BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. - Hundreds of pieces of Elvis Presley memorabilia were auctioned off over the weekend by a longtime collector trying to win back his girlfriend after she warned: "You leave the Elvis clothes or I'll leave you."
The items auctioned included three Elvis concert suits, two of which sold for $125,000 and $50,000, said Alan Lipkin, senior vice president of Regency-Superior, which organized the online auction. The third was still on the auction block. Also sold were necklaces Elvis gave to girlfriends and friends, cufflinks he received from President Nixon and belt buckles he wore, Lipkin said.
The seller, Jim Curtin, collected 600 cartons of Elvis memorabilia for more than 30 years and met the star several times.
Attempts to reach Curtin, who lives in Philadelphia and has an unlisted number, were unsuccessful.
Total auction sales won't be tabulated until today, but organizers estimate the take could reach $2 million.
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Associated Press
No cold one for the road
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - A state senator wants to force Missouri stores to sell warm beer.
Under a bill by Sen. Bill Alter, grocery and convenience stores would risk losing their liquor licenses if they sold beer colder than 60 degrees. The intent is to cut down on drunken driving by making it less tempting to pop open a beer after leaving the store.
"The only reason why beer would need to be cold is so that it can be consumed right away," said Alter, who has been a police officer for more than 20 years.
Some lawmakers and lobbyists, however, are lukewarm about the idea.
"It would be an inconvenience for law-abiding citizens who want to purchase cold beer for picnics, parties and social gatherings," said Ron Leone, executive vice president for the Missouri Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association. "People who want to drive drunk will drive drunk anyway."
Associated Press
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Keeping it low
Some television show sets had to disguise shortcomings. Furniture in the make-believe Manhattan apartment in "The Jeffersons" was built lower to the ground because actors Sherman Helmsley and Isabelle Sanford were short. Altering the furniture "made it easier for them to get in and out of," assistant art director Michael Brittain says.
Associated Press
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