Las Vegas Weekly

September 3, 2009 · 8 AM

Las Vegas residents set to attend Michael Jackson burial today

By Robin Leach

Pop star Michael Jackson waves to fans as he leaves a downtown Tokyo U.S. Army heliport for the U.S. Army base in Zama, near Tokyo, for a friendly visit on March 10, 2007.

Photo: Itsuo Inouye/The Associated Press

Michael Jackson’s sister LaToya and his estranged father Joe Jackson, who both live here in Las Vegas, will be at Forest Lawn in Glendale, Calif., for this early evening’s burial of the King of Pop, a little more than two months after his June 25 death. Gladys Knight, who also lives here, and Aretha Franklin will sing at the 7 p.m. internment service, and another Vegas resident, Smokey Robinson, might also attend.

Yesterday was a heartbreaking day for the family as Michael’s Vegas home, where he kept many possessions including three Rolls-Royces, was cleaned out. The contents, after locks were changed, were moved to a storage facility in Los Angeles before being cataloged for a tour of his memorabilia.

Photo: Coast Casinos

Gladys Knight.

The first stop of the massive displays, including many items added from Neverland Ranch, will be at the 02 Arena in London, where he would have performed the 50-concert run of the This Is It shows. As Vegas DeLuxe has previously reported, I’ve been reliably told that Las Vegas will be one of the other two cities to showcase the museum’s memorabilia.

Expect a media mob scene at the burial as Diana Ross also is set to be a guest. Michael’s final resting place at Forest Lawn is where dozens of Hollywood stars are buried, including Clark Gable, Jean Harlow and Carole Lombard. Time described Forest Lawn as the “New World’s Westminster Abbey,” and the mausoleum features replicas of Michelangelo’s statues of David and Moses. There also is a stained-glass reproduction of Leonardo da Vinci’s “Last Supper.”

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

Diana Ross at the Paris Las Vegas.

There were unconfirmed rumors last night that Michael’s mother, Katherine, who is the decision-maker of everything connected to Michael’s burial today, has purchased 12 spaces there, just 20 minutes from her Encino home, reportedly so members of the entire family will be buried near one another.

Incidentally, the turnout for the CineVegas screening of Michael Jackson’s Moonwalker, after our Celebrity Star presentation at the Brenden Theatres in the Palms last Saturday, was so large, a second screening was immediately added. My celebrity journalist friend Steve Friess, who produced the Michael Jackson tribute concert before the presentation, moderated a Q&A with Michael’s co-star Kelly Parker and the film’s choreographer, Vincent Paterson.

Photo: Courtesy

A clip from the song "Smooth Criminal" from the 1988 Michael Jackson film Moonwalker.

Questions relating to Michael’s familiar armband, his Sunday dance rehearsal sessions and the miracle of “the lean” in “Smooth Criminal” were all answered. If you missed the incredible Palms event, you can hear the entire podcast now 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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