Las Vegas Weekly

October 26, 2009 · 3 PM

Strip Scribbles: Steve Wynn and Garth Brooks go after ticket scalpers

By Robin Leach

Party on, Wynn. Party on, Garth.

Photo: Steve Marcus

I hope you followed our real-time Twitter reports yesterday as a furious Steve Wynn and Garth Brooks began taking action against ticket scalpers. They’ve already put unauthorized brokers advertising $700 first-night tickets for sale on notice that the tickets will be refused when presented.

They plan on instituting an ID system for legitimate ticket buyers who purchased directly for $143 face value, and they’ve already identified one ticket seller they intend to prosecute who used 43 credit cards to purchase up to six tickets apiece!

It’s war, and the hotel mogul plans to stop the ticket brokers cold by punishing their customers who didn’t get tickets directly from the box office or online from the hotel. Garth is adamant that nobody pays more than the agreed-upon ticket price he set with Steve.

My friend Joanne Downey, who runs Las Vegas Celebrity Services here, has rallied fans of Garth now that the country king has come out of retirement. She’s organizing a tribute to the world’s biggest-selling solo artist. For more information, go to LasVegasCelebrityServices.com.

Photo: Denise Truscello/WireImage

Terry Fator.

*Mirage headliner Terry Fator hosted the Nevada Arthritis Walk over the weekend at Discovery Park in Henderson in support of his sister Debi Fator, this year’s Arthritis Walk Honorary Chair. Since winning America’s Got Talent in 2007, Terry has been a voice of awareness for this debilitating disease, as Debi was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis when she was only 18. Part of his $1 million winnings from AGT Season 2 was spent on treatments for Debi.

Participants chose a one- or three-mile course, and proceeds will support research to find a cure and develop programs and services for the 430,000 adults and children in Nevada living with the chronic pain and disability. Terry also will host a benefit concert, “Voices for a Cure,” on Nov. 15 at the Terry Fator Theatre in The Mirage. A limited number of VIP tickets are available, which include an after-show reception with Terry and Debi. For more information, call (702) 367-1626.

Photo: Kirvin Doak Communications

Jackie Gaughan celebrates his 89th birthday at the El Cortez with showgirls and an Elvis Presley impersonator.

Photo: Glenn Pinkerton/Las Vegas News Bureau

Jackie Gaughan celebrates his 89th birthday at the El Cortez with showgirls and an Elvis Presley impersonator.

*Congratulations and Happy Birthday to gaming legend Jackie Gaughan, who celebrated his 89th birthday with an Elvis Presley impersonator, showgirls and other guests at his El Cortez downtown. Glenn Pinkerton of Las Vegas News Bureau snapped the official birthday photo.

Photo: Jeff Beacher

Jeff Beacher and friends.

*It looks as if the first Halloween party of this week leading up to Oct. 31 will take place tonight, and its titled “XS Hollywood” at XS in the Encore. Staff and patrons will dress as their favorite movie characters. There will be a paparazzi pit and a Walk of Fame. The costume contest, which will produce winners in three categories (sexiest, best in theme and best overall), will award $25,000 in cash and prizes. Las Vegas showman Jeff Beacher of Beacher’s Madhouse is hosting the event.

*It was a totally unexpected but much appreciated surprise! More than 100 Marines hung out in the Hard Rock Hotel’s Poker Lounge waiting for the U.S. Marine Corps Ball to get underway last Thursday. One unidentified patron announced that he was buying drinks for all of them for two hours!

*My longtime travel expert friend Peter Greenberg invited me on his worldwide radio show as a guest over the weekend when he broadcast live from The Venetian. When I’d finished my two segments, famed TV producer Norman Lear jumped into my hot seat, and Valentino star chef Luciano Pellegrini followed Norman. Peter and I go back more than 30 years when he was here in Las Vegas producing the Freddie Prinze TV movie -- the late father and not the son married to Sarah Michelle Gellar! During Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous, our paths often crossed in the world’s far-flung luxury destinations.

Photo: Cirque du Soleil

Carlos Mencia with cast members of Mystere at Treasure Island.

Photo: Erik Kabik/Retna/www.erikkabikphoto.com

LeAnn Rimes performs live at Fremont Street Experience.

Star surveillance

Golf sensation Tiger Woods was on one side of the Bank in the Bellagio enjoying cigars and vodka cocktails, while comedian Carlos Mencia was celebrating his birthday at an opposite VIP table. Before the Bank, Carlos and his pals hit nearby Stack for dinner, and tequila shots were flying in both places in pretty rowdy quantities! … After her early morning workout in Steve Wynn’s Encore spa, singer LeAnn Rimes had a solo breakfast at Society Cafe. She was quite happy seated at the front of the restaurant, just named one of the Best New Restaurants in America by Esquire, and said hello to passers-by. … Paris Hilton left her Hard Rock Hotel headquarters to visit a pet store to see the exotic monkeys. She and boyfriend Doug Reinhardt also enjoyed a romantic dinner at Rare 120. When they went to Fright Dome at Circus Circus, they rode the bumper cars before taking part in a “grand entrance” -- arriving in the Fright Dome custom hearse with owner Jason Egan in the driver’s seat. “Had another amazing weekend in Vegas! Oh how I love it here!” said Paris as she left for Hollywood last night. … The boys from Recycled Percussion of America’s Got Talent Live at Planet Hollywood went to X Burlesque at the Flamingo last night. … Rockers Alice Cooper and Steve Miller and friends, including my manager pal Shep Gordon, had dinner at Iron Chef Kerry Simon’s restaurant Simon in Palms Place and enjoyed steaks and mac and cheese. … Next lunchtime, shock comic Andrew Dice Clay was in with friends and revealed that he’s mulling a regular mini-residency here on the Strip. … Peepshow star Holly Madison and celebrity blogger Perez Hilton were spotted together dining with friends at Lavo in the Palazzo. They enjoyed the prosciutto service, Caesar salads and Kobe meatballs and finished with Oreo Zeppole and strawberry shortcake. … TV host and actor Jason Acuna, better known as Wee-Man, partied at The Playboy Club inside Palms. He was at a VIP table sipping red wine before moving over to play blackjack with his friends.

Tonight’s tips

The Hills reality star Lo Bosworth joins Samsung to host the debut of the Rogue, with special appearances by Boys Like Girls and Cobra Starship at Jet in The Mirage. It’s the first West Coast party in a series of exclusive events to preview the new handset. … Veteran standup comic Richie Minervini leads a lineup of Ray Garvey and ventriloquist Vince Dantone with George at the Riviera Comedy Club through Sunday. Ray is a former New York City cop who upon retirement turned to comedy and has been cast in every single Woody Allen movie! Vince was the winner of ABC’s America’s Funniest People.

Photo: Scott Harrison/Retna/www.harrisonphotos.com

Joe Jackson.

Tomorrow’s teases

It’s the day that Michael Jackson’s This Is It opens in theaters around the world, and one of the first screenings will be right here at the Palms with his father, Joe Jackson, hosting the Brenden Theatres’ premiere and a Thriller party afterward. Joe will be presented with a celebrity star, and I’ll emcee the ceremonies. Plus, we’ve got a photo gallery of new pop teen idol Justin Bieber, who brought traffic to a standstill on the Strip with fans lining up for blocks, and The City star Whitney Port’s all-girl party at the Bank.

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.

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— From Vegas Deluxe

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