Monday, February 29, 2016

February 29 - Taking Care Of Business: In A Flash

Planned for release around May or June from FTD in cooperation with Flaming Star is the book / CD set "Taking Care Of Business: In A Flash". This 430-page illustrated hardback book will detail Elvis’ personal life and public career between October 1970 and January 1971. Produced by David English, Pål Granlund and Paul Richardson (from Elvis The man and His Music), the book will be accompanied by audio from the November 1970 tour. Further details to follow soon.

Elvis the Exhibition Closes in Las Vegas

Westgate Resorts is blaming a "heavy-handed move" for the hotel management's decision to step in and close the doors of the Elvis exhibit less than a year into a 10-year contract. This may not be such as surprise as the Elvis Exhibition was often close to empty and even the first major show "The Elvis Experience" closed earlier than its planned five week run. Back in 2015 EPE promised "After the debut show of "Elvis Experience" Westgate will feature other Graceland-produced live shows in the Elvis Presley International Showroom" however no further Elvis shows ever materialised.

Mark Waltrip, chief operating officer of Westgate Las Vegas, said the move was "a protective action" after the tenant notified the hotel ownership in midweek about plans to shutter "Graceland Presents: Elvis the Exhibition." 

The dispute is with the tenant, a licensee of Graceland, the Elvis estate, Waltrip said. "They owe us quite a substantial amount of money for the improvements we made on the space. Unfortunately they took a heavy-handed move. They were threatening to default, so we had to close the premises and protect the asset." He said Westgate closed the 28,000-square-foot exhibit so they could "secure the contents until we can sort this out." When it opened in April, a Graceland executive said the exhibit had about 350 pieces from the Graceland collection. The licensee's action came during the same week that it was learned the Westgate has received permission to change Riviera Boulevard to Elvis Presley Boulevard. It got ugly fast. Waltrip said the licensee "notified the county and told them they don't want the street names after Elvis. We're very saddened this particular group has taken such a capricious and possibly damaging action. They thought they would hurt us. But it's more damaging to the legion of Elvis fans. "Meantime," Waltrip said, "everything is safe, locked, and we'll wait until we hear from the estate."

(Source: FECC / The Man And His Music / Elvis Information Network)