Jackson Auction Canceled

(NEWSER) - A big, plastic motorized baby lies in its cradle, waving its limbs. Its fingers are missing. “That is just creepy,” remarks an onlooker, one of many milling about this abandoned Beverly Hills mall. Decked out with red carpets like an award show, it’s currently exhibiting a host of items to be auctioned off from Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch, the Washington Post reports. And the baby is just the tip of the iceberg. More»

Neverland property loaded with sculptures of boys

(NEWSER) - Michael Jackson is fighting to keep his possessions off the auction block, and now we know why. TMZ has a list of everything on his Neverland ranch property, and it includes lots of creepy-sounding art. Among the pieces: "boy with accordion," "boy sitting on bricks," "two boys on swing bar," and "bronze boy carrying a fruit basket." And don't forget his two "child's upper body mannequins." More»

Two-hour Dangerous film never shown publicly

(NEWSER) - A secret Michael Jackson two-hour tour film is about to become the target of one of the biggest auction battles in pop history. The film was shot in 1993 in Buenos Aires during Jackson's Pepsi-sponsored Dangerous tour. But Jackson was deeply dissatisfied with the project and scrapped the film, reports the Independent . The only known copy is owned by Jackson's Brazilian chauffeur, who could make millions from the film. The driver says the singer gave him the VHS tape as "a reward or bonus" for his "transportation services." He leaked a portion of the video on YouTube until he was stopped by lawyers for Jackson's estate. More»

Assemblyman pushes for study amid skepticism

(NEWSER) - Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch is one of the most opulent estates in the US, and one California lawmaker can't resist the idea of turning it into a state park. "It will absolutely be a destination for many who admire music and the performing arts," said Assemblyman Mike Davis, who intends to push for the park's creation when the legislature meets in August, the LA Times reports. More»

'Tasteful yet profitable' marketing of singer's death rakes in $1B

(NEWSER) - Estate of Elvis Presley, watch out: You may yet be eclipsed by Michael Jackson. Jackson died on the brink of financial collapse, but a year later his estate is booming. Last year he sold 8.3 million albums in the US—more than any other artist—and the posthumously released movie Michael Jackson's This Is It grossed $261 million worldwide. The estate has made an estimated $1 billion over the last year, but observers disagree on whether Jackson's on track to surpass Presley as the ultimate entertainment estate. More»