Jack in the box | Michael Jackson in Charlie Chaplin photos | Showbiz|michael jackson | News Of The WorldJACK IN THE BOX
Amazing pictures uncover weird star’s macabre sense of humour
GRUESOME GAG: Jacko, then 21, plays dead in a coffin surrounded by models of notorious killers in Madame Tussaud'sTHIS is the chilling dress rehearsal carried out nearly 30 years before the main event.
On Tuesday, legions of fans will pay their respects at a memorial service and Michael Jackson's body will be buried in a solid bronze casket.
SEE ASTONISHING JACKO 'HAPPY FAMILY' PICS
But today the News of the World publishes an astonishing series of bizarre photos - including one macabre shot of him playing dead in a COFFIN at London's famous Madame Tussaud's waxwork museum.
A RIGHT CHARLIE: Jacko as his hero ChaplinOther pictures that have never been seen before show the King Of Pop dressed as his hero CHARLIE CHAPLIN on a visit to Britain when he was 21.
One shot has Jacko in typical coy Chaplin pose with black bowler hat and cane. In another he is cowering in a corner between two brick walls.
As our main image shows, in Tussaud's Chamber Of Horrors he slipped into an empty wooden coffin.
To his right are the waxwork models of evil sisters Margaret Higgins and Catherine Flanagan, who were responsible for killing up to 17 people to cash in their life insurance policies in the 1800s. On his left is a mannequin of Catherine Webster, who was hanged in Wandsworth jail in 1879 for murdering her boss.
The pictures were taken by British photographer Tony Prime when the Jackson 5 visited the UK in 1979.
A pal of the photographer said: "Jackson was fascinated by anything weird. He absolutely loved it. When he saw the coffins he just leapt over the barrier and got in the empty one."
ON THE WALLS: As Chaplin on streets of StockwellPrime was the only snapper with the Jacksons on a day they were doing interviews at London's Capital Radio station. It was there that a shy Jacko asked Tony if he was a Londoner because he wanted someone who could tell him where to buy the military-style jackets that were to become his trademark stage outfit.
Thrilled
Tony told him that there was a shop across the street from the radio station and took him there.
The singer then insisted his new friend come with him on a tour of London and both jumped into the white Rolls-Royce the Jacksons were travelling in. Jacko told Tony he was obsessed with Charlie Chaplin and asked him to show him where the comedian was born.
The snapper's pal added: "Jackson was fascinated by the life of Chaplin and wanted to know all he could about where the comic grew up.
SILENT PARTNER: Jacko with Charlie Chaplin model"Tony told him he would take him for a drive around and point out various places related to Chaplin. Then all of a sudden Jackson said he wanted to get dressed up as Chaplin so they took him out and bought him the clothes and a cane."
Then, dressed as his comic hero, Jacko posed on the streets of Stockwell in south London where the silent screen legend was born in 1889.
He was so thrilled with the pictures he asked Tony if he could have a set. The pal added: "It was just one of those magical one-off moments.
"They shared a few fun hours together and the pictures show that, but Tony never heard from him again.
July 5, 2009
Jack in the box | Michael Jackson in Charlie Chaplin photos | Showbiz|michael jackson | News Of The World
Celebrity gossip juicy celebrity rumors Hollywood gossip blog from Perez Hilton
Celebrity gossip juicy celebrity rumors Hollywood gossip blog from Perez HiltonMichael Jackson Rumors: The Best Of The Worst!
Filed under: Michael Jackson
With the absolutely insane amount of media attention given to Michael Jackson this past week and-a-half, certian media outlets are seriously piecing together scraps to come up with stories.
We thought we'd share with you some of the most ridiculous and/or factitious headlines we've recently come across!
Let's get started!
- Michael Jackson Tour: He’ll do shows as a hologram
Reports claim that Michael's father Joe, along with MJ's brothers Jermaine, Tito, Marlon and Jackie, want to tour as the Jackson 5 with their brother Michael performing beside them as a hologram.
It's also being reported that the Jacksons are hoping to have the Michael hologram perform at his own memorial on Tuesday in Los Angeles.
Captain EO revival???
- Jackson's secret girlfriend was his children's former nanny Grace Rwaramba
MJ with a secret girlfriend???
There are media outlets claiming that his kids' former nanny, Grace Rwaramba, was involved in a 3-year secret relationship with the King of Pop and his children even called her "mom". Sources say Jackson and Rwaramba were "more like a married couple" and considered the kids "her babies."
Will she be claiming custody of the children as well????
And, finally…
- Michael Jackson to be buried without his brain
As fake as this sounds, it's reportedly been confirmed by the Los Angeles Coroners Department that Jackson's brain has been removed from his skull to perform neurological tests on the late King of Pop's grey matter. His brain tissue will be examined to reveal any past drug abuse, diseases or if he had ODed in the past.
Neurological tests cannot be performed until two weeks after a person dies because the brain needs to harden, but once the test results are in, the true cause of Jackson's death will finally be known.
Crazy crazy crazy.
Inside Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch
Inside Michael Jackson's Neverland RanchThis 1911 Grosset and Dunlap edition of "Peter Pan: The Story of Peter and Wendy," by J.M.Barrie, with embossed cover and scenes from the photoplay featuring Betty Bronson is valued at $50 - $100.
Julien's Auction House and Michael Jackson have halted sale of contents of Neverland Ranch
Julien's Auction House and Michael Jackson have halted sale of contents of Neverland RanchJulien's Auction House and Michael Jackson have halted sale of contents of Neverland Ranch
Wednesday, April 15th 2009, 8:04 AM
A collection of Michael Jackson's possessions from Neverland Ranch is safe from the auctioneer's gavel now that the pop singer and Julien's Auction House have reached a settlement to their dispute over whether 2,000 items were ever intended for sale.
