It's a fandom that drew an estimated crowd of 50,000 to 60,000 people last night to Elvis Presley Boulevard for Graceland's annual Candlelight Vigil, about 15,000 fewer than five years ago. Officials predicted a larger than average attendance this year, enticed by the recent $130 million expansion of the entertainment complex.
But many long-time Elvis fans had as much to say about the corporate changes at Graceland and EPE as they did about their love for the King of Rock and Roll.
"It's just not the same; it just isn't," said Kelly Diakonis, a frequent vigil attendee from Chicago. She was first in line outside the famous gates of Graceland on Tuesday afternoon.
"I don't think it's only me, most of everybody is saying the same thing. It's kind of Disney World now. It's lost that feeling of being someone's house."
The expansion added gift shops, a hotel and museum exhibits. It also added steeper admission prices.
Cheryl Skogan from LA said the structure and pricing of Elvis Week is broadcasting the wrong message to fans.
"It's not personal anymore; it's too commercial," she said. The most egregious change for die-hard Elvis fans was Graceland's decision to make the vigil a paid event. Traditionally, it has been free, giving everyone who wanted to wait in the enormous line the opportunity to walk quietly past Elvis' grave and pay their respects. Now locals who have no desire to buy tickets to see the Museum during Elvis Week must pay Graceland $28.75 for the privilege. Skogan called the scheme "ridiculous."
Graceland defended the cost, citing crowd size and beefed up security measures that kept many early arrivals standing in long lines just to access the street in front of the house. Far fewer in numbers were the homespun Elvis "shrines" set up most years by local Elvis fans.
Elvis would have been 82 this year, and while the ages of his fans seem to get ever younger, his music itself remains ageless.
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(Source: WKNO / Elvis Information Network / Twitter / Channel 24)