danny gans dead.

I am stunned by this...from the Las Vegas Review Journal:

Las Vegas entertainer Gans dies at home at age 52
Las Vegas entertainer Danny Gans died at his home this morning. He was 52.

The cause of death is unknown.

Henderson Police spokesman Officer Todd Rasmussen said this morning they received a call about 3:45 a.m. from a woman inside the home at 761 Ricota Court in Henderson. The woman said that a 52-year-old male was having breathing problems. When officers and paramedics arrived they found the man unresponsive. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

I remember my first trip to Las Vegas in 1999. Danny Gans was the headliner at the Rio and was largely considered one of the elite shows in Vegas (alongside the Cirque shows). He moved to the Mirage shortly thereafter and was one of the hottest shows on the Strip for years.

In many ways, Danny Gans is the last of the generation of performers; the true Las Vegas variety act. He preceded Celine Dion, who completely changed the Strip, ushering in folks like Elton John, Broadway musicals, etc.

As one friend of mine said to me, Danny Gans is completely lost on the new, younger generation of Vegas travelers. This 25-and-under set only cares about clubbing, bottle service, and being "young, drunk and fabulous."

It's too bad. I think Gans' premature death may also signal the closing of that era of Vegas acts.