Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

VegasBeat — Timothy McDarrah: As decorator, Wyrick has magic touch

Magic isn't just a job for Steve Wyrick -- it is a way of life.

The Aladdin headliner hosted a small brunch at his house Sunday afternoon to show off his magnificent collection of illusion memorabilia: posters, props and other items.

He also discussed plans for a large-scale Magic Museum and a dream gig -- a completely interactive magic show with no stage.

"Why am I doing this? I want to share my love of magic with everyone," a sincere Wyrick told VegasBeat. We were standing in front of perhaps the oldest sawing-the-lady-in-half box there is, which was first used by illusionist Charles "The Great" Carter nearly 100 years ago.

"I consider myself somewhat of an historian," Wyrick continued. "And I just love this stuff."

The first sign Wyrick's home is different from a typical home comes when you see the driveway -- the license plate on the yellow Porsche Carrera in the front reads, "Cadabra."

Just inside the front door hangs perhaps the most valuable item in his Red Rock Country Club mansion. It is a 1911 Harry Houdini lithograph Wyrick calls his "crown jewel," because there are fewer than a dozen other such pieces in existence.

"I found it in East Texas. The man at this little store told me he didn't have any magic tricks, but he did have a Houdini poster.

"When he showed it to me, I had to do everything I could to keep from jumping up and down and shouting. I told him it was old, and I was looking for something new. As I was walking out, I asked him how much it was. He told me $800. I said that was way too much, and started to leave.

"He said I could have it for $500. I immediately wrote him a check."

The poster is now worth more than 100 times that much. "But I wouldn't sell it for anything -- to me, it is priceless," Wyrick said.

Party here

Not everyone flies to Vegas from Los Angeles -- many rent limos for the trip.

Therefore, the fatal traffic accident that closed Interstate 15 on Friday afternoon and evening kept attendance down at Endeavor agent Patrick Whitesell's birthday party at the Hard Rock Hotel.

But there were enough notables to go around. Among the crowd at the party in the Penthouse Suite and earlier at David Bowie's sold-out show at The Joint: Sofia Coppola; "Legally Blonde" co-star Jennifer Coolidge; "American Beauty's" Mena Suvari (who turns 25 today); "ER" stunner Michael Michele; Lauren Ambrose ("Six Feet Under"); Jeff Beacher and his dwarf companion, "Tim The Midget"; Mirage honcho Bobby Baldwin and his wife, Donna; Rhino records exec Steve Gorman; Brandi Williams from "Vegas Minute"; "Extra" correspondents Jon Kelley and Samantha Harris; and Maria Menounos from "Entertainment Tonight."

Party there

Robin Leach and cameras from his ABC show "Life of Luxury" were at record exec Clive Davis' pre-Grammy party on Saturday night at the Beverly Hills Hotel in California.

Davis, a longtime record industry executive, will be featured on the show this spring.

Leach, who sat with Marvin Davis, Sidney Poitier, Jackie Collins and Danielle Steel at the star-studded bash, said the highlight for him was when Paris Hilton came over to say hello.

First, Hilton asked Collins if she was the writer Collins or the actress Collins (that would be "Dynasty's" Joan Collins). When Hilton was told it was the author, she said: "If I could read a book, I'd definitely read one of yours."

Not that she can't read, Hilton clarified, but that she generally doesn't bother.

Hilton also said she and boy toy Nick Carter, who was with her, will be at the Friday night debut of Elton John's Caesars Palace engagement.

Carter said that he had recently seen producer David LaChappelle's video wall of Pamela Anderson on a stripper pole. The video of Anderson's pole routine will be part of Sir Elton's show.

Leach also trained his cameras on guests Whitney Houston, Santana, Kid Rock, Rod Stewart, Lou Reed, Toni Braxton, Aretha Franklin, Naomi Campbell, Sting, Dave Matthews, Sean "P. Diddy" Combs and Justin Timberlake to get their comments on Davis, an industry titan.

City hazard

Another big-city delight has arrived in Las Vegas.

As the VegasBeatmobile was at a stoplight on Paradise and Flamingo roads on Saturday afternoon, the car was approached by an apparently homeless man with a spray bottle and a squeegee, who wanted to clean the windshield.

It was just like driving on the Bowery, back in New York City. So we let him have a swipe at the windshield, just for old-times sake.

As usual, the window ended up even dirtier.

VegasBits

Guest: Talk show host and John Waters film star Ricki Lake saw the late "Zumanity" (New York-New York) show Friday night ...

Parental: After her sold-out Mandalay Bay gig on Saturday night, kid star Hilary Duff sat briefly with her mother, Susan Duff, at Charlie Palmer Steak (Four Seasons) before going off with a couple of her friends ...

In the Rain: TV's Bob Saget, Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jevon Walker and Lance Bass partied, separately, at the Rain Nightclub (Palms) on Saturday night ...

Two: Mayoral chief of staff Stephanie Boixo and Venetian President Bill Weidner dined with separate groups of friends Friday night at Simon Kitchen and Bar at the Hard Rock, before the Bowie concert ...

Move: Comic Wayne Brady brings his act to The Mirage for the first time when he plays Friday to Sunday at The Danny Gans Theatre. Tickets are $65 ...

Pins: A segment of ABC's "Extreme Makeover" show, featuring Las Vegas resident Michael Cunningham, was taped at Sunset Lanes on East Sunset Road in Henderson on Saturday afternoon ...

Out of town: VEGAS Magazine is having a party Thursday night at Deep, which is right now one of the most happening nightspots in the country. It is in Hollywood, at the famous intersection of Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street. Amy Smart, who co-stars with Ashton Kutcher in "The Butterfly Effect," is on the cover of the latest issue.

From Sun wires

Hilton sues: Paris Hilton has filed a $15 million lawsuit against a company in Panama for allegedly obtaining her 45-minute sex video illegally and putting it up for sale on the Internet.

The violation of privacy rights suit was filed Wednesday in Los Angeles Superior Court against Kahatani Ltd. of Panama City. Representatives of the company couldn't be located for comment.

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