Tom Gorman

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At UNLV basketball games, they call him Tiny, and that big kid can dance: Friday, Feb. 10, 2012; On game day at Thomas & Mack, he’s the standout, coming in at 6-foot-1 and 400 pounds and collecting some of the loudest cheers by the final buzzer. He can’t dunk like Mike Moser or drain 3-pointers like Chace Stanback. But man, can he dance.
After turning down $500 from ‘Pawn Stars,’ charity lands $12,000 for ‘Godfather’ movie script: Thursday, Feb. 9, 2012; A copy of “The Godfather” screenplay that landed in a charity donation bin, and for which the fellows of “Pawn Stars” offered $500, sold at auction Thursday for more money than anyone expected: $12,000.
The next offer, she won’t refuse: Auction of ‘Godfather’ screenplay will fetch thousands of dollars for Catholic Charities after 'Pawn Stars' offer was rejected; Monday, Feb. 6, 2012; Last summer, Diane Hutton was offered $500 by the fellows on the cable TV show “Pawn Stars” for a leather-bound copy of the screenplay for the blockbuster 1972 movie “The Godfather.”
‘Chicks with Guns’: Photographing women who love their weapons: Friday, Feb. 3, 2012; A landscape artist-turned-portait photographer, Lindsay McCrum enjoys exploring gender-based stereotypes. She has photographed young boys playing in military costumes with toy guns and young girls dressing up in their mothers’ fancy clothes.
On being Elvis — at a Vegas porn convention: Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012; For a few hours, I was the King of Porn. As I walked around the Adult Entertainment Expo, porn industry members took my picture. Starlets posed with me, holding me tightly. Some of them caressed my shoulders and ran their fingers through my hair. This, because I was wearing an Elvis costume. Best $100 I ever spent. I know that what happens in Vegas is supposed to stay in Vegas. But with the kind of attention this old man got from women with indescribable figures, I’m telling the world!
Rodeo fans hitting Cowboy Christmas for a little retail therapy: Sunday, Dec. 4, 2011; The wide open plains may provide a sublime holiday experience. But if cowboys real and faux are on the hunt for holiday gifts, they’ll be heading to the Las Vegas Convention Center.
Fierce and smart: White Magic is a bull to watch: Thursday, Dec. 1, 2011; Meet White Magic, the baddest buckin’ bull at the rodeo.
When a business model needs a makeover: Monday, Oct. 24, 2011; Businesswoman Yvonne Rodriguez got badly bruised in the boutique clothing business, so she’s turning to the business of beauty.
The business of beauty: In an ugly economy, executive savvy is essential in the beauty industry; Monday, Oct. 24, 2011; Listen to Kat Toussaint talk about the beauty business, and you wonder why she isn’t leading a 300-level practicum in how to survive the recession in a business that relies on discretionary spending. Successful stylists speak the language of entrepreneurs. And the stylists and others who aren’t smart businesspeople? Hair today, gone tomorrow.
After snubbing 'Pawn Stars,' charity gets bigger offers for 'Godfather' screenplay: Thursday, Oct. 6, 2011; When the folks at the cable TV show “Pawn Stars” examined a leather-bound copy of “The Godfather” screenplay, they concluded it was autographed by Al Pacino and offered to buy it from Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada for $500.
Church charity, 'Pawn Stars' wrangle over value of a copy of 'Godfather' screenplay: The Al Pacino-autographed copy of the screenplay found its way into church thrift store; Tuesday, July 19, 2011; Diane Hutton, who runs one of the largest thrift store operations in town, ended up on the hit cable TV show “Pawn Stars” because she didn't judge a book by its cover. A while back she was explaining to one of the workers in the warehouse at Catholic Charities how to spot valuable books.
Postal Service: Whew, we finally found the mailbox keys: Wednesday, June 22, 2011; The U.S. Postal Service promises to deliver mail despite rain, sleet or dark of night. But nobody mentioned someone losing the keys to the community mailboxes.
Shakespeare's 'Merchant of Venice' feels more like 'Merchant of Vegas': Friday, June 17, 2011; The moment they take their seats for “The Merchant of Venice” and see the craps table onstage, theatergoers realize they are about to boldly go where no Shakespeare play has been set before — Las Vegas.
Las Vegas can market its good side: Sunday, May 15, 2011; To an outsider, it might seem that Las Vegas is in the throes of an identity crisis, shaken to our roots, betrayed by an economy that had always been faithful to us. We’re struggling to recover and regroup and wondering whether, and how, we need to redefine ourselves.
In marketing Las Vegas, have we sold our community short?: The “Vegas, baby!” image of our city is incomplete. Imagine a marketing campaign that captures why our city is like no place on Earth. But if we start selling who we really are, would anyone buy it?; Monday, May 9, 2011; To an outsider, it might seem that Las Vegas is in the throes of an identity crisis, shaken to our roots, betrayed by an economy that had always been faithful to us. And now we’re struggling to recover and regroup and wondering whether, and how, we need to redefine ourselves. These cynics might now be chortling at our misery, at how our grand, greedy plan went south and that we had it coming.
