FIRST OFF . . .

Singer Wayne Newton is the latest entertainer to cancel a scheduled opening in Las Vegas as the summer-long impasse between major resorts and striking musicians continues. Newton said he bowed out of Tuesday’s opening at the Las Vegas Hilton to show the people of Las Vegas that “their needs are more important” than his. Musicians Local 369 is on strike over the issue of taped music and guaranteed work, and both sides said after a negotiating session this week that they were at an impasse. No new talks are planned. The latest proposal by the resorts to guarantee the jobs of four musicians but to leave the hotels free to use taped music was called “unacceptable” by Mark Tully Massagli, president of Local 369. “Unless we have some semblance of work guarantees so our people can make a living in this business, we’re going to have a problem getting this resolved,” he said. Several performers have honored the picket line and refused to perform at Strip resorts, including Dean Martin, Rodney Dangerfield, Connie Francis, Burt Bacharach, Dionne Warwick, Bill Medley, Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme. Randy Travis and David Copperfield performed as scheduled, and Engelbert Humperdinck worked several nights at the Las Vegas Hilton, then quit the remainder of his engagement.