Features

November 1, 2009

Casinos breathe new life into region

While Frank Sinatra Jr. performed at Mount Airy Casino Resort recently, a female concert-goer did kick lines in the aisles as the show closed with “New York, New York,” the signature song the entertainer’s late father, Frank Sr., recorded in 1980 that prompted many a woman to kick her heels in the air.

“He was just so endearing,” resort spokeswoman Wendy Wilson said of Sinatra Jr. “He told old stories about his father being at Mount Airy back in the day.

“These are the shows that the boomer generation appreciates,” she said. “And we’ve been packing them in.”

If it’s true yesterday’s Poconos resorts might be endangered species, a bright side might be the new life a casino-centric resort such as Mount Airy is injecting into the region. The Mount Pocono resort has been packing in crowds to the point it’s opened its own box office.

“Entertainment is becoming so much of a core of what we do now,” Wilson said. “We’ve been selling out shows, and there’s standing room only at times.”

Booking big names like Sinatra Jr. is one of the casino’s goals, Wilson said. Other upcoming acts include Chubby Checker, Richard Simmons, Pam Tillis and Aaron Tippin.

Wilson said casino officials — namely George Toth, president and chief executive officer, and event coordinator Sharon Kopin — look at customer demographics, which includes many women 40 and older, when booking performers.

And with couples still heading to the three Caesars Pocono Resorts for getaways and vacations, nearby Mount Airy Casino Resort, on the site of the former Mount Airy Lodge, is making a name for itself as a bona-fide entertainment venue.

“People stay at other properties, but they’ll come here to gamble, eat at one of the restaurants or come see a show,” Wilson said, noting the resort’s entertainment lineup has improved from when it opened two years ago.

“We did bands all the time, but we didn’t have headliners, so we’re getting more into that side of the entertainment industry now,” Wilson said.

Northeastern Pennsylvania’s other casino, Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, also considers entertainment an important part of its offerings, though so far the big names are not as frequent.

“I think people view gambling as an entertainment experience, so therefore connecting it with an actual live performance is something that’s very logical,” said Jim Wise, vice president of marketing at Mohegan Sun.

On weekend nights, two bars in the Plains Township casino – Breakers and Bar Louie – offer live entertainment, usually local and East Coast-based bands.

But, in an attempt to use the outdoor race-track area, a “Hot Summer Fun” concert series last summer brought stars such as LeAnn Rimes, classic rocker Peter Frampton and legendary rock duo Hall & Oates to Plains Township. Entertainers performed on the track.

Thursday summer patio parties, when tribute bands from all over the Northeast play on the racetrack’s patio, are another pull of the local casino.

Once the weather cools and the Thursday crowds move inside, Wise said, Thursday karaoke contests at Breakers replace the patio parties. A $250 prize is awarded to the nightly winner, who automatically gets a spot in the final contest on Nov. 19 and a shot at $2,500 in prize money.

At Mount Airy, when weather is warmer, Wilson said, the outdoor cabana bar has music – everything from steel-drum bands to rock ’n’ roll groups – booked. Indoor options come from three bars with live entertainment.

Mount Airy’s big-name acts, though, usually perform in Gypsies Nightclub.

“It’s a great stage to play on,” Wilson said. “It’s like going back to the ’50s where you go to see the performers and have your cocktails and have your waitresses wait on you.”

Nightclub or no nightclub, the resort is still a walk down memory lane for many, Wilson explained, noting she’s often heard people make statements like “I remember when I was here and we got married” or “I remember when I was here with my parents.”

“People send us their old photos,” she said, and eventually “we’re going to incorporate a little gallery of all the photos people have sent us from back in the day.”

IF YOU GO

Upcoming entertainment at Mount Airy Casino Resort includes:

Saturday: A Salute to Veterans Weekend with Aaron Tippin

Nov. 28: Chubby Checker

Dec. 5: Country singer Pam Tillis

Jan. 10: Richard Simmons

More info:

www.mountairycasino.com

Tickets: 1-877-682-4791 or visit the box office at the resort.

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