A Vegas Star For Elvis?

[vivalasvegas]

time for an update:


thanks to a very generous donor, some fans, and a couple of fan clubs,
our new total is--

$12,025!

[vivalasvegas]

hi everyone

i am researching other honorary stars. i asked LVWOS about elvis' star in palm springs. below is the answer.
i am now waiting for an answer from the hollywood walk of fame.

this answers once and for all, where the money comes from to have these installed. they ain't free! someone has to come up with the funding.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

hello las vegas walk of stars:

i have been really curious about this and i hope you can answer.

who was the sponsor ie who paid for elvis' star in palm springs? wasn't that installed in 2003? and who sponsored col tom parker's?

i m researching how these programs work because the general public thinks they are free or something. i have had quite some resistance to donations and also ignorant demands from elvis fans as to how he should have received his star in Las Vegas.

Sue L


Dear Sue,

Greg McDonald, who was Ricky Nelson's manager, paid the stars for Elvis Presley, Col. Tom Parker and Ricky Nelson. All 3 stars were installed on March 26, 1994.

Best regards,

Bob

Robert Alexander
President
Las Vegas Walk of Stars

[elvisphile]

Does anyone know why Elvis On Tour has not come out on DVD. However, if I missed it where can I buy a copy... thanks

[vivalasvegas]

our update for june 23: $12,750!!! (up $725)

[Sattnin99]

Where in Vegas is the Walk of Fame ...? am going to Vegas in December lol

[vivalasvegas]

the walk of stars (not fame) is only 25 stars right now. it runs along las vegas blvd. it is not as evident as hollywood's walk of fame or palm springs, because those have 1000's of stars. for more info:

www.lasvegaswalkofstars.com

[Unchained Melody]

Vegas had never seen anything like Elvis before he came onto the scene and they never will again.

[TotallyInsane]

Vegas had never seen anything like Elvis before he came onto the scene and they never will again.

A new day - a new avatar!!!

[Unchained Melody]

A new day - a new avatar!!!

I'm so predictable aren't I.

[vivalasvegas]

Jun. 29, 2008
Copyright Las Vegas Review-Journal

NORM: Elvis fan club will have star its way

A local Elvis fan club isn't feeling a whole lot of love from the
Elvis Presley Estate.

The cold shoulder includes efforts to obtain a donation for Elvis'
celebrity star on Las Vegas Boulevard and silence as far as offering
input on where to install the star.

Letters were sent to everyone from Robert Sillerman, who purchased 85
percent of Elvis Presley Enterprises in 2004 for $114 million, to
Priscilla and Lisa Marie Presley.

"We have heard nothing in response," said Sue Laurenz, head of the
Viva Las Vegas Club, the fundraising force behind getting Elvis a star.

The club has about $13,000 of the required $15,000.

"We're moving on. The fans have made it happen, and it's all fan
money," said Laurenz, adding that she's seen donations as small as $2
and $5.

The Las Vegas Walk of Stars announced last week that Elvis' star will
go in front of the Riviera on Sept. 26, the 27th star on the Strip.

Laurenz said Pete "Big Elvis" Vallee has been a saint in the effort,
frequently promoting the fundraising drive during his show at Bill's
Gamblin' Hall & Saloon. All the proceeds have been raised since Feb.
28, a good share from foreign countries through the Internet.

The Web site is www.astarforelvis.com. E-mail astar4elvis@yahoo.com
for more information.

As for the oft-asked question: Why the Riviera?

The Riviera, Laurenz noted, is the closest casino property to the
Hilton (then The International), where Elvis was a sensation from 1969
to 1977. She added that the county gave authorization to the Walk of
Stars only along Las Vegas Boulevard.

"For what it's worth, Elvis was with Liberace in November 1956 at the
Riv when those famous photographs were taken of the switched jackets
and instruments," Laurenz said.

Stars for Sammy Davis Jr. and Liberace are in front of the Riv, "and I
do believe Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin will be there, too. Elvis
will be among his friends, and that is pretty special."

[vivalasvegas]

our donation total this week is: $13,305!! (up $555)

less than $2000 to go!

[vivalasvegas]

our donation total this week is:

$13,720

(up $415)

[vivalasvegas]

here is the link:
http://www.lvweekly.com/blogs/debrie...resley-riv-co\
nnection/
(and see pictures, too!)

here is the article:
Fleshing out the photogenic Presley-Riviera connection

By John Katsilometes

The photos and accompanying video tell the story of the "who" �
Liberace and Elvis Presley, cavorting and mugging in each other's
attire (or at least jackets), even switching out their chosen
instruments. The shots are part of the lore for each entertainer, who
might have been more alike than different, given their gift of
showmanship. But the "where" in those photos is often lost � the
Riviera, which is where the King, who never sang a single note onstage
at the hotel, will be honored Sept. 26 by the Las Vegas Walk of Stars.
The Riviera, along with the Tropicana, is one of the few vintage
Vegas-styled hotel-casinos still standing on the Strip and is also
home to Sammy Davis Jr.'s star � another entertainer who never
performed there.

