I remember the first day I met STAN IRWIN. The event was a publicity party being held in honor of Ann Margaret and Doc Severinsen in the BLUE ROOM of THE TROPICANA HOTEL, hosted by, then Vice President, Entertainment Director, ALAN LEE. I was working in the Entertainment Department starting out, was young and eager and had one of my acts by the name of LLOYD LINDROTH performing in the big lounge. LINDROTH was dubbed "THE LIBERACE OF THE HARP" by Variety Magazine and he dressed like him. A unique attraction for all of Las Vegas. In fact, a number of years earlier, Stan Irwin had booked Lindroth into THE SAHARA HOTEL and others on the strip but I didn't know this at the time. I wanted to meet Mr. Irwin in person since I knew that JOHNNY CARSON'S manager was going to be at that Ann Margaret party, so,Allen Lee's secretary (Jeannie) told me to "just go up to him and introduce yourself, he doesn't bite." I asked her if she knew him personally and she said she did. I was thinking to myself, well, that would be my way and excuse for introducing myself to him. When I did, I met a very distinguished, extremely well dressed man about fifty and because JOHNNY CARSON and some other stars Stan Irwin handled were so big in those days, I was scared to death. But, to my surprise, STAN IRWIN was as cordial, refreshing, kind and generous with his time as I could have ever asked for. He even said we could meet there in the lounge one evening and he would take the time to come over from The Sahara after JOHNNY CARSON'S show to see my act LLOYD LINDROTH at The Tropicana, which he did and we visited for hours. What a pleasure and what a conversation we had about show-biz,managing entertainers, etc. From that day forward from about 1971 to today, STAN IRWIN has become my best friend and my mentor. I could never thank him enough for all his dedication of time helping me start out my own talent agency in Burbank, CA which I had for nearly three decades. Even to this day, Stan and I talk on the phone several times a week and still conduct business at his young 96 years. He's as alert and healthy as can be. The same STAN IRWIN I met forty-three years ago when I was a about 24. Stan Irwin, the most highly respected personal manager in show-biz. He's an impresario, producer, consultant and comic who's years in show-biz go all the way back to The Vaudeville Days of Hollywood. Mr.Las Vegas as he was called by many.

-By George Michaud

Michaud writes for the Raytown Eagle newspaper. He writes music reviews, restaurant reviews, Broadway Show Reviews and a weekly column called "The Producer's Corner" http://www.raytowneagle.com
(C)2014 George Michaud