The Scintas (pronounced "Shin-tahs") have moved into The NightClub at the Las Vegas Hilton with a year's contract and a history of success on the East Coast in Buffalo, Cleveland, Detroit and Chicago. Buffalo's loss, which is their hometown, is definitely Las Vegas' gain.

The Scintas are fulfilling a lifelong dream of bringing their high energy, variety act to the "Entertainment Capitol." The group of four is made up of three Scintas' siblings; eldest brother Joe, Christine and Frank, plus Peter O'Donnell the "Token Irishman" and drummer who fits in perfectly.

The NightClub is an intimate 375-seat venue that suits the Scintas performances. The eldest brother Joe plays bass guitar, does imitations and plays straight man to his bother Frank. The show's ring leader is Frank who primarily plays keyboards, performs the majority of impersonations, and embellishes each show playing other instruments like the banjo.

Christine is featured a couple times during each show. Her voice is overwhelming like an Ethel Merman. She belts a tune to perfection and as well as any major recording artist.

The Scintas have been performing 22 years and worked with stars such as Ray Charles, Rip Taylor, AL Martino, The Temptations, Foster Brooks and even Clint Holmes who is currently headlining at Harrah's. None of their nightly, except Monday, 8 or 9 p.m. shows are the same because they have so much material. Check out this "must see" group on their webpage www.scinta.com! Tickets to see the Scintas are $23, call 1-800-222-5361 or 702-732-5755.

The star of ABC's hit television show, "The Hughleys," will take a break and return to the Top of the Riv ballroom for three performances, May 26-28. D.L. Hughley has two critically acclaimed HBO specials under his belt and many TV credits. Tickets are $30 plus taxes and fee, call 702-794-9433 or visit www.theriviera.com.

Sometimes a show that's truly a hidden treasure comes along that blows you away; however, the trick is getting audiences in to see the show in the first place. Lorna Luft's concert act entitled, "Songs My Mother Taught Me - A Celebration of the Music of Judy Garland" is just such an experience. No one is disappointed if they take in the show. Most folks like myself are drawn because they are Judy Garland fans; yet you walk away a Lorna Luft fan as well.

Luft did her tribute show at the Desert Inn in March and returns April 25-28. The multimedia concept show includes a 15-piece orchestra, slides, incredible video clips and the original Garland musical arrangements. Luft's husband, Olin Freeman, is the piano accompanist and conducts the Desert Inn Orchestra.

The first video clip of Judy Garland singing "Lorna," written for her daughter, with lyrics by Johnny Mercer sets the proper mood. Among the many emotional and moving moments is when the legendary Garland joins her youngest daughter on stage via a giant movie screen and they do a duet.

Luft's tribute show is a treat and should not be missed. Tickets are $25 plus tax and gratuity, call 1-800-634-6909. Don Rickles will follow Luft at The Desert Inn, April 27-30.

The Supremes, minus Mary Wilson an original member of the trio, will make Las Vegas the last stop on a 23-show tour. The leader will be Diana Ross with Lynda Laurence and Scherrie Payne, who became Supremes after Ross left the group 30 years ago. The tour will begin in Philadelphia on June 14 and ticket prices will range between $39 and $125.

For nearly 20 years, the Imperial Palace's Antique Auto Collection has operated as a museum. Things changed last February when the stactic display turned into an interactive showroom where vehicles could be bought, sold and traded. The cars in the collection are owned by various people and every one is for sale - at the right price.

Some examples of what is on sale include a 1914 Detroit Electric Model 46 Roadster for $35,000, a 1964 Shelby Cobra 289 Competition for $195,000, a 1929 Duesenberg J. Model for $1.45 million, and a pink-and-white 1955 Dodge LaFemme for $50,000. The most expensvie car is the 1937 Bugatti Type 57SC Corsica, a one-of-a-kind model for $2 million. The total value of all the cars in the collection exceeds $120 million.

Interested parties can view the cars on the Internet at www.autocollections.com, The cars will not be sold sight unseen.

Sad news, Cranberry World West after five years in operation closed its doors to the popular tourist attraction in Henderson. The free visitor center featured information on cranberry production, a view of the manufacturing plant and free samples for visitors. The gift shop had exceptional logo and cranberry-themed items.

More sad news, the Palace Court restaurant at Caesars Palace closed after 25 years. It is another victim of a massive expansion plan at the Strip hotel.

Unfortunately Nordstrom department store will not be the anchor store in the 1.2 million-square-foot shopping mall being built between Mandalay Bay and the Luxor since the agreement expired. Nordstrom's still claims they want to have a store in Las Vegas.

TOP OF NEXT COLUMN

Las Vegas' only water-theme adventure park on The Strip, Wet `n Wild, will open on April 29, for its 16th season. Located next to the Sahara Hotel, Wet `n Wild features more than a dozen rides and attractions, a large children's water playground and a picnic plaza featuring sand volleyball, bungee trampoline, beach games, and grassy areas with picnic tables. After-hours group parties can also be booked.

