People talk 09/23/02

'Star Trek' actor publishes photo book

LOS ANGELES -- Former "Star Trek" actor Leonard Nimoy is exploring a new universe.

A shutterbug since his teens, Nimoy has produced his first book of photographs, titled: "Shekhina: Photographs by Leonard Nimoy."

It contains black-and-white images on the theme of Shekhina, which Jewish mystics consider to be the feminine aspect of God.

"I have imagined her as ubiquitous, watchful, and often in motion," Nimoy says in the book's introduction. "This work is my quest for insight, the exploration of my own spirituality, and, as such, has been a deeply moving and expanding process."

Some photographs are being displayed at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles beginning Wednesday.

Merv Griffin sells California hotel

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. -- Merv Griffin has sold the 14-acre resort hotel that gained notoriety in 2000 when actor Robert Downey Jr. was arrested there for drug possession.

The television producer sold Merv Griffin's Resort Hotel & Givenchy Spa to a Scottsdale, Ariz., company for an undisclosed amount.

Palm Desert Holdings and Epix Hotels and Resorts will reopen the hotel under a new name this winter.

Griffin said selling the hotel will reduce his many responsibilities. He continues to own the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, a resort in Scottsdale, Ariz., and an 18th-century estate near Galway, Ireland.

Griffin bought the Palm Springs hotel in 1998, bringing to it Hollywood flair. He hosted an annual holiday event, in which celebrities such as Cher and Suzanne Somers decorated Christmas trees and auctioned them for charity.

"The hotel had a mystique and it brought in a lot of celebrities," said Jeff Hocker, Palm Springs Tourism Bureau spokesman. "We hope it can continue in that style and sophistication."

Former Liz Taylor ring displayed in New York

NEW YORK -- An emerald and diamond Bulgari ring that Richard Burton gave Elizabeth Taylor went on display Saturday at Christie's auction house.

The ring is among items from Taylor's jewelry collection that go on the block Thursday to benefit The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation.

"I have many passions. For family and friends, for love and laughter, for extraordinary objects of beauty," the actress writes in the auction catalog.

The foundation has raised $8 million since Taylor founded it in 1991.

On Sept. 30, Christie's will also display -- but not sell -- 30 pieces from the actress's private jewelry collection to launch her new book, "Elizabeth Taylor: My Love Affair with Jewelry."

Highlights include another gift from Burton, a 33-carat diamond crafted by Harry Winston, and the heart-shaped Taj Mahal diamond the actor gave his wife for her 40th birthday.

The Bulgari ring has a pre-auction value of $40,000 to $60,000.

RCA vice president produces Elvis remixes

LOS ANGELES -- RCA vice president David Bendeth spent a year uncovering hidden tones in original Elvis Presley recordings to produce a richer "less distant" sound.

He was awestruck.

"Imagine mixing the King!" said Bendeth, whose work, "Elvis 30 1 Hits," will be released Tuesday.

"Everyone said, 'Can you make this better?'" Bendeth recalled. "People were hesitant to touch them."

The tapes, some recorded over 45 years ago, included "Heartbreak Hotel," "Jailhouse Rock," "Are You Lonesome Tonight" and "Can't Help Falling in Love."

He and partner, Ray Bardoni, heard each song over 1,000 times as they worked to enhance them.

"I tried to think what Elvis wanted. I had to imagine he was in the room with me," said Bendeth.

Then some weird things happened. The horns disappeared from "Suspicious Minds." The original piano music vanished from "It's Now or Never."

In each case, Bendeth found the music and was able to integrate it back in.

"It was," he said, "like someone was leading me."

-- From wire reports