Dead profitable: Jackson memorabilia rivals Elvis

Dead profitable: Jackson memorabilia rivals Elvis

Michael Jackson fan Larry Edwards reacts to a bid at Julien's Auction in Planet Hollywood Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. The auction house had expected their Michael Jackson memorabilia to go for around $10,000 - but the pieces went for $205,000. Photo: AP

June 28, 2009 - 3:17PM

Like Elvis before him, Michael Jackson is topping the charts in death as in life.

And the King of Pop is rivalling the King of Rock 'n' Roll in another category as well -- posthumous sales of memorabilia.

Over 45,000 Michael Jackson-related items were being offered for sale on Saturday at online auction house eBay.com, two days after the sudden death of the singer at his rented Beverly Hills home at the age of 50.

They ranged from web domain names -- michaeljacksonmemorial.com, for example -- at hopeful prices of $US1 million ($A1.24 million) or more to copies of US newspapers featuring front-page news of his death for as little as 99 cents.

Of the products offered for sale, nearly 17,500 were music recordings and nearly 17,000 were memorabilia.

EBay's home page displayed a special "Remembering the King of Pop" category offering "Memorabilia, Music, Autographs, Records".

The collectibles for direct sale or auction included Michael Jackson posters, dolls, ticket stubs, concert programs, newspapers, magazines, tote bags, pins, badges, stickers, T-shirts and other clothing.

And, of course, albums, thousands and thousands of albums.

One of the more unusual items listed on eBay was a white glove doubling as an invitation to a "Michael Jackson party". It can be had for $US50,000 ($A62,189) with the money purportedly going to support an orphanage in Kyrgyzstan.

A "rare and original" black felt fedora said to have been autographed by the pop legend himself had attracted 18 bids by late Saturday, the highest at $US9,899 ($A12,312).

An electric guitar also said to have been signed by the singer was being offered for $US10,000 ($A12,438). By late Saturday, it had been either sold or removed from the site.

Dozens of replica red leather jackets like the ones Jackson wore in the music videos of Thriller and Beat It are on sale for prices ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars.

Earlier, a 1984 Michael Jackson Thriller doll had attracted 27 bids with a top offer of $US167.50 ($A208.33).

Thousands of items of Michael Jackson memorabilia were also being offered for sale on online classifieds site Craigslist.

Over at online retail store Amazon.com, the top 15 selling albums were all by Jackson, including two made with his brothers when they were the Jackson 5.

Nine of the top 10 selling albums at Apple's iTunes music store were from the King of Pop with The Essential Michael Jackson leading the way.

Seven of the top 10 songs being downloaded on iTunes were by the singer, with Man in the Mirror the most popular.

The surge in Jackson popularity was not limited to the United States.

Jackson was also set to top the British album chart on Sunday.

His greatest hits album Number Ones was set for top spot and up to half a dozen of the singer's other albums could also make the Top 75, according to the Official Charts Company.

"We always find where a great icon dies that there's a massive uplift in their music sales as fans want to connect and express their grief through the records," said Gennaro Castaldo of retailer HMV.

"We've seen this with people like John Lennon, Elvis, Johnny Cash and Frank Sinatra over the years. With Michael Jackson in particular, he was just on the cusp of a big comeback anyway and we were already beginning to see a lift in sales."

Jackson had been scheduled to play the first of 50 comeback concerts in London on July 13.

Billy Mays DEAD! US Airways OxiCleans Unbuckled Pitchman Liability!

Title developing ...

Billy Mays DEAD! US Airways OxiCleans Unbuckled Pitchman Liability Amidst Grim Reaper Death Week Lotto Scratch-Off!

OxiClean Pitchman Latest Casualty in Grim Reaper Death Week No-Hitter! Billy Mays!
"All of a sudden as we hit...you know...it was just the hardest hit, all the things from the ceiling started dropping. It hit me on the head, but I got a hard head."

Jun 28th 2009 11:50AM - Nichopoulooza

In what will surely go down in history as the most gruesome celebrity-harvest of the 21st century, Nichopoulooza has confirmed that TV pitchman Billy Mays is dead. Found at his home in Tampa, Florida early this morning, after barely surviving a mid-air head wound, which may or may not have been a direct cause of his death. He was 50. [The new dead.]

