Enough is enough!

[vivaelvis]

I was just informed tonight that the federal government denied the bonds for the Elvis Presley Boulevard improvement but approved the city to repair a worthless bridge for bikers and hikers to cross the Mississippi River. This proves once and for all that not only does the city and the state government have no respect for Elvis or Graceland they also have no respect for YOU and ME, US the fans!

However, Memphis city councilman, Harold Collins is furious over it and is saying that they (the city) will work as a us against them (the government) in finding other ways to get the $12 million needed that the government denied to complete the funding of the three-phase project by taking out of city projects where money is set aside for other projects. Despite the setback, groundbreaking is still slated to begin phase 1 in November. The improvement of EP Boulevard is CRUCIAL to the growth and revitalization of Whitehaven, the 20-year masterplan for an aerotropolis and Graceland.

But enough of this! It's time for the higher powers that be to step up and DEMAND those improvements get done or else. Core Media Group and Apollo are now the powers in charge. They are not a one-man millionaire as Sillerman was. Apollo is a 8-BILLION DOLLAR EMPIRE! So they should play hard ball and give the Memphis city officials and council an ultimatum. Either get on the ball and stop moving at a snail's pace and get the imprpovements done ASAP and not over the next 5-10 years, or face seeing Graceland close down its operations and moved to Las Vegas where more fans would come yearly. If that were to ever happen, Memphis' economical survival would be crippled because tourism would die down like a plague. The new Bass Pro Pyramid development would go bankrupt. The Grizzlies NBA team is already expected to depart for San Jose soon. It would make those in Memphis who take Elvis and his followers for granted finally wake up and see what they would be losing.

Now, in no way am I suggesting that Core shut down Graceland and move to Las Vegas. I am suggesting that they use it as a threat, a bluff, to get Memphis to wake up and stop disrespecting US and Elvis once and for all!


If you are concerned with the image and future of the immediate Graceland areas then contact Memphis mayor AC Wharton and tell him that you want change from his city. http://www.memphistn.gov/framework.aspx?page=22

Contact Memphis city council also and tell them that we the fans deserve better treatment when we come to their town and spend money to better their lives. http://www.cityofmemphis.org/framework.aspx?page=689

[KPM]

I was just informed tonight that the federal government denied the bonds for the Elvis Presley Boulevard improvement but approved the city to repair a worthless bridge for bikers and hikers to cross the Mississippi River. This proves once and for all that not only does the city and the state government have no respect for Elvis or Graceland they also have no respect for YOU and ME, US the fans!

However, Memphis city councilman, Harold Collins is furious over it and is saying that they (the city) will work as a us against them (the government) in finding other ways to get the $12 million needed that the government denied to complete the funding of the three-phase project by taking out of city projects where money is set aside for other projects. Despite the setback, groundbreaking is still slated to begin phase 1 in November. The improvement of EP Boulevard is CRUCIAL to the growth and revitalization of Whitehaven, the 20-year masterplan for an aerotropolis and Graceland.

But enough of this! It's time for the higher powers that be to step up and DEMAND those improvements get done or else. Core Media Group and Apollo are now the powers in charge. They are not a one-man millionaire as Sillerman was. Apollo is a 8-BILLION DOLLAR EMPIRE! So they should play hard ball and give the Memphis city officials and council an ultimatum. Either get on the ball and stop moving at a snail's pace and get the imprpovements done ASAP and not over the next 5-10 years, or face seeing Graceland close down its operations and moved to Las Vegas where more fans would come yearly. If that were to ever happen, Memphis' economical survival would be crippled because tourism would die down like a plague. The new Bass Pro Pyramid development would go bankrupt. The Grizzlies NBA team is already expected to depart for San Jose soon. It would make those in Memphis who take Elvis and his followers for granted finally wake up and see what they would be losing.

Now, in no way am I suggesting that Core shut down Graceland and move to Las Vegas. I am suggesting that they use it as a threat, a bluff, to get Memphis to wake up and stop disrespecting US and Elvis once and for all!


If you are concerned with the image and future of the immediate Graceland areas then contact Memphis mayor AC Wharton and tell him that you want change from his city. http://www.memphistn.gov/framework.aspx?page=22

Contact Memphis city council also and tell them that we the fans deserve better treatment when we come to their town and spend money to better their lives. http://www.cityofmemphis.org/framework.aspx?page=689

I can understand your frustration-but lets face it the powers that be know Apollo is not going to close Graceland and move to Las Vegas, just like you and I know they are not.
As we have discussed.... people come to see "Elvis's Graceland" its pure and simple, so I am certain no one would take that threat seriously-(Apollo/Core/Sillerman did not sign a 99 year lease to close it up)
I agree its not right but if its the "Federal Government" who has not approved the bonds then Memphis and Tennessee are not the stumbling blocks this time. They were the stumbling blocks in the past-but if its Federal approval that is lacking-Memphis and Tennessee are not to blame.
Better to write your local Congressman and complain.

[vivaelvis]

I can understand your frustration-but lets face it the powers that be know Apollo is not going to close Graceland and move to Las Vegas, just like you and I know they are not.
As we have discussed.... people come to see "Elvis's Graceland" its pure and simple, so I am certain no one would take that threat seriously-(Apollo/Core/Sillerman did not sign a 99 year lease to close it up)
I agree its not right but if its the "Federal Government" who has not approved the bonds then Memphis and Tennessee are not the stumbling blocks this time. They were the stumbling blocks in the past-but if its Federal approval that is lacking-Memphis and Tennessee are not to blame.
Better to write your local Congressman and complain.

