ELVIS EXHIBITION REVIEW | ELVIS COMES HOME

Recently we requested one of our members who was going to visit the Elvis Exhibition at the Las Vegas Westgate Resort (formerly the Las Vegas Hilton) to write a review of the experience.  Better than that he decided to provide a video review and let the photos speak for themselves.  Check out this exclusive Always Elvis video review of the Elvis Exhibition Las Vegas.

CLICK HERE FOR THE VIDEO REVIEW

ELVIS EXHIBITION SIGN AT THE WESTGATE LAS VEGAS RESORT

ELVIS BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION: BEHIND THE LENS

January 8, 2015 would have been Elvis Presley's 80th birthday.  Many fans from around the world travelled to Memphis to share in the celebration. Fan club member and published photographer, Bob Klein, was one of those fans.  Although he was fortunate to make the trip, not all our members and Elvis' friends were able to attend. So we thought to share a review of the Birthday Celebration with members, fans and friends from behind the lens of Klein's camera.

"It has been six years since I been to Memphis" said Klein. "I was looking forward to the trip with some great longstanding friends and some new ones.  I really wanted to photograph the events at Graceland and I hope you enjoy the photos as much as I do."

January 8th, Graceland Grounds, Memphis, TN: Priscilla Presley, Lisa Marie Presley along with daughter Riley and son Benjamin at the Birthday Proclamation.  Fans had an opportunity to enjoy Birthday cake fit for a king. (Click on photos to view larger).

Graceland Mansion - Memphis, TN. - Christmas trees bring the spirit of the holidays in both the living room and formal dining room.  The TV room in the basement with 3 televisions is all Elvis style with the trademark lightning bolt (TCB) on the wall. The now converted racquetball court walls now aligned with jumpsuits, gold records and awards.  The famous blue lights light up the driveway to Graceland with the moon "shining bright".  The famous music gates on Elvis Presley Boulevard with the image of Elvis and musical notes. (Click on photos to view larger).

Homes of Elvis Presley:  The Presley's two room shack in Tupelo, MS.  Elvis' home of Audobon Drive and Graceland Mansion.

Meditation Gardens, Graceland:  Elvis' mother Glady's original tombstone and Elvis' final resting place with eternal candle.

ELVIS AT THE HILTON (WESTGATE LAS VEGAS RESORT) - ELVIS IS BACK!

For Elvis fan's that did not have the opportunity to see Elvis in person his home Graceland is the closest connection to the king.  The members of Always Elvis have been fortunate enough to visit Graceland many times and have met many of Elvis associates including band members, family and friends.  Outside of Memphis there is no other place then Elvis home away from home the Las Vegas Hilton. Now known at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort this place has a rich history.  Elvis performed a historic 837 sold out performances over a seven year period and sold $43.7 million in show tickets, about $280 million in today's dollar.  Other artists performing at the hotel were Barbra Streisand, Liberace, Tom Jones, Engelbert Humperdinck, Ann Margret, Glen Campbell, Reba McEntire and Barry Manilow to name a few.

Although I never seen Elvis perform I did have the opportunity to be in the original showroom for a performance by Engelbert in the 80's.  The performer that night had no relevance to me but I was in the showroom that I had seen many times watching Elvis: That's The Way It is!  The rounded booths, tables near the stage, the gold curtain - if only Elvis was there.  The showroom was magical and enriched with all the legendary performers that had performed in it.  Unfortunately in 1992 the showroom was remodeled to a standard auditorium with only rows of seats.

In 2012 although the building was the same the Las Vegas Hilton was no more and renamed the LVH (Las Vegas Hotel).  For all the years I had visited this hotel the glory of this hotel and the history of Elvis in it was gone.  The Elvis statue was outside in poor condition and other than a few photos of Elvis in the back corner of the casino you would never have known that Elvis once ruled Las Vegas. 

"Westgate Las Vegas Resort Bringing Hotel Back To Glory Days"

I returned to Las Vegas recently for the first time since the hotel was now named the Westgate Las Vegas Hotel.  As I entered the lobby there was a collection of Elvis memorabilia including a Lincoln that Elvis once owned.  Outfits, jewelry and a guitar presented in glass cases throughout the lobby and near the showroom area.  The Elvis status was wonderfully presented between the hotel lobby area and main hotel shop area.  This was more like it!  Best of all the customer service desk had a sign saying "Elvis Suite Tours".  Sure this entire suite area has been remodeled for today standards but this was still the 30th floor that Elvis called home away from home.  The remodeling consists of three separate suites but the Tuscany Suite is the location of Elvis' main suite at the time.