According to the Tampa PD, the 50-year-old TV pitchman known for his hilarious and ungraceful OxiClean outtakes finally stumbled into a spot he couldn't get out. The unresponsive husband was found dead by his wife Deborah, who thought everything was normal at 7:45 AM, until she realized that he was more unresponsive than usual.

Mays' body has been removed from his home, and in an unusual twist, the OxiClean which Billy pitched may prove to be a major foul for local CSI and forensic examiners, as the sterile environment and orangery scent prohibits usual forensic discovery.

Mays was one of the passengers aboard a plane that landed roughly at Tampa Airport yesterday. He told a local FOX affiliate he was hit on the head by falling items.The FAA is already deflecting blame for the death of Billy Mays -- claiming the legendary TV pitchman wasn't wearing a seat belt when he took a shot to the head during a rough landing. Laura Brown, the FAA spokesperson gave this quote about Billy Mays:

"The passenger needs to wear a seat belt during landing and he didn't"

NOW SHE SAYS SHE DIDN'T SAY IT.

"At this point in time, we cannot have any idea who was or wasn't wearing their seat belt on the plane."

Here's what we know -- Billy Mays was aboard US Airways Flight 1241 flying from Philadelphia, which landed roughly when the front tire blew out as it touched down. After the flight, Billy told FOX 13 in Tampa that something struck him in the head -- here's Billy's actual quote:

"All of a sudden as we hit you know it was just the hardest hit, all the things from the ceiling started dropping. It hit me on the head, but I got a hard head."

FAA says: "The passenger needs to wear a seat belt during landing and he didn't."

A spokesperson for US Airways did not want to comment until more information comes to light.

Billy TWEETED last night on his robotic Twitter [which completely omits any of the other deaths of the last week] saying, "Just had a close call landing in Tampa. The tires blew out upon landing. Stuck in the plane on the runway. You can always count on US Air."

OBITCHATWEETS:
# Just had a close call landing in Tampa. The tires blew out upon landing. Stuck in the plane on the runway. You can always count on US Air. 2:01 PM Jun 27th
#Getting ready to fly back to Tampa from Philly. Monday is the big day (HIP REPLACEMENT NO.3) Keep you posted.9:40 AM Jun 27th
#Just got done shootong a new product with my production company 4 Blind Mice.4:28 PM Jun 26th
#Just finished up a brand new oxi-clean show in Jersey. On my way to Princeton to meet with Arm and Hammer and then to Philly and then hi ...2:59 PM Jun 25th
#Happy Fathers day. Just relaxing with my wife and daughter in Boca. One more show tomorrow and then Conan on Tuesday.2:45 PM Jun 21st

COULD THIS TWEET BE THE ULTIMATE CLUE INTO THE DEATH OF BILLY MAYS? LOOK CLOSELY, INVESTIGATORS! # I am attempting my most dangerous demo to date. I am about to repair a scuba divers punctured air hose and bring him safely back from the ...9:02 AM Jun 20th


He told a local TV station, had just returned from Philadelphia, where he shot a new OxiClean commercial. Mays was at his home around 6:00 PM last night, and according to a source Mays was "acting fine and normal ... he was talking business with his father-in-law."
According to cops, there are no signs of forced entry to the residence and no foul play is suspected.
The Medical Examiner's office is expected to complete the autopsy by tomorrow afternoon.
Billy's wife Deborah just released the following statement:

"Although Billy lived a public life, we don't anticipate making any public statements over the next couple of days. Our family asks that you respect our privacy during these difficult times."

Discovery Channel spokeswoman Elizabeth Hillman released a statement Sunday that reads,

"Everyone that knows him was aware of his larger-than-life personality, generosity and warmth. Billy was a pioneer in his field and helped many people fulfill their dreams. He will be greatly missed as a loyal passionate friend."

