For fans of the Vegas based reality show “Pawn Stars“, you know of the spin-off called “American Restoration.”  It’s about the egotistical owner who tries to restore clients busted or broken memorabilia back to near new condition for what seems like outrageous prices.  For their chance of 15 minutes of fame, the clients agree to pay.

In one case, the client did not need the 15 minutes of fame, he has enough of his own.  Instead, the client wanted what the show’s star was promising:  A sentimental piece of memorabilia to be restored to working order.  Only to be taken to the cleaners and causing anxiety for those who know the story.

Ripping Off Angel

Last August, while I was on tour, stopping in Seligman, Arizona to say hello to my friend Angel Delgadillo (Angel of Route 66), I encountered Rick Dale and his American Restoration crew shooting an episode.

Rick, being the smart business man that he appears to be, saw an opportunity.  His producers convinced Angel to shut his memorabilia shop down for one hour to shoot a scene.  It was at the height of tourism season, but Angel agreed anyway.  He is always accommodating and helpful to anyone who asks.    The one hour shoot lasted four hours.

Angel is 85 years young and the store used to serve as his pool hall and barbershop.  In the corner sat a 1950′s style Jukebox that had a bad restoration attempt earlier in its life.  Angle wanted it restored to working condition. To light up and play all the old favorites for his guests as they entered the store.  Rick said he could do it.  Not a problem.  For $4,000 (plus whatever business Angel lost while shooting the now popular episode).

Almost two months later, the jukebox was returned, looking pretty sharp and classy, but not functioning properly. Angel was still smiling to his guests as they looked it over.  But since it isn’t working, it once again, sits in a corner, unplugged, gathering dust as before.

Almost a year later and the $4,000 check has been cashed and Rick has yet to do anything to get the jukebox working. Or to even return the phone calls and letters asking (politely) for some remediation in this situation.

If Angel wanted the chrome polished and the plastic cover cleaned, I’m sure he could have had one of his kids do it for less than $4,000.  He simply wants to see it play again as promised.  So do the fans of Rick’s show and fans of Angel, who pour into his store each day from all over the world.

To Rick’s good fortune, Angel is a peace-loving man and when asked about the jukebox, does not mention the fact that Rick’s Restoration has done  him wrong.  He could really do a PR number on Rick and the show, but he stays quiet about it.

Rick could do the honorable thing and fulfill his obligation to Angel.  Fix the jukebox or return some of the money he was paid.  Than let Angel promote the fact that Rick did indeed stick to his word and get it playing again.  Just as Angel expected of him when they shook hands.

It’s Marketing, Stupid

If for nothing else but the marketing aspect, you would think Rick would have done this project for free or at least a heavy discount.  Angel doesn’t need the PR, American Restoration needs the publicity.  And Angel could have provided him with plenty of it.  If he had just kept to his word.

You would have thunk that the History Channel, the network airing American Restoration, would have wanted this issue settled or not to even be an issue, but an opportunity to promote the show and the network with a great tie-in to two American icons, Route 66 and Angel.   But instead, he screwed up and missed the bigger picture in his chase for the quick buck, fast score.

A lost opportunity for all involved.

Full Disclosure

This opinion post was written by me for general information.  Yes, I am pissed at all that happened here.  Angel and his family are business friends of mine.  My tours often stop at his store and I do make money from that stop.  My guests love the unexpected side stop,  meeting Angel and stepping foot on historic Route 66.  In return, my tips increase.

More importantly, as a friend to Angel and his family as well as a business, I would like to see the old jukebox working again.  As would the 1000′s of people from all over the world who stop in at Angel’s Rote 66 Gift Shop  everyday.  That particular episode is often played and Rick is making the money from it.  He could do the right thing and fix what he promised, while making it a great PR story that he seems to crave.

In return, I  am sure Angel would be happy and would be kind enough to pass the word on about the nice man behind the jukebox restoration while he lets them drop a nickle in the slot and hear an American music classic play .  I also know a few other tour professionals who would as well!

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Actually, this could be called the calm before the (Memorial Day Weekend) storm… But downtown Las Vegas, on the Fremont Street Experience, was the ULTIMATE ELVIS CONTEST.  Did you expect something else??

