Some of the best times I've spent in Las Vegas have involved one of my favorite comedians, Pete Barbutti. I haven't seen Pete lately, onstage or backstage, but many years ago, I used to visit him both places. He's a great storyteller and a very funny man. One evening, I sat in his dressing room at the old Paddlewheel and heard anecdote after anecdote up to the moment when he had to go out and perform. I followed him and watched from the wings.
It was a terrible night — a rainy Sunday during one of those weeks when the town was dead. The Paddlewheel wasn't doing so well even on good nights which is why it ain't there no mo. It was sold and renamed, sold and renamed, sold and renamed, etc. Last time I looked, the building was called the Clarion but give it a few months. It'll be something else before long. Anyway, Pete went out and there were about ten people in the house and they weren't laughing at anything. I mean, nothing.
After about the tenth joke was greeted with the faint sound of slot machines out in the casino, Pete turned to the audience and said, "Excuse me for one moment." He turned, walked over to me in the wings and whispered, "I'd tell Security to throw them out but I have the feeling Security threw them in here." Then he went back out and worked a little harder…and by God, he finally got most of them laughing. An amazing comedic feat.
I've linked before to Kliph Nesteroff's interviews. He goes around and talks with comedians — some you've heard of, some you haven't — and posts these wonderful conversations. They're all worth your time but I wanted to note that he's just completed a four-parter with Mr. Barbutti. Here's a link to Part One and after you devour that, go on to Part Two, Part Three and Part Four. Then check out some of Kliph's other interrogations which you can see listed in the margins of his pages. Great stuff.