Elvis-A-Rama museum to be purchased

Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2005 | 11:33 a.m.

SUN STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

CKX Inc., which controls the name, image and likeness of Elvis Presley, said it agreed to acquire the Elvis-A-Rama museum near the Las Vegas Strip, a related Web site and most of the memorabilia on display for an undisclosed price.

The museum will be closed to make way for a world-class Elvis-themed attraction, New York-based CKX said today in a statement distributed by Business Wire.

Chris Davidson, the Elvis memorabilia collector who will sell the museum, will be granted the right to open an Elvis museum in Hawaii, the company said. CKX said it will get a licensing fee and hold a "significant" equity interest in a Hawaii museum.

Davidson said his museum on Industrial Road will close "sometime into next year." The 12 employees have been offered incentives to "stay with me until the end," he said, adding that he would offer assistance in finding them future employment.

Maui and Honolulu are the likely locations for the Hawaii museum, but the timeline is uncertain, Davidson said.

"I'll wait until this settles to start on that, probably in the first quarter of next year," he said.

Davidson declined to disclose the sale price of Elvis-A-Rama, pointing out that a few details must still be worked out in reaching the official price tag.

CKX also produces the "American Idol" television program.

Ed Tagliaferri, a CKX spokesman, didn't immediately return a phone message seeking comment.

CKX shares rose 53 cents, or 4.5 percent, to $12.26 yesterday in Nasdaq Stock Market composite trading.