Absinthe impresario The Gazillionaire is a man of many interests, and an equal number of disinterests. His tastes in talent sometimes lean towards the bizarre, the raunchy, the macabre. Other times he inadvertently introduces Las Vegas audiences to performers capable of phenomenal feats and superhuman ability. His latest find, record-holder Heather Holliday, puts a new twist on the sideshow tradition of sword swallowing, adding a new nail-biting element to what was already arguably the most dangerous show on the Strip.
Absinthe kickstarted a cabaret-circus production trend on the Strip featuring talent that stretched the boundaries of ability and imagination. Gaz booked roller skaters who spin like gyroscopes, strongmen who form themselves into human towers, a gorilla that makes a startling transformation after dancing to Nine Inch Nails, incomparable Tap Twins Sean and John Scott and a pair of poetic body movement specialists who stretch the boundaries of cringe along with their spandex tights.
And now there is Holliday, who set world records last year for longest neon tube swallowed and largest curve in a sword swallowed while seated. The glow that the tube creates through the skin of her throat is a sight to behold, according to the Gazillionaire.
“There’s no trick to it,” he said in an interview with Las Vegas Magazine. “She does six swords at one time and a curved one. She told me one time, ‘If that tube breaks, I’ll die!’ … I pay extra insurance for the neon tube. I’m sure it’s costing me a bundle!”
It’s been 13 years since The Gazillionaire first snuck a motley crew of acrobats, dancers, daredevils, specialty acts and other assorted freaks past Caesars Palace security and set up his tentpole in front of the resort, an occasion recently celebrated with a Halloween-in-April party.
“It was something different, so that’s always good,” he said. Although “Gaz” declined to come in costume, his request that guests come suitably attired was heeded. “There were a lot of hot rabbits and hot ringmasters, foxes and other hot things. People aren’t very imaginative, and they like to show their breasts.”
The show took a turn later that night, he said, after his second-in-command, Wanda Widdles, was leveled by a “weird concoction from some bitter scientist who had been in the audience 13 years ago. Then she bit me and we both mutated, and it turned into a bit of a mess.”
The recollection is an apt metaphor for the ever-mutating Absinthe. Gaz said he tried the show out for New York City crowds before coming to Vegas. They could not suspend disbelief and give themselves over to his concept of a dream fueled by a green goddess in a bottle in which wow-factor circus acts are interspersed with comedy bits and unexpected twists.
“We thought we’d bring it somewhere a little more fun, so we just came to Vegas and put up this stupid little tent,” said The Gazillionaire. “Caesars didn’t really want us to, but you know, we’re forceful and gave them some money.”
Caesars Palace, 702.534.3419 or spiegelworld.com
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