The calendar for the Red River Entertainment District in Shreveport, La., is wide open this week. And next week. October, November and December are as empty as a honky-tonk on Sunday morning.

Shreveport's nearly $20 million entertainment district is a dud, said Shreveport Mayor Keith Hightower. "There are lots of empty spaces and lots of empty promises.''

Cincinnati should pay attention.

City Council is getting ready to hire the same developer Shreveport hired, to do a "Beale Street'' makeover in Over-the-Rhine. Mayor Charlie Luken and Councilman John Cranley want to pay John Elkington's Performa Entertainment Real Estate $100,000 to turn up the volume on Main Street nightlife.

Elkington says "there's something every week" happening in the Red River District, "but Shreveport's a tough market." He said it's unfair to judge it yet, because the development is in its first year, and the casinos that drive it are struggling. "You can ask anyone, who would you get to tackle the toughest urban development job in the country," he said, and the answer would be Elkington.

"It's not like he didn't do anything," Hightower said. Shreveport now has a couple of restaurants, a comedy club and a few small shops, he said. But Elkington owes the city $400,000 in rents since Jan. 1, and "communication is zero," he said. "John's a great salesman, but I don't think he has any repeat customers," he said.

Elkington denied the unpaid rent and said "the mayor is outta base."

Ed Munn, city manager of Gastonia, N.C., said Elkington's plans there "were not implemented for multiple reasons. Drawing up a plan is the easiest part. Anytime you can't implement it, there is unhappiness and frustration," he said.

Memphis applauds Elkington's turnaround on Beale Street but critics say Shreveport, Gastonia, Jackson, Miss., and Cincinnati can't all get "another Beale Street." They say Elkington is spread too thin and makes too many promises he can't deliver.

Luken said, "I have no illusion that Main Street will be Beale Street." He said Elkington will be an accelerator for Cincinnati. "We're not just turning Main Street over to John Elkington." He said he has heard some of the criticism, but "people that do things get criticized."

Hightower insists Elkington didn't do enough. "I took a leap of faith and we got burned."

That would be a shame for Cincinnati. Main Street's spontaneous nightlife has survived neglect, crime and riots. But can it survive City Hall's "help"?

Cincinnati's track record looks like economic development by Dr. Kevorkian. Nordstrom: dead. McAlpin's site: dead. The Banks riverfront project of entertainment, housing and shopping: In a coma, vital signs weak.

Elkington's supporters say he has been a victim of local politics. Well, good luck in Cincinnati.

Columbus, Ga., was "very happy with his work" in 1996, said a spokeswoman. But in Shreveport, local leaders told the Shreveport Times Elkington is a big talker, but can't follow through, and doesn't return phone calls.

Is this the guy we want to trust with one of our few bright spots of nightlife? Or will City Hall manage to euthanize Main Street, too?

As the mayor of Shreveport warned, "Do your homework."

E-mail pbronson@enquirer.com or call 768-8301.