There’s a new man in Katherine Jackson‘s world. Or make that, Mann.
Howard Mann is Mrs. Jackson’s new business partner. He tells me bought the assets of Henry Vaccaro out of bankruptcy, including the New Jersey warehouse filled with Jackson family memorabilia.
The warehouse included many personal items from the family including letters and some things that might have caused embarrassment had they made it into an auction.
Mann quickly contacted Mrs. Jackson and made a deal with her. He returned personal possessions, and in exchange started to develop projects. The first is Mrs. Jackson’s book of photographs coming this Monday, called “Never Can Say Goodbye.”
Mann, who is from Toronto, made his money with online gambling. His 121 Gaming company –described as a celebrity driven, erotic content provider–.got so successful that in 2006 he introduced online “nude” gambling. He created a site called GrandNevada.com and told a gaming website: “Online gaming will never be the same. Why would anyone choose to play against a boring online video based game that could be altered to drastically favor the house? Now people can play real casino games in real time, with real live sexy dealers, just like in a real casino, except at GrandNevada.com, the dealers are either wearing bikinis or are topless.”
Mann continued: “We have booked several adult film stars to deal live and in the proverbial flesh.”
Mann also created Carmen Electra‘s Naked Women’s Wrestling league. Unfortunately, that ended in tears. And a lawsuit.
Sadly, GrandNevada.com is no more. I always find out about these things too late!
Since then, Mann says he’s gotten out of that business and turned his 121 Ventures into a high end video production and online company. He’s aiming to take the Jackson site, jacksonsecretvault.com, and create a place where music fans can download their favorite tunes and bands– his own version of ITunes.
