To know, know, know him is to love, love, love him.
That was the message sent, via flash mob, to resort pioneer and “Father of Las Vegas” Kirk Kerkorian on Wednesday on the event of his 95th birthday. At what was ostensibly planned to be a small celebration at the Beverly Hills Hotel, a favorite Kerkorian hangout, his girlfriend, Joan Dangerfield, summoned a flash mob of a couple dozen dancers from Flash Mob America to perform a surprise number for the bemused billionaire.
Dangerfield led Kerkorian to a grassy courtyard, where dancers performed a well-rehearsed and thoughtfully choreographed routine to the Phil Spector-written classic “To Know Him Is to Love Him.” The first recorded version of the song was a No. 1 hit for The Teddy Bears.
Kerkorian's dance party - from YouTube.com
The founder of the International hotel-casino and MGM Resorts grinned at the performance, then Dangerfield and he ducked back inside for cake. If her name resonates with comedy fans, it should: Dangerfield is the widow of Rodney Dangerfield. Kerkorian and she have been an item, in public, since at least December 2010, when they were spotted arm-in-arm at Larry King’s CNN going-away party at Wolfgang Puck’s Spago.
A spokesman said the couple have been engaged since December 2009, and Kerkorian presented her with a diamond ring befitting a billionaire. In the video, Dangerfield refers to herself as Kerkorian's fiance, but a spokesman said the two have no plans to actually marry. They like things as they are, as any Kerkorian nuptials could well become ... a mob scene.
Follow John Katsilometes on Twitter at Twitter.com/JohnnyKats. Also, follow “Kats With the Dish” at Twitter.com/KatsWithTheDish.
Previous Discussion: