Though not yet the billionaire he dreamed and sang about earlier, singer Bruno Mars has bought a valuable Mulholland Drive property in Los Angeles with a price tag of $3.25 million!
According to the Real Estalker website, which tracks celebrity real estate sales, Mars — believed to be the unnamed celeb of a Los Angeles-based trust — purchased the valuable property in Laurel Canyon last month. A year ago the previous owner paid $1.23 million for the property.
The home boasts three bedrooms and 3 1/2 bathrooms, a motor court facade with eight marble columns, parking for 10, oversize double entry doors, retractable floor-to-ceiling glass doors, Swarovski light fixtures, Miele appliances, a backyard pool with city views, a steam shower large enough for two, a gym and massage room, a media and music room, central air conditioning and more. The site comes with security cameras worthy of a pop star.
Mighty impressive digs for the 26-year-old Grammy winner. …
RECUPERATING: Jack Cione, the venerable show entrepreneur, tap dance instructor and club owner, is recovering from a stroke at the Rehabilitation Hospital of the Pacific. This, after a short stay at Straub Hospital.
Just back from a week on the Norwegian Cruise Lines’ interisland cruise with wife Maydelle,Cione was eating breakfast at his Arcadia residence with a pal when he leaned over to pick up a spoon he dropped. "I knew something was not right," he said of that scary moment.
He was unable to talk the first day, but his speech returned the second day at Straub — enabling him to call a few pals to inform them of his fate. The rehab stay will help restore his speech as well as movement in his right arm and leg.
Cione completed work on a newstage script during the weeklong cruise; the trip was supposed to be R&R after writing, producing, directing and staging the annual SRO "Follies" show at Arcadia last month. For Cione, R&R now means recovery and rejuvenation. …
ALOHA FLICK: Ben Stiller and Jonah Hill, who have previously done films in Hawaii separately, are set to do a comedy together in Hawaii titled "Aloha," according to the Hollywood Reporter. Logically, the 20th Century Fox flick will be shot here, though details have not been announced; how can you not film here if you call your movie "Aloha"?
Stiller and Hill are in "The Watch" currently; they earlier filmed "Night at the Museum 2" and "Megamind" together and will collaborate again in "Zoolander 2." Stiller filmed "Tropic Thunder" on Kauai, and Hill had a role in "Forgetting Sarah Marshall," which was largely lensed on Oahu.
The two actors will co-produce "Aloha," which Shawn Levy directing and sharing producing credits. …
RAIN MAKERS: It rains twice in Diamond Head Theatre’s "Singin’ in the Rain" musical, playing through Aug. 12. According to DHT technical director Willie Sabel, about 30 gallons of heated water "rain" via three lines of pipes. The rainwater is collected in a special deck with several troughs that are emptied after each rainfall;maintenance after each show includes touch-up painting and waterproofing.
The splashes will wet some patrons, so ponchos are provided for 12 audience members in the first row only. Those in several other rows might get some residual rain; after all, who can control rainfall?
And if the rain spurs more bathroom visits, the theater is providing two portable toilets to accommodate intermission demand. …
CHOICE AWARDS: Local girl Janel Parrish of "Pretty Little Liars" earned a Choice TV Villain Award at the recent 2012 Teen Choice Awards. The long winners list included two celebs who did film work here: Rihanna ("Battleship"), Choice Movie Breakout victor; and Josh Hutcherson ("Journey 2: The Mysterious Island," which was shot here, and "The Hunger Games," which was not).Hutcherson shared a Choice Movie Liplock laurel with "Hunger" co-star Jennifer Lawrence. …
And that’s "Show Biz." …
Wayne Harada is a veteran entertainment columnist; reach him at 266-0926 or wayneharada@gmail.com; read his Show and Tell Hawaii blog at www.staradvertiser.com.
