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6C THE DAILY ASTORIAN FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 2016 PARTING SHOT FROM JOSHUA BESSEX A weekly snapshot from The Daily Astorian and Chinook Observer photographers A trip to Cannon Beach in February. ODDITY Kingdom done? ‘Viva Las Vegas’ for Elvis? Less so lately By SALLY HO Associated Press LAS VEGAS — For decades, Las Vegas has loved Elvis Presley tender — and loved him true — but the King’s presence in modern day Sin City has lately been dimin- ishing, one impersonator at a time. “Vegas really is, ironi- cally, a challenging market for Elvis,” said Jack Soden, CEO of Elvis Presley Enterprises, which runs the Graceland attraction in Memphis, Ten- nessee, and manages many of WKH RI¿FLDO EXVLQHVV GHDOV RQ behalf of the estate. The group had loaned hun- dreds of artifacts to a much- hyped, months-old Elvis attraction at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort and Casino. “Graceland Presents Elvis” closed in February after fail- ing to draw in many visitors to the museum exhibit, wedding chapel and theater. The off-Strip property is now holding the valuables against the will of the estate, as Westgate battles with the attraction’s third-party opera- tor over a leasing dispute. The HVWDWHKDVVLQFH¿OHGDODZVXLW to get those items back. Left the building The fallout at Westgate is QRWWKH¿UVW(OYLVUHODWHGVSHF- tacle in Las Vegas to leave the building too soon. Low atten- dance numbers were also to blame when the Viva Elvis Cirque du Soleil show at the Aria casino-hotel was can- celed in 2012 after a two-year run. That’s a much shorter shelf life than most of its sis- ter shows. The longest-running one, Myste’re, started on the Strip more than two decades ago. It’s left the Strip’s larg- est casino operator, MGM Resorts International, with- out any Elvis-themed shows, attractions or weddings. Rival Caesars Entertainment Corpo- ration still hosts tribute acts and weddings, but a spokes- woman said few of those get- ting hitched ever choose the RI¿FLDO(OYLVSDFNDJHV It’s a stark turn for a city that has for so long thrived in its association with “The King.” The rise of Elvis coin- cided with the rise of Las Vegas as an entertainment cap- ital, said Cory Cooper, an Elvis historian. ‘Glitzy persona’ Elvis played here more than anywhere else, selling out hundreds of shows, year after year. Cementing his ties to Sin City were his hits, the “Viva Las Vegas” song that gave the town its anthem, and the movie by the same name that showcased its glitzy persona. There was a time when Elvis fans across the country made the pilgrimage to Las Vegas to see his concerts, and following his death in 1977, to indulge in the many trib- ute shows, impersonators and nostalgic memories from his heyday. It also became a staple of Las Vegas kitsch to see Elvis impersonators — though they prefer to be known as “tribute artists” — on the many tour- ist-friendly corners of town and at the quickie wedding ceremo- nies Vegas was known for. Elvis impersonator Ted Payne, 54, said business has slowed dramatically since he started taking photos with Photos by John Locher/AP Photo Ted Payne rests as he works for tips dressed as Elvis at the “Welcome to Las Vegas” sign in Las Vegas in March. For de- cades, Las Vegas has loved Elvis Presley. But the King’s presence in modern day Sin City has lately been diminishing. tourists for tips just six years ago. ³:KHQ , ¿UVW VWDUWHG RXW I wouldn’t get out of a bed unless I (could) make at least $150,” he said. “Now, these days, $50 is a great day.” These days, Elvis regis- WHUV RQO\ EULHÀ\ LQ WKH FRQ- sciousness of Melanie Casas, RI 3KRHQL[ 2Q KHU ¿UVW trip to Las Vegas recently, she LGHQWL¿HGKLPDVWKHVLQJHURI “Hound Dog” who was also featured as a character in the “Forrest Gump” movie. A restored neon sign from the defunct Normandie Motel “I know of him but I don’t glows along Las Vegas Boulevard in Las Vegas. know anything about him,” Casas said, shrugging. grows internationally. sion, where Elvis lived, sees The Elvis brand is one of a growing number of visitors Generational divide the most active and successful and is expanding with a new This generational divide entertainment estates. Forbes Elvis-themed hotel nearby. could be blamed for the appar- magazine, in its annual list of Elvis fans are not aging out, ent lull in interest in the iconic earnings by dead entertainers, he said, because nearly 40 per- performer. Others say the mar- said Presley’s estate earned cent of Graceland visitors were ket was oversaturated by Elvis $55 million for the year end- born after Elvis’ death. Soden impersonators for so long ing October 2014 — second to also said the estate has been that the appeal burned itself Michael Jackson. successful in many of its busi- out here, even as Elvis’ reach Soden said Graceland man- ness deals, particularly in the Middle East, U.K., Asia and Australia. He in large part blamed the Westgate closure on Vegas’ lack of interest in exhibits overall. “Vegas hasn’t seen the last of Elvis. Giving it a rest is not all that bad,” Soden said of a future comeback. ‘Escape from itself’ Meanwhile, Vegas tour- ism only continues to rein- vent itself. Once focused as an entertainment capital, it veered momentarily in an attempt to be a family-friendly destina- tion before settling on its lat- est persona: the overindulgent playground of the young and wealthy. “I think the problem with Vegas is Las Vegas is trying to escape from itself, either rewrite history or make new history,” Cooper, the historian, said. “All these properties that started Las Vegas, nothing’s there anymore.” Now available in the The Daily Astorian and Chinook Observer For more information call 503-325-3211 crbizjou rn a l.com
