Disco Diva Posted August 27, 2011 Share Posted August 27, 2011 http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/gary/article_e3e76c93-6b50-544b-8461-d69a96d8c291.html#ixzz1WByWnNIj Thirty-something Rachel Rotoloni and her three friends said they couldn't resist the opportunity to visit Michael Jackson's childhood home at 2300 Jackson St. The four snapped photos and reminisced Friday while other fans mingled at the start of a four-day inaugural Legend's Weekend in Gary featuring musical performances, a circus, food and vendors. The party celebrates what would have been the singer's 53rd birthday on Monday. "We were exploring the area and decided to come here," Rotoloni said. The local friends, including Joe Dallmann, who now lives in California, were fans as youngsters of Michael Jackson's "Thriller" album released in the mid-1980s. "The 'Thriller' album did it. ... I had the silver gloves and the life-size poster of Michael. I had everything," said Jennifer Holt, of DeMotte. It's because of Michael Jackson fans like these that the city decided to team up with other sponsors to host the event in Gary, Mayor Rudy Clay said. "Every year we should celebrate the birthday of Michael Jackson because he's the greatest entertainer who ever lived. We have a lot of love for Michael," Clay said. Clay also spoke of Michael's philanthropic ways, which started when he was a kid growing up in Gary. "Joe Jackson told me he would give Michael an allowance to buy candy and he would in turn given away the candy to other neighborhood kids. He grew up with a great heart. He had good roots growing up," Clay said. Joe Jackson, Michael's father, called the Legacy event a wonderful opportunity to shine some light on Jackson's hometown and allow all his fans the chance to see where Michael grew up. "I'm only trying to carry out his legacy," Joe Jackson said. He said there's several major projects in the works about the life of Michael Jackson, including a book coming out next month titled "What Really Happened to Michael Jackson." Another major project, which will include a Michael Jackson museum, is being built in Vietnam, Jackson said. The project, which is being developed by the Khang Thong Group, will include luxury hotels, a theme park and a casino to be built on 3,000 acres. The first phase is expected to open in April 2014 and will be called Happyland. "He has lots of fans in Vietnam. They love Michael Jackson. He'll never die," said Nguyen Long, who serves as an assistant and translator to Phan Thao, general director for the Khang Thong Group. Joe Jackson arrives at his former home at 2300 Jackson St. in Gary on Friday. Michael Jackson's children, Blanket, far left, Prince Michael and Paris Jackson, far right, take a quick tour of Michael Jackson's old Gary neighborhood Friday with cousin Cayla Jackson. Michael Jackson's cousin Keith Jackson helps two of the singer's children, Paris and Blanket, sign an autograph Friday in Gary. Prince Michael and Paris Jackson chat with fans Friday at the site of Michael Jackson's boyhood home. Paris is puttng on a necklace given to her by Lake Station resident Beth Sajdera, right. Paris Jackson chats with Beth Sajdera, of Lake Station, on Friday. Sajdera gave Paris a necklace. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bailey Posted August 27, 2011 Share Posted August 27, 2011 that is so great the kids get out and are not enclosed from reality, Mama Katherine is doing a damn good job....they look happy engaged with the people it's sad they lost their only dad, but they have a real Granny on her shit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reyna ♔ Posted August 27, 2011 Share Posted August 27, 2011 They're growing up so fast They look so beautiful Prince is as handsome as ever Paris looks FLAWLESS Blanket just steals my heart. He looks just like Michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bailey Posted August 27, 2011 Share Posted August 27, 2011 They're growing up so fast They look so beautiful Prince is as handsome as ever Paris looks FLAWLESS Blanket just steals my heart. He looks just like Michael they do look great I hope Blanket is happy he seems to never smile, or at least I don't see it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bailey Posted August 27, 2011 Share Posted August 27, 2011 and you get a +1 for keeping us posted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reyna ♔ Posted August 27, 2011 Share Posted August 27, 2011 they do look great I hope Blanket is happy he seems to never smile, or at least I don't see it So true. I think he's just really shy in public. I have seen him smile a few times. He just seems to be the shy, solemn one of the trio. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Diva Posted August 27, 2011 Author Share Posted August 27, 2011 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reyna ♔ Posted August 27, 2011 Share Posted August 27, 2011 These last three are SO Macro-worthy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Diva Posted August 28, 2011 Author Share Posted August 28, 2011 Michael Jackson’s kids visit with Gary crowd GARY — While the opening day of three-day birthday celebration of the late Michael Jackson was off to a slow start, the King of Pop’s three children — Prince, 14, Paris, 13, and 9-year-old Prince Michael II, also known as “Blanket,” took a short walk Friday from their father’s childhood home at 2300 Jackson St., to Garnett Elementary where their father and some of his siblings attended school decades ago. Michael Jackson’s birthday is Monday. “It’s closed now and I think it belongs to Workforce Development,” Michael’s first cousin Keith Jackson said as he led the brief tour for the children and a group of bodyguards and members of the Gary police department. The children posed for pictures in front of Garnett while giggling and talking among themselves with another young relative. Keith also pointed out Roosevelt High School where the older aunts and uncles attended before they became known as the iconic Jackson 5. “The kids are having a great time here,” Keith said as they returned to the gated house. Moments after being in the backyard near a private, luxury bus, Prince and Paris then made their way to the gated fence and shook hands, posed for pictures and signed autographs for a small group of fans lucky enough to be up close. Beth Shadera of Lake Station was able to present Paris with a necklace and also walked away with signatures from the children on a poster of their father as a child. “I came here not expecting to have the honor of meeting Michael’s children. They are so beautiful,” Shadera said. As the evening progressed, the crowd grew larger with more than 200 people dancing and watching performances on a stage near the house — called The Legend’s Stage — and Joe and Katherine Jackson, Michael’s parents, made their way outside to enjoy some of the show from the front yard. Katherine watched performers from Chicago as well as the Gary dance group, Kruciial Kreationz, founded by promoter and Jackson family friend Ivan “Primetime” Woodard. Katherine also signed T-shirts, pictures and books with her son’s image for some fans. She said seeing the community and fans from everywhere honoring her son ‘makes her choke up’ from the love. “This is great, beautiful,” she said, adding that she will likely be here until Sunday. “The children’s first day of school is Monday, so they have to go back.” She said she showed her grandchildren the entire house and where their father use to sleep and practice inside. “They are so excited about seeing where their father grew up,” Katherine said. “Paris told me, ‘Grandma, I love it here.” Later, the Jackson children attended the Merrillville-Andrean high school football game at Merrillville on Friday night. http://posttrib.suntimes.com/7304077-418/michael-jacksons-kids-visit-with-gary-crowd.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Diva Posted August 28, 2011 Author Share Posted August 28, 2011 http://abclocal.go.com/wls/video?id=8331116 here's a video of Paris and Blanket speaking on their dad along with Joe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reyna ♔ Posted August 28, 2011 Share Posted August 28, 2011 http://abclocal.go.com/wls/video?id=8331116 here's a video of Paris and Blanket speaking on their dad along with Joe. This made me cry :cry: Paris is so well-spoken and such a sweetheart. I wondered when they would finally see 2300 Jackson street. Where the legacy began. I did get a kick out of little Blanket, though. He looked so uninterested by the cameras, but his voice is so precious. He sounds like his daddy I wonder why Prince wasn't interviewed This was really cool though, and very settling as a stan and lover of the family. Jackson Family Dynasty for LIFE! :yahoo: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Posted August 28, 2011 Share Posted August 28, 2011 They're growing up so fast They look so beautiful Prince is as handsome as ever Paris looks FLAWLESS Blanket just steals my heart. He looks just like Michael He doesn't look anything like Michael lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reyna ♔ Posted August 28, 2011 Share Posted August 28, 2011 He doesn't look anything like Michael lol Yeah he does Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Posted August 28, 2011 Share Posted August 28, 2011 Yeah he does Well that is one hell of a coincidence! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reyna ♔ Posted August 28, 2011 Share Posted August 28, 2011 Well that is one hell of a coincidence! The only difference is skin color and the nose Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Posted August 28, 2011 Share Posted August 28, 2011 The only difference is skin color and the nose Ok. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bu. Posted August 28, 2011 Share Posted August 28, 2011 Paul leave that crap out of here please. we know your opinion regarding his kids Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Diva Posted August 29, 2011 Author Share Posted August 29, 2011 The only difference is skin color and the nose The nose is even the same, Blanket is Michael all over again. People need to look past his skin color and hair texture. There are even baby pics of janet that he resembles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Baby Posted August 29, 2011 Share Posted August 29, 2011 The only difference is skin color and the nose Please shut up. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Baby Posted August 29, 2011 Share Posted August 29, 2011 The nose is even the same, Blanket is Michael all over again. People need to look past his skin color and hair texture. There are even baby pics of janet that he resembles. You shut up too. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EphraimAdamz Posted August 29, 2011 Share Posted August 29, 2011 Blankets eyes say it all. I think he's Michaels only biological child Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reyna ♔ Posted August 29, 2011 Share Posted August 29, 2011 Please shut up. Thanks. How about you make me? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Baby Posted August 29, 2011 Share Posted August 29, 2011 How about you make me? I shouldn't have to make you hunnies. You should wanna do it for yourself so you can stop looking so stupid your whole d&mn life... I'm on your team. I am actually trying to save whats left of your pitiful reputation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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