24-Jun-14 – A surprise performance on the Chicago River by Wayne Newton was part of an advertising campaign for Las Vegas that kicked off in Chicago on Friday.

Backed by eight showgirls and seven show guys, Newton sang his signature tune Danke Schoen on board the tour boat Bright Star, owned by Shoreline Sightseeing.

Newton first recorded Danke Schoen in 1963 when he was 21 years old. The song is featured prominently, as is Chicago, in the 1986 film, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.

Friday’s stunt was organized by WGN-TV, which is owned by Tribune Company, and broadcast live its morning news program. “I want everybody to get out of Chicago and come to Las Vegas,” Newton told WGN-TV reporter Ana Belaval. After Newton boarded Bright Star, the boat traveled west for a short distance, then at about 7:47 a.m., rotated slowly between Wabash Avenue and State Street during the performance, which lasted about two and a half minutes. (Left) Wayne Newton, WGN-TV reporter Ana Belaval, and 15 chorus singers on a boat near Marina City on Friday. Photo by Amy Hartnett.

Newton pops up in Loop, Streeterville, and Wrigleyville

Earlier in the morning on Friday, Newton and his backup singers performed at Union Station. After their performance on the river, they went to nearby Pioneer Court and then south to Buckingham Fountain. That afternoon at Wrigley Field, Newton threw out the ceremonial first pitch before a Cubs game against Pittsburgh.

“I’m more comfortable with a banjo than a baseball, but I’m proud to represent Las Vegas at Wrigley Field,” Newton said before the game. “I just hope I can throw the baseball farther than the banjo.”

The performances, mostly unannounced, were part of an ad campaign by the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority. Vegas Season officially started on Friday. The LVCVA, which markets southern Nevada as a tourism and convention destination, says Newton and Danke Schoen have a “close and quirky affiliation” with Chicago, thanks to the Ferris Bueller movie.

If Shoreline knew of the stunt well in advance, it was a secret. Said one marketing person for the company, “the scope of what they did was a complete surprise to me.”

Shoreline was not mentioned in WGN’s promos for the appearance, which did not say Newton would be performing on a boat in transit on the river.

(Above) Bright Star and its passengers east of the State Street Bridge in a frame from video for Chicago Tribune by John Byrne.