KLAS-TV Channel 8 News Las VegasJackson Five, Michael Jackson Items on Auction in Las Vegas
If you have ever wanted to own some piece of the Jackson Five, or Michael Jackson, now's your chance. Items from the self-proclaimed "King of Pop" will be up for auction this week in Las Vegas.
The public was allowed to see all the items up for bid for the first time on Monday at the Hard Rock hotel and casino. Hundreds of people turned out for the preview, amazed by everything that will be up for auction.
What you won't see, however, are some of the more controversial items, which originally lead Michael Jackson to sue the company. That case was dismissed last week and the documents sealed.
What you will see are personal items, like letters from Michael to his brothers and sisters, and clothes the Jackson Five wore. All the items have some sentimental tie to Jackson and will soon go to the highest bidder.
Get ready for a "Thriller" of an auction: Racks of clothes with name tags stitched inside custom-made wardrobes, rows and rows of albums, some that went platinum, and even the first draft of famous Jackson Five songs. It's the "ABC's" of Jackson's career and it's all up for auction.
Richard Altomare owns all of it. His company bought the items a few years back for $5 million after the items were confiscated from a warehouse of a Michael Jackson associate who went bankrupt.
Altomare says he was surprised with what they found. "You lift up these items, you know what kind of feelings America had while these kids were singing these songs," he said.
Jackets, shirts, 2-piece outfits are all some of the costumes that the Jacksons' wore during their touring days but it's a dress that Janet Jackson wore that drew the action to Las Vegas for this mega-auction.
Arlan Ettinger, with Guerbey's auction house, said, "It speaks of Las Vegas. It was a dress worn by a very young Janet Jackson the first time she ever appeared on stage with her siblings right here in Las Vegas."
Altomare agreed, "We were invited to the Middle East, Japan, China. But the center of perceived entertainment like Michael's is and probably will always be Las Vegas."
And while people eye some items they might want to buy, Altomare says there's always the chance of one bidder could buy all of this.
"There have been some individuals who have talked to the auction house so maybe viewing it today [Monday] and tomorrow [Tuesday] will be the last time for anybody to see it if some individual buys the whole collection.
There is no starting price on any item, and there is always a chance that Michael Jackson will be there to bid on some of the items that once belonged to him.
The auction preview takes place Monday, May 28 and Tuesday, May 29 from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. at The Joint inside the Hard Rock. Viewing is free to the public.
The auction begins Wednesday, May 30 at 1 p.m.
