A Blast From the Past, Las Vegas Sun, Sept. 26, 1996

A blast from Vegas’ past Lisa Sciortino Thursday, Sept. 26, 1996 | 11:59 a.m. This isn't your typical history lesson. Glimpses into Las Vegas' star-studded past, back to the days when the Rat Pack ruled Strip showrooms. Who? That's the reaction Dave Burton expects -- and usually gets -- when telling youngsters about the city's early days. During the '60s and '70s, the song-and-dance man shared stages around town with these forefathers of Las Vegas entertainment, as well as other celebrities -- comedian Jack Benny and singers Pearl Bailey and Lena Horne among others. Now he's sharing his memories with Clark County students. Earlier this year, Burton began making history-tinged presentations -- based largely on his own entertainment career -- at elementary, middle and high schools around the valley. "It's part of the history of our town," says the sixty-something Burton, who can sing in 16 languages and performed in hotels along the Strip regularly from the mid-'50s through the '70s. "That era is responsible for making this town what it is today, for bringing in all of the people and making it bigger and bigger. "Everybody's always asking, 'What was Vegas like?' They don't get that anymore." Past midnight these days, "the casino is dead," he says. "There's no music, there's nothing happening. People don't understand it. They should have an inkling of what went on in this town." Linda Mercier agrees. The Grant Sawyer Middle School geography teacher recently had Burton address her eighth-grade classes. "I don't think these kids can get enough local history," she says. "Even though they live here, they have no idea who came here to play." Burton's hour-long presentation of cute stories is punctuated by rare photos, video clips and foot-tappin' clarinet medleys played by the "King of Las Vegas Lounges" himself. "He worked the room," Mercier says. "He told them about the people he knew. He sang a little song. I think the kids really enjoyed it." "I try to regiment my routine, give them a little background," Burton says, who's performed at 30 schools so far. "I try to get to the clarinet fast. They don't hear that instrument anymore, (so) they're really listening, they really appreciate it." Even if they don't always know who Burton's talking about. "Have you heard of Ella Fitzgerald?" he asked a fidgety, preteen audience at the Hebrew Academy recently. Silence. How about Liberace? "Oh, he's a piano player," one child calls out. Getting warmer. So he pops in a cherished videotape of himself the doing the ol' soft-shoe and singing as a smiling George Burns looks on. And they're hooked! "I give them stories, experiences I've had," Burton explains. "I not only lecture, I entertain them." But there's a moral to this nostalgia: Chase your dreams. Burton holds himself up as an example of persistence paying off. The New York native suffered from polio as a lad. With the odds stacked against him, he followed his love of music and saved up for a saxophone that he performed at birthday parties and bar mitzvahs before landing in Las Vegas and beginning his lounge career in '55. "I didn't know where I was going, but I was doing what I liked to do," he says. "I try to implore these kids to listen (and realize), 'Hey, this guy wasn't handed everything.' "I give them a speech ... about how lucky they are. The motive is to study, stay in school, pursue your goals but have fun doing it; enjoy it and you'll have no trouble at all."