Last week, Caesars Atlantic City announced that the news that “The Hook,” the groundbreaking comedy-variety show at Caesars Atlantic City, will close on Sept. 6.
When it debuted three Junes ago in its specially-built theater located in what was the Depression-era Warner Theater movie palace (at a reported cost of $40 million — 90 percent of which went into creating the venue), it was the first — and still only — local production following the Las Vegas blueprint of a year-round, weeknight performance schedule.
More skeptical (realistic?) observers predicted that the adults-only program wasn’t going to do a lot of winter-weeknight business, despite it being a lot of fun and the fact that it was housed in an intimate, 420-capcity state-of-the-art theater in which even the farthest seat from the elongated, vertical stage is probably no more than 50 feet from the action.
Besides the always-slow winter months, another issue was that the AyCee casino market isn’t large enough to support a multi-year run of a presentation that essentially never changes (to be sure, “The Hook” regularly changed cast members, but they were always the same type of acts). Perhaps that sameness was a problem; unlike Vegas, which annually has tens of millions of visitors from all over the nation and world, the local market is far more geographically limited.
Is it possible that ‘Hook’ impresario Ross Mollinson and his minions at his Las Vegas-based production company Spiegelworld didn’t do enough research into the Atlantic City market? After all, Our Town’s history since the expansion of legal gaming in surrounding states suggests the same show can’t run for longer than six months (pre-2006, it was rare, but not unheard of: For instance, the “An Evening at La Cage” drag revue at Bally’s Park Place ran multiple nights a week pretty much unchanged for 11 years). Maybe things would have worked out better had two entirely different productions rotated on an every-six-months basis.
But enough of the post-mortem. What is important now is: What comes next?
Not surprisingly, Caesars execs haven’t offered any forward-looking hints. So far, the only official word from the midtown gambling den is the following statement:
“We’re proud of the distinctive entertainment and dining experiences these concepts have brought to our guests, and we thank the talented teams who made them so memorable. Guests still have a full summer ahead to enjoy both.
“This transition marks the start of a new chapter, reflecting our continued focus on innovation and delivering fresh, compelling experiences to The Boardwalk and beyond. With new developments on the horizon, including the upcoming Caesars Beach Club, we remain focused on delivering exciting reasons for guests to return again and again.”
So, in the absence of hard info, let’s do some speculating.
As noted, The Hook (the room shares the show’s name) is a marvelous performance space. As such it would be a shame for it to be permanently shuttered.
The complex’s size and amenities (including Superfrico, which Spiegelworld famously bills as a “psychedelic Italian” eatery) make it special and if, as could happen, the gambling den’s management doesn’t want another production show, it still could be successful.
There is a dearth of rooms this size that are suitable for up-and-coming acts, comedians in particular. In fact, it would be perfect for a (weekends-only) comedy club showcasing artists who have outgrown smaller chuckle huts, but aren’t quite ready to sell 1,000-1,500 tickets at places like the Music Box inside Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa and Sound Waves at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City.
If bands were included, the long, narrow runway-like stage would have to be removed. This would eliminate some of the space’s intimacy, but it would still be a great place for live music — and likely add seating/standing room capacity.
Nonetheless, there’s no reason production shows couldn’t thrive there, especially on a limited schedule; locally-based producer Allen Valentine, whose “’80s Live” finishes up its current every-Sunday-afternoon run at Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City this weekend, has enjoyed years of success with the once-a-week strategy at various AyCee properties.
There is another type of ongoing program that could work without any physical changes to the space — and which would solve the “same-old, same-old” issue: An improvisational-comedy troupe along the lines of Chicago’s Second City or the Los Angeles-and-New-York-based Upright Citizens Brigade. Because of the nature of improv, no two shows can be identical, thus giving the public a reason for repeat visits.
Obviously, we’ll eventually learn what the plans are (plans, incidentally, that are likely to be affected by the impending sale of the Caesars Entertainment conglomerate to Fertitta Entertainment, which owns Golden Nugget Atlantic City). But what’s certain is that the venue is too valuable an asset for it to disappear. Here’s hoping it will remain a part of the local entertainment landscape for years — and decades — to come.
Celebrating the semiquincentennial
Not surprisingly, Our Town’s gambling dens are not letting the nation’s 250th birthday pass unnoticed.
For instance, Ocean Casino Resort is marking the day with daytime and nightlife parties that include an 11 a.m. set by DJ duo Two Friends at the HQ2 Beachclub. AR/CO will also perform.
Resorts Casino-Hotel will honor the nation’s founding in a most American way: Winding up its $250,000 Stars & Stripes Sweepstakes. In addition, the Earth, Wind & Fire tribute band Groove Tonight is scheduled to perform. And the festivities conclude with the annual North Beach fireworks display beginning at 9:30 p.m.
And speaking of bombs bursting in air, at the other end of the Boardwalk, Tropicana (which will offer pyrotechnics every other Saturday through the summer) will end the night with a 10 p.m. fireworks extravaganza.
Chuck Darrow has spent more than 40 years writing about Atlantic City casinos.
