Monday, August 29, 2005
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

NORM: Shirt style strikes chord with Clapton

Jack Davison holds up a Review-Journal story from August 1979 about his legendary run of luck at a Binion's Horseshoe craps table. Photo by NORM CLARKE/REVIEW-JOURNAL

Rocker Eric Clapton is collaborating on another cultural icon: the Western shirt.

His co-design will be unveiled this week at the MAGIC clothing expo by Rockmount Ranch Wear of Denver.

The venture got its start unexpectedly in May when Clapton sent an e-mail to Rockmount boss Steve Weil.

"I love your shirts and I've been buying them while touring the states," wrote Clapton, adding that he wanted more of them for the Cream reunion, less than a week away. He added his phone number in case Weir thought the e-mail was bogus.

Weil responded and shipped the initial order, then another order. But when he realized that neither order might get to London in time, he contacted Clapton and offered to hand-deliver the shirts.

Clapton was so pleased that he said he'd make sure Weil got to the Cream reunion "if I have to drive you in the trunk of my car."

When Weil showed up at Royal Albert Hall, he and a friend were handed tickets and backstage passes.

Afterward, they were escorted to the green room, where a small group of maybe 10 had joined Clapton. Among them: ex-Beatles Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney, former Rolling Stones member Bill Wyman and actor Tom Hanks.

The meeting led to the co-designing venture on the shirt, which features a guitar and lyrics from "Back Home," from Clapton's first album in five years.

An amazing experience got even better Sunday when Weil drove down the Strip to Mandalay Bay and saw his name on the marquee for his book signing Tuesday.

He'll be signing "Western Shirts: A Classic American Fashion" at 7 p.m. at The Mandalay Bay Reading Room.

Still on a roll

"Hollywood Jack" Davison got his name from being a stuntman, but he owes his stardom to a legendary run at a craps table.

On Aug. 12, 1979, Davison started with a $1 bet on a 25-cent table at Binion's Horseshoe and, defying odds in the billions, didn't give up the dice for an hour and 45 minutes. In all, he made 34 successive passes without rolling a craps on the come-out.

Davison had gone to the Horseshoe to collect a loan after losing $500 at Caesars Palace. "I was down to spit when I started. I had $6 on me when Teddy Binion, who was in the pit, said. 'Let's start a game.' "

Still a regular at Las Vegas tables at age 75, he's often a hired gun. One night, a fellow craps shooter who was down $20,000 begged Davison, "Get me even and I'll make it worth your while."

Davison did more than get even; he won $37,000.

His best dice advice: "Don't stay in a losing environment. Move on. And never double up with your money, only their money."

Meanwhile, there are rumblings that Harrah's, the new owner of Binion's, plans to memorialize Davison's feat by adding his photo to the Horseshoe's Wall of Fame.

Sightings

Justin Timberlake, Cameron Diaz and actress Elisha Cuthbert, in a cabana near the deejay booth Saturday night at Pure (Caesars Palace). Timberlake, after noticing that the Backstreet Boys were at tables on the dance floor, asked a club manager to invite them to his area, and they combined parties. Also in the house: Seth Green. Timberlake and Diaz were spotted playing golf Sunday at Southern Highlands. ... Cast members of the "X" Girls revue, partying with Howie Dorough and Kevin Richardson of the Backstreet Boys after their concert at Mandalay Bay at Curve (Aladdin) on Saturday. ... Tony Orlando, backstage kibitzing with Danny Gans on Saturday at The Mirage. Gans was Orlando's opening act years back. ... Las Vegas-based artist Nick San Pedro, pulled on stage by Beyonce at the Destiny's Child show Friday at Mandalay Bay.

The Punch Line

"Have Fun at Prom; Don't Drink, Do Drugs" -- Headline in Hudson Hub Times of Stow, Ohio.

Norm Clarke can be reached at 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com.