Wet `n `Wild's 2000 season runs April 29-Oct. 1. General admission tickets are $25.95 (48" plus), $19.95 (under 48"), 1/2 off price of all-day admission for seniors over 55 and children under 3 are free. Season passes are $95 and $55 for seniors over 55.

Park hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., April 29-30, May 6-7, 13-14, May 20 - June 2, Aug. 21-Sept. 10, Sept. 16-17, 23-24 and Sept. 30-Oct. 1; 10 .m. to 8 p.m., June 3-Aug. 20; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday during July. For more information call 1-800-565-0786, 702-871-7811 or visit www.wetnwild.com.

Entertainer Jimmy Hopper will bring his four-octave vocal range to the Luxor's nightclub showroom Ra beginning on May 2. Backed by a five-piece group, Hopper interprets pouplar songs and performs original music. He takes audiences on a musical journey with artists as varied as Sinatra and Sting to Beethoven and Bocelli.

Tickets to see Hopper are $32.50 plus tax, call 702-262-4400. Show times are 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

International singing superstar Johnny Mathis will return to the Las Vegas Hilton Theater to perform 9 p.m. shows on May 12 and 13. Mathis arrived on the music scene in the mid-50s. Since then he has amassed more than 60 gold- and platinum-album awards for his worldwide record sales. He has released nearly 100 albums in America alone.

In 1958, only two years after signing him, Colombia Records released "Johnny's Greatest Hits," the first album of its kind. That LP spent an unprecedented nine-and-a-half years on Billboard's Top 100 compilation album chart, a record that still stands to this day.

Tickets to see Mathis are $65 and $55, call 1-800-222-5361 or 702-732-5755.

The Grammy Award-winning Earth Wind & Fire, a force in the recording industry since the `70s, will headline at Caesars Palace May 11-14.

Known for uplifting lyrics, athletic choreography, and the use of a kalimba (African thumb piano) and horn section, Earth Wind & Fire have produced 34 Top 40 hits between 1973 and 1983, including seven No. 1 songs. The band was inducted int the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on March 6. They are currently working on their 23rd album, tentatively scheduled for release in last summer.

Tickets to see Earth Wind & Fire are $60 on Thursday and Sunday, $65 on Friday and Saturday with tax included plus a $3 ticket-handling fee, call 1-800-445-4544 or 702-731-7333.

Master magician Lance Burton will be performing his full live show in Japan for the first time...May 3-5. His show at the Monte Carlo will be closed from Saturday, April 29 through Monday, May 8.

Roger Waters, founding member of the legendary rock band Pink Floyd and a critically-acclaimed solo artist, will perform at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Saturday, June 17. Tickets priced at $35 and $50 are on sale, call 702-474-4000.

"Splash" at the Riviera will switch to all but one show a week being topless from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. Running from May 28, through Sept. 3, only the 7:30 p.m. performance on Sunday night will be covered and allow children under 18 into the show down to the age of five.

Last month principal photography completed shooting at the Riviera Hotel for a new Kevin Costner picture, "3000 Miles To Graceland." Scheduled to open prior to Christmas, the film also stars Christian Slater, Kurt Russell, Bokeem Woodbine, David Arquette and his wife Courteney Cox Arquette.

The movie starts with the stars pulling off a casino cage heist at the Riviera amidst an Elvis Presley Convention. After a gun battle, they escape on the Riviera's roof to a waiting helicopter. The plot centers around the adventures that follow the pursuit of the "bad guys" across the country.

For tennis fans, the 7th annual Stacy Darling Charity Tennis Classic is coming up. It will be held at The Sports Club Las Vegas located at 2100 Olympic Ave. in Henderson. The Doubles matches take place April 27-30, followed by the Singles/Mixed Doubles matches May 4-7. Last year, over 650 entrants participated in this USTA and NTA sanctioned event, making it the largest amateur tournament in Nevada.

The public is invited to a Mardi Gras Party at the Sports Club Las Vegas on Saturday, April 29, from 6 to 10 p.m. for a donation of $10. The party will feature entertainer Tommy Rocker, food and raffle prizes. For information call 702-920-8322 or visit www.stacydarlingtennis.com.

World renowned master artist Christian Riese Lassen, best known for his popular underwater marine art, will make a special appearance at Galerie Lassen at The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace on Saturday, April 29, at 9 p.m. He will unveil his latest work of art, "Tranquil Moment"(28" in diameter costing $140,000) and autograph copies of his newest full-color hardback book "The Art of Lassen Secret Path" featuring a compilation of images by the artist.

This annual special event will also feature the Hawaiian Tropic contestants. Lassen created the 25th anniversary label on a limited edition number of tanning products and will serve as a judge at the Hawaiian Tropic Pageant. For more information call Paul Olson, gallery director 702-731-6900.

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