The Tennessee Department of Tourist Development has launched its winter site at winter.tnvacation.com. This year, the interactive website encourages visitors to experience the holiday season with the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, Elvis Presley, with the theme, “Winter With Elvis: Lights, Camera, Action.” The department, in partnership with Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc. and Peabody Memphis, kicks off the launch of the site with its Winter With Elvis contest.
Or as the board put it: 'Put on your Blue Suede Shoes! There’s no Cryin’ in the Chapel or feeling like a Hound Dog. Surrender to our Winter with Elvis, abuzz with lights and festivities across Tennessee. It’s Now or Never: Enter our Winter with Elvis Contest. Get All Shook Up this holiday season!'
Harry Morgan Died
Harry Morgan, the Emmy-winning character actor whose portrayal of the fatherly Col. Potter on television's "M*A*S*H"' died. In, 1966 he costarred in the Elvis Presley musical, Frankie and Johnny. Morgan portrayed Elvis’ piano-playing sidekick, Cully. His memory of working with Elvis and doing the film is "I liked Elvis enormousley while working with him. I enjoyed doing the movie very much."
Elvis Las Vegas "Hilton" No More
The Las Vegas Hilton confirmed Thursday its new name beginning next month will be the LVH — Las Vegas Hotel & Casino. For undisclosed reasons, the Las Vegas Hilton is losing its rights to use its longtime name from trademark owner Hilton Worldwide. Confirmation of the name change, effective Jan. 3, came in via the property website,"Same fame. New name." It was in July/August 1969 that Elvis truly became synonymous with Las Vegas when he started his return to live performances at the then-named International Hotel. In one 29-day period Elvis entertained 101,509 guests, bringing in $1.5 million in ticket sales.
The hotel became the Hilton in 1971 and over the years more people saw Elvis perform there than anywhere else in the world.
In the course of his 800-plus performances in Vegas, Elvis sold $43.7 million in show tickets, about $300 million in 2011 dollars. The 2,950-room Hotel is now controlled by billionaire Thomas Barrack’s LA company Colony Capital LLC.
(Source: Elvis Express / Associated Press)