Deal maker likes his Jackson idea

Las Vegas deal maker Jack Wishna isn't among those who believe a Graceland-style tribute to Michael Jackson would succeed in Las Vegas.

But he's convinced that he has a concept that will work: an attraction that honors Jackson and his music.

"Graceland works because it is where Elvis LIVED and walked around," said Wishna, who persuaded Jackson to end his 18-month self-exile and return to Las Vegas to restart his career.

"Neverland was built for children. Las Vegas was built for adults," he said in an e-mail.

He's not revealing the details on his idea, and he's declined all TV interviews since Jackson died June 25. But he's reached out, he said, to Jackson's estate executors and Sony. The latter bid $50 million to acquire distribution rights to a film based on rehearsal footage for Jackson's "This Is It" concert series.

Wishna, who engineered Wayne Newton's return to Las Vegas in 1999 and Donald Trump's first residential development here, presented Jackson with "the biggest entertainment deal in history" two years ago.

Jackson and Wishna would have been co-producers. Jackson declined and later decided to launch a career comeback in London with entertainment giant AEG.

"I would like very much to complete the last project I created and worked on," said Wishna.

R.I.P. BUDD SCHULBERG

Budd Schulberg has his local fans, none bigger than Gene Kilroy, a longtime member of Muhammad Ali's inner circle.

Schulberg, the famed screenwriter, TV producer, novelist and sports writer, died last week at age 95.

Schulberg won an Academy Award for best screenplay in 1954 for "On the Waterfront," starring Marlon Brando, who also won an Oscar for his portrayal of boxer Terry Malloy.

Kilroy fondly recalls a breakfast with Schulberg at Bagelmania, 855 E. Twain, not too many years ago. Also at the table: former heavyweight champs Floyd Patterson and Ingemar Johansson, who traded the crown during a stirring rivalry in 1959 and 1960.

Patterson and Johansson became great friends and Schulberg "loved talking to them," Kilroy said.

During the breakfast, Kilroy recalls Schulberg, former chief boxing writer for Sports Illustrated, saying, "This is better than getting the Academy Award."

When Johansson got married in Las Vegas, Kilroy arranged it for him. The famed sports painter LeRoy Nieman "was the best man and Budd was an usher," Kilroy said.

TWEET MUSIC TO MY EARS

So forgive me for this shameless plug, but it's Amy Turner's fault.

She's a local computer programmer who also writes the GritstoGlitz.com blog about her move from Tennessee to Las Vegas.

She has an African gray parrot that picks up a lot of her conversation, like "Hey Paul (her husband)" and "Hey babe (Paul's response)."

Turner was taken aback recently when Noah the parrot started saying "Norrrrmm!"

Turner, who keeps track of my neon adventures through my Twitter feed (http://twitter.com/Norm_Clarke), realized that Noah learned that when Turner's PDA text alert chime goes off, "I always say, 'Oh, it's Norm.'"

She added that Noah also babbles a lot. (Insert you own joke here.)

Check it out at Youtube.com (http://www.youtube.com/user/ltturner)

THE SCENE AND HEARD

Please send some positive thoughts Tony Verdugo's way. A local nightlife pioneer of this era and a friend, Tony needs a kidney transplant after contracting e-coli infection July 31. ...

Happy 100th performance to "The Lion King." They were celebrating the milestone Sunday night at Mandalay Bay.

SIGHTINGS

Bill Clinton, entering Nero's Steak & Seafood at Caesars Palace on Sunday night. ... Gov. Jim Gibbons, a guest of country singer Alan Jackson at his concert at the M Resort pool on Saturday. ... Jillian Harris and Ed Swiderski, the newly engaged couple from ABC's "The Bachelorette," dining on Lavo's terrace Friday after spending much of the week in town amid reports that he was cheating on her. ... "Gossip Girl" star Jessica Szohr, celebrating her birthday at Tao Beach on Saturday with her brother Nick to celebrate his 21st birthday. Her beau and "Gossip Girl" co-star Ed Westwick canceled because of a last-minute filming obligation. ... Louie Anderson, backstage to visit Charo after her show "Charo in Concert" at the Riviera.

THE PUNCH LINE

"Paula Abdul has left 'American Idol.' I suspect the new host, Kara DioGuardi, will have some tough prescriptions to fill." -- Jimmy Kimmel.

Norm Clarke can be reached at (702) 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find additional sightings and more online at www.normclarke.com.