Nevada's first Five Guys Burgers and Fries debuts in Henderson: Wednesday, March 2, 2011; Lots of people might not have heard of Five Guys until one very important guy, President Barack Obama, dropped in at one of the burgers-and-fries joints near the White House a couple of years ago and left with $80 in food. With no advertising -- the company relies only on word-of-mouth -- the franchise-driven company opened its first Nevada store today in Henderson.
Historian: Modern presidents losing bully pulpit: Thursday, Oct. 21, 2010; Doris Kearns Goodwin, the Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and presidential author, wonders whether modern presidents have lost their bully pulpit to the noise of the fractious media and Internet bloggers.
Ruvo Center architect’s form helps direct focus on a cure: Tuesday, April 6, 2010; In his audacious campaign to find a cure for Alzheimer’s disease, businessman Larry Ruvo is about ready to check off another milestone. 1) Establish a foundation to raise money for a world-class research and outpatient treatment center, check.
Has Findlay Prep lost to its toughest opponent: The Great Recession?: Elite team will have to find new home with closing of Henderson International School campus; Saturday, Feb. 27, 2010; There was no warning, not even a whiff, of what was developing on the campus of Henderson International this week. As normal, the 10 teenage boys who make up the vaunted Findlay Prep basketball squad attended classes and then practiced for Friday’s night game against a team from Arizona.
Paper linking valley’s Jews to fold, leaving void for some: Saturday, Sept. 12, 2009; Next week’s celebration of the Jewish New Year will mark the end of an era for readers of the Jewish Reporter. The newspaper will cease publication after 33 years of reporting on such local news as religious celebrations and charitable outreach programs — and on subjects as weighty as international politics and tenets of the Jewish faith.
Meet an art world matchmaker: Summerlin resident provides hotels and other businesses with paintings, prints; Thursday, May 21, 2009; Carol Spiegel loves art galleries. She used to own one.
Awed by town’s political wilds: Neither bear encounters nor a long career in public service prepared him for Boulder City election; Thursday, April 23, 2009; John Schleppegrell figured he could hold his own against just about anything. After all, on three occasions in Alaska he had confronted bears that could have ripped him to shreds. But he had never encountered Boulder City politics.
Suppliers to the food stars: Casino workers grow herbs on Sandy Valley farm that are coveted by discerning local chefs; Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2009; When restaurant critics lavish praise on Bradley Ogden, the restaurant at Caesars Palace that hangs its name on fresh, organic ingredients, Paula Pudwill, who deals blackjack at Caesars, and her husband, Rodney, a pit boss, just about pop their buttons with pride.
Scary, scary? Quite contrary: Thursday, Jan. 29, 2009; Jerry Vayne loves making Halloween as scary as possible, but there’s something about Easter that scares him. It has to do with bunny rabbits.
Music resonates in his family: Thursday, Jan. 22, 2009; Back in his days at UNLV, Bill Carpi was torn between music and optometry. Music was creative and fun, but his dad was an optometrist and he would pass along the practice when his son was ready.
Coaching skills honed in the cockpit carry over: Thursday, Jan. 15, 2009; Jan O’Brien’s job is to keep the 1,100 Realtors under her management upbeat and passionate about their careers — a tall order these days, given that three out of four homes on the local market are in foreclosure. It helps that O’Brien found her hover button flying Army Black Hawk helicopters.
Views of beauty and horror: Photographer’s images have captured the allure of Las Vegas — as well as a national tragedy; Thursday, Dec. 4, 2008; For the past 15 years, Erin O’Boyle has sold Las Vegas in persuasive and calculating ways -- through seductive photographs of golf courses and luxury homes and panoramic shots of the sparkling Strip skyline at dusk and the tranquillity of Lake Las Vegas at dawn.
She blazed trail by disrobing, but there’s much, much more: Thursday, Nov. 20, 2008; Lisa Medford, who is 71, was Las Vegas’ first basically nude showgirl. But that’s nothing compared with what she’s done since then.
Long arm of the law wouldn’t fit in his office: Public defender thrives on job that’s part tough love; Thursday, Nov. 6, 2008; Ben Saxe must really love his job as a criminal defense attorney, because he’s sure not in it for the perks.
Lots of songs in her heart: Jingle singer recalls ‘Meow, meow, meow’ cat food tune as ‘so precious’; Thursday, Oct. 30, 2008; When Linda November’s two cats meow, she can tell you what musical key they’re in. (F sharp.)
Nothing slow about her softball passion: Thursday, Oct. 16, 2008; Kay Andersen loves the chatter at game time.
Birdman of Maryland Parkway: Thursday, Oct. 9, 2008; Phil Proburke found a purpose for his life the day he drove past an unconscious pigeon lying on Maryland Parkway.
