Goodman clients miss book launch
Oscar Goodman was leaving his book launch party Thursday when a reporter asked a member of the entourage if any former clients showed up.
“The people you are talking about aren’t expected here,” said Jonathan Ullman, director and CEO of the Mob Museum.
Something about a “Black Book.”
The party moved from Oscar’s Beef, Booze & Broads steakhouse to the museum for the second leg of the launch of Goodman’s memoir, “Being Oscar.”
Goodman was in his element. With oversized martini glass in hand, he welcomed a crowd of several hundred to the old federal courthouse where he represented mob clients.
Among the crowd: former mobsters Joey Cusamano and Vinnie “The Animal” Ferrara.
An Oscar Goodman look-alike contest is set for 3 p.m. Saturday at the Mob Museum. The first 50 people to show up at the Mob Museum at 10 a.m. Saturday could be part of a group photo on the museum steps with Goodman, with everyone wearing Oscar masks.
R.I.P. TONY ROMA’S
Tony Roma’s on East Sahara Avenue, better known for a mob assassination attempt than its ribs in recent years, has closed.
Eagle-eyed KLAS-TV, Channel 8 reporter George Knapp spotted the closed sign Thursday. A call confirmed the phone has been disconnected.
Mob operative Frank “Lefty” Rosenthal survived the car-bombing on Oct. 4, 1982.
Goodman says in his book that he got a call within minutes and, when he arrived at Tony Roma’s parking lot, “it looked like something from those World War II movies where the tanks get blown up.”
Goodman said he was told Rosenthal survived because he reached in the car to turn on the key. “Maybe he was being cautious,” Goodman says .
THE SCENE AND HEARD
Bad-boy Charlie Sheen will be at Sapphire day club from 2-3 p.m. Saturday, after landing the highest appearance fee paid by the club. They aren’t saying how much they doled out to have the fox in the hen house, but it’s definitely one of the best one-hour (or two) gigs ever in Las Vegas. He was to appear over Cinco de Mayo but declined so he could attend the Kentucky Derby. ...
There is comfort food and there’s the entertainment equivalent: performers who make you feel at home. I got that sense of déjà vu Wednesday at The Scintas’ grand opening at The D. It remains a feel-good show with lots of old favorites, like Joe Scinta’s never-gets-old impersonation of Mick Jagger. Definitely a recommend.
SIGHTINGS
Ashton Kutcher, getting a three-hour tour of downtown from Zappos founder Tony Hsieh and one of his executives, Fred Mossler, on Thursday. They surprised diners with stops at EAT and La Comida while checking out Hsieh’s $350 million downtown transformation project. For Kutcher, in town for a wireless convention, “it was an ongoing unfolding cascade of wows,” Hsieh told me by email.
THE PUNCH LINE
“For Memorial Day I’m going to the beach. Nothing gives you more comfort than your lifeguard sitting in the chair texting.” — David Letterman
Norm Clarke’s column appears Sunday, Wednesday and Friday. Reach him at 702-383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find more online at www.normclarke.com. Follow Norm on Twitter @Norm_Clarke.
