Priscilla Presley

One Night: More Elvis On Tour Theater Event and Blu-Ray Details

/ TY / 7 Comments

Elvis On Tour Countdown: 26 days to theater event, 1 month to Blu

The Mystery Train Elvis Blog didn’t even exist yet when I first posted in January about Elvis On Tour coming to Blu-ray over on my sci-fi blog. Now, over six months later, the Blu-ray release of the Golden Globe winner for best documentary of 1972 is just a month away. The film, featuring Elvis on stage and off during the spring of that year, makes its Blu-ray and DVD debut on August 3 from Warner Home Video.

What I never could have predicted back then is that in even less time than that, fans here in the United States will be able to experience the Elvis On Tour: 75th Anniversary Celebration in theaters across the country. Only 26 days away, the event will feature the entire Elvis On Tour movie as recently restored and remastered for high definition, as well as an introduction by Elvis’ ex-wife Priscilla Presley and never-before-seen footage. Sponsored by Fathom Events, Warner Home Video, and Elvis Presley Enterprises, Elvis On Tour: 75th Anniversary Celebration hits theaters one night only on July 29.

I’ve had the pleasure of attending two Fathom events before. The first, and most spectacular, was a special edit of ELVIS: ’68 Comeback Special to promote the deluxe edition DVD release. I was born in 1975, so I never had a chance to see Elvis in concert. Not only that, but I had never even seen him on the big screen in a movie theater. Fathom Events changed that with this incredible presentation. As an Elvis fan, it was a night I’ll never forget – the closest I’ll ever come to seeing him live.

I’m sure Elvis On Tour will feel much the same way. In fact, if I was born 10 or 15 years earlier, I very well may have attended a concert or two from that very tour, which had stops in my home state.

Be sure to check out Warner Home Video’s www.elvisthemovies.com, which is currently promoting Elvis On Tour and will soon have downloads and a photo gallery.

In case you missed them, here are some of the previous posts on Elvis On Tour from The Mystery Train:

Elvis on stage in 1972 during production of Elvis On Tour

Elvis on stage in 1972 during production of Elvis On Tour

See below for a full press release with even more Elvis On Tour details. Note that it mentions “Teddy Bear,” “Hound Dog,” “Heartbreak Hotel,” and “Are You Lonesome Tonight,” none of which are actually in the original Elvis On Tour movie and, thus, may be part of the “never-before-seen footage” portion of the event. We’ll find out on July 29.

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Elvis on Tour: 75th Anniversary Celebration to Hit Big Screens Nationwide for Exclusive One-Night Event with Never-Before-Seen Footage This July

NCM Fathom, Warner Home Video and Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc. Bring Golden Globe®- Winning Concert Documentary to Select Movie Theaters on July 29th featuring Exclusive Segments with Priscilla Presley

Centennial, Colo. – June 30, 2010 – Commemorating the 75th anniversary of Elvis Presley’s birth, Warner Home Video, Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc. and NCM Fathom are teaming up to present Elvis on Tour: 75th Anniversary Celebration special in-theater event that celebrates the timeless music of the rock ‘n’ roll icon. The event, featuring remastered film footage shot with The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll ™ on tour and in concert, will be broadcast to more than 460 select movie theaters on Thursday, July 29th at 7:00 p.m. local time.  In addition, this exclusive event will feature performances and interviews from the 1972 Golden Globe® Best Documentary winner, “Elvis on Tour,” and a specially-produced, exclusive retrospective from Priscilla Presley.  Elvis on Tour: 75th Anniversary Celebration includes never-before-seen Elvis tour footage as well as montage sequences produced by Academy Award®-winning director Martin Scorsese that showcase The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll’s early career and movies.

Tickets for Elvis on Tour: 75th Anniversary Celebration are available at participating box offices and online at www.FathomEvents.com. For a complete list of theater locations and prices, please visit the website (theaters and participants may be subject to change).

Since Elvis’s passing, Priscilla Presley has helped keep his legacy alive as an advocate for his music and as the founder of Elvis Presley Enterprises. As someone who knew the king better than almost anyone, her introduction at the beginning of the event promises to express the depth to which Elvis touched the lives of not just those who knew him, but the whole world.

