For some reason, I'm fascinated by ads for old Vegas showrooms, especially from back in the days when you could pay what now seems like next-to-nothing and see not only a headliner but two acts you'd heard of. Most showrooms stopped featuring headliners during the eighties and the ones that kept them either got rid of opening acts or booked cheap (and presumably low-paid) performers for that slot. These days, you usually get one guy and if he's a comedian, there's not even an orchestra on the premises.
Some of the ticket prices strike me as rather high and inconsistent. George Carlin gets $54.50 a seat (does he still have Dennis Blair opening for him?). Elton John is $100-$250. Jerry Seinfeld charges $75-$150. Tom Jones is $70 and Dennis Miller is $79. Howie Mandel is $60. Ray Romano tickets are $90. Don Rickles, Steve & Eydie, David Spade, Damon Wayans, Hall & Oates and Dana Carvey all want $70 a seat. And Tony Bennett is about to play a limited engagement at the Golden Nugget where tickets will start at $200 each. Of all these, the best entertainer is probably Carlin.
I don't know what it cost to see Perry Como with the Doodletown Pipers opening for him but it was a lot cheaper than most of these today, even adjusting for inflation. I wish I'd been going to Vegas in those days. Even in the eighties when I began regular visits, I caught some pretty wonderful shows for pretty reasonable prices.