Sinsational Celebrity Tales

A great inside look at the life of Sin City’s very own Ace Insider, Norm Clarke.

The Outpost ~ by Les Gapay
It’s Vegas, baby!
There’s something about the town. The feel, the buzz, the energy, the celebrities, the shows, the people watching, the buffets, the slots, the volcano at the Mirage, the lions at MGM Grand, the shark tank at Mandalay Bay, the fountains at the Bellagio, the Elvis impersonators and the Liberace museum …
Every day, to find out what’s going on in town I check out Norm Clarke’s Vegas Confidential column in the Las Vegas Review-Journal. It gives the latest buzz and gossip about celebrities from Paris Hilton and Britney Spears to Pete Rose and Charles Barkley, where to go to eat, what shows are hot and even breaking news about Sin City …
I found it’s best to find out about goings on about town by reading Norm’s column and now his latest book, the light-hearted Vegas Confidential: Sinsational Celebrity Tales, published by Stephens Press.
Norm has the credentials for the book and column. Alan Feldman, head public relations executive for MGM Mirage, says: “Norm’s is the must-read column every morning.”
In a town overflowing with buzz every day, Norm has great access and owns the inside track on what makes the town tick.

Read more here.

By Erin De Wyn

Tony and Norm: Photo by Megan Edwards, Living Las Vegas

Mention “Bernard Schwartz” and few ears turn to listen, but utter “Tony Curtis” and the four-syllable namesake makes heads turn. Tony Curtis, born Bernard Schwartz, has appeared in over 100 movies with talented stars including Marilyn Monroe and Burt Lancaster.

Our own Norm Clarke had the pleasure of interviewing the spunky film star at the Clark County Library Flamingo branch on Sunday. Over 400 people filled the library theatre (including overflow seating) for this anticipated event. Following a private reception, Curtis answered Norm’s questions with a twinkle in his eye and the dramatic flair of a true Hollywood actor.

An Engaging Conversation: Photo by Megan Edwards, Living Las Vegas

From inside a coffin for his first film to the dance floor beside Yvonne DiCarlo, Curtis spoke with Clarke about his intriguing adventures in his newest book, a memoir entitled American Prince. To the crowd’s delight, Curtis even rose out of his wheelchair to demonstrate his dance moves. Aside from half-jokingly identifying himself as the best on-set kisser (in answer to a question from Clarke), Curtis named Cary Grant and Marilyn Monroe as the actors he admired most.

Once an icon whose very hairstyle was imitated by Elvis Presley, Tony Curtis now spends his time painting and basking in the success of his Hollywood years. After a standing ovation, over 200 people waited in line to have their copies of Curtis’ memoir American Prince, and Norm’s Sinsational Celebrity Tales signed. With the entertaining conversation between Curtis and Clarke and the hard work of the library staff, this event was sensational, to say the least!

Norm Clarke is the “Las Vegas guru of gossip” states Los Angeles Times writer Richard Abowitz in a Sunday Calendar piece. “His column doesn’t just trade in stupid gossip,” states fellow Vegas chronicler Robin Leach in the article. “Norm understands that in Vegas, buildings are the stars, architects are the stars, chefs are the stars, and the whole city is the star. And as a result, he is the No. 1 read person in Vegas.”

In an interview with Abowitz, Norm talks of the “gilded age” of Las Vegas in the past decade, where celebrity excesses and ridiculous spending have been tempered by economic reality. He said being a celebrity gossip columnist in Las Vegas was a daily embarrassment of riches. “The news for the past decade has been the exploding city and celebrity aura that has all made for this city’s success. Now the story is how that is going to be affected”.

Read the article here: Los Angeles Times

Sunday also saw Norm’s former Denver home announcing Sinsational Celebrity Tales. Columnist Bill Husted headlined Norm as the the “guy with all the luck”. Husted wrote “Even when things go wrong for Norm Clarke, they go right. The former Denver sportswriter and columnist lost his right eye as a child. Now his eye patch is his trademark.” He goes on to tell of a years-ago Colorado lottery ticket he wasn’t trying to buy . . . that won.

Read the article here: The Denver Post

Guests of the book launch didn’t leave empty-handed either. Along with a signed copy of Sinsational Celebrity Tales (as well as juicy stories of the night’s festivities) guests took home a bag of goodies from the occasion.
Big thanks to all those who helped make the gift bags so Sinsational: ethel’s chocolate, N8B, Playboy Club, ObliqSound, Luxury Las Vegas, PR Plus, Chippendales, The Real Deal, Passion Parties, Hash House A Go Go, Postrio Restaurant, Randy Cassingham, Corporate Graffiti, Kirvin Doak Communications, and Ago Restaurant.
       

Guests of the book launch didn’t leave empty-handed either. Along with a signed copy of Sinsational Celebrity Tales (as well as juicy stories of the night’s festivities) guests took home a bag of goodies from the occasion.
Big thanks to all those who helped make the gift bags so Sinsational: ethel’s chocolate, N8B, Playboy Club, ObliqSound, Luxury Las Vegas, PR Plus, Chippendales, The Real Deal, Passion Parties, Hash House A Go Go, Postrio Restaurant, Randy Cassingham, Corporate Graffiti, Kirvin Doak Communications, and Ago Restaurant.