Catalog offers Jackson insights

Michael Jackson has until Tuesday to claim a handful of personal items he doesn't want auctioned off.

Vegas Confidential has obtained a copy of the auction catalog, which contains listings of items that Jackson may have fought to keep out of the public domain through legal challenge last week.

More than 1,000 items, among 30,000 owned by a Florida luggage company executive, are on the auction block May 30-31 at the Hard Rock Hotel.

Richard Altomare, who owns the collection, told me Saturday during a Bon Appetit magazine wine dinner at Wynn Las Vegas that he's already received an offer of $75 million for the collection. He's insured the Las Vegas-bound items alone for $150 million, he said.

Among the items shown in the catalog: a sketch of a young boy's profile with what was described in the listing as "soft, cascading curls and delicate features."

It was titled "boy," dated 1994 and signed "Michael Jackson" in what appeared to be his signature flourishing cursive.

The most personal item appeared to be No. 771. The listings described it as handwritten notes on lined yellow paper that were penned by Jackson "during a difficult period in his personal life. They make reference to monetary, spousal and child support figures and he writes, 'I'm hurting inside' at the bottom."

A spiral notebook that belonged to Jackson is "filled with personal notes, signatures and ink line drawing" that represent Jackson's private side, according to the listings.

Janet Jackson would undoubtedly find Item No. 817 highly personal.

It is a certified copy of the marriage certificate of her Sept. 7, 1984, wedding in Grand Rapids, Mich., to singer James Curtis DeBarge. Both parties denied that marriage for years. A friend of Janet's, in a handwritten note dated Sept. 11, 1984, discusses the wedding.

There are copies of Michael Jackson's $30 million purchase in 1988 of Sycamore Valley Ranch near Los Olivas, Calif. He renamed it Neverland Ranch.

Another item is a single sheet of white paper with the MJJ Productions logo and a typewritten note to Tito Jackson, reading "Dear Tito, a kind expression at the right moment is like soothing oil to one's skin. Your honesty was very moving on the phone today. Love MJ" The "MJ" is in red felt-tipped pen.

For pure sentimental value, it's hard to imagine that Jackson would part with Item No. 853.

"This Western Union telegram," according to the listing, "is dated 07/06/84 and reads: 'Dear Michael, Thinking about you this evening please try not to make an ass of yourself and please for God's sake don't fall in the orchestra pit, Marlon.'" The return address in Beverly Hills was Marlon Brando's home.

WYNN TAKES JAB

Steve Wynn, with an audience of major vintners under his roof, couldn't resist taking a swipe at his competition.

During opening remarks Saturday at Bon Appetit magazine's Vine and Dine dinner at Wynn Las Vegas, co-host Wynn told a story of running into a friend who mentioned the Bellagio, which Wynn opened in 1998.

In that conversation, Wynn related that he referred to the Bellagio as "the practice hotel," meaning the $1.6 billion Bellagio was just a warm-up for Wynn Las Vegas, which opened two years ago at a cost of $2.6 billion.

It wasn't the only breathtaking moment of the night. It was preceded by Bon Appetit editor in chief Barbara Fairchild's startling omission of Elaine Wynn, who accompanied her husband to the podium.

SIGHTINGS

NBA star Shaquille O'Neal, UFC champion Chuck Liddell, actress Roselyn Sanchez, NBA player Brevin Knight of the Charlotte Bobcats and Playboy Playmate/DJ Colleen Shannon, partying Saturday at Pure (Caesars Palace).

THE PUNCH LINE

"I only wish Regis were alive to see this." -- From David Letterman's Top Ten Things Bob Barker Can Say Now That He's Retiring.

Norm Clarke can be reached at 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find additional sightings and more online at www.normclarke.com.