The 99 year lease wasn't for Graceland, it was for the naming rights, the likeness and the image rights. I think the Federal funding was to do with Nashville, where the state capital is located. The state government has always favored Nashville over Memphis. Lisa Marie recently made a comment about "Nashville is always getting everything and that it's time that Memphis gets some of that shine too".

Here's a great example. The crew couldn't film the TNT TV show Memphis Beat because the state wouldn't approve the funding for incentive's and scenes were filmed in Louisiana instead, which crippled the production of the show leading to its cancellation. But now the state is funding and approving a new show called Nashville about a up and coming country singer to air on ABC. Go figure.

[KPM]

The 99 year lease wasn't for Graceland, it was for the naming rights, the likeness and the image rights. I think the Federal funding was to do with Nashville, where the state capital is located. The state government has always favored Nashville over Memphis. Lisa Marie recently made a comment about "Nashville is always getting everything and that it's time that Memphis gets some of that shine too".

Here's a great example. The crew couldn't film the TNT TV show Memphis Beat because the state wouldn't approve the funding for incentive's and scenes were filmed in Louisiana instead, which crippled the production of the show leading to its cancellation. But now the state is funding and approving a new show called Nashville about a up and coming country singer to air on ABC. Go figure.

We are both correct for a change-the lease on Graceland is for 90 years according to the 12-12-06 CNN Money report:http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortu...3137/index.htm
Here then are the terms of the deal between Sillerman and Lisa Presley: CKX paid $114 million for an 85% interest in Elvis Presley Enterprises; Lisa retains the other 15%. Lisa received $50 million in cash, plus $26 million in CKX common and preferred stock. Another $25 million from CKX went to pay off EPE debt. And $6.5 million went to Priscilla Presley for use of the family name--even though Sillerman wasn't legally obligated to pay her anything, since Priscilla and Elvis were divorced, and Elvis's estate went to Lisa Marie. The payment will no doubt make it easier for Sillerman to call Priscilla up and ask her to come to a ribbon cutting of a new Elvis property, for instance. (The balance is transaction costs.)

For its money, CKX got a 90-year lease on Graceland, stipulating, among other things, that the premises may not be used as "a massage parlor, a mortuary, or [for] the manufacture, sale, or distribution of feminine hygiene products." (Gives you an idea of how much attention Lisa and Soden pay to protecting Elvis's image.) CKX has the rights to the Elvis name, image, likeness, and trademark, which are currently used in 100 or so merchandising and licensing deals. CKX also gets the publishing rights to 650 songs, but owns the more valuable royalty rights to only the few songs Elvis recorded after 1973. CKX also gets royalty rights to 24 Elvis movies.

[vivaelvis]

CKX also gets royalty rights to 24 Elvis movies.

I thought that EPE didn't have any rights to the movies?

[KPM]

I thought that EPE didn't have any rights to the movies?

The royaltee rights would be the films that Elvis had a 50% profit clause in the contracts, which were for ticket sales in movie theaters....anytime the films are shown in theaters a payment should go to the estate-but that is not ownership in the film-its profit participation.
Some revenue is generated by festivals of Elvis films I'm sure but not much.
Also this clause was written before the advent of videos VHS or DVDs so it would not cover those venues of sales....so there is no money from that market which is where the money for the films is made.
I might add that most of the 50% profit sharing clauses in the 50s and 60s were not worth the paper they were written on because they were worded for "net profits" not "gross profits"
Several stars over the years found that out and had to sue to get a proper accounting which still did not give them the share they were entitled to.
http://usc.academia.edu/MarkWeinstei...n_and_Analysis

[debtdbruno]

We are both correct for a change-the lease on Graceland is for 90 years according to the 12-12-06 CNN Money report:http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortu...3137/index.htm
Here then are the terms of the deal between Sillerman and Lisa Presley: CKX paid $114 million for an 85% interest in Elvis Presley Enterprises; Lisa retains the other 15%. Lisa received $50 million in cash, plus $26 million in CKX common and preferred stock. Another $25 million from CKX went to pay off EPE debt. And $6.5 million went to Priscilla Presley for use of the family name--even though Sillerman wasn't legally obligated to pay her anything, since Priscilla and Elvis were divorced, and Elvis's estate went to Lisa Marie. The payment will no doubt make it easier for Sillerman to call Priscilla up and ask her to come to a ribbon cutting of a new Elvis property, for instance. (The balance is transaction costs.)

For its money, CKX got a 90-year lease on Graceland, stipulating, among other things, that the premises may not be used as "a massage parlor, a mortuary, or [for] the manufacture, sale, or distribution of feminine hygiene products." (Gives you an idea of how much attention Lisa and Soden pay to protecting Elvis's image.) CKX has the rights to the Elvis name, image, likeness, and trademark, which are currently used in 100 or so merchandising and licensing deals. CKX also gets the publishing rights to 650 songs, but owns the more valuable royalty rights to only the few songs Elvis recorded after 1973. CKX also gets royalty rights to 24 Elvis movies.

thanks for that Ken, often wondered how it was split down......