SOME FAMILIAR FACES SHUFFLE THE DECK AT IMPERIAL PALACE.

Byline: Rob Lowman Entertainment Editor

LAS VEGAS - When the clock strikes 6 at the Imperial Palace, some familiar faces parade through the casino.

OK, you may need to squint a little to ascertain exactly who's who, but somehow when Elvis, Barbra, Elton and other celebrity impersonator dealers arrive to take their places behind blackjack tables, the crowd gets excited.

Of course, the excitement is heightened by the Blues Brothers' version of the Solomon Burke tune ``Everybody Needs Somebody to Love'' blaring over loudspeakers and the rhythmic clapping of casino workers. Still, it doesn't take long for gamblers to turn away from their tables - a rarity in Vegas - and start gaping at the characters and pulling out digital cameras.

``Way to go Elvis,'' one woman yelled over the din as she ran up to high-five the Elvis sort-of-look-alike on a recent Friday evening.

As another woman beheld another impersonator, she exclaimed, ``Oh, he looks a lot like Rod Stewart.''

``Who's that?'' wondered her companion. The woman snapped a picture anyway - even before her friend correctly noted that the character was supposed to be Stevie Nicks.

No matter. Everyone seemed to be having fun as Elvis revved things up by lip-syncing to ``Viva Las Vegas.'' The others - Rod, Elton, Babs, Stevie, the Blues Brothers, Ray Charles, Ricky Martin - danced along and played to the crowd.

At one point, Ricky got so carried away that he spun and knocked Babs' wig off. Looking slightly embarrassed, she scooped it off the floor, turned away from the crowd, fit it back on her head and turned back to cheers.

If the gamblers don't mind this Streisand losing her top, it means they aren't scrutinizing these faux celebrities very closely, either. It doesn't seem to bother them that some of the impersonators weren't even dealers until a few weeks before.

Hey, Ray Charles even stays in character, using a cane to feel his way to his table. (Wouldn't everybody in Vegas love a blind dealer?) But don't make any assumptions - this faux Charles can really see.

Brad Overfield, executive host of the Imperial Palace, isn't sure who first thought of having impersonator dealers (``dealertainers,'' as they are called) at the casino. It may have been Craig Garland, the casino manager, he says, but no matter - the concept was a natural for the Imperial Palace, which officials readily admit is a ``second-tier'' attraction in Vegas compared to the Bellagio, the MGM Grand and Caesars Palace.

The Imperial Palace has had ``Legends in Concert'' - a live, award-winning impersonator show - for 20 years, but where do you get impersonators who can deal cards, especially in Vegas, which is scrupulously conscious of security?

As it turns outs, the dealertainers are a mixture of talents. There are entertainers, including Ray Charles, who have been trained to be dealers. And then there are a few dealers - notably Stevie Nicks - who are playing roles.

Which raises two questions: Do the elaborate costumes of the dealers raise security concerns? And how skilled are these impersonators with cards?

``We have broken all the taboos you've seen about Vegas,'' said Overfield, a former dealer himself. Although the Nevada Gaming Commission doesn't mandate what they wear, casino dealers generally have outfits without pockets or french cuffs so chips can't be concealed. Not so for the dealertainers, who have all kinds of accessories.

But Overfield isn't worried. After all, the Legends Pit - which is outfitted with a pair of refurbished antique Wurlitzer juke boxes - has a fairly low gambling range, with a minimum bet of $5 and a maximum of $500. Its aim is to offer a friendly game with entertainment thrown in, not real gambling. As a result, the Imperial isn't worried if some of the dealers are less than seasoned.

Jake Blues said he's been a dealer for a few months. Is he any good? ``Nah,'' he said, laughing, but quickly added, ``We have a lot of fun and I'm getting better.''

If you're wondering who Jake is, don't. ``We call them by their stage names rather than their own names,'' said Overfield. And that secrecy carries over when you address Elton John or Jake and Elwood Blues.

Ask Jake about his background and he cracks, ``A few years in Joliet.''

Elton said there is a lot of verbal give-and-take at the tables, as gamblers address him in character. ``Loved your last album'' - that kind of thing.

He added, ``Usually I'll get a comment like 'Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me' when someone is worried about going over 21.''

Some players, he said, don't even seem to mind losing. He recalled one guy who dropped $500 at his table but left remarking on what a wonderful time he'd had.

Overfield admits that there is a wide range in the talent level of the dealertainers. ``Marilyn looks like Marilyn Monroe because we dress her up to look like Marilyn, but she doesn't really impersonate her,'' he said.

Others, like Elton - who has been been impersonating the singer for 20 years - move smoothly into their roles (if not the dealing). The Blues Brothers and Ray Charles were talented performers doing other things, Overfield said; they were offered roles because someone at the casino thought they bore a close enough resemblance to the celebrities they now impersonate.

So far, the concept has gone over well for the casino. Initially, 16 impersonator dealers worked Thursday through Sunday from 6 p.m. to 4 a.m. But the Imperial Palace recently expanded the program to 23 dealers working seven nights a week. Casino officials note that other casinos have been by to check out the act, and Overfield believes there will eventually be more impersonator games along the Vegas Strip.

At the pit, the dealertainers finished running through a version of ``Livin' la Vida Loca'' (Ricky just danced seductively, not bothering to lip-sync) and took their places behind the tables.

After about 20 minutes or so, things settled down, and a young couple who had been first up at Elvis' table left, surrendering their seats to a couple who appeared closer to the age the real King would be today.

``How could we pass up Elvis - he's an icon?'' said John Stark, an artist from Seattle. He and his new wife, Julie - both in their mid-20s - had come down from Washington after getting married.

``I'm teaching her how to gamble,'' John said.

``We won $20,'' Julie chimed in.

``It's the best thing that happened to us since we got here,'' John enthused.

And how long had the happy couple been in town?

``Ah, about an hour and a half,'' John admitted, somewhat abashed.

Hey, it's OK. It's their honeymoon in Vegas, and they just played blackjack with Elvis. Sort of.

Imperial Palace, 3535 Las Vegas Blvd, S., [phone]; www.imperialpalace.com

CAPTION(S):

4 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) Is it Elton John or is it ... ah, of course, a Vegas impersonator, this one dealing blackjack at the Imperial Palace.

(2 -- 4) At the Imperial Palace, which uses celebrity impersonators as dealers, guests may see Elvis Presley, top; Marilyn Monroe, Ricky Martin and Barbra Streisand, left; and Rod Stewart, above.

Gene Blevins/Special to Great Escapes