ELVIS IS EVERYWHERE
It's Elvis Week 2000, the annual pilgrimage to all that is Presley. More than 50,000 fans are expected to congregate in Memphis, TN, to celebrate the life and legend of Elvis, who was found dead in his Graceland bathroom on Aug. 16, 1977.
Elvis would have been 65 this year, eligible for Social Security and, more than likely, hawking collector's plates on QVC.
This year's celebration includes the premiere of "Elvis, That's the Way It Was—Special Edition," a remastered, re-edited edition of his MGM 1970 concert film.
Fans can partake in the Elvis barbecue cruise, the Elvