Mickey Finn, still a showman

The entertainer brings his Variety Show to Pasco-Hernando Community College's Performing Arts Center on Sunday.

By BARBARA L. FREDRICKSEN

© St. Petersburg Times,
published November 2, 2001

Mickey Finn was 8 years old when he started his first band, The Cub Pack 68 Ensemble. At age 21, he opened a San Diego night spot he called Mickey Finn's and kept it open for 14 years, when he left to do a summer show for NBC television.

From there, he went to Las Vegas, where his 420 straight weeks at Caesar's Palace still holds the record for being the longest running show in the city's history.

Sunday, Mickey Finn's Variety Show will be at Pasco-Hernando Community College's Performing Arts Center for one show.

Finn himself plays the piano, as does another member of the group, "Mean" Gene Kean. Kathy O'Reilly plays banjo, and Miss Kitty -- also known as "Red Hot Mamma" -- sings and provides the laughs.

Finn has toured from Canada to Czechoslovakia to Australia, has played at conventions, produced, directed and performed in shows for presidents Nixon and Reagan, made more than 40 national TV appearances, including stints with Andy Williams, Jonathan Winters, Merv Griffin, John Davidson, Dinah Shore and Jerry Lewis. He has performed at Disneyland and played the main showrooms at Caesar's Palace, Aladdin, Union Plaza, Sahara, Harrahs, Resorts International and Holiday Casino.

"This show is a real crowd pleaser," said David Barzelay, executive director of the PHCC Foundation, which sponsors the show.

Future shows in the series are Silver Bells and the Diamonds on Dec. 9; Bobby Mercer's "100 Years of American Music" on Jan. 6; 42nd Street Orchestra in "A Swinging Affair" on Jan. 19; "Let's Go to the Hop" with Gurl and Girl on Jan. 26; "Dancing on Common Ground" on Feb. 3; Stars of the Cotton Club on Feb. 10; Mallku New Age South American musicians on Feb. 16; "New Odyssey" music and comedy on March 16; and "The Executives" music, comedy and impressions on March 31.

All shows are at 2 p.m.

At a glance

WHAT: The Mickey Finn Show

WHERE: Pasco-Hernando Community College Performing Arts Center, 10230 Ridge Road, New Port Richey

WHEN: 2 p.m. Sunday

TICKETS: $12 to $16, reserved seating. Call (727) 816-3322. The ticket office will also be open one hour before the show.

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