We had 21 Elvis’ from all over the world, including New Zealand, register for the event and over 10,000 people packed the Experience over two nights to rock out to all the best the King ever put out. (and the experts think Downtown is dead… )

Who Won??

Some Rockabilly hick from Texas, Victor Trevino, Jr.  he now qualifies for the Elvis Finals to be held in… Wait… Memphis!  This August!

Former Elvis bodyguard Sam Thompson was one of the judges..

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We are trying out some new equipment and figured it may work… So you may be on the lookout for more podcasts in the very near future!!  At least that’s what we are planning….

In this episode, We remember carol Shelby.  Racing legend who died this past week.  met him at NASCAR and Sazzy had her Shelby photo autographed by the man himself.

The resorts are coming, going, changing names and replaces favorite haunts.  The market is heating up enough to say that we think Vegas is actually on a rebound.

We talk about the Mob Museum in downtown Las Vegas.  As well as the new vibe coming from downtown.

Forgive Me Uncle Denny!!

Just for the record, I got a couple of the names wrong…  Martin Scorsese did direct the movie.  The book was written by Nicholas Pileggi.  And I was referencing Dennis Griffin’s book The Battle for Las Vegas: The Law Vs. the Mob.    on the Podcast  I said “Policing Las Vegas.”  That is actually a title to of Denny’s first books. (Both being excellent Vegas Mob material!)

The Venetian is cleaning house and the rebirth of the Sahara have been making news lately. We will  see what all comes of the rumors and the money funding and name changes…

As always, love to hear your comments.  Here, Facebook, Twitter… let us know what you think.

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If you’re not not here by now, you will miss the festivities as we say good-bye to another grind joint.  The infamous O’Sheas is going away to make room for the Linq project.  That big Ferris wheel/retail project Caesars is building on the back side of the Strip.

So the countdown to closing at O’Sheas means party time. Vegas Style!!  O’Sheas will close at noon on Monday, April 30, after nearly 23 years on the Strip. Commencing Saturday, April 28 at noon, the casino invites you to drink ‘em dry, with $1 draft and $4 shot specials, plus take advantage of discounted memorabilia and enjoy live entertainment from bands including Bullzeye, Publin Draught, and Rock Your Souand.

They promise us that a smaller version O’Sheas is scheduled to re-open in a dedicated area within The LINQ when it opens in 2013. Not that its very big now, i can only imagine what “smaller” is by Caesars standards!!  And you just can’t reproduce the feel of a 23-year-old grind joint by slapping up some old posters and dumping a few pints of beer on the carpeting.  ….

O’Sheas was home to the first permanent Beer Pong court on the Strip.  Home to the famous Lucky the Leprechaun…. The little place shall be missed….

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Looks like its starting.  The Sahara is going away.  But first, they want to remove my favorite Las Vegas ride….  Remember Speed the Ride?  Yea…. The track is slowing being dismantled and walking by it today, I noticed the cars are being moved around.

If the owners can raise $415 million from lenders and investors to help finance what’s being billed as a $744 million project, the Sahara will be remodeled and renamed as the SLS Las Vegas – Yea, I know…Not much of an imagination when it comes to naming (again).

HOLY COW!!!

Across from the Sahara/SLS Las Vegas was one of the first “favorite” hole in the wall we found, when we moved here.  Green Bay Packer lovers hangout, bratwurst and real cheese curds….  yummmy!!  Than it closed…..

A few years later it became part of the “Battle of the Trumps.”  Ivana Trump lent her name to a project that was to rival her ex’s tower project.  Her’s was to be 82 stories tall (over 900 feet tall) and be opened by 2008.  The lack of financing killed that project.  The property remained vacant.  Now its turning to dust.  His project went from two tower high end hotel/condo to a one tower luxury hotel that may be teetering on bankruptcy.

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With MGM Grand removing anything that may attract a tourist lately, I got a little concerned when I saw that Leo the Lion was closed to the public and surrounded by scaffolding. A security guard directing traffic around the barricade filled me in

Studio 54 was closed earlier this year.  The club was on the other side of the lights that used to be behind the brass lion.  The new nightclub being built there will apparently include a restaurant that will have windows looking out over one of the busiest intersections in the world.

