The Jackson effect

In Hollywood, the sudden death of Michael Jackson is drawing crowds of tourists and changing the itinerary for celebrity tour operators and museum exhibits in Los Angeles.

Jackson's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, near Grauman's Chinese Theatre, was so overrun by fans that some tourists couldn't get close enough to see it.

At the Holmby Hills home, where Jackson lived for several months, so many television crews had gathered that tour buses were temporarily diverted from the street.

Ardent fans

But that did not detour fans and tour bus operators. A family of seven from Frederick, Maryland, sightseeing in Hollywood, tried to leave a bouquet of flowers at Jackson's star but were turned away by a crowd of mourners and security officers.

“We wanted to pay our respects,'' said Alma S. Perkins, the matriarch of the group. “We are all big fans.''

But the group said they would not jump on a tour bus to see his home.

“We want to give time to the family before we go to the house,'' said Perkins's daughter, Phyllis Weedon. “We'll try to go before the end of our trip.''

Dearly Departed, the tour bus company that offers a “Hollywood Tragic History Tour'', plans to include a stop at the Holmby Hills home, where paramedics were called to revive the dying King of Pop.

Starry tour

That tour now includes stops at Hollywood's Viper Room, where actor River Phoenix died in 1993, the West Hollywood home, where actress Rebecca Schaeffer was killed in 1989, and the Beverly Hills home, where mob figure Bugsy Siegel was murdered in 1947.

Scott Michaels, owner of the tour company, said he has had several requests to include the Jackson home on the tour.
He said tour-bus drivers typically play a 911 tape recording related to a celebrity death as the bus passes such a death site. Michaels said he plans to play the Jackson 911 tape on the tour.

“This is what we do,'' he said.

He suspects the calls for a Jackson stop on his tour will increase as tourists recover from the shock of the death. “Right now, people are just reeling from it,'' he said.

A bus for Starling Tours, Hollywood's largest tour company, had stopped in front of the Holmby Hills home just as paramedics were transporting Jackson to the University of California, Los Angeles, Medical Centre.

The home had been a regular stop on the tour, which includes the former homes of Marilyn Monroe, Nicolas Cage and Frank Sinatra.

Gloomy day

Wendy Harris, the driver of that tour bus, said one of her passengers got a phone message that Jackson had died. When the bus arrived at the home, encircled by police and reporters, Harris said she knew the news was accurate.

“I always play [the song] Billie Jean when we arrive at the house and everybody knows it, no matter where they are from,'' she said.

“This time, the mood was really sombre. It wasn't the usual exciting, upbeat mood.''

Klaus Ritter, a spokesman for Starline Tours, said business spiked after the news of the death. But he said he was not sure if guests are taking the tour specifically to see the Holmby Hills home or just because more tourists are in town to pay respects.

Ritter said nothing related to Jackson's death has been added to the tour. However, tour managers have discussed adding a stop at the San Fernando Valley home of the Jackson family.

“Now, more so than ever, we try to please our guests and this is what they ask for,'' he said.

At the Grammy Museum in downtown Los Angeles is an exhibit of Jackson's iconic wardrobe, including the suit he is seen wearing on the cover of the Thriller album.

Grand Grammy exhibit

The exhibition was moved to the third floor, where it will include videos of some of his Grammy performances.

“The Grammy Museum is excited about this rare chance to share this material with our visitors,'' said chief curator Ken Luftig Viste. “Michael Jackson is undeniably one of the most significant entertainers in pop-music history and the star power — and design — of the pieces is striking. Few, if any, have ever before been made available to the public in this way.''