Luxe Life Blog
Photo Gallery: Michael Jackson star presentation at the Palms
George Maloof, Joe Jackson and Johnny Brenden.
Photo: Denise Truscello/WireImage
It was a ceremony that had been planned for two years, and it wasn’t set to take place until after King of Pop Michael Jackson had completed his 50-show run of his This Is It concerts in London’s O2 Arena. But his June 25 death changed the planning, and yesterday on what would have been his 51st birthday, we carried out the plans.
Michael’s father, Joe Jackson, told me: “I wish he was here to see this take place. As you said, it took two years to get this to what we are doing now. But I am sure he is looking down at us and is happy that it came to be.”
Palms hotel owner George Maloof and Brenden Theatres owner Johnny Brenden presented the Celebrity Star to Joe. LaToya Jackson, who had promised to attend with her father, was delayed unexpectedly in Los Angeles, and her return flight to Las Vegas arrived too late for her to reach the Palms on time.
I hosted the event, which attracted a large turnout of TV cameras and press photographers. We had a second ceremony upstairs in the Brenden Celebrity Suite, where Joe was presented with an amazing, museum-sized black leather and glass frame containing unique portraits of his son.
George Maloof, Joe Jackson and Johnny Brenden.
“Michael used to hang out here in my office,” Johnny told me. “When he was living here in Las Vegas for two years, he’d always come to see the movies -- sometimes with a bodyguard and sometimes with his children. We’d sneak him into the theater as the lights went down, and he’d be sitting there right in the audience with nobody recognizing him or bothering him. He liked that. He was always polite, charming and never demanding. It was so normal for him to be in my office all that time I forgot to ask him for a photo or an autograph!”
Joe Jackson.
George added: “Michael stayed here at the Palms for a while with his family. We kept that a very good secret. He did several of his tracks here at the Palms recording studios, and mostly that was kept well out of the public glare. He liked being quiet and anonymous. He was a great guest. We have good memories of him here at the Palms, and it’s great we now have his Celebrity Star on the property.”
A rare screening of Michael’s film Moonwalker organized by our colleagues and friends at CineVegas took place at the Brenden Theatres after the presentations. Choreographer Vincent Paterson, co-star Kelly Parker, director Colin Chilvers and other movie collaborators took part in a Q&A session.
Joe Jackson, Robin Leach and Johnny Brenden.
Joe, who had a late lunch at chef Kerry Simon’s Simon in Palms Place and who wanted to visit XS at Steve Wynn’s Encore last night, summed up for me: “Today was only about Michael’s birthday and the legacy of his music. We leave the other headlines for another time. He was remembered on his birthday for his music, his creativity and his entertaining. You also mentioned, Robin, about his charity. His Heal the World Foundation supported 39 charities with millions of dollars that he donated. He got that recognition today on what would have been his 51st birthday. That’s the most important thing today. He would have been very proud. He loved Las Vegas, and this city has been very good to our family and will continue to be.”
Vegas DeLuxe will post our full coverage tomorrow of the incredible tribute concert yesterday at The Pearl Concert Theater in the Palms, with Holly Madison and Terry Fator performing, along with the casts of numerous Strip headline shows. It was recorded by TV cameras for a future DVD, and the producers, Erich Bergen of Jersey Boys and my celebrity journalist colleague Steve Friess, confirmed that the event raised more than $100,000 for Clark County Schools’ music development for students.
Michael Jackson's Celebrity Star at the Brenden Theatres in the Palms.
For a real-time account of the concert, go to my Twitter page HERE.
Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.
Follow Robin Leach on Twitter HERE.
Follow Vegas DeLuxe on Twitter HERE.
Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter HERE.
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