Monday, November 20, 2006; C03

Town Feels No Amore From Tom and Katie

Their town may have hosted the celebrity wedding of the year, but the residents of Bracciano, Italy, didn't get to see any of it, and they are not impressed with the couple's manners.

"The Invisible Wedding" and "Tom & Katie: The Newly-Wed Ghosts" read headlines in Italian newspapers yesterday, referring to the Tom Cruise- Katie Holmes nuptials on Saturday and showing the level of contempt held by residents and the droves of paparazzi who made their way to the Medieval town for the event.

Town officials, who looked forward to Bracciano's "season in the sun," are rumored to have charged photographers and TV crews the equivalent of $1,200 for good views overlooking the castle where the wedding took place. But those same officials were said to be disappointed that the couple didn't bother to share any part of their day with townsfolk. Not even a wave hello.

The town, overrun for the last four days by reporters from all over the world, did its best to provide gawkers with something festive for the occasion. Restaurants had "Tom & Katie" menus, shops featured "Top Gun" get-ups and many store windows offered messages reading "Forever" and "Best wishes for your fairy tale," with photos of the couple.

"I feel they should have showed more respect for the people of Bracciano who waited to see them for so long," said Armando Tondinelli, Bracciano's councilor for public works.

"These people behave as if they are above these things. They don't look at what is important in life. A greeting would have been right -- it's a matter of politeness," he said.

An exclusive party Friday night in Georgetown for the outspoken and sometimes-controversial author Gore Vidal and his new book drew an eclectic crowd of local celebrities and Gore kinfolk, according to The Post's Roxanne Roberts, who was there. The party, which took place at the Gore Dean antique shop, was hosted by shop owner and Gore relative Deborah Gore Dean. The event was held to celebrate the latest memoir from Vidal, 81, "Point to Point Navigation." In attendance were several representatives of the "extended Gore cousinage," but former vice president Al Gore Jr. was not present. (Vidal once said Gore's father told him he was a "sixth or seventh cousin.") Half sister Nina Gore Auchincloss Straight was there, and so was a camera crew sent by Vidal's nephew Burr Steers. Steers wrote and directed 2002's "Igby Goes Down" and is filming a documentary about his family.

In an interview published in the December issue of Playboy magazine, Vidal has much to say about the long line of senators in his family, and he showers compliments on the former VP for his environmental efforts and speaks enthusiastically of his political prospects. Simply put, he wants Gore to take another shot at the White House.

Sylvester Stallone, famous for his role as the working-class Philadelphia boxer Rocky Balboa, was among a slew of celebrities and gambling executives who last week asked Pennsylvania state regulators for a casino license in the city. Stallone appeared via video.

Five competitors, all casino operators with politically connected partners and celebrity investors, are pushing for two slot-machine gambling licenses in Philadelphia. If the licenses are granted, it would make the city the nation's largest with a casino.

For three days, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board listened to testimony from the applicants in preparation for a Dec. 20 licensing vote. Actor Bruce Willis also provided a recorded video message. Other celebrities, including music producer Quincy Jones and Donald Trump, showed up in person.

-- Compiled from staff and wire reports by Catherine Handren