“I was thrilled when I heard fans will be gathering in theaters across America on July 29 for this Elvis experience, and again in August during Elvis Week in Memphis,” said Priscilla Presley. “Those of us who witnessed Elvis in concert know how incredible it was to see him performing live. Now, through this in-theater event and DVD, millions more will get to experience that magic.”

“Elvis on Tour,” Elvis’ last film before his death in 1977, follows The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll as he embarked on a 15-city U.S. tour in April 1972.  More than 25 performances spotlight Elvis’ talent, range and showmanship in captivating on-stage performances and intimate backstage rehearsals with his band.  Shot with multi-cameras and presented in a split-screen format similar to “Woodstock” the movie, “Elvis on Tour” combines concert, rehearsal and backstage footage to provide all the excitement of having a front-row seat at the show. Concert performances include “Burning Love,” “Don’t be Cruel,” “Teddy Bear,” “Hound Dog,” “Love Me Tender,” “Suspicious Minds,” “Heartbreak Hotel,” “Are You Lonesome Tonight” and many more favorites.

Elvis on Tour: 75th Anniversary Celebration also features Elvis’ infamous appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show and his first performance of “Burning Love,” which was so new, he referred to the lyric sheet during the song.

“Elvis is an American pop culture icon and lives on in the hearts of millions and will return to the silver screen for a command performance at this historic event,” said Dan Diamond, vice president of NCM Fathom. “Elvis fans of all ages can experience The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll again in this restored and stunning presentation of the award-winning music documentary.”

Elvis on Tour: 75th Anniversary Celebration will appear in 467 select U.S. movie theaters, including AMC Entertainment Inc., Celebration! Cinema, Cinemark Holdings, Inc., Clearview Cinemas, Cobb Theatres, Georgia Theatre Company, Goodrich Quality Theatres, Hollywood Theaters, Kerasotes Showplace Theatres, Marcus Theatres, National Amusements, Rave Motion Pictures and Regal Entertainment Group movie theaters, as well as Bainbridge 5 (Seattle, WA), The Carolina (Asheville, NC), The Grand Theatre (Bismarck, ND), the Palace Cinema 9 (South Burlington, VT), Penn Cinema (Lititz, PA) and El Raton Theatre (Raton, NM) through NCM’s exclusive Digital Broadcast Network – North America’s largest cinema broadcast network.

During Elvis Week events in August of 2010, a special screening will also take place at The Orpheum Theater in Memphis, the same movie house Elvis frequented as a teenager. Tickets to the Elvis Week showing in Memphis are available by going to www.ElvisWeek.com.

“Elvis 75th Anniversary DVD Collection,” available from Warner Home Video on August 3, features 17 of The King of Rock ‘n Roll’s films, including the new “Elvis on Tour” and fan favorites “Jailhouse Rock” and “Viva Las Vegas.” Visit the Warner Home Video official website http://www.elvisthemovies.com/ for more information on events and products.

About National CineMedia (NCM)
NCM operates NCM Media Networks, a leading integrated media company reaching U.S. consumers in movie theaters, online and through mobile technology. The NCM Cinema Network and NCM Fathom present cinema advertising and events across the nation’s largest digital in-theater network, comprised of theaters owned by AMC Entertainment Inc., Cinemark Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CNK), Regal Entertainment Group (NYSE: RGC) and other leading regional theater circuits. NCM’s theater network covers 171 Designated Market Areas® (49 of the top 50) and includes approximately 17,100 screens (15,500 digital). During 2009, approximately 680 million patrons attended movies shown in theaters currently included in NCM’s network (excluding Consolidated Theatres). The NCM Interactive Network offers 360-degree integrated marketing opportunities in combination with cinema, encompassing approximately 40 entertainment-related web sites, online widgets and mobile applications. National CineMedia, Inc. (NASDAQ: NCMI) owns a 38.3% interest in and is the managing member of National CineMedia LLC. For more information, visit www.ncm.com or www.fathomevents.com.

About Warner Home Video
With operations in 90 international territories, Warner Home Video, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, a division of the Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group, commands the largest distribution infrastructure in the global video marketplace. Warner Home Video’s film library is the largest of any studio, offering top quality new and vintage titles from the repertoires of Warner Bros. Pictures, Turner Entertainment, Castle Rock Entertainment, HBO Home Video and New Line Home Entertainment.

About Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc.
Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc. (EPE) is based in Memphis, with additional offices in Los Angeles. In addition to Graceland and its related attractions in Memphis, including the Heartbreak Hotel, EPE is aggressively involved in a worldwide licensing program, merchandising, music publishing, and television, film, video and Internet projects. For more information on EPE and Graceland, visit www.elvis.com . EPE is a subsidiary of CKX, Inc. (www.ckx.com), a publicly traded company listed on the NASDAQ Global Market® under the ticker symbol CKXE.

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Original image and press release courtesy of Goodman Media International, Inc. Used with permission.

Elvis honored at tribute [The Elvis Beat newsletter]

/ TY

I was 19 when I wrote this article back in 1994 for The Elvis Beat #10, my official Elvis Presley Fan Club newsletter.

Elvis: The Tribute concert took place in Memphis at the Pyramid on October 8 and was broadcast live on pay-per-view television. It featured many stars, including Bryan Adams, Chet Atkins, Tony Bennett, Michael Bolton, Cheap Trick, Cher, Billy Ray Cyrus, Melissa Etheridge, Chris Isaac, Jerry Lee Lewis, Aaron Neville, Carl Perkins, and Dwight Yoakam. Elvis’ ex-wife, Priscilla Presley, also appeared.

Lisa Marie Presley-Jackson, her new husband, Michael Jackson, and his sister, Janet Jackson, were among the 18,000 people who attended the event. There had been plans for Lisa Marie and Michael Jackson to sing a duet in the show, but they eventually decided not to perform.

Along with Elvis songs performed by other music stars, the show included footage of Elvis singing several songs, including “If I Can Dream.”

Several performers originally slated to appear had to back out for different reasons. Among these were Billy Joel, Elton John, and Jon Bon Jovi.

Portions of the profits will go to the TJ Martell Foundation and the St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.

Elvis: The Tribute will be re-broadcast in December on ABC.

Lisa Marie marries Michael Jackson [The Elvis Beat newsletter]

/ TY

I was 19 when I wrote this article back in 1994 for The Elvis Beat #9, my official Elvis Presley Fan Club newsletter.

The media had been speculating about it for weeks, and on August 1, it was confirmed to the world. Lisa Marie Presley, Elvis’ only child, married pop superstar Michael Jackson on May 26.

Lisa, 26, made the following written statement concerning her marriage to Jackson, 35:

My marriage to Michael Jackson took place in a private ceremony outside the United States weeks ago. It was not formally announced until now for several reasons, foremost being that we are both very private people living in the glare of the public media. We both wanted a private ceremony without the distraction of a media circus. I am very much in love with Michael; I dedicate my life to being his wife. I understand and support him; we both look forward to raising a family and living a happy, healthy life together. We hope friends and fans will understand and respect our privacy.

This is the second marriage for Lisa Marie. She has two children from her marriage to musician Danny Keough, Danielle, who is now five, and Benjamin, who will be two in October. Her marriage to Keough ended several months ago in divorce. This is Jackson’s first marriage. [. . . .]

Lisa Marie’s mother, Priscilla Presley, who was married to Elvis from 1967 until their divorce in 1973, stated the following through a spokesman: “Please assure everyone I’m very supportive of Lisa Marie and everything she does.”

Lisa Marie and her new husband will perform a duet of an Elvis song together at the Elvis Tribute concert in October. The TV special will also feature Billy Joel, Elton John, and others.

ELVIS: THE TRIBUTE [The Elvis Beat newsletter]

/ TY

I was 18 when I wrote this piece back in 1994 for The Elvis Beat #7, my official Elvis Presley Fan Club newsletter.

Elvis: The Tribute, an all-star salute to Elvis, has been announced. It will include a concert to be broadcast worldwide the weekend of October 7. The event will take place at the Pyramid in Memphis and will benefit several charities.

Priscilla Presley said, “We’ve been waiting for the right time, the most sophisticated technology, the greatest performing artists in the world, and the right people to be involved.”

Although no names have been officially announced, the concert portion is to include artists who influenced Elvis as well as artists who were influenced by Elvis.

