http://www.elvisconcerts.com/real/tahoe76-01.htm
Lake Tahoe unfortunately for ELVIS FANS was however often disappointing. Why? Well really the problem lay with the Hotel. This miss Management of Fans often resulted in many people WITH TICKETS failing to get admittance to a show and this boomeranged back to the Hotel who would often have to call in the Police to break up unruly fights right outside the showroom where the Hotel had OVERBOOKED the show! This meant if you were a fan traveling to Lake Tahoe there was NO GUARANTEE at all that you would see a show-a very unsatisfactory situation for traveling loyal fans.
In 1974 May season the Hotels reaction to overbooking was to put on an EXTRA SHOW at 3am on Monday 27th May just to accommodate Fans who had swarmed to Lake Tahoe just to see Elvis. When Elvis retuned for 8 shows in October 1974 to make up for cancelled 1973 shows things were worse for the Hotel as to 'squeeze' more in all Elvis shows became "Elvis in Concert" for $17, which included 3 drinks NO dinner shows. This season was uneventful but after the shows in an October 1974 lawsuit Edward L. Ashley was claiming that on Monday May 20th 1974 he was beaten by Elvis's Bodyguards' Sonny' West, David Stanley, and Dick Grob, outside of Elvis's penthouse suite at the Sahara Tahoe Hotel.
Elvis was back again in Lake Tahoe for an already COMPLETELY SOLD OUT 14 show 1976 season from April 30th-May 9th.Tickets were $20 per person and seating was supposed to be limited to 1,800 per show. However straight away the Hotel were making errors/assumptions On the very first opening night Elvis was given no notice that he had to perform 2 Opening shows(presumably because of demand again!)This Elvis announced during the opening nights show as a surprise to him!. Elvis in Lake Tahoe was ALWAYS a mixed blessing for Del Webb's Hotel as He was usually overbooked, their were lawsuits against the Hotel.
Really in the last year or so of Elvis's shows Lake Tahoe represents the last time that Elvis gave a MAJOR overall and expansion to his 'standard' shows repertoire. By this I mean 'new' material not sung 'live' before and the expansion of the introductions featuring solos by the band with a song that Elvis could if he wanted sing along too. All the audiences were good and responsive (after all they'd got inside the showroom!) Elvis took more requests than ever before and delighted audiences indeed his closing show was 2 hours long and Elvis and the Colonel gave Roses to all the Ladies as they entered the showroom that closing show night.
"I have learned never to ridicule any man's opinion, however strange it may seem."
I've always been intrigued by the Lake Tahoe shows, especially those from 1971.
We haven't really heard much from the first Tahoe stand, so it leads me to wonder what other songs did he perform and what outfits he may have worn?
The final outing in Lake Tahoe of 1976 is agood one too imo
As stated previously, he pulled out some song rarities for this time period, and that closing show is one for the books
Last edited by U.S. Male; 04-23-2008 at 05:45 PM.
"Don't tamper with the property of the U.S. Male"
I've always heard some wild and crazy tales about Tahoe.
Didn't know it had a lot to do with the Motel mis-management.
Sounds like a crazy time; but glad I didn't try to see him there .
"I have learned never to ridicule any man's opinion, however strange it may seem."
Looking back in time I wish I had tried harder to see him anywhere and everywhere.I never saw him in Tahoe....I think it is Diane on our TCB board who did see him there though.
Really interesting read. Thank you, Cameron
I will never forget you Rosanne.
R.I.P. 4-27-59~7-22-09
Wonder if Diane was there for the roses ? That would be neat.
She'll have to tell us her opinion of the concert.
"Over-booked" and waiting for hours? I wouldn't like that .
"I have learned never to ridicule any man's opinion, however strange it may seem."
that's terrible,
i've had an experience with a double booked show the first time i saw Suzi Quatro, the venue only held 400 and they had sold close to 900 tikcets.
That's correct Carole. I am pretty sure that Diane saw him once in Tahoe and once in concert. If you are reading this Diane we ALL wish that you would come back and be with us.Originally Posted by SweetCaroline
Looking back in time I wish I had tried harder to see him anywhere and everywhere.
Really interesting read. Thank you, Cameron
What got me was the added shows he had to do.
Plus the lawsuits .
"This season was uneventful but after the shows in an October 1974 lawsuit Edward L. Ashley was claiming that on Monday May 20th 1974 he was beaten by Elvis's Bodyguards' Sonny' West, David Stanley, and Dick Grob, outside of Elvis's penthouse suite at the Sahara Tahoe Hotel. "
" On the very first opening night Elvis was given no notice that he had to perform 2 Opening shows(presumably because of demand again!)This Elvis announced during the opening nights show as a surprise to him!. Elvis in Lake Tahoe was ALWAYS a mixed blessing for Del Webb's Hotel as He was usually overbooked, their were lawsuits against the Hotel."
"I have learned never to ridicule any man's opinion, however strange it may seem."
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