Some ‘Pawn Stars’ items not for sale
As fans of the hit reality show "Pawn Stars" already know, you can buy or sell just about anything at the Gold & Silver Pawn store.
A nun came in one day to sell her collection of Hummel figurines.
Remember frenetic painter Denny Dent and his "Two-Fisted Art Attack" pieces that sometimes sold for a couple hundred bucks? Since his death in 2004, the value of his artwork has soared.
One is on sale at the pawn shop for $30,000, and Rick Harrison sold another to fellow "Pawn Star" Austin "Chumlee" Russell for $3,500.
There are Olympic gold medals and diamond-laden rings from recent Super Bowls.
The latter are among items listed in Chapter 14, titled "Not For Sale," in Harrison's new book, "License to Pawn: Deals, Steals, and My Life at the Gold & Silver."
Old Vegas fans might be surprised to learn that a beaver fur hat owned by Benny Binion, legendary casino owner and founder of the World Series of Poker, is among Harrison's not-for-sale artifacts.
Harrison was in his office one night when an employee wanted to know how much to offer a customer for the Stetson. Harrison gave it a quick look and said $50.
A month later, while processing inventory, Harrison opened a small carrying case and was preparing to put it on eBay for $100 when he saw a Frontier Airline sticker with the name "Lester B. Binion."
Harrison pulled the hat off the eBay list and had Binion's daughter, Becky, come in to check it out. She confirmed it was the real deal.
The Stetson represents a rough-and-tumble era in the city's history, Harrison said, "and it's staying in the shop as long as I have a say over it."
THE SCENE AND HEARD
Kara Kelley, former CEO of the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce, has joined the board of directors for the Las Vegas Museum of Organized Crime & Law Enforcement, aka The Mob Museum.
"Absinthe" ringmaster Voki Kalfayan, who rocks as The Gazillionaire, returns Aug. 2 after six weeks' leave to fulfill a commitment with Cirque du Soleil's "Quidam" as a clown. He previously worked as a clown in "Quidam," one of Cirque's traveling arena shows, and with "O" at Bellagio. Matt Morgan has been a solid fill-in for Kalfayan.
MAY I RECOMMEND
Best outdoor Strip views of the Fourth of July weekend fireworks Sunday from Caesars Palace: Cabo Wabo patio (Planet Hollywood); Chateau Nightclub and Gardens (Paris); Comme Ca and Marquee decks (Cosmopolitan); ghostbar's and Moon nightclub's decks, (Palms); Lavo terrace (Palazzo); Pure terrace (Caesars); the Stratosphere's observation deck; Tao Beach (Venetian); and Voodoo Lounge (Rio). Plus: Las Vegas 51s-Colorado Springs Sky Sox, Cashman Field, 7:05 p.m. Sunday.
SIGHTINGS
New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez, hanging out in ghostbar (Palms) Wednesday with N9ne Steakhouse general manager Jesse Shen. ... International soccer star Samir Nasri, belatedly celebrating his 24th birthday and a career-high 15 goals for the English club Arsenal at Eiffel Tower Restaurant (Paris Las Vegas) on Wednesday. Shaquille O'Neal, purchasing handbags at Paradiso (Forum Shops at Caesars) for one of his daughters over the weekend, plus some shoes at Shooz, also at the Forum Shops.
THE PUNCH LINE
"Decide if the next step is 'Dancing With the Stars' or 'Celebrity Rehab.' " -- From David Letterman's Top Ten Lindsay Lohan Summer Plans
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.