Elvis and the Colonel: The Way It Was [The Elvis Beat newsletter]

/ TY

I was 18 when I wrote this article back in 1993 for The Elvis Beat #4, my official Elvis Presley Fan Club newsletter.

One mistake after another occurred in the NBC television movie Elvis and the Colonel: The Untold Story, which aired in January. On the rare occasions when the movie’s makers did decide to check their sources, it appears the only reference they bothered to use was the 1979 TV movie Elvis starring Kurt Russell and directed by John Carpenter.

Below is a listing of some of the many factual errors which appeared in Elvis and the Colonel:

  • “Elvis” is shown giving his mother a pink cadillac after they were already living at Graceland. In reality, Elvis gave her the car in 1956, while they did not move into Graceland until May 1957.
  • “Elvis” is shown in Elvis and the Colonel filming the movie Change of Habit in the 1950s. In actuality, Change of Habit was filmed in 1969 and was his last acting role.
  • “Colonel Parker” mentions that “Elvis”‘ gold cadillac could be toured while he was in the Army. The real Elvis did not even purchase the gold car until after his service in the Army.
  • Preparations for the taping of the 1968 ELVIS television special (now known as ELVIS: ’68 Comeback Special) are shown occurring in November of 1968. In reality, the special was taped in June of 1968.
  • The ELVIS special is a live broadcast in the movie. In actuality, ELVIS, as mentioned above, was taped in June 1968 and did not air until December of that year. It was the 1973 television special Elvis: Aloha From Hawaii that was broadcast live to some locations around the world.
  • “Elvis” is shown singing “Are You Lonesome Tonight” in a white, double-breasted suit during the ELVIS television special. In reality, “If I Can Dream” was the only song Elvis performed in the special wearing that suit.
  • “Heartbreak Hotel” in the movie concludes the ELVIS special. In actuality, “If I Can Dream” was the final song sung by Elvis in the special.
  • “Also Sprach Zarathustra” (theme from 2001: A Space Odyssey) opens “Elvis”‘ opening night performance in July 1969 at the Las Vegas International Hotel in the movie. The fact is, the real Elvis did not begin using “Also Sprach Zarathustra” until 1971.
  • “Elvis” wears a white jumpsuit for the July 1969 opening performance in the movie. In reality, Elvis wore a simple black outfit for his first concert in years. The jumpsuit worn by the actor is a distorted version of one worn by Elvis in the film Elvis: That’s The Way It Is, which was from an August 1970 performance.
  • “Elvis” sings “The Wonder Of You” at the 1969 concert in the movie, while the song was not really performed by Elvis until 1970.
  • “Elvis” is shown extremely overweight by September of 1971 in the movie, which escalates until a 1973 performance in which he appears obese. In reality, Elvis was at or near his ideal weight during these years, as proven by video and photographs.
  • “Elvis” is shown in the movie complaining to “Colonel Parker” about turning down A Star Is Born in August 1973. In actuality, Elvis had not yet been offered a role in this 1976 movie.
  • “Elvis” and “Priscilla” never divorce in the film! Despite the fact that the real couple divorced in October 1973, the movie “Elvis” tells of a nightmare in July 1976 in which he dreamed that “Priscilla” had left him. In a 1981 courtroom scene, the judge refers to “Elvis” as “Priscilla”‘s late “husband,” instead of “ex-husband.”

Elvis stamp breaks postal records [The Elvis Beat newsletter]

/ TY

I was 18 when I wrote this article back in 1993 for The Elvis Beat #4, my official Elvis Presley Fan Club newsletter.

A week earlier, the world had counted down the seconds to midnight and the beginning of the new year. Now, they were counting down once again to 12 AM (Central Time) and the official release of the Elvis stamp in Memphis.

At Elvis Presley Plaza, across the street from Graceland, thousands of fans, who were already in line to purchase the stamp, loudly chanted the remaining seconds.

At midnight, a new day had dawned. It was finally January 8, the 58th anniversary of Elvis’ birth and the day that the Elvis stamp would go on sale.

As fans anxiously awaited their turns to purchase the stamp, a ceremony was taking place across the street at Graceland. 800 fans, community leaders, politicians, and the ever-present news media were gathered to watch.

