Is It True That Someone Recorded All the Shows at Circus Maximus?

A few years ago I read somewhere, probably LVA, that “...somebody’s son(?), or relative, had inherited all of the audiotapes from Caesars Palace showroom for 20+ years, and was going to release them. That lineup would have been everyone, from Rickles to Sinatra. Never heard a thing, can’t find a thing. Any word from you, the Vegas experts?

Well, we looked through all of our archives (newsletter, QoDs, Vegas News, etc.) and didn't come up with a thing.

However, we knew who might have heard something about it, or at least know someone who knew something. We contacted Pat Christenson, author of our book Rock Vegas -- Live Music Explodes in the Neon Desert. Those of you familiar with this epic history of Vegas live entertainment won't be surprised to hear that, sure enough, Pat, who's spent more than three decades in the music business in Las Vegas and knows just about everyone there is to know, tracked down the story.

He tells us, "Yes, someone who worked at the Circus Maximus Showroom at Caesars Palace in the late seventies and early eighties recorded many of the shows performed there.

"Who it was is irrelevant.

"First of all, the recordings were all what's known as 'show tapes' -- very low quality, done on the equivalent of a personal cassette recorder. The guy who recorded the tapes wanted them for himself and did keep them. But the artists also used them to do analyses, to look at pieces of the show and how they held together and went over. The tapes also helped the artists rehearse, in particular the choreography of the shows.

"Second, no rights were involved, so even though the son did inherit the tapes, they're essentially worthless in terms of commercial value. The artists could use the tapes, so they allowed them to be made, but the content is all proprietary. They're not publishable. They'll never be released. Not even on YouTube."

So there you have it. True story, though Pat believes the time frame was more like four to eight years, rather than 20+, and there's little to no chance that anyone other than the owner of the tapes, and close friends and family, will ever hear them.

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Jahnke Sep-03-2019

Caesars Palace Showroom Recordings

In case anyone is interested, several years ago I purchased a CD at a flea market.  It was entitled "Live at Caesars Palace" and was produced by Caesars Palace and Neon Tonic Records. The executive producer was listed as Ethan C. Crimmins.  It featured songs from Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Andy Williams, Lena Horne, Keely Smith, Duke Ellington and Ann-Margret.

Deke Castleman Sep-04-2019

This in via email from Chris

I wouldn’t be so sure the public will never hear the Circus Maximus recordings. Copyrights do expire.

Seeing as some of these performers have been dead for 20-30 (maybe longer) years we might not be so far away from some of these copyrights expiring. 

It’s not inconceivable that we could hear these shows some day.

Question of the Day - 03 September 2019

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