After nearly 60 years, life’s routine, love still isn’t: Thursday, Oct. 2, 2008; They met when she was 8. He was 10. They wouldn’t see each other again until she was 16. And that time, there was love in their eyes.
He retired to Vegas, but he’s still a cop at heart: Thursday, Sept. 25, 2008; Tom Wozniak spent 29 years as a Chicago cop before retiring in Las Vegas.
She did hope for a warmer welcome: Thursday, Sept. 18, 2008; Zuzana Zboronova chuckles loudly at the notion she fills the stereotype: gold-digging beauties in Eastern Europe who hook a fellow for a ride to the easy life in the States.
Hooked on entrepreneurship: Owner-operator of dry-cleaning service finally has his piece of the pie; Thursday, Sept. 11, 2008; Who among us hasn’t fantasized about stuffing our company jobs in favor of entrepreneurial independence, the opportunity to be your own boss, limited only by your own energy and smarts?
The real vacation is off the tourist map: Thursday, Sept. 4, 2008; A year ago Rhonda Gianettoni took her 9-year-old son to Fiji for their summer vacation.
You can’t be Peter Pan forever: Thursday, Aug. 28, 2008; The Tinker Bell tattoo on Bob Wyman-Cahall's shoulder hints at some fascinating years. He did some of his most memorable work after he was hired, at 18, to dance in Main Street parades at Disneyland.
He had a score to settle: Thursday, Aug. 21, 2008; Phillip Aurbach was a new face at a friend’s house, and by dessert it was clear his tennis story involving Pancho Gonzalez couldn’t be topped.
She still prefers their company: Thursday, Aug. 14, 2008; She was a new face at the pet grooming salon. Lanette Doherty and her husband arrived a month ago from Apache Junction, outside Phoenix, where they had rented a small house on a small lot.
From the inside: How they coped: Minute by minute, drama unfolds as workers and guests learn hotel is burning; Saturday, Jan. 26, 2008; There’s plenty of excitement in the air at Monte Carlo on Friday morning, its lobby filled with people arriving for a great weekend on the Strip. George Thorogood is at the House of Blues, the Miss America pageant is at Planet Hollywood, Ashanti is hosting a party at Pure, and the American Society of Safety Engineers is meeting at the Flamingo.
In the travel industry, the 11-year-old Monte Carlo is considered an overflow hotel, the kind of place tourists go if their first choices — the Bellagio, MGM Grand, Mirage and Venetian — are filled.
Tom Gorman on the chances the lawn mower is going the way of the horse and buggy: Friday, March 3, 2006; And that's rotten for George and Phyllis Diether. They sell and repair lawn mowers. Their business, The Lawnmower Shop on Nellis Boulevard near Tropicana Avenue, just started its 25th year. And it won't be their best. "In 1988 we sold 250 lawn mowers," George said. "Last year we sold three. Three. There's simply less grass in the valley today than there was then."
Tom Gorman on homes, homes everywhere, but not an affordable one among the lot: Wednesday, March 1, 2006; For four hours Tuesday morning I sat in a cavernous convention hall listening to a manic presentation about how Las Vegas is the center of the universe when it comes to residential construction.
Tom Gorman explains he didn't see the whole picture on first impression of World Market Center's architecture: Sunday, Feb. 26, 2006; I questioned some of its architectural nuances.
Tom Gorman follows the bouncing ball with a man who owes his life to the magic of stem cell research: Friday, Feb. 24, 2006; He seemed to be holding a little red, glowing ball between his forefinger and thumb. When he tossed it from hand to hand, it disappeared in flight. Then he did the most remarkable thing, pushing the ball into one ear and pulling it out from the other ear. Great stuff!
Tom Gorman begs to differ with many readers who call and write about Gehry's work of architecture: Friday, Feb. 17, 2006; The 77-year-old, no-holds-barred architect from Los Angeles has unveiled his design for a privately funded Alzheimer's research institute at the 61-acre Union Park near downtown, and now readers are weighing in.
Tom Gorman logs on to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority Web site in search of a new identity, and in the process finds himself: Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2006; They call it the "Be Anyone" campaign and they say this is our most sophisticated tourism campaign yet.
Tom Gorman on how Frank Gehry's design for a medical research facility elevates Las Vegas to a new stage in the eyes of a public that has long considered the town the center of architectural knockoffs: Sunday, Feb. 12, 2006; Detailed plans for the construction of a medical research center were unveiled and, for once, the cheering by civic boosters was not unjustified hyperbole.
Frank Gehry's approach to architecture 'different': Saturday, Feb. 11, 2006; It is difficult to imagine any other architect with the status and heft of Gehry - someone who, by the mere mention of his name, wins attention.
Tom Gorman cautions would-be foster parents on the pain and frustration that can accompany the joy of this altruistic endeavor: Friday, Feb. 10, 2006; But at least you'll get to dance on an ocean cruise or sit in a bathtub on a hillside before the side effects kick in.