CasiNotes: For 'Fever' fans, there's a motion on the floor

FORGET Dorothy's ruby-red slippers from "The Wizard of Oz," or James Bond's "Goldfinger" Aston-Martin.

Vito Bruno

insists that he's in possession of the ultimate movie prop: The illuminated, Plexiglas dance floor upon which John Travolta boogie-oogie-oogied his way to pop-culture immortality in "Saturday Night Fever."

"In my opinion, it's the single most important 'feel-good' movie memorabilia that exists," said the 52-year-old dance-music producer-promoter. He's spending the weekend at Trump Taj Mahal, which is hosting his annual "Disco Ball" tomorrow, as well as tonight's "Freestyle Free For All."

The 380-square-foot slice of show business history represents more than just a piece of a hit flick for Bruno. Between the time that "Saturday Night Fever" was filmed and released, the then-21-year-old Brooklynite was hired to work security at 2001 Odyssey, the danceteria that was ground zero for the disco explosion that the film detonated, and which served as a primary shooting location. He subsequently became the club's assistant manager.

Bruno just recently came into possession of the floor after a bitter two-year legal scrum. The previous owner put it up for bid, and Bruno's $6,000 offer topped the field. But the owner, miffed that the prop didn't bring in much higher offers, took it off the market instead of selling it to Bruno, a move that a New York judge ruled violated state law. Now, Bruno, who successfully sued the seller, is looking to flip it, ideally to someplace in Las Vegas or, oddly enough, the Middle Eastern emirate of Dubai.

"[Dubai is] going to be the next entertainment capital of the world," Bruno predicted. "They're spending billions and billions of dollars to make that happen. I feel it's going to be a major international tourist destination in the next decade or so.

"And Vegas is Vegas."

And how about pitching it to Boogie Nights, Resorts Atlantic City's '70s-themed nightclub that has become one of the town's "in" spots?

"It doesn't fit there," he said. "Atlantic City is a weekend town."

This weekend, however, Bruno will be happy to be in AyCee for his yearly dance-music orgy. Tonight, the program features artists from the post-disco period (1986-'92). Among the performers scheduled are Judy Torres, Stevie B, Cynthia, Coro, Safire, Rob Base, Lisa Lisa, Noel and Cover Girls.

Tomorrow's rave-up pays tribute to the classic sounds of the "Saturday Night Fever" era with performances by the Sugar Hill Gang, The Trammps, Tavares, Evelyn "Champagne" King, Bonnie Pointer and Harold Melvin's Blue Notes.

Disco music of the 1970s may not have the same intellectual heft of so much of the classic rock of the period, but it nonetheless continues to resonate with the public.

One reason, offered Bruno, is the nostalgic fix it provides those old enough to remember that party-hardy era. But that doesn't explain why the impresario is expecting a sizable turnout of Gen Xers. What does, he said, is current events.

"People need to feel good with what's going on," he reasoned. "We have a bad economy, bad leadership and a bad war. Disco is just feel-good music."

Trump Taj Mahal, Boardwalk at Virginia Avenue, 9 tonight, 7 p.m. tomorrow, $95, $75, $55 and $40 (tonight), $125, $95, $75 and $50 (tomorrow), 800- 736-1420, www.ticketmaster.com.

Remember

Louis Gazzara

? He was the Folsom, N.J., resident who made the final 32 cut on the 2003 season of "American Idol." (His competition included

Clay Aiken

and

Ruben Studdard

.)

Well, you can see Louis up-close and personal in the cast of "Smokey Joe's Cafe." The 1990s Broadway hit, which pays tribute to the 1950s and '60s songwriting team of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller ("Stand By Me," "On Broadway," "Jailhouse Rock," "Hound Dog") runs through Halloween at the Atlantic City Hilton. *

Atlantic City Hilton, Boardwalk at Boston Avenue, 9 tonight and Oct. 31, 7 p.m. Sunday and 2 p.m. Tuesday, 7 p.m. Wednesday, $30. www.ticketmaster.com.

Chuck Darrow has covered Atlantic City and the casino industry for more than 20 years. Read his blog at

http://go.philly.com/casinotes. Or e-mail him at darrowc@phillynews.com.