EPE-Don't you think that they are stuck in the past?
All joking aside, but I really think Jack Soden and Priscilla and EPE are all stuck in the past. Paul Wood mentioned earlier on numberones forum that EP's movies should be in 5.1 surround sound like the lesser popular movies from the same era and that most EP movies aren't even in stereo. That's one great example right there of them being stuck in the past. Another is the black & white footage from the 50's sure older fans love that stuff but kids today don't and that is who are thew ones that will have to carry the torch for future generations. How many shows today that average teenagers, and young adults alike watch that are in black & white? Very few and more like less 10% of the American population among teenagers and young adults. That question was asked to both Jerry Schilling and George Klein back in 1997 on a live show on MSNBC. I have it on tape. My point it that they said that they felt to get kids interested in his early stuff that it needs to be colorized. 10 years later we still see the Ed Sullivan footage in black & white and the early movies. EPE doens't own the movies, that I understand. But they do own the tv appearances and have never once updated or upgraded them to modern day standards.
Now take for instance EPE announcing to have 30 themed bikes on display with Harley Davidson and not Orange County's American Choppers who are the more hip and popular modern day bike company in the world now. Harley is of yesterday-a thing of the past. But who does EPE turn to for a modern day themed set of bikes for the big and very important 30th anniversary year? You guessed it, the past with Harley. Sure EP rode Harley bikes-BACK THEN. If he were alive today I would bet my house that it would have been with Orange County that he would have gone with. Everyone from movie companies to movie stars to businesses are in line today for an OC themed bike of their choice so that they can display it at their business. Jay Leno has one. Bill Murray has one. And Will Smith has one. Why doesn't Elvis Presley have one?
Another sign of EPE stuck in the past is the setup across from Graceland. The way it is laid out is basically how it was in 1995, 12 years ago this coming February when I was last there. I've seen it on tv, seen it in pictures and there's nothing changed to make a difference. The Lisa Maire is still outisde and rusting and pealing from all the rain and cold weather when it should be in a larger building for display. The car museum looks like it was made in the 60's. It's the same now as then basically. Hey do they still have that stupid drive-in theater in there that has maybe 2 or 3 people actually sitting in? I found that odd and crazy to have that and taking up so much usefull space.
This is 2007 and there is not any type of Imax theater at Graceland. Every other museum and attraction in this country has one or similar. What does EPE have? Nothing but a run down video screen that is out of date. Tourists attractions all over the nation have state of the art equipment and modern day technology to work with. What does EPE work with? tape recorders and old fashioned sound systems. At least they did do away with the horrible echo sound system that they had for years at the plaza and I understand did upgrade with Sirius radio instead. But I also understand it's not a modern day set up either.
EPE markets EP on tacky emblems and apparels such as rubber ducks, coffee and candy, and markets cheaply made and looking jumpsuits. Disney is what you would think would go that rout, but Disney actually markets much better items than does EPE with more creativity and imagination. Something EPE desperately lacks. Their clothing line isn't much to cheer about either. Word to EPE-Hawaiian shirts went out of style with Magnum P.I. Disney has a themed cruise ship to take their fans on cruises. What does EPE have to offer fans away from Graceland? Elvis The Concert on a video screen with little promtion with aging band members.
The estate has been opened for 25 years and still has to have it's award ceremonies outside in the cold instead of in a heated building. Graceland has added on additions since it opened (yes that have too) but still have to throw the jumpsuits in the awards room and clutter it all up. When I was there the jumpsuits were all together in a room connecting to the original "hall of gold" room. Now they have placed a lot of the suits in front of the awards and it looks tacky and cluttered. As for the suits that they have on display-they are some of the worst suits that EP ever wore. They chose the Tiger suit, and the raindrop suit worn mostly in 1976 and another suit from 1976 which shows his big waist line. Why not put on display the white pyramid suit from 1972, or the black matador suit? Their choices are very amateurish and old fashioned and not of today's styles and standards.
They also seem to be worried about what white southern people would think if they explored EP's racial lines more clearly. Why not a little display of his favorite black artists for Black History Month? They might actually improve their racial demographic among visitors if they did so. Once again this is 2007 not 1957.
So don't you think for a major private company of the biggest star in the world that EPE does things cheap and to save money and in the process stays in the past?
