Showtime

The name came from The Horn, a Santa Monica nightclub.

Starting back in the early 1960s, it would begin its nightly shows, staged in an intimate setting in a room holding about 150 patrons, by dimming the lights. A singer stationed at one of the tables would stand up and sing, "It's Showtime." A second singer would join him and then a third.

It was the kickoff of a full night of entertainment for the wealthy, hip crowd that filled the encircling booths.

One regular in the audience was a young playboy, a rising star in the real-estate market who never forgot the lessons he learned in those enjoyable nights at The Horn about attracting customers, inspiring loyalty among them, and generating energy and involvement.

Jerry Buss applied those lessons when he bought the Lakers nearly two decades later.

Buss didn't invent the synergy between athletes and Hollywood. That went back as far as big-time professional sports in the city.

Bob Hope and Bing Crosby were investors in the Los Angeles Rams football team.

Another pro football club, the Los Angeles Dons of the All-America Football Conference, was named for actor Don Ameche, one of the team's owners.

When the Dodgers came west, Walter O'Malley wasn't looking for investors. But he was in search of star attractions. So he made sure the box seats were filled with recognizable faces, from Cary Grant to Danny Kaye. When Tommy Lasorda was manager, Frank Sinatra was a frequent visitor to his office.

Hollywood Stars Night — a chance for celebrities to put on a Dodgers uniform and live out their baseball fantasies in a pregame exhibition — was one of the team's most popular events.

Doris Day was the most recognizable Lakers fan in the early days at the Sports Arena, the Jack Nicholson of her time.

Owner Bob Short was thrilled to have her, recognizing that she added credibility and class to his operation.

Only Jack Kent Cooke — among L.A. owners — had the nerve to turn his back on Hollywood.

He took Day off the comp list and then trashed the list altogether.

"We didn't need it," Cooke said. "We were selling seats."

Nicholson, however, hung in there. He didn't want comps. He was happy to pay his own way and thus avoid any obligation to the team.

But when Buss took control, the Hollywood snub was over. He understood that filling the courtside seats with famous faces would draw in the general public to fill the other seats.

Being in the entertainment capital of the world, Buss knew the value of celebrities and realized before any of his fellow owners that a natural bond existed between entertainment and sports.

What movie star hadn't imagined themselves in a real-life role as a star athlete? And what athlete wouldn't love a screen career when their playing days are over?

Bringing in the stars, however, was only the beginning of Buss' master plan.

Thinking of the cheerleaders he watched at USC football games, he created his own rooting squad, calling them the Laker Girls.

Incorporating his love of music, Buss brought in a live band.

From The Horn, he took the name to describe his unique approach to basketball: Showtime.

But he knew that the entertainment could not be limited to the sideline. It had to be evident on the court as well.

No plodding players for Buss. No half-court offense. No sleep-inducing style.

He wanted a flash-and-dash team, a fast-breaking, high-energy squad that could not only win, but do so in a crowd-pleasing manner.

Wanting it is one thing, getting it quite another.

Buss would need a maestro to orchestrate his grand scheme, a ringmaster who also possessed the talent to be the consummate player.

Where could he find such a multitalented athlete? He got lucky in that regard.

The Lakers went into the 1979 draft with the No. 1 pick in hand.

And sitting there at the top of the list was Earvin Johnson, the 6'8" sophomore from Michigan State coming off an NCAA championship game victory over Larry Bird–led Indiana State.

Magic was just what the doctor — Dr. Buss — ordered.

First Pick

Take Magic Johnson if he's available in the draft? Was there ever a better example...