A more businesslike Elvis-Riv connection is Robert F.X. Sillerman,
chairman and chief executive officer of FX Real Estate and
Entertainment Inc. Conveniently, the company is the majority partner
in Elvis Presley Enterprises, and is also an investor in Riviera
Holdings Corporation � which owns the Riv. The company, which also
owns licensing rights to Muhammad Ali's name and image, is seeking to
develop about 18 acres of land on the southeast corner of the Strip
and Harmon Avenue, where it has been reported it hopes to build an
Elvis-themed hotel-casino. More

That hotel would be an ideal spot for the Elvis star, but the project
is a mere concept today, and the Vegas-based Viva Las Vegas Elvis
Presley Fan Club wants a star in place this fall. It helps that the
famed photos and video of Liberace and Elvis, a publicity stunt for
the ages, took place at the hotel on Nov. 14, 1956. Elvis was months
removed from his first stage appearances in Vegas, which were a
largely derided week's worth of performances at the Frontier (the
hotel lopped his scheduled two-week run because the older Vegas fans �
and older Vegas show reviewers � found the young entertainer a "bore"
and "uncouth," as the Sun reported at the time). Elvis took in a
Liberace performance at the Clover Room, later renamed the Versailles
Theatre, and in a piece of Vegas legend, afterward Liberace encouraged
the young Presley to glitz up his stage act and the two switched
jackets. The next year, at Liberace's urging, Presley slipped into a
gold-lame suit similar to Liberace's for the cover photo for the album
50,000 Elvis Fans Can't Be Wrong. (Go here for a look at Presley's
measurements for that suit.)

Three other hotels would have been logical sites for Presley's Vegas
star. The Aladdin, where he and Priscilla Presley were married in
1967, has morphed into Planet Hollywood; the Frontier has been
imploded; and the Las Vegas Hilton is not actually on the Strip, and
the Clark County Commission has authorized that these stars to be
place only on Las Vegas Boulevard. As they say in real estate, the key
is location, location, location.

>>>>>>
I was interviewed for this and provided the stage side picture. The journalist was pretty excited when I mentioned the picture. I think it helped him create a nice angle for the Star article he was assigned to write. He did a nice job! (I think) Check out the star site for pictures of the Riv and where Elvis' star is gonna go.

[vivalasvegas]

A Star for Elvis -- CAMPAIGN GOAL MET

"A STAR FOR ELVIS" CAMPAIGN ENDS - OVER $15,000 RAISED

July 31, 2008: The “Viva Las Vegas!” Elvis Presley Fan Club is happy to announce that the fund raising goal has been met for its “A Star for Elvis” Campaign – to install a star honoring Elvis Presley on the “Las Vegas Walk of Stars”. How appropriate an announcement for the 39th anniversary of the day Elvis returned to the stage at the International Hotel in Las Vegas.

Since February 28, in only 5 months, donations have been collected totaling over $15,000. The $15,000 total has been verified by Mr Robert Alexander, the President of the LVWOS. Any overage will be donated to the club’s designated charity, St Jude’s Ranch for Abused Children, in Boulder City NV. (This is no relation to the hospital in Memphis.)

The star will be unveiled during a ceremony on Friday, Sept 26. The invitee list is limited to donors and VIPs. The star itself will be installed a few days later, in front of the Riviera, next to Liberace’s star. The Riviera is the closest casino on Las Vegas Blvd to the Hilton, concert home to Elvis Presley.

We thank all the friends, fans, and tribute artists who have donated their funds, energy, and time to this endeavor. These fans should certainly feel proud of themselves! We also would like to specifically acknowledge the following Elvis friends for their donations and support: Sonny West, Kathy Westmoreland, Sandi Miller, Jon Patino, and Darlene Tompkins. We appreciate every dollar that has been given.

The campaign would not have been as wonderful and successful without the following: We give special thanks to Sandi Pichon for spreading the word to her many friends and contacts in the Elvis world, to Sue McCasland for providing the Star pins for donors, and to Artie Dadyan for providing Elvis-style sunglasses as a donor incentive. Immense gratitude goes out to local Elvis Tribute Artist Peter Vallee and his staff, and his manager Lucille Star, for promoting and representing the Elvis Star Campaign.

All the funds donated were by fans and friends of Elvis Presley. There was no assistance by any corporation. Once again, Elvis fans have demonstrated their love and support for “The King of Rock and Roll.”

Personally, I have many to thank. Once again I want to state my appreciation for the inspiration of the Bobby Darin Star Fund Project and his fans. I thank my star advisors, the club board of directors, and the members of the Viva Las Vegas Club for their incredible and unwavering support. And, I dedicate my effort to the memory of Janelle McComb and her work to build the Elvis Presley Memorial Chapel in Tupelo. Her spirit was a great influence and encouragement to me during this campaign.

Elvis is our 'Flaming Star' !

Sue L
President, Viva Las Vegas! Club www.vivalasvegasclub.net
Sponsor of the Elvis Presley Star www.astarforelvis.com

[beckelvis]

i´m glad,ELVIS walking in las vegas