Headliner’s head hurt, report says
Las Vegas headliner legend Paul Anka suffered a head wound that required two staples to close it as the result of a domestic scuffle last month, according to a celebrity Web site.
His wife, Anna, 37, was arrested and booked for felony domestic battery, TMX.com reported Friday. The Ventura County district attorney’s office declined to prosecute the case, the Web site said.
Anka, who was a Las Vegas headliner before his 20th birthday and returned to the Strip regularly throughout his career, was struck in the head by a chunk of ice thrown by his wife on Nov. 28, the report stated. The incident occurred at the family home in Thousand Oaks, Calif., the report said.
In an interview with TMZ, Anka, 67, characterized the altercation as "a stupid little event. It was nothing." He didn’t press charges, he said, but police arrested his wife after seeing he was injured.
Anka told TMZ his wife was stressed out over custody issues with her ex.
Anka, whose hits include "Diana," "You Are My Destiny" and "(You’re) Having My Baby," has a Dec. 19-21 engagement at the Orleans.
THE SCENE AND HEARD
Nevada Ballet Theatre will feature celebrity sleigh riders during the prologue of "The Nutcracker," which runs from Dec. 17-28 at UNLV’s Judy Bayley Theatre. The lineup so far: Clint Holmes, opening night, 8 p.m.; Mary Wilson of the Supremes, Dec. 18, Thursday; Rita Rudner, Friday, Dec. 19, 8 p.m.;
Robin Leach, Sunday, Dec. 21, 4:30 p.m.; Elvis tribute artist Trent Carlini, Tuesday, Dec. 23, 8 p.m.; KVBC morning hosts Kim and Dana Wagner, Wednesday, Dec. 24, 1 p.m.; and Norm Clarke, Sunday, Dec. 28, 1 p.m. Ticket prices begin at $22.50 and can be ordered by calling (702) 895-ARTS (2787) or by visiting www.nevadaballet.com …
Former "Crazy Girl" member Karen Raider has gone from a dancer in a Disney children’s show in Orlando to having her backside memorialized in the "No If, Ands or Butts" bronze and now to Las Vegas entertainment executive.
"Crazy Girls" producer Norbert Aleman has named her a full partner of the long-running show at the Riviera and given her the added responsibilities of general manager of "La Cage Aux Folles starring Frank Marino." She arrived here in 1987, rose to lead dancer of "Crazy Girls" and had her derriere bronzed for posterity in 1997…
Chef Steve Martorano joins ABC late-night host Jimmy Kimmel on Wednesday for a holiday cooking segment featuring South Philly specialities from his Cafe Martorano Italian-American recipes. Martorano has restaurants in Fort Lauderdale and the Rio Las Vegas.
SIGHTINGS
At Stoney’s Rockin’ Country on Thursday: Gov. Jim Gibbons and Idaho Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter, shaking a lot of hands. Otter hit the dance floor with his wife. Also at Stoney’s: country crooner Blake Shelton. …
Mike Tyson, drinking sake with his girlfriend at the all-you-can-eat Tay-Yo Sushi Seafood Buffet on South Eastern in Henderson on Thursday. He made a serious dent in the crab legs and shrimp and stayed for the restaurant’s sake event called Sake Sessions. …
At Hash House A Go Go on Friday after making donations to the KLUC toy drive: the cast of "Jersey Boys" and the UNLV cheer squad …
Brian Vickers, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver and 2003 Nationwide Series champion, having an interview dinner at CatHouse (Luxor) on Thursday with Jamie Little, pit reporter for NASCAR Nationwide Series and Sprint Cup Series coverage on ESPN/ABC …
Cowboy Troy, giving shoutouts on stage at LAX nightclub (Luxor) on Wednesday while enjoying Jagermeister shots with friends…
THE PUNCH LINE
"Hi, it’s O.J. Wanna be cellmates?" — From David Letterman‘s "Top Ten Messages Left On Rod Blagojevich‘s Answering Machine."
Norm Clarke can be reached at (702) 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find additional sightings and more online at www.normclarke.com.
