Magician Nathan Burton tell competitor Sawchuck to buzz off
Comedy magician Nathan Burton made one of his competitors disappear Thursday.
Minutes after Murray Sawchuck and his wife, Khloe, arrived just before Burton’s 4 p.m. show at Saxe Theater in the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood, they were escorted out, he said.
“I had texted Nathan when we got there to let him know I was there. I think it’s respectful to let someone know,” said Sawchuck, a headliner at the Tropicana for almost two years.
Sawchuck said he was informed by a theater manager that “Nathan personally called me to have you escorted out.”
They left without incident, he said.
“I didn’t know we had a problem,” said Sawchuck. “We do now.”
Sawchuck said he loaned Burton a prop “from one of my illusions for a couple of months.”
Both Burton and Sawchuck were participants on different seasons of “America’s Got Talent.”
“This kind of thing is a shame, a little classless, but that’s just me,” Sawchuck said.
Calls to Burton for comment were not returned by deadline.
DECISION TIME
Maybe it’s time to ask: Is Shanna Moakler acting in the best interests of the Miss Nevada USA pageant?
Moakler, who has been serving as director of the Nevada pageant since 2011, is filming her birthday party Friday at Crazy Horse III gentleman’s club. Camera crews are on hand to shoot the final episode of Moakler’s first season on VH1’s “Hollywood Exes.”
Earlier this year, Moakler, who turns 39 on March 28, posed nude for a PETA anti-fur ad campaign.
Really?
Here’s some hypocrisy for someone who should be a role model:
In 2009, as co-director of Miss California USA organization, she resigned after Donald Trump declined to strip Miss California Carrie Prejean of her crown after it was learned she posed for risqué photos and violated terms of her contract.
“I cannot with a clear conscience move forward supporting and promoting the Miss Universe Organization when I no longer believe in it, or the contracts I signed committing myself as a youth,” said Moakler.
Someone needs to decide if the former Miss USA is promoting the Nevada pageant or using the job for self promotion.
Moakler could not be reached via the email address she previously provided.
VEGAS DOZEN
The 11th edition of the Vegas Dozen fundraiser will be held April 8 at Saks Fifth Avenue and Fashion Show’s runway.
The 12 men represent a cross-section of Las Vegas professions, from entertainment to media, medical, hospitality, marketing and sports. They were chosen for their professional commitment to the community.
Honorees include illusionist Criss Angel; Charles Bernick of Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health; KLAS-TV, Channel 8 new anchor Dave Courvoisier; Jeff Gale, chairman of Niche Media; Ken Henderson, CEO of BEST Agency; Gregory T.H. Lee, chairman and CEO of Eureka Casinos; artist Jerry Misko; chef Rick Moonen; Sam Nazarian, CEO of SLS Hotel and Casino; Tao Group marketing executive Mike Snedegar; attorney David Straus, and Stevenson Sylvester of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Mercedes Martinez of Mix 94.1’s “Mark and Mercedes in the Morning” radio show returns as emcee and presenter.
The event, which starts at 6 p.m., benefits Keep Memory Alive. Tickets are $125. Information: keepmemoryalive.org or call 702-263-9797.
FUTURE LEGENDS
Credit an assist to Bernie Fratto of ESPN 1100 for this NCAA tournament tidbit: Cal Poly, which made the tourney field with the worst record (13-19) before beating Texas Southern, 81-69, in Wednesday’s First Four game, had a pair of future superstars on its 1976 baseball team.
Ozzie Smith, a 15-time Major League Baseball All-Star and winner of 13 consecutive Gold Gloves, went into the Hall of Fame at Cooperstown in 2002.
Danny Gans took a different route to fame after a detour. When an injury cut short his baseball career, he became a Las Vegas headliner as a vocal impressionist.
Turns out they were junior college roommates before going to Cal Poly.
Gans died May 1, 2009, at the height of his headliner career in Las Vegas. He was 52.
THE SCENE AND HEARD
Some Las Vegas characters are all over some upcoming episodes of “The Millionaire Matchmaker” hosted by Patti Stanger.
Professional sports bettor Dave Oancea and mentalist Gerry McCambridge are on the March 27 premiere on Bravo.
Former Tiger Woods mistress Rachel Uchitel is back on the market and featured on the April 3 episode. Uchitel got married in 2011 after the Woods scandal and had a daughter with former Penn State football star Matt Hahn. But they were divorced in January.
I have a claim-to-fame moment with Uchitel. Before she got involved with Tiger and some top-tier local nightclub execs, she flat turned me down.
Well, not in a romantic way. I showed up at a media event early in Tao nightclub’s existence, and when I got to the door, she turned me away, saying, “Sorry, you’re not on the list.” A door manager overheard the conversation and got me in.
SIGHTINGS
At Culinary Dropout (Hard Rock Hotel) on Thursday, taking in March Madness games: Metta World Peace, formerly known as Ron Artest, being challenged to a dance-off by The Jabbawockeez. The former NBA star, who was wearing Cookie Monster pajamas, joined in and even puppeteered his plush Cookie Monster doll to emulate the iconic dance crew’s moves. Former Mayor Oscar Goodman, flanked by two showgirls and holding his signature martini, showed up and let it be known he had Harvard’s upset of Cincinnati. Others on hand: Strip performer Terry Fator, comedian Eddie Griffin and Carrie St. Louis, who currently portrays Sherrie in “Rock Of Ages” (Venetian). … Artest turned up at Crazy Horse III on Wednesday.
THE PUNCH LINE
“Los Angeles subway workers unearthed prehistoric fossils that are at least 2 million years old. Scientists could tell the fossils were indigenous to L.A. because they were each found clutching a headshot and a smoothie.” — Seth Meyers
Norm Clarke’s column appears Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Reach him at 702-383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find more at normclarke.com. Follow @Norm_Clarke on Twitter. “Norm Clarke’s Vegas” airs Thursdays on the “Morning Blend” on KTNV-TV, Channel 13.
