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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 28, 1997)
Pawnshops peddle products for all sorts 1 By Gerry Beltz Senior Reporter The door opens, and an old-style bell jingle jangles nearby, or maybe it’s a buzzer announc ing your arrival. You get maybe one step inside, and you stop to take in the surroundings — stacks of VCRs, rows of televisions, cases of jewelry, bicycles, guitars. And it’s all for sale—cheap, but not free. Welcome to a pawnshop. “It’s the second-oldest profession around/’ said Sheldon Kushner, owner of Royal Pawn Shop, 118 Ninth St. “I think we all know what the fust poet is,’”-he adds with a wink and asmile. Since the shop opened in 1879, Kushner is the fifth owner of the pawnshop, which has been a pari of Lincoln business for years, he said. “We’re one of the oldest businesses still op erating in Lincoln, if not the oldest business,” Kushner said. “I knew all the owners but the first one.” 1 The original purpose of a pawnshop isn't to sell used goods, but to give short-term loans in exchange for merchandise. “It’s for people who need quick cash,” Kushner ^id. ^ bank becaiise^tihey need isa^oan of said Carrie Bolkovac, manager ofBB&R Pawn, 1701 O St., “or maybe they just need money for bread and milk until payday.” Many people ha vea misconception of pawn shops to be a place where (to quote “Star Wars”) “you’ll never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy,” which just isn’t true. “We are definitely servicing a different kind of clientele here,” Bolkovac said. ^ John Brown, manager of Randolph Jewelry and Loan, 2700 Randolph St., said he was (me of those who had a low opinion of pawnshops before he became manager of his store five years ago. “I had never set foot in (me before,” Brown said. “I thought it was a dirty place where bums would hang out, and the salespeople were rude and didn’t care about die customers.” Brown said that just isn’t so. “We’re not a bunch of ogres,” Brown said. “We sit around and have a good time, watching movies when we get the chance.” And Brown said the range of clientele makes his job interesting. “We get all kinds in here,” Brown said. “We get people who barely have two nickels to rub together to rich people who just don’t know how to manage their money very well.” Another popular misconception is how much rnerchandise at a pawnshop is stolen, and how easy it is to get money for stolen goods, Kushner said. “People thought all pawnshops were actually fences for stolen property,” Kushner said, “and that’s not the casegtgsporeA . When pawning or selling a piece of merchandise, the customer must fill out a sheet —in triplicate —r which includes a driver’s license number and a thumbprint. These tickets are gathered //_ every day firom every pawnshop in the 'dityby me Lincoln Police Department. AhsojTthe product is to be resold, the item is held for two weeks before being put out on the shelves to give LPD time to check the computers for any recent thefts involving that item. “People just don’t realize how regu lated we are with the Lincoln Police Department,” Bolkovac said. Everyone agreed the most popular items going across the counters—both buying and selling—are firearms, jew elry and stereo equipment. The “pawn value” of the product is decided by an item called the Orion Book, which is similar to a blue book for used cars, Kushner said. — ■ -- - ■ . Please see PAWN on 13 Weak plot of Tierce Creatures’ flops like a fish fresh out of water By Brett Schulte Film Critic On MTV, John Scencio asked Jamie Lee Curtis exactly what was the premise behind the new feature film “Fierce Creatures.” She dubiously responded that it was not re ally a follow-up to “A Fish Called Wanda,” and it was definitely not a sequel. She paused and proclaimed it was “an equal.” Not even close. This “equal” is a blatant, diluted imitation of the comedy classic and pre decessor “A Fish Called Wanda.” The lack of imagination and effort that went into the pro duction of a film with so much potential is not For instance, the characters andthe actors are all nearly identical with their “Wanda” coun terparts as are their relationships — with one exception, they’re not funny. This obvious at tempt to plug the same variables into a different formula fails miserably due to an insanely stu pid plot relying heavily on breast-based punch lines and allusions to bestiality. Jamie Lee Curtis (Mice again fulfills the role of the fleshy and seductive American leaying both Kevin Kline and John Geese chasing her skirt through the entire film. A device that led to a variety of hi-jinks, misunderstandings and sexual frustration in the first film but is predict Movie: “Fierce Geatures” Directors: Robert Young & Fred Schepisi Stan: John Cleese, Jamie Lee Curtis, Kevin Kline, Michael Palin Rating: PG-13 (language, sexual content) Grade: C- v Five Words: A Fish Called Wasted Tune able and worn-out by thesecond. Kevin Kline plays Vince McCain, an ass kissing, self-absorbed egomaniac (again) who is desperately trying to gam his father’s appre ciation. His father, also played by Kevin Kline and modeled after Rupert Murdoch, is an Aus tralian corporate mogul who recently purchased Marwood Zoo in England. His bright, beautiful executive, Willa Weston (Jamie Lee Curtis), is told she must make a 20 percent profit to keep it going. She is paired up with his son, and sent to England to assess the new zoo director, Rollo Lee (John Geese). Meanwhile Rollo Lee, a former police of ficer, has decided to initiate his “Fierce Crea tures” policy to boost attendance. His vision is to create a zoo that houses oily the most feared Please see FIERCE on 13 Straight outta Poland From Staff Reports The Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra (above) will grace the stage at the Lied Cen ter for Performing Arts tonight with a con cert at 8. The Warsaw Philharmonic, under the ba ton of Kazimierz Kotd, will perform Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3 in E-flat ma jor, Op. 55, Lutoslawski’s Symphony No. 4 •. and Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43 by Rachmaninoff. The 115-piece orches tra will feature renowned pianist Jon Kimura Parker.*; Two pre-performance talks will be given by Robert Emile, a UftL professor of strings and music theory, 55 minutes and 30 min utes before the performance begins. Tickets are $42, $38 and $34 and are half price for students. >
