Elvis memories never published

The anniversary of the 1981 Hilton fire on Wednesday sparked memories about longtime Hilton spokesman Bruce Banke and the Elvis Presley book project put on hold by his death.

Don Usherson, former MGM Grand publicist and longtime local entertainment reporter, and I were reminiscing Friday about Banke, a colorful character who died in late 2000 at the age of 64.

It was Banke who walked into an executive board room meeting on Aug. 16, 1977, and interrupted Hilton chairman Barron Hilton to report that Elvis had died.

Moans filled the boardroom, Banke told me in 2000.

For several years before that day in 1977, Banke was working on a book about Elvis' Hilton years, Usherson recalled during lunch at the Red Velvet Café on West Sahara Avenue.

I put in a call Friday to Banke's son, Bryan, a Las Vegan, to see whether the family has considered moving forward on the book project.

His father had collaborated on the book, the son said, with Loanne Parker, the widow of Elvis' manager, Col. Tom Parker.

Some differences arose and the manuscript has been gathering dust since Banke's death.

It is unlikely that the book will go to a publisher for a number of reasons, Bryan Banke said.

Usherson, by the way, is working with Robert Goulet's widow, Vera, on a possible project to honor the legendary baritone. The former Broadway star, a longtime Las Vegan, died Oct. 30, 2007.

THE SCENE AND HEARD

A fracas broke out Thursday among a birthday party of 20 at Vintner Grill, a popular Summerlin eatery whose regulars include U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman and former Mayor Oscar Goodman. According to the Metropolitan Police Department's dispatch logs, officers responded to a call received at 8:43 p.m. from the address. Several police cruisers and an ambulance were dispatched to the scene. ...

Former Clark County District Attorney David Roger will become a regular contributor at KSNV-TV, Channel 3, joining anchor Jim Snyder next week on the 6 p.m. telecast, according to Bob Stoldal, executive vice president of news. Roger recently stepped down to take a job with the Las Vegas Police Protective Association. ...

Wide receiver Victor Cruz, one of the stars for the New York Giants in their Super Bowl victory Sunday over the New England Patriots, is hosting tonight at Tao nightclub (The Venetian).

SIGHTINGS

VH-1, taping its weekly "Top 20 Video Countdown" show throughout Caesars Palace on Friday. Host Jim Shearer feted the No. 1 song with a sparkler-topped cake at Central Michel Richard. The episode will air Feb. 18 and 19. ... Music star Alice Cooper, dining at Spago (Forum Shops at Caesars Palace) on Friday afternoon. Thursday, legendary TV personality Dick Clark was at Spago.

THE PUNCH LINE

"Gary Busey filed for bankruptcy this week. He only has $50,000 in personal assets and $500,000 in personal debt. What is he spending so much money on? Not haircuts, that's for sure." -- 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. Follow Norm on Twitter @Norm_Clarke.