Sydney Pollack was a craftsman, a film director who made good movies in a variety of genres. And, like the very best umpires, his movies worked best when you didn’t notice him. He wasn’t a showy auteur; he let the story and the quality of the actors take the lead and he quietly orchestrated the various parts into an excellent whole. His death this week from cancer, at age 73, was a great loss to the film industry.
In recent years, Pollack was doing more producing and acting roles. His skills in front of the camera were formidable, as he demonstrated most recently in Michael Clayton. He was also hilarious in a film he directed Tootsie, playing straight man to Dustin Hoffman’s desperate, cross-dressing actor.
My favorite Sydney Pollack movies cover his wide range of work — The Three Days of the Condor, The Way We Were, Tootsie, They Shoot Horses Don’t They?, Jeremiah Johnson and The Electric Horseman.

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It was no coincidence that Jimmy Buffett performed for the first time in our town last year (he’s due back Aug. 24, sponsored by Caesars). Buffet got into the casino business right about the same time as his AC show in June of last year. Buffett, in partnership with Harrah’s Entertainment, announced plans to build the Margaritaville Casino & Resort in Biloxi, Miss., near his hometown of Pascagoula. That casino should be completed in the spring of 2010.
Now Donald Trump has sold his least successful AC casino, Trump Marina, to Coastal Marina LLC, an affiliate of Coastal Development LLC, for $316 million. The company, working with Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville organization, plans to rename it Margaritaville.
Richard T. Fields, chairman of Coastal Marina, said the casino will take on a new identity once the sale closes. No timetable has been announced.
Says Fields, “Together with Jimmy Buffett’s team at Margaritaville, our plans are to create an exciting new property that we believe will tap its full potential and make it one of the most successful destination gaming resorts in Atlantic City.”
In the first quarter of this year, Trump Marina reported a 48.2 percent drop in gross operating profits to $4.8 million.
Since Buffett has two successful restaurant franchises, Margaritaville Cafe and Cheeseburger in Paradise, perhaps he will bring those brand names to his new digs in town. Parrotsheads in the region must be flipping out about the news.
Mark Juliano, Trump Entertainment’s chief executive officer, said cash from the sale would help it improve its two remaining properties. Go here for more details.

We have a new addition to the AC Weekly family. Editor Jeff Schwachter was at his wife Vicki’s side as she gave birth this morning, Wednesday, May 28, to a 7 lb., 10 oz. baby girl. Congratulations to Jeff and Vicki, even if she did go and have the kid on our deadline day. Ever the excellent father and editor, Jeff managed to write his “This Week” column via laptop from the hospital. According to Jeff’s column, “She doesn’t have a name yet, but her sister calls her ‘Peanut.’” Jeff also sent along this picture of his new daughter.

Philadelphia’s NBC 10 sports anchor and director Vai Sikahema (left) will be the one to fight Jose Canseco in July at Bernie Robbins stadium, according to the Daily News‘ Dan Gross. Canseco offered $5,000 to someone willing to take him on in the ring. According to the promoter of the event, thousands were interested.

PHILADELPHIA, PA: May 22, 2008
Review Publishing today announced the appointment of George P. Troyano as its new President and Chief Operating Officer.
Mr. Troyano most recently served as Publisher of Broad Street Publishing, a division of Philadelphia Media Holdings. He previously held the position of Senior Vice President for Sales, Marketing and Circulation at the Village Voice in New York. His earlier associations included senior management responsibilities at United Advertising Products in Dallas Texas; Del Laboratories in Farmingdale, New York; and at Revlon Inc. He is a graduate of Gettysburg College, and earned his Masters Degree in Business Administration from Drexel University.
Mr. Troyano, his wife Kari and three children reside in Medford, New Jersey.
Anthony A. Clifton, owner of Review Publishing, stated that “George has an excellent background to support our future growth. We are delighted that he is joining our management team with the leading role in taking our business operations to new levels of satisfaction, for readers, advertisers and for our team as a whole.” Mr. Clifton added that “I plan to step back to let George to build up our team and its focus while remaining involved as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.”
Review Publishing http://www.reviewpublishing.com is the parent company of Atlantic City Weekly http://www.acweekly.com, Philadelphia Weekly http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com, The South Philly Review http://southphillyreview.com and the Southwest Philly Review http://www.southphillyreview.com.
For further information: Contact Anthony A .Clifton at 215-563-7400

Since I talked about all the boys of summer playing at area casinos, it only fair to counter with some of the female acts added to our busy, busy musical summer in AC town. With stars like this, AC really is becoming a destination resort.
Borgata is the new home for Aretha Franklin who was last here in June of 2006. She comes to the Music Box on July 25. Also added to the parade of headliners at the Borgata are Jill Scott (Aug. 3); K.T. Tunstall (Aug. 8); Tony award winner Idina Menzel (June 26) and talk show host/comedian Chelsea Handler (July 5). All of these shows go on sale this Saturday on the Borgata web site.

I think Simon Cowell was very calculating with his grandiose praise of David Archuleta on Tuesday night during the American Idol finals. Conversely, saying that David Cook was very good, but but that David A. had won the night, was also part of his master plan.
Cowell is crafty enough to know that his comments would tip the voting in the other David’s favor. Call me a conspiracy nut, but as I noted last week, David Cook has the talent and flair to sell records now and David A. needs more seasoning. The success of Chris Daughtry as a fourth place finisher was not lost on the Cowell-mesiter.
The right David won, which is not to say that David Archuleta will fade away. His dad should be negotiating with the Disney Channel now for a musical series starring the adorable one.
The best news for Idol fans in the Atlantic City region is that the American Idol tour will be at Boardwalk Hall on Saturday, Aug. 2 at 7pm. Tickets range from $42.50–$68.50 and you can order them here

Former Major Leaguer and Newark Bear and steroid-use accuser Jose Canseco has offered five grand to someone who’ll be willing to fight him in the ring at Bernie Robbins Stadium in Atlantic City on Saturday, July 12. If you’re interested in putting on the gloves and facing Canseco, e-mail fightcanseco@aol.com. Here’s a funny piece on today’s USA Today Web site.

The boy bands are back this summer, along with Boy George and the Beach Boys on the beach in a free show.
Borgata presents the return of the New Kids on the Block Saturday, Sept. 27, while the House of Blues counters with the Backstreet Boys “Unbreakable” world tour on Friday, Aug. 15. The HOB will also present Boy George on Sunday, Aug. 3. For more info on these boys bands and what they have been doing, go here and for the BBs here
Speaking of hot guys, Borgata has added Maroon Five and Counting Crows in a show Aug. 8 (tickets on sale this Saturday) and Stone Temple Pilots Aug. 9 (also on sale Sat.)

The Hilton just announced their plans for a July 4th weekend three-day beach party, highlighted by free beach concerts with The Beach Boys on Friday, July 4, and Three Dog Night on Saturday, July 5. No tickets needed, but get there early.

Premier Exhibitions, Inc. announced today that BODIES…The Exhibition will open Saturday, May 24 in The Xanadu Theatre at Trump Taj Mahal. The exhibit will be open daily from 10am–10pm.
Seen by more than eight million visitors, BODIES…The Exhibition features real, whole and partial human body specimens that have been meticulously dissected and preserved through an innovative process, giving individuals the opportunity to view the complexity of their own organs and systems like never before.
This ground breaking exhibition provides an up-close look inside the skeletal, muscular, reproductive, respiratory, circulatory and other systems of the human body. Many of the whole body specimens are dissected in vivid athletic poses, allowing the visitor to relate to everyday activities.

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