December 15 - Welcome Back Audio-tape

56 years after its initial broadcast, and 41 years after ABC is said to have discarded the original master videotape, a high-quality source of the soundtrack for the Frank Sinatra-hosted 1960 Timex special has finally been located.

The special, officially titled "It's Nice to Go Traveling", was Sinatra's last for the network, and was conceived as a vehicle to welcome home Elvis Presley, who was returning from Germany, after his separation from the service. Reviews of the show were generally positive, and the highlight of the program was the once-in-a-lifetime pairing of the The Chairman of the Board and The King, as they performed a duet of each other's hits-- "Love Me Tender" and "Witchcraft."

Time, however was not so kind to the program-- prior to the wiping of the master tape, at least two different kinescopes were made; one of which demonstrated severe flagging problems across the top of the image, as a result of a mis-calibrated video playback machine. Over time, the negatives for those kinescope films also appeared to have been lost, and so for the past 40 years, the only surviving record of the broadcast has been a few very low-quality dupes of those films, many of which appear to have seen better days. It's debatable as to whether the audio or the video has suffered worse over the years.

While many of the video issues can be solved with a professional transfer of a print of the "good" kinescope, and the application of LiveFeed Video Imaging, the indifferent quality of the surviving audio has been a sticking point. And having now heard one, I can confidently state that this program is vastly helped by having a high-fidelity soundtrack source, which allows everyone to experience the nuances of each singer's vocalizations and Nelson Riddle's marvelous arrangements.

There was no soundtrack recording released at the time the program was broadcast, and indeed, the idea of coordinating a deal that included Col. Tom Parker, Frank Sinatra's Hobart Productions, Capitol Records and RCA Records seems mind-boggling. The upshot however, is that there have been no professional sources from which to extract a decent soundtrack to accompany a restored image.

However, the discovery of over 45 minutes of the program's soundtrack on a double-sided 12" acetate have now made a full restoration of the program possible. In addition to the video program itself, the soundtrack find also adds two new song masters to both Elvis' discography (his live-in-the-studio performance of "Fame & Fortune" and "Stuck on You") and Frank's holdings (his solo versions of "Witchcraft" and "Gone With the Wind") as well as the historic duet between the two singing legends. 

Elvis - Die Legende

The German biography book “Elvis - Die Legende” is due for release on June 26, 2017 from the publisher Hannibal.

The Auction at Graceland

Online Bidding Now Open For “The Auction at Graceland,” to be Held During Elvis Birthday Celebration. The January 7th Graceland-Authenticated Auction Will Feature Artifacts From Elvis’ Personal And Professional Life.

During the Elvis Presley Birthday celebration at Graceland,  collectors, fans and pop culture enthusiasts from around the world will raise their paddles to bid in hopes of going home with a piece of Elvis history at the Graceland-Authenticated “The Auction at Graceland,” in The Guest House at Graceland resort hotel theater and online at GracelandAuctions.com. The auction will feature array of artifacts from both Elvis’ theatrical and musical careers as well as personal tokens and gifts.

Online bidding is now open for the auction, which will be held Saturday, January 7 at 3:00 p.m. EST/2:00 p.m. CST in the new theater in The Guest House at Graceland, and online at GracelandAuctions.com. 

Every artifact is authenticated by Graceland Authenticated, LLC.  All of the items in the auction will be offered from third-party collectors and none of the items will come from the treasured Graceland Archives. The mansion and all artifacts in the Graceland Archives continue to be owned by Lisa Marie Presley and are not for sale. 

Auction highlights include:

• Elvis Presley Owned Gold and Diamond Lion Head Ring Gifted to Charlie Hodge, Estimate $10,000-$15,000. 
• Elvis Presley Owned 1911 $2 1/2 Indian Head Gold Coin Ring Gifted to Charlie Hodge, Estimate $10,000-$15,000.
• 1970s Elvis Presley Union 76 Gas Gold Card, Estimate $5,000-$7,000 
• 1962 Elvis Presley Film-Worn Boxing Gloves from “Kid Galahad," Estimate $5,000-$10,000
• 1962 Kid Galahad Sweater Worn by Elvis Presley Co-Star Joan Blackman, Estimate $5,000-$7,000
• Elvis Presley Owned and Used Colt “Police Positive Special” .32 Caliber Pistol Gifted to Bodyguard Richard Grob, Estimate $4,000-$6,000
• Elvis Presley Blue Suede Jacket, Estimate $4,000-$6,000
• Elvis Presley White Button-Down Shirt with Blue Circles Pattern, Estimate $3000-$5000
• 1971 Elvis Presley 4th Degree Black Belt Card with Letter from Ed Parker and Elvis’ Kenpo Karate Handbook, Estimate $3000-$4000 

Many of the auction lots can be viewed at the Elvis Presley Automobile Museum at Graceland in Memphis December 19 through January 5 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. CST. Highlights will also be displayed on January 6-7 in the Rock conference room of The Guest House at Graceland.

(Source: FECC / Home Theater Forum / EPE)