Beatlemania comes to ‘Pawn Stars’ shop
In the “Pawn Stars” world, some days are diamonds and some days are dust.
That smile on Rick Harrison’s face suggests the “Pawn Stars” boss has discovered a diamond mine.
About two months ago, someone walked into the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop with what appears to be photos and negatives from the Beatles’ iconic Abbey Road photo shoot on Aug. 8, 1969.
“It’s one of the coolest things I have ever bought,” Harrison told the Review-Journal Thursday after attending media night for the “Pawn Stars” parody “Pawn Shop Live!” at the Golden Nugget.
If they are authentic, Harrison just might own the famous images on the Beatles’ last recorded album, Abbey Road.
Here’s the background from Harrison:
“In 1969 they’re doing the Abbey Road photo shoot (in front of EMI Studios) and the cops block the road for 10 minutes, tell ’em, ‘You got 10 minutes to do the photo shoot.’
“Iain Macmillan the photographer was able to get six photos off, six shots. One of them made the cover, one of them I don’t know where it’s at and the other four, I got the photos and I got the negatives.
“It’s absolutely great because it dispels a lot of myths. There was supposed to be some significance with Paul McCartney not wearing any shoes walking across the street.”
But, Harrison said, “in two of the photos he’s wearing sandals.
“I got ’em walking different directions, there are different cars in the background. There are some amazing photographs. I’m trying to figure out how I can get the rights to reproduce them.”
He added, “We’re trying to do a lot of research to see if anyone else owns the rights, exactly what it is.
“I would love to reproduce them but right now I just have some original prints and original negatives.”
All the photos are in color, he said.
“The great thing is it’s medium format. Medium format film is today’s equivalent of like 30 megapixels so you get really, really high quality reproductions.”
PREPARED FOR THE WURST
Ten years ago today the Hofbrauhaus ownership team was dealing with opening-day anxiety.
Unable to promote the opening date “since we didn’t know when the certificate of occupancy would be granted,” they braced for the wurst, so to speak, recalled Stefan Gastager, president of the partnership.
They discovered the power of the Hofbrauhaus brand — and word-of-mouth advertising — when they opened the doors at about 3:30 p.m. and found a boisterous, beer-loving, bratwurst-craving crowd of 400.
Amid an anticipated sea of upraised steins, the Hofbrauhaus celebrates its 10-year anniversary, with Mayor Carolyn Goodman serving as the honorary keg tapper, at about 7 tonight. Accompanied by her husband, former Mayor Oscar Goodman, she will present a key to the city to Gastager and his partners, brother Klaus Gastager, chef Franz Krondorfer and Tony Sinzger.
Celebrity keg tappers have been a big part of their business plan.
The one-day crowd record for the German beer hall is about 2,400, Stefan Gastager said. That was one of the first Siegfried & Roy appearances.
The emotional event?
“My hair still stands up when I think of it,” Stefan Gastager said. It was the night Roy Horn, who nearly died from a tiger bite during their Oct. 3, 2003, show, dramatically walked in the Hofbrauhaus, amazing the crowd with the extent of his recovery.
Unplanned walk-ins: Oscar winner Nicolas Cage, who played the alphorn, and “Baywatch” icon David Hasselhoff, who ended up onstage singing “Looking for Freedom,” his No. 1 hit in Germany after the Berlin Wall came down.
Fastest full house: When 1,200 showed up within 45 minutes for a live World Cup telecast four years ago.
Best WTH moment (Was ist los or “what is this?” in English): An Asian company bought out the Hofbrauhaus for a non-alcoholic celebration. Then the plan changed course. A stationary exercise bike suddenly showed up, and the party was off and running. Celebrators rode the bike furiously for a couple minutes then downed shots of Schnapps “to get the alcohol in their bloodstream faster,” Stefan Gastager said.
THE SCENE AND HEARD
Remember when New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie was calling people “stupid” for visiting Las Vegas? Given all that he’s got on his plate these days, Vegas probably never looked better, huh, governor?
SIGHTINGS
Making a curtain call at the end of “Pawn Shop Live!” media night (Golden Nugget) on Thursday: the cast of “Pawns Stars,” Richard Harrison, his son Rick, his grandson Corey and Austin “Chumlee” Russell. … Indianapolis Colts head coach Chuck Pagano, dining at Crush (MGM Grand) with MGM Grand president Scott Sibella.
THE PUNCH LINE
“Oprah turned 60 years old (Wednesday). Seven more years and she can finally start cashing those Social Security checks.” — Jimmy Kimmel
Norm Clarke’s column appears Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. He can be reached at 702-383-0244 or email him at norm@reviewjournal.com. Find more online at www.normclarke.com. Follow Norm on Twitter @Norm_Clarke.
