Negotiations between the Recording Artists Coalition and the prospective new owners of Las Vegas's Alladin Theater may result in Linda Ronstadt returning to the Aladdin with Michael Moore. Billboard.com reports:
Poor Hugh, This afternoon he declared himself a "lifetime customer of the Aladdin."After a day of negotiations, the prospective new owner of the venue, Robert Earl, Chairman and CEO of Planet Hollywood International, Inc., issued the following statement:
"We hope to be approved by the Nevada Gaming Commission to become the new owners of the Aladdin Resort in Las Vegas as early as September 1, 2004. Upon the assumption of ownership, and with a new management team in place, we would like to offer the use of the Theatre of Performing Arts to Linda Ronstadt for a second concert and further to take Michael Moore up on his offer to join her on stage to introduce her and sing a song."
The Associated Press via the Mercury News reports:
According to the Mercury News:Current Aladdin President Bill Timmins, who is British, had Ronstadt escorted off the property after her concert because she called Moore a "great American patriot" during a prelude to her encore.
Ronstadt encouraged the audience of 4,500 people to see Fahrenheit 9/11, Moore's unflattering documentary about President Bush. She said Moore was "spreading the truth."
Timmins, who was in the audience, said Ronstadt's comments irked people and some tore down posters and walked out of the theater angrily.
Timmins said Ronstadt would never be allowed to play at the Arabian Nights-themed resort while he was in charge.
Sounds like a case of he who laughs last....Planet Hollywood CEO Robert Earl of Orlando, Fla., said he'd like to take Moore up on the filmmaker's offer to join Ronstadt on Aladdin's stage and sing "America the Beautiful" when Earl's management team takes control of the bankrupt casino, as early as September.
Today a lot of the blogosphere's energy was spent bemoaning the ignorance of the those defending Ronstadt after she was booted from the Aladdin.
The worst offender was the New York Times, which should have a better grasp of basic civics. In an opinion piece they call Desperadoes, the Times suggests Ronstadt's rights were violated. Schlyer at neoflux.com takes the Times to task posting that "the Times apparently chooses not to understand that nobody has the right to say whatever they want with no consequences when they are doing so under the employ of another person/entity."
Shawn Sarazin at The American Mind calls Michael Moore "dumb" for saying the First Amendment allows Ronstadt to say anything she wants:
VodkaPundit thinks Ronstadt should apologize."Congress shall make no law..." Not "The Aladdin Casino shall make no law..."
Betsy Newmark at Betsy's Page wonders how Ronstadt can still draw an audience of 5000.
Captain Ed has launched Operation Thrill Linda -- a service to keep Ronstadt's job satisfaction high as she goes through the twilight of her career. If you have tickets to a Linda Ronstadt concert be sure to cancel them and get your money refunded.
A very wise undergraduate journalism professor once said to me:
"Freedom of the press belongs to he who owns the press."
--|PW|--
Posted by: pennywit | Thursday, July 22, 2004 at 03:03 PM
Who would want to listen to Michael Moore sing?
Posted by: Sean Hackbarth | Wednesday, July 21, 2004 at 10:51 PM