~ NICHOPOULOOZA

Billy Mays DEAD! US Airways OxiClean Unbuckled Pitchman Liability Amidst Grim Reaper No-Hitter Discovery Channel Death Week Flight 1241 Philadelphia TAMPA 4 Blind Mice LAURA BROWN Lotto Finale Scratch-Off NICHOPOULOOZA

Billy Mays Dead at 50: A Tribute

Billy Mays Last Tweets! (realBillyMays) on Twitter

1. Just had a close call landing in Tampa. The tires blew out upon landing. Stuck in the plane on the runway. You can always count on US Air.2:01 PM Jun 27th from txt
       
2. Getting ready to fly back to Tampa from Philly. Monday is the big day (HIP REPLACEMENT NO.3) Keep you posted.9:40 AM Jun 27th from txt
       
3. Just got done shootong a new product with my production company 4 Blind Mice.4:28 PM Jun 26th from txt
       
4. Just finished up a brand new oxi-clean show in Jersey. On my way to Princeton to meet with Arm and Hammer and then to Philly and then hi ...2:59 PM Jun 25th from txt
       
5. Just got done with the Tonight Show. Had a great time. The episode airs tonight9:21 PM Jun 23rd from txt
       
6. Just got to Conan's studio. About to go to the pre-pro meeting.5:47 PM Jun 23rd from txt
       
7. Happy Fathers day. Just relaxing with my wife and daughter in Boca. One more show tomorrow and then Conan on Tuesday.2:45 PM Jun 21st from txt
       
8. I am attempting my most dangerous demo to date. I am about to repair a scuba divers puntured air hose and bring him safely back from the ...9:02 AM Jun 20th from txt
       
9. Today is the Big Mighty Brand Shoot. Keep you posted.6:36 AM Jun 19th from txt
       
10. One commercial down two to go. Tomorrow is the big one the brand new Mighty Product and this one will be the Mightiest of them all I gua ...1:32 PM Jun 18th from txt
        
11. Was just on the .MJ Morning Show live with my son and brother inlaw Dan promoting Pitchmen3:26 PM Jun 17th from txt
        
12. On my way to Boca Raton to shoot 3 commercials back to back and then straight to LA to do the The Conan Show the 23rd7:23 AM Jun 16th from txt
        
13. On my way back home to Tampa The NYC people are the greatest.7:25 AM Jun 15th from txt
        
14. The Big Apple BBQ was a great time oxiclean was a hit one more day to go then back to tampa.7:32 PM Jun 13th from txt
        
15. In the Big Apple working on a book deal3:08 PM Jun 10th from txt
        
16. Back in Tampa. I hope you'll all watch Pitchmen tonight at 10pm Eastern time. A couple of big announcements coming soon.6:07 PM Jun 3rd from web
        
17. On my way to greenville south carolina5:52 PM May 30th from txt
        
18. Big Kaboom shoot today.2:30 PM May 27th from txt
        
19. Getting rained out1:06 PM May 25th from txt

Billy Mays (realBillyMays) on Twitter

Pitchman Billy Mays Found Dead | TMZ.com

Pitchman Billy Mays Found Dead

Posted Jun 28th 2009 11:50AM by TMZ Staff

TMZ has confirmed TV pitchman Billy Mays was found dead today in his home in Tampa, Florida early this morning.

According to the Tampa PD, the 50-year-old TV pitchman was found unresponsive by his wife Deborah at 7:45 AM.

TMZ has learned Mays' body has already been removed from his home.

Mays had just returned from Philadelphia, where he shot a new OxiClean commercial. He was a passenger aboard a plane that suffered a blown front tire upon landing. He told a local TV station, "All of a sudden as we hit you know it was just the hardest hit, all the things from the ceiling started dropping. It hit me on the head, but I got a hard head."

We're told Mays was at his home around 6:00 PM last night, and according to a source Mays was "acting fine and normal ... he was talking business with his father-in-law."

According to cops, there are no signs of forced entry to the residence and no foul play is suspected.

The Medical Examiner's office is expected to complete the autopsy by tomorrow afternoon.

Billy's wife Deborah just released the following statement: "Although Billy lived a public life, we don't anticipate making any public statements over the next couple of days. Our family asks that you respect our privacy during these difficult times."

Discovery Channel spokeswoman Elizabeth Hillman released a statement Sunday that reads, "Everyone that knows him was aware of his larger-than-life personality, generosity and warmth. Billy was a pioneer in his field and helped many people fulfill their dreams. He will be greatly missed as a loyal andcompassionate friend."

Story developing ...

Pitchman Billy Mays Found Dead | TMZ.com