Burton’s mom gets restraining order
Hell hath no fury like a legal battle between the camps of two comedy magician headliners.
A 30-day temporary restraining order has been granted on behalf of the mother of Planet Hollywood comedy magician Nathan Burton.
Nancy Burton filed for the TRO on Oct. 1 against Bill Voelkner, producer and business partner for Harrah's headliner Mac King.
Reached Thursday, Nancy Burton said Voelkner became enraged during a discussion in her son's dressing room at the Flamingo in July 2009.
She added, "He showed up and said, 'I need money. I need money.' When I said, 'Can we sit down with Mack and discuss this,' he went off."
Voelkner alleged in an earlier lawsuit that Nathan Burton owes about $173,000 stemming from a revenue sharing agreement tied to ticket sales.
Burton contends he had a tentative agreement and "substantive terms" in place with Don Marrandino, then president of the Flamingo.
Nancy Burton said she was not successful in serving Voelkner with a TRO until he showed up in court this month and pleaded guilty to battery charges in an altercation with a former employee, Zach Risen.
"I said we're all in danger if he's going to beat that kid up," Nancy Burton said.
NEON CRUSADERS
On a nostalgia-tinged night, an estimated 300 friends, supporters and neon crusaders cheered the latest addition to the downtown revival.
They gathered Tuesday for the lighting ceremony at the Neon Museum's outdoor Neon Boneyard. The grand opening is Saturday.
For Fred Doumani, the memories met him at the front door, where visitors enter the stunningly restored La Concha motel lobby.
"When I walked in, it felt just like when my dad opened it in 1961," Doumani said.
Rudy Crisostomo, former art director at YESCO, felt like he was transported back in time.
For 30 years, Cristostomo, now 77, created massive neon masterpieces. His speciality: porte cocheres, during an era when "everybody was competing for the largest" after Circus Circus set the standard. His last project was the porte cochere at New York-New York.
Former Lt. Gov. Lonnie Hammargren, known for his eclectic collection of memorabilia, said he would be donating some of his old Vegas signs to the Boneyard.
As much as he coveted the La Concha's facade, and thought he had a deal to acquire it from the Doumanis, Hammargren said it found the perfect home.
Downtown advocate Dayvid Figler predicts the neon attractions will soon join the "Pawn Stars" and the Mob Museum as major downtown destinations.
Also among the crowd: Barbara Molasky; Danielle Kelly; Bill Marion; Mayor Carolyn Goodman; longtime TV executive Bob Stoldal, who loves his history almost as much as life itself; uber-hotel designer Roger Thomas; Vince Alberta of the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority; Mob Museum executive director Jonathan Ullman, and El Cortez executive and neon aficionado Alex Epstein.
SIGHTINGS
Singer Katy Perry, with her parents, evangelists Keith and Mary Hudson, and her 91-year-old grandmother, Ann, a longtime Las Vegas resident, at President Barack Obama's campaign rally Wednesday at Doolittle Park. Obama told the crowd a kiss from the grandmother left some lipstick on him. "So fortunately somebody wiped it off before Michelle saw. I'm just telling you, you might get me in trouble." Perry's parents are speaking Sunday at Casa de Dios at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. ...
Olympic swimming star Michael Phelps, picking up DJ tips from Steve Aoki on Monday at XS nightclub.
THE PUNCH LINE
"Actually, do you know why the president is here tonight? Do you know the real reason? To talk to NBC about canceling 'The Apprentice.' " - Jay Leno
Norm Clarke can be reached at 702-383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find additional sightings and more online at www.normclarke.com. Follow Norm on Twitter @Norm_Clarke.
