Monday, Dec. 16, 2002 | 8:19 a.m.
As incredible as it now seems, there was a time in Michael Jackson's career when the performer was known only for his music.
This, of course, was before Bubbles the Chimp, the numerous plastic surgeries (most of which Jackson has denied having), his penchant for wearing surgical masks in public, and an ill-fated attempt to buy the remains of John "The Elephant Man" Merrick.
It was the early '80s and the self-proclaimed King of Pop was on top of his game, with the back-to-back musical triumphs of "Off the Wall" and "Thriller."
Both albums were enormous critical and marketing successes. As it stands, "Thriller" is engaged in a perpetual tug-of-war with "The Eagles Greatest Hits 1971-1975" as the biggest-selling album of all time, with 26 million copies sold.
Beyond his recordings, Jackson almost single-handedly put MTV on the map, with groundbreaking videos such as "Beat It" and "Thriller," which was a half-hour mini-movie.
And his dance moves and wardrobe gave rise to '80s fads such as the Moonwalk, red leather jackets and sequined gloves.
At that point in his career the singer-songwriter was clearly his generation's Elvis. Just as Elvis, though, there was more to Jackson than his immense talent and personal appeal.
Both performers seemed to possess an aptitude for the odd and outrageous behavior that, sadly, eventually dwarfed their musical achievements.
And both share a Las Vegas connection. In the '70s Elvis turned to Las Vegas to revive his stalled career. Thirty years later, Jackson might be planning a comeback of his own via Sin City.
But would anyone want him?
Side show
Jackson's marketability has suffered, as the 2001 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee has often been reduced to a living "Saturday Night Live" parody.
His freakish, surgically altered appearance has become the source of derision in media on several websites. His clownish antics the fodder for late-night talk-show hosts. The latest incident, of course, was when he held his infant son, Prince Michael II, over a hotel balcony in Berlin for an excited crowd four stories below.
Jackson himself called it a "terrible mistake."
But his brother Jermaine Jackson defended Michael on a recent edition of CNN's "Connie Chung Tonight."
"You judge a person by their intentions," Jermaine said. "He is a wonderful father. He's a great dad. He's great to our kids, my kids."
Jackson also has two other children: Paris, 4; and Prince Michael I, 5.
But just as the public may no longer see the 44-year-old Jackson as a caring father, the performer can scarcely lay claim to his title King of Pop.
Consider the success of last year's "Invincible." Jackson's latest album went double platinum. Not bad, but it pales to the 8 million copies sold of 1987's "Bad," which, at that time, was considered a commercial disappointment as the follow-up to "Thriller."
While it can be argued Jackson's brand of rhythmic pop and light funk has fallen out of favor with the masses, there is little doubt the performer's public image has taken a beating over the years and his popularity is suffering as a result.
"In the entertainment industry, the general public truly loves a little bit of the bizarre. It's what makes entertainers intriguing," said James Medick, managing director of MRCGroup, a Las Vegas research organization specializing in public opinion.
"But there is that line -- every entertainer seems to have that one line -- and when you cross it, it's very difficult to get back."
And the negative feedback prompted by the child-over-the-balcony incident hasn't made it any easier on the performer.
"At this stage in his career, I think dangling babies isn't the best move," Medick said. "We could consider it crossing the line."
Negative press
Despite all the negative publicity through the last decade, it could be that Jackson actually lost public favor in 1993, when the singer was accused of sexual battery of a 13-year-old boy. The civil lawsuit was later settled after Jackson paid the boy an undisclosed amount of money.
"It's a gray area here," Medick said. "Nobody's admitted guilt and there's no evidence. But the bizarre events (of his life) feed back into that and add credibility to other people's stories."
Even as Jackson wages a war against negative public perception, there are rumors he might be bringing his show to Las Vegas for a recurring gig at a Strip resort.
It makes sense. Jackson's sales are declining and there are reports his debts have reached upward of $200 million. Having his own show in Las Vegas would infuse the entertainer with much-needed cash.
Also, Jackson's parents and sister LaToya live in Las Vegas. And the Santa Clara, Calif., resident recently put a deposit down on a home in the posh development on the southwest side of town, Spanish Trail. There are even rumors circulating that he also bought property and/or the home of the Sultan of Brunei at an undisclosed location in or near Las Vegas.
Either purchase, however, could be viewed as a means for the performer to move closer to his family.
Still, if there is validity to the rumors and Jackson is seriously considering opening a theater in Las Vegas, how successful would the King of Pop be in Sin City?
Very, said Bernie Yuman, producer and manager for Siegfried & Roy and a good friend of Jackson's for 25 years.
"Michael Jackson is probably one of the most talented and one of the greatest entertainers in the history of our industry," Yuman said. "Why not have the greatest entertainer in the history of our industry grace our stage?"
Yuman does not buy into the idea that Jackson is damaged goods, his work overshadowed by a negative perception.
"Michael has been onstage since he was 5 years old, and he's 44 years old now," he said. "I think people are mostly focused on the fact he's a terrific entertainer, talented and (has) brought a joy to all the people he's performed for all over the world."
There's no denying Jackson's talent and entertainment value, or that he has a loyal core group of fans.
But are those factors enough to merit the financial risk by a casino?
Jackson has a history of pulling out of concerts; he's presently involved in a $21 million lawsuit filed by a promoter who claims he lost millions after Jackson reneged on a pair of millennium concerts.
Plus, given his erratic behavior, who is to say the casino wouldn't find itself embroiled in a PR disaster, trying to put a positive spin on yet another of Jackson's public gaffes?
"Michael has taken what could have been a great way at the end of his career and has added a lot of questions in the minds of the casino owners if it is a risk they want to do," Medick said.
"There are all those other entertainers who don't have all this baggage with them."
Performers known only for their music.
