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Courtesy Scott Roeben
Pete “Big Elvis” Vallee celebrates 10 years of performing on the Strip with more than 7,000 performances at Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall on Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2012.
Monday, Jan. 7, 2013 | 8 p.m.
ELVIS PRESLEY - ... the "Pelvis" on stage 1973.
Elvis tribute artist Jesse Garon prays as Las Vegas Mayor Oscar B. Goodman and his wife of 47 years Carolyn Goodman renewed their wedding vows Wednesday at the Fremont Street Experience in celebration of 9/9/09.
If there is a sequined jumpsuit hanging in your closet, or perhaps being stored at Tiffany Couture Cleaners (the Couture Cleaners to the Stars), Tuesday is the day to slip back into that sucker.
It’s the anniversary of Elvis Presley’s birthday. He was born Jan. 8, 78 years ago in Tupelo, Miss. Because this is Vegas, where Elvis performed 837 consecutive sold-out shows at the International/Las Vegas Hilton, we must mark this moment in time with an update of the Elvis landscape.
The biggest Elvis in Vegas is, naturally, Big Elvis. And this is a big week for Pete Vallee, who is celebrating with his usual set of shows at Harrah’s Piano Bar at 2, 3:30 and 5 p.m. I understand there is an expectation of some special guests from the “Elvis world” (which would be a good name for a casino), and there will be prize giveaways and flowers handed out to the ladies.
But as we build to a crescendo in the manner of Elvis, the really big event is Friday morning, when Big Elvis is to be featured during “Good Morning America” on ABC. The show’s weatherman, Sam Champion, is a judge for the 2013 Miss America Pageant and will be broadcasting live from Planet Hollywood. Vallee will sing “Blue Suede Shoes” and another song to be determined, likely on Thursday, for the show.
At 11 a.m. Tuesday, the city’s “official” Elvis, Jesse Garon (who makes appearances as Elvis for city of Las Vegas events), will join the Opportunity Village dance troupe OV Elvi for a special performance at the foundation’s Engelstad Campus on South Buffalo Drive. The show opens with the Roaring Thunder percussion team and features Opportunity Village clients dressed as Elvis, and the finale is Garon and the crew belting out “Blue Suede Shoes.”
The day also is a benchmark — the first benchmark — for The Geary Company of Las Vegas. Company founder Dick Geary was working for United Outdoor Advertising when, in 1969, he was approached by Col. Tom Parker and asked if he’d be interested in handling the advertising for Presley’s upcoming U.S. tour. This was just as Presley was about to start his famed comeback run at the International. Geary (naturally) said yes, and Presley was signed as the company’s first client.
And, on the topic of Parker, a friend of the column (and in real life) is Col. Tom’s widow, Loanne Parker. She’s a Las Vegas resident and something of a scenester, frequently at Frankie Moreno’s show at the Stratosphere. Seventy-eight years after his birth, all we’re missing is Elvis himself … but we can feel him, still, all over town.
Follow John Katsilometes on Twitter at Twitter.com/JohnnyKats. Also, follow “Kats With the Dish” at Twitter.com/KatsWiththeDish.
also, as we have for the past 5 years, the VIVA LAS VEGAS CLUB has decorated the Elvis statue in front of the LVH. he looks like a one man party! pictures at facebook.
Las Vegas should build a bronze statue of Elvis. Its height should be 151 feet and 1 inch (or 46 meters). The biggest question would be, where to buld it. Its construction would be cheap, and it certainly would be a true landmark, tourist attraction, symbol of the city, and it would even compete with another famous american statue. The perfect time for the inauguration would be in 2 years, on Elvis' 80th birthday. Why didn't anyone come up with this great idea?
Good idea BUT Someone has to pay for the statue. Do you have the money? Are you able to raise the money? Do you have the permits, have access to the land to build it? Don't wait for 'anyone' or 'someone else', YOU have do it. I don't just say stuff. I get it done. My club got Elvis into the Las Vegas Walk of Stars, raising $15,000 in 6 months, thanks to a fan wide campaign. That's what it takes.... people who have the idea doing it themselves. Looking into how to get it done and taking the action to do so. To just say something from the sidelines gets nothing done. FYI The statue at the LVH was paid for by Elvis' manager, Tom Parker, and his father, Vernon Presley.
Here's a thumbs up for the FREE Elvis tribute show staring John Brooks, every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday @ the El Cortez Parlour Lounge starting at 6pm.
And no, I am not his relative or friend! We just enjoy the show and you can't beat the price!