seriously. At worst, Newton seems to be what most kindly could be described as naive and out of touch with reality -- the more we think about it, in fact, the more apparent the parallels with Jacko become: showbiz careers that began in childhood; the whimsical private estates with their exotic menageries; the shared fondness for a life filled with expensive "toys" that evidently were beyond either performer's means; lousy financial advice/acumen; and, it could be argued, performing careers extended beyond their shelf life. Oh yes, and not forgetting that plastic surgery).
However, while Michael Jackson -- love him or hate him -- was undeniably one of those unique talents that comes along once in a blue moon and changes the landscape of popular entertainment forever, Wayne Newton's fame seems to have stemmed more from being in the right place, with the right persona, at the right time, than from any earth-shaking raw talent -- he was the mainstream answer to the more outrageous Elvis, and his suave style, perennially inoffensive and saccharintastic pop-song repertoire (can anyone out there actually name more than two or three Wayne Newton "hits" without running to Wikipedia?), and general "nice guy" reputation somehow struck a chord that launched a career, initially on its own merit and then later, thanks to Newton's sense of humor and capacity for self-effacement, sustained to some degree thanks to nostalgia and the same cliched cheeziness expected of Las Vegas that also kept Folies Bergere and Jubilee!* performing long after the era they celebrated was long gone.
Anyhow, that's quite enough philosophizing from us. Returning to the facts, already in November 2010 we were cataloguing Waynes woes. To quote a QoD from back then:
As with the city itself, things have not been easy for "Mr Las Vegas" of late. Money problems, a failing voice, family crisis, union disputes, legal battles, early elimination from "Dancing with the Stars"... The list goes on. For anyone who hasn't been following the news over the past year or so, here's a recap.
Back in September of 2009, we confirmed the long-circulating rumor that Wayne Newton would be returning to the Las Vegas Strip and celebrating his 50th year performing in Sin City with a residency at the Tropicana. Newton's vocal problems had already been an issue for many years, and the somewhat morbidly titled Once Before I Go debuted October 14 to distinctly mixed reviews.
An ongoing dispute with the Las Vegas chapter of the Musicians Union landed the Wayner on their "Unfair Musician" list and prompted them to post some pretty sad audio clips from his shows on a website. Still, even if his voice has seen better days, those reviews we read recognized how Newton was still one of Las Vegas' last great entertainers.
Money-wise, having bounced back from one bankruptcy in 1999, Wayne Newton apparently has renewed financial woes. Parallel to the new show opening, came a bizarre story about his private jet. In January of this year, Oakland County International Airport sued him for over $60,000 in unpaid parking fees and revealed that the Fokker F28, which was once worth over $2 million, was rotting, full of black mold, and only good for scrap. It was eventually retrieved from the airport and the last we heard was parked on Wayne's lawn in Las Vegas.
It was next reported on February 23 that Newton was being sued by former friend and Speedway Motorsports chairman and CEO Bruton Smith, over a three-year-old $3.35 million loan that the Strip performer had apparently failed to repay. The loan was secured by Newton's 38-acre Las Vegas residence, the Casa de Shenandoah (on Sunset at Pecos) ... and his private jet.
Two days later Clark County Sheriff's process servers were spotted at the ranch trying to serve the performer in connection with a case brought by his former pilot, Monty Ward, who in 2009 won a judgement for almost a half-million dollars in back wages. Security personnel present at the residence refused to accept service of the documents, however, and although rumors circulated that his home was at risk of foreclosure, nothing seems to have come of this and Newton and his wife are still residing at Casa de Shenandoah.
This brings us to the next headache in Newton's recent life, which revolves around his desire to offer guided tours of his home and 38-acre ranch, including his wildlife and car collections. He also hopes to shuttle in "Wayniacs" from the Strip to a Las Vegas-themed museum and movie theater planned for a 10-acre parcel across the street, purchased by his business partner. The proposal has been met by vocal resistance from the singer's neighbors, however, all of whom oppose the project and what they fear its impact will be on area traffic and house prices. Two hundred people turned out to attend a recent planning meeting and express their opposition to the project; Newton and his wife Kathleen were there to greet everyone personally and attempt to relieve their concerns, but to date hostility to the project among the neighbors remains.
