Prominent lawyer pulled out of a hat
Comedy magician Mac King and his producer Bill Voelkner have retained a Las Vegas attorney who is no stranger to defending prominent entertainment figures.
Mark Tratos confirmed Tuesday that he has been hired by King and Voelkner to represent them in their legal tiff with fellow comedy magician Nathan Burton.
In his September countersuit in District Court, Burton alleged that King, a longtime headliner at Harrah's, and Voelkner attempted to defraud him.
Voelkner had sued Burton 1½ years ago, alleging breach of contract over a ticket sales revenue-sharing agreement that resulted in the loss of $173,000.
Tratos said Burton and his mother, Nancy, have "resisted efforts" to be deposed or speak under oath.
"Anyone who has worked with Mac King or knows his reputation," Tratos said, would find Burton's "outrageous" allegations "beyond the pale and over the top sensationalism."
Tratos said Burton is guilty of trying to litigate in the media.
Tratos has defended magician David Copperfield, artist Peter Lik and late Oscar winner Anthony Quinn and has represented the estates of Marilyn Monroe, Orson Welles and James Dean.
WHACK JOBS
The Oktoberfest run ends this weekend at the Hofbrauhaus with a whack, not a whimper.
Getting whacked in Las Vegas has a whole new meaning at Hofbrauhaus. It happens about 300 times a night during busy times.
That's the average number of people who pay for a spanking with a wooden paddle.
The purely U.S. phenomenon started about seven years ago when a server was offered a tip if she spanked a customer with the paddle normally used to present shots.
"It took off like wildfire," said Klaus Gastager, one of the co-owners of the 4510 Paradise Road replica of Munich's famous beer hall.
It has become so popular that on any given night you can hear the crackle of cheek-stinging whacks every few minutes followed by rowdy roars from onlookers.
One night turned into a marathon spankfest when Fujitsu, a Japanese computer giant, bought out the Hofbrauhaus for a party of 450.
"The party started at 6, and by 6:30 the CEO got the first spanking," Gastager said.
"They did shots-only for three straight hours: Jagermeister, apple schnapps, pear brandy," Gastager said.
That tradition would never catch on in Munich, according to Gastager.
"A German would not allow a spanking in public," Gastager said. "But we don't do the chicken dance either in Germany.
"But this is Vegas," he said. "It's the only place where you can spank someone, and they don't call the cops, and they pay you and say 'Thanks!' "
THE SCENE AND HEARD
Pop star Katy Perry is performing at President Barack Obama's campaign stop today at Doolittle Park in Las Vegas. Doors open at 6 p.m.
SIGHTINGS
Robert De Niro, shooting a scene for "Last Vegas" on the Fremont Street Experience on Monday. Out on the Strip, co-star Michael Douglas had a scene in front of the Bellagio fountains. The movie also stars Morgan Freeman, Mary Steenburgen and Kevin Kline. ... Eva Longoria, dining at Julian Serrano Restaurant (Aria) on Monday after watching the presidential debate. Her representative confirmed on Tuesday that Longoria had ended her three-month relationship with New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez. ... Zac Efron and "Beacher's Madhouse" producer Jeff Beacher, in a group dining at Restaurant Joel Robuchon (MGM Grand).
THE PUNCH LINE
"Latest polls among registered voters show
6 percent are undecided. Pick one, come on! Those are the guys you see in Baskin-Robbins asking for free samples." - David Letterman
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.