Nice idea.  Finally something creative coming out of the MGM, that’s real news…  Now if they would only return the real lions…

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Coming to Vegas for spring break?  Want to see some true American Classic Cars still running?  Than come on out for the Historic Route 66 Fun Run starting in Seligman, AZ May 4 -6th.

I know, its not “Vegas” but it is Vegas tourism.  So it fits.  Sazzy and I  went a few years ago and had a blast. It’s about a 3 hour drive out of Vegas and you want to get there early.  They line the cars up starting at about 7am on Saturday.  The flag drops at 10 and they roll on down the highway to Kingman.

Last year, 900 cars from all over the world and all eras of motorized transportation was on display and running.  It’s awesome.

The Grand Marshal of all the festivities and the one man most credited for saving this chunk of American history, is my friend Angel Delgadillo and he will be on hand to start the rally.  Try keeping up with the man.  He’s 85 years young, but lives for this moment and on this day, I swear he turns 21 again.

The year we were there, we saw everything from a 1916 Dodge Brothers Coupe to a pack of Shelby Mustangs brought over by a French Shelby collectors club.

The great thing is that it’s not a timed event.  Once the cars start rolling at 10am, they head towards Kingman.  With a couple of stops along the way for people to experience the by-gone days of travel.  Small stores, travel courts and mom & pop shops dot the scenic road.  Lined with fans of the cars and the rally… It’s a fun trip back in time.

If you do go, bring lots of memory for the camera and some paper towels for the drool!  The car owners are really nice, but they do get a little upset with people drooling all over the polished chrome.

• Route 66 Fun Run Details
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First podcast of the year and already a month late posting it!!  What can I say??  Not much

Last month was NASCAR race weekend in Las Vegas and that meant a visit from the Ace Reporter and the Chip-N-Dale_Magnet.  otherwise known as Sazzy’s parents.  As our tradition, we spend the week doing NASCAR stuff and end the weekend with a roundup of events.

Podcast Notes:

• Seeing Tony Stewart at World of Outlaws Race track
• Sazzy having a chance to run over mark, and not doing so
• The Sazzy household goes to play bingo
• Making friends with Nationwide driver Johanna Long
• Shooting from the moat and living to tell about it
• Lunch at Dessy B’s Steakhouse

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Before coming to Las Vegas, you may want to break out your crayons and make some changes to your maps.  Some of the landmark hotels are changing names. Mostly downtown…

1. The Hilton has changed to “Las Vegas Hotel“  or just plain LVH.  Original, isn’t it??  Karma is biting them in the butt for that one. They are now experiencing a marketing problem since both names are very generic and Google is putting them towards the bottom of the search pile.
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2. The Fitzgerald.  Originally the Sundance and was the last of the Mob’ed up casinos downtown before becoming the Fitz.  It will soon be called The D Las Vegas Casino Hotel.. Or simply “the D”..  See a pattern here of uninspiring names??The new owners, the same ones who took over the Golden Gate and screwed that place up, will remove the Krispy Kreme doughnut shop in order to put in an outside escalator to get people up to the second floor casino.
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3. Lady Luck looks like its coming back to life.  But the people in charge had a brief moment of clarity and actually came up with a descent name for the soon to be remodeled digs.  It will be called the Downtown Grand (yawn)  – The new opening date is sometime in 2013!

That’s all for now…  Hopefully….

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Actually there are three females racing today in NASCAR Nationwide race (SamsTown 300).  Most people think its just Danica Patrick running against the boys.  But nope, three babes are in the running.

You have # 70 Johanna Long, #13 Jennifer Jo Cobb, and of course, GoDaddy Girl #7 Danica Patrick .  Our eyes  go with Johanna Long…

About Johanna Long

Sazzy and Ace made friends with this firecracker of a racer.  Only 19 and already making her 2nd Nationwide start. Today she starts in the 14th position while Danica hits the oval in the 7th place.Jennifer helps brings up the back of the pack in 37th place

Johanna is the youngest female to race in a NASCAR Nationwide Series race.
Her engine is from the Earnhard Childress Racing.  That helps explain her seriousness in racing and the ability to place in the top 5  in most of her events. She has 5 major wins under her belt… So yes, she is more than just a pretty face in a fire retardant suit!  she will give the big boys a run for their money.

Want to know more??  http://www.facebook.com/OfficialJohannaLong

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