Jackson-Presley parallels persist
The ironic twist wasn't lost on residents and reporters at Red Rock Country Club on Tuesday.
The expensive home where the late Dr. Elias Ghanem lived overlooks Dr. Conrad Murray's residence, which was crawling with law enforcement officials.
Both celebrity doctors came under severe scrutiny after their famous patients died under a cloud of drug allegations.
Both treated Michael Jackson, although many years apart.
From 1971 to 1976, Ghanem was Elvis Presley's personal physician when The King performed in Las Vegas. When Presley died at age 42 in August 1977, Ghanem and Elvis' longtime Memphis physician, George C. Nichopoulos, battled a public perception that they were enablers.
Murray, who had a practice in Las Vegas until recently, was living in Jackson's leased mansion in Holmby Hills when the King of Pop died June 25 at age 50.
Murray, 56, told investigators that he administered the powerful sedative propofol to the singer within the 24 hours before Jackson's death, a law enforcement official recently told The Associated Press.
Murray's house was searched for more than three hours Tuesday by Drug Enforcement Administration agents and Los Angeles police detectives.
The gated community where Murray lives is popular with many Las Vegas celebrities and VIPs. Former and current residents include former Sheriff Bill Young, impressionist Rich Little, ex-Las Vegas Mayor Jan Jones, former UFC champ Tito Ortiz and porn star Jenna Jameson, illusionist Steve Wyrick and the singing duo Zowie Bowie.
THE SCENE AND HEARD
There were rumblings late Tuesday that a major landlord-tenant relationship was experiencing some tension. Lawyers are being hired, a tipster said. ...
With Privé nightclub officially closed for at least a week, I hear headhunters already are involved in finding new management for the Miami-based parent company The Opium Group. That would suggest managing partners Greg Jarmolowich and Frank Tucker, the nightclub experts, might be part of a shakeup if the hot spot at Planet Hollywood Resort reopens. The Opium Group's bid to keep the license and gain an extension was denied Tuesday by Clark County Business License Director Jacqueline Holloway. Planet Hollywood Resort paid a $500,000 fine this month for not properly overseeing activities at the nightclub. ...
Mayor Oscar Goodman celebrates his 70th birthday Friday under the canopy of the Fremont Street Experience, from 7-10 p.m. at the First Street Stage. A group birthday photo is planned for posterity. His memory is a little fuzzy on what he did 40 years ago on his birthday, when he was a rising mob attorney in Las Vegas, but he's narrowed it down to taking in either Elvis' comeback at The International (now the Las Vegas Hilton) or Judy Garland's concert. It was Elvis' first stage appearance in eight years, and he opened with his big hit "Blue Suede Shoes." ...
I'm heading for the mountain breezes of Colorado today for a five-day getaway. I will be providing Twitter updates at Norm_Clarke throughout the week at normclarke.com.
SIGHTINGS
Andre Agassi, Steffi Graff and their family, dining at Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab (Forum Shops at Caesars) on Tuesday. ... "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" stars George Eads and Laurence Fishburne, shooting scenes at Planet Hollywood Resort on Monday. ... Marty Allen, back at Ciao Ciao Apizza Angelato for the fourth time in a month for his favorite: a Chicago roast beef pizza. He's such a regular they've already named a table after the man who made "Hello dere" a catchphrase back in his heyday. ... Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme, dining with former Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt (now Bono) and Dennis Bono at the Bootlegger Bistro on Saturday.
THE PUNCH LINE
"This (the claim by people who believe President Barack Obama wasn't born in the United States) makes no sense. If Barack Obama was born in Kenya, Madonna would have adopted him by now." -- 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.