The suite was elegant with multiple bedrooms, dining area, bar and outdoor pool.  The living room area in the Tuscany is the same location which was once Elvis' master bedroom suite.  Although the inside structure had changed seeing the view from the 30th floor was nothing less than spectacular.  Overall a wonderful experience that every Elvis fan should have an opportunity to take in.  One addition as a fan that I would like to have seen was an chance to view the showroom in an Elvis perspective.  Taking the trip from the suite to the service elevators as Elvis did to get to the showroom and of course going to his dressing room and even walking on the stage.  This was not available on this tour but the backstage tour was available at one time during the summers Elvis Festival in July. 

"Elvis to return to original Hilton showroom in new Elvis show"

As mentioned earlier the hotel had a new spirit in it not only regarding Elvis but as a Las Vegas Hotel in general.  Renovations are underway at the hotel to update rooms and other areas of the hotel.  More importantly the hotel's showroom and exhibition area will soon be taken over with the return of Elvis in a new show according to Joel Weinshanker, Graceland Holdings Managing Partner.  As we all know over the last few years we have heard on the new technology used to return Tupac and Michael Jackson to the stage in a holographic form.  This leads me to believe that this new show could lead Elvis back to the showroom stage in this similar form.  I can't see Elvis returning in such a spectacular presence in any other place but this showroom.  It will be an exciting time for Elvis fans if this does come to reality.  This hotel had a lot of first in Las Vegas and it deserves this as a first as well.  I can personally say from this visit that Elvis is Back!  I know there is more to come and when it does Elvis fan's and others will sure to be there.

One of several Elvis displays at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort

Tuscany Suite living room was the previous location to Elvis Master Suite

View from the 30th floor suite

Elvis Lincoln Continental

CLUB MEMBERS HAVE PIECE OF ELVIS' 1977 CADILLAC SEVILLE

As mentioned the Always Elvis Showroom will focus on the many aspects of Elvis' life and they may relate to the Elvis fan.  Recently during Elvis Week 2014 many personal items of Elvis were auctioned off in the very first Graceland Authenticated Auction.  The wonderful vehicle with wired wheel rims, chrome grill with a white leather interior also included a CB radio.  The vehicle was the last personal vehicle purchased by Elvis in December of 1976.  The vehicle prior to auction was owned by the Wiggles front man Greg Page. The entire Graceland Auction were items from the page collection which was one of the larger Elvis collections in the world.  The vehicle sold for $81,250 to a UK collector who will now have the vehicle in the UK.  Prior to Page acquiring the vehicle in 2008 the vehicle was sold at the Butterfield and Butterfield auction in Las Vegas in 1994 where the prior owner was none other than Jimmy Velvet.

Elvis 1977 Cadillac Seville
Elvis Automobile Museum Graceland - August 2014

Jimmy Velvet was involved in the music industry and it was through these means that he met Elvis Presley and they became life long friends.  After Elvis death Velvet operated an Elvis memorabilia museum which during its operation also travelled around the country. In May of 1992 the museum was showcased at a mall in Phillipsburg, NJ which borders Pennsylvania.  Through the Phillipsburg Mall the fan club was contacted about the upcoming museum and requested assistance to sell tickets and manage tables during the four day event.  The museum included Elvis jumpsuits, personal clothing, jewelry and none other than the 1977 Cadillac Seville.

Elvis' 1977 Cadillac Seville - Phillipsburg, NJ 1992

Fan Club President Rosemary with Jimmy Velvet

Members had the opportunity to sit behind the wheel of Elvis' 1977 Cadillac

Fan club members were not only able to meet Jimmy Velvet as he shared stories about his time with Elvis but were also given the opportunity to get behind the wheel of Elvis' personal vehicle.  Photos were taken with Velvet and members took pictures as they were in the driver seat of the cadillac.  Being in the vehicle that Elvis once drove was thrilling for any Elvis fan.

Elvis driving his silver and burgundy Cadillac Seville

During the four day event repairs were required to the Cadillac to a repair a leaky hose.  Fortunately for Velvet one of the fan club members relatives did auto repair and came by to make the repairs.  A hose was replaced and the failed hose was handed to Velvet who indicated he didn't need it.  It was handed to the fan club member that assisted in getting the relative to come to do repairs.  Instead of keeping the hose for herself she gladly had the hose equally divided between the fan club members that were on location.  Fan club members could now say they had a piece of Elvis' 1977 Cadillac Seville.  Velvet was even nice enough to provide those members with a certificate of authenticity to indicate that the hose actually came from the vehicle.