US Postmaster General Marvin Runyon presented Graceland the original artwork of the Elvis stamp, which will go on display. Priscilla Presley then spoke to accept, on Lisa Marie and her children’s behalf, a special sheet of commemoratives the Postal Service traditionally gives to the family of a stamp honoree.

Priscilla said, in part, “Like all of you here tonight, I feel that if ever there was an entertainer who deserved to be honored with a stamp, unquestionably, it would be Elvis Presley. What he contributed to our music and our culture was enormous and is worthy of the greatest respect and appreciation. He was a brilliant artist and he was a good man.”

She continued, “I want to thank all of you loyal fans and, of course, the US Postal Service for making this stamp possible. Thank you, Mr. Runyon, for these beautiful commemoratives for Lisa and her daughter, Danielle, and her new little son, Benjamin. Lisa was going to send a note of acknowledgment but, instead of sending an acknowledgment, I think maybe it might be better if she thanked you in person. So, I’m very happy to introduce to you, Lisa Presley Keough.” Priscilla stepped aside.

There was a moment of stunned silence and then a roar of applause as Lisa Marie appeared for the first time ever to address her father’s fans.

Lisa Marie said, “I’m very honored. Thank you very much. I’m happy to be here to accept this for my father. It’s a great acknowledgment, and I really appreciate it. And I speak on behalf of him, my family, and myself. Thank you.” Although she seemed understandably nervous during her speech, she later appeared more at ease as she posed for pictures for the press, flashing a smile that was very reminiscent of Elvis.

After Lisa Marie’s speech, seven minutes of fireworks choreographed to Elvis’ recordings of “Return To Sender” and “An American Trilogy” lit up the sky over Graceland.

Later that day, Elvis fans who were unable to be in Memphis flocked to their local post offices to buy the stamp. At many post offices, Elvis imitators sang to fans as they waited in lines.

Normally, 150 million stamps are printed for a US commemorative stamp. Half a billion Elvis stamps were printed, easily breaking all previous records. Within a few days, most post offices around the nation were completely sold out of the stamps, making them the most successful in history. The Elvis stamp is to make one last appearance in June at post offices as part of a booklet featuring several other music stars.

Review – ELVIS: THE GREAT PERFORMANCES (1992 CBS TV version) [The Elvis Beat newsletter]

/ TY

I was 17 when I wrote this review back in 1992 for The Elvis Beat #2, my official Elvis Presley Fan Club newsletter.

Elvis: The Great Performances (CBS), hosted by Priscilla Presley, directed by Andrew Solt, aired April 24, 1992.

The TV version of Elvis: The Great Performances is not as good as the two volume video versions from 1990 for several reasons.

First of all, the original narration of Elvis’ friend George Klein has been replaced by the phony-sounding narration of Elvis’ ex-wife, Priscilla Presley.

The other problem is that his version contains fewer songs due to the 30 minutes of boring commercials supplied by JC Penney.

The songs it does contain are “great performances,” but they are ruined by being edited and chopped up. However, this is a problem that exists on the videos, too, and all of Andrew Solt’s other Elvis productions. It should be a crime to cut Elvis songs. I would much rather see 10 complete performances instead of 25 bits and pieces.

My advice: See the original video versions of The Great Performances (Volume One: Center Stage and Volume Two: The Man And The Music), or, even better, see a real Elvis video like Elvis: That’s The Way It Is or Elvis: Aloha From Hawaii.

Songs include:

  • “Shake, Rattle, and Roll/Flip, Flop, and Fly”
  • “Heartbreak Hotel”
  • “Blue Suede Shoes”
  • “Hound Dog”
  • “I Want You, I Need You, I Love You”
  • “Ready Teddy”
  • “Love Me Tender”
  • “Don’t Be Cruel”
  • “Got A Lot Of Livin’ To Do”
  • “Teddy Bear”
  • “Jailhouse Rock”
  • “Trouble”
  • “Fame And Fortune”
  • “Return To Sender”
  • “All Shook Up”
  • “If I Can Dream”
  • “Suspicious Minds”
  • “Always On My Mind”
  • “An American Trilogy”
  • “Unchained Melody”
  • “Money Honey”

Rating: 6 out of 10