Worst of all, in early 2012, it was reported that 33-year-old Erin Newton, the singer's daughter, had been hospitalized in critical condition when she suffered multiple organ failure likely due to the pregnancy-related illness HELLP syndrome. She was in the third trimester at the time and a baby boy was delivered by C-section, when Erin went into a coma. Doctors at the time told her father that she likely would not recover, which not surprisingly devastated the singer, who canceled a string of his shows at the Tropicana to be at his daughter's bedside in St. Louis. However, after two weeks, fate finally smiled on Wayne and Erin miraculously emerged from the coma and asked for a glass of water. To the best of our knowledge, she's been fine ever since.
Still, Newton's tribulations were far from behind him, sadly. The Shenandoah saga rumbled on acrimoniously until earlier this year, when the ill-fated project filed for bankruptcy protection. Following approval of its financial reorganization plan, which was obtained in June, CSD LLC, the Newtons' former partner announced that the project would finally go ahead -- but minus the singer's memorabilia collection, his exotic menagerie, and in fact minus Wayne himself, who was forced to move to a different property with his wife Kathleen.
Fast forward a few months to the latest sorry state of affairs and the fact that the developer has now abandoned any plans for any kind of theme park or attraction and has instead placed Mr Las Vegas' beloved home of nearly two decades on the market for a staggering $70 million. If the price tag sounds high, bear in mind that should you have the available funds and the desire to own a huge slice of Las Vegas history, this modest family home comes equipped with a 3,747-square-foot main house (featuring, inexplicably, only three bedrooms but no less than seven bathrooms), plus seven additional homes, 53 stables, an equestrian pool and acres of corrals, a zoo (currently vacant, which is even more ironic given the recent sorry demise of the official Las Vegas Zoo), a car garage with seven double doors, a jumbo jet terminal, a gaming room, tennis court, and multiple pools.
Now, to add insult to injury, yesterday we learned that the Newtons' 65-foot yacht apparently sank last Friday, stern first, while moored in its covered slip at Lake Mead. Why the 60-ton vessel took on water has yet to be determined, but the last we heard, courtesy of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, it's still submerged in 45 feet of water, awaiting a salvage crew. According to his sister and PR rep, it had been Wayne's pride and joy, savored on weekly weekend trips throughout the summer, so he must be heartbroken. The only good news is that Wayne and his wife are currently out of the country on vacation (we figure they sure could use one) and no one was on board at the time.
Still, Wayne Newton is nothing if not resilient and he and Kathleen aren't living in a cardboard box, but rather a $3 million, two-story, 9,145-square-foot mansion at the corner of East Oquendo and South Gateway roads -- just a couple of miles from Shenandoah. While it may feel pokey by their standards, the new home features a wine cellar, a movie theater, and enough space for all his animals.
In addition, according to his official website, the singer's still performing, with upcoming dates scheduled for Little Creek Casino Resort, Shelton, WA (10/27) and Cache Creek Casino Resort, Brooks, CA (11/16). The site also talks prominently of a two-part world tour, scheduled to hit (and we quote), Australia, New Zealand, etc. (etc? Tasmania? Antarctica?) between January 19 and February 20, followed by a second tranche set for April 14 - 26 to take in Italy, Spain and Portugal. HOWEVER, before you international fans get too excited, we did a double-take and realized that this tour says it's due to take place in 2011, leaving us thoroughly confused and the Wayner perhaps in need of a new webmaster, although that's likely the least of his worries right now. We wish him and his fans the best for the two U.S. dates, which are taking place in 2013 (we checked), and for the future. Elvis and Jacko may both have left the buildinhg, but Mr Las Vegas goes on, and on.
*See recent "Today's News" item regarding a radical renovation in the works for the Strip's longest-running and most-sequined spectacular.
