Columnist John Katsilometes: An Elvis impressionist hitting the Strip for work

Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2005 | 8:37 a.m.

Fabulous Las Vegas runs Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday in the Las Vegas Sun. Reach John Katsilometes at kats@lasvegassun.com or at (702) 259-2327 or (702) 812-9812.

Sometimes in Las Vegas your objective is only to have lunch with a friend at Imperial Palace. But sometimes in Las Vegas you have lunch with a friend at Imperial Palace, and you are distracted by a wayward Elvis impersonator in a black-and-gold sequined jumpsuit, hustling for a gig.

The latter was the case on Monday as I met with IP Director of Advertising and Public Relations Jackie Brett. As we made our way past the Dealertainers I noticed a guy clad in an Elvis costume who was clearly not part of the Dealertainer cast; another Elvis was behind the blackjack table.

A few minutes later the same Elvis was upstairs wandering through the IP wedding chapel.

What's the deal with this Elvis?

His name is Joey Franklin and he was passing out his business card to the IP staff. Franklin came up empty. The weddings at IP are handled by an agency (and Franklin is not licensed to perform the services anyway) and he's "terrible with cards," thus not qualified to be a Dealertainer.

"It's tough in this town," said Franklin, who moved to Vegas from Paducah, Ky., 14 months ago. "The people go with the Elvis they know, the Elvis they've been using for years. That's great if you've been here for years, but tough for a guy like me."

Since arriving in Vegas, Franklin has performed in Primm at Whiskey Pete's and at Elvis-A-Rama as part of the museum's rotating group of Elvis impressionists. He does private parties and is hungry for any stage; his e-mail address is atouchofelvis@aol.com.

"I've been blessed," he said. "I've got a great voice, just like Elvis."

A young and hungry Elvis, to be precise.

NoteMart

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Scheft -- right on: Sports Illustrated's resident comic, Bill Scheft, sent an e-mail over the weekend noting that he appreciated the item I wrote last week reciting his Las Vegas plot scenario for the upcoming "Rocky Balboa" movie. Scheft mentioned that Paulie would be "unable to find a tube of Fixodent to keep Rocky's mouthpiece in place."

In his e-mail, Scheft said: "Thanks for not busting me for inaccuracy. I know from experience that the gift shop at the Trop sells Fixodent." Well, no it doesn't -- I checked on Sunday and was told to head to Walgreens next to the MGM Grand to find the nearest Fixodent and/or Polident.