Specific terms were not disclosed Tuesday. But, in short, Jackson keeps his things, while Julien's keeps its exhibition, which was open to the public and originally meant to promote next week's sale.
"There was so much interest from so many of Jackson's fans that instead of putting the items in the hands of private collectors, Dr. Tohme and Julien's Auction House have made arrangements that will allow the collection to be shared with and enjoyed by Jackson's fans for many years to come," read a joint statement from Jackson spokesman Dr. Tohme R. Tohme and auction organizer Darren Julien.
Jackson's production company, MJJ Productions, sued Julien in early March, seeking to halt the sale by arguing that Jackson hadn't authorized it. A judge blocked one effort by MJJ Productions to cancel it earlier this month, and another was scheduled to hear arguments Wednesday for an injunction.
"I believe both sides are pleased with the resolution," Julien said Tuesday by telephone.
Julien has said he spent $2 million organizing the sale, which another auctioneer estimated could have fetched $12 million after its April 22 start. The exhibition in Beverly Hills costs $20 to attend, and auction catalogues — a $50 single volume and $200, five-volume boxed set — were still selling, Julien said.
The statement also said MJJ Productions and Julien's Auction House would be making a "substantial" donation to MusiCares to benefit artists in need.
Julien said all of Jackson's possessions, which the auction house took directly from the Neverland Ranch property, would be returned to the pop singer. He would not say where they would be taken.
"It's been our hopes to resolve this in the beginning, when the lawsuit was filed," Julien said. "It was in our best interest to resolve it. We continue to have great respect for Michael Jackson. ... I guess you could call it the greatest auction that never happened."
The singer has struggled financially following his arrest in 2003 on charges that he molested a 13-year-old boy. A jury acquitted him of all charges.
Last year he faced foreclosure on Neverland, the 2,500-acre (1,012-hectare) property nestled in the hills of Santa Barbara County's wine country, 120 miles (193 kilometers) northwest of Los Angeles. He was bailed out by Colony Capital, and months later transferred the deed to Neverland to another entity he partially controls.
Jackson plans a series of concerts in London in July that he has said will be his last in the British capital.
Julien has been entrusted to preside over numerous auctions of famous memorabilia. Some recent celebrity sales have included items once belonging to Ozzy Osbourne, Bob Hope and rare behind-the-scenes footage of Marilyn Monroe and Clark Gable on the set of the film "The Misfits."
Michael Jackson's death puts 'concierge doctors' in the spotlight
Michael Jackson's death puts 'concierge doctors' in the spotlight
Michael Jackson's death puts 'concierge doctors' in the spotlight
Sunday, July 5th 2009, 4:27 AM
Dr. Cheryl BryantBruce, M.D., Founder of Elite Personal Physician Services, Inc.
Cheryl BryantBruce, a Los Angeles doctor, flies all over the world to treat her affluent clients and check their wardrobes and homes for health hazards.
Doctors from "MD2" rush to a patient's private jet to give last-minute vaccinations before an exotic vacation.
They are called "concierge doctors," and they carry a small roster of patients and cater to the wealthy or famous.
This elite medical care is in the spotlight since Michael Jackson's cardiologist has made global headlines.
Concierge medicine has been a trend among the well-to-do, but is also making inroads with the less-affluent.
Jackson's doctor, Conrad Murray, takes the concierge concept to the higher realm of "doctor to the stars."
BryantBruce, who has no more than 20 patient families at a time in her Elite Personal Physician Services, commands as much as $150,000 a year per patient family package.
"It's an ideal fit for celebrities, athletes and business executives," she said, noting the high cost they are willing to pay lets her work free for the needy.
For those willing to pay $15,000 a year per person, and $25,000 per family, there is MD2, (pronounced MD Squared), which calls itself the pioneer of concierge medicine.
"We take care of the carriage trade," said Diane Guerts, marketing director of MD2.
They aren't in New York yet, but in San Francisco and several cities in the northwest, its doctors have luxurious offices and see no more than 50 patients.
MD2 counts Fortune 500 members, worth from $1 million to $10 million, among its patients.
"The care is no-holds-barred," Guerts said. Doctors go to a home, office or private jet.
The company was founded in 1996 in Seattle by Dr. Howard Maron, who treated Seattle Sonics basketball players.
"We value the privacy and discretion of our patients," said Guerts, who would not reveal any names.
MDVIP is making personalized care more available to a wider spectrum of patients.
Darin Engelhardt, founder and chief financial officer for MDVIP, said 100,000 patients in 27 states pay an extra $1,500 a year for individualized care.
"It's solidly within reach of the middle class," he said, bristling that Murray has been referred to as a "concierge" doctor.
A promoter of Jackson's comeback London concerts said Jackson told him he needed Murray because "I need personal care and I want a doctor 24-7, like President Obama."
BryantBruce said she would be able to dedicate herself to just one client like Jackson "if he bought substantial packages."
Doctors like Murray have been a Hollywood staple for decades.
Elvis Presley never traveled without his Dr. George (Dr. Nick) Nichopoulos.
Elvis called Nichopoulos the day he died, complaining of dental pain. Dr. Nick wrote a prescription for Dilaudid, a powerful painkiller.
Nichopoulos was later indicted on charges of overprescribing addictive drugs to Presley, singer Jerry Lee Lewis and seven others. He was acquitted.
Nearly 47 years before the 911 call from Jackon's mansion, Marilyn Monroe's personal doctor called the Los Angeles Police Department from her Brentwood mansion.
"I'm Dr. Hyman Engelberg, Marilyn Monroe's physician. I'm at her residence. She's committed suicide," he told cops after she died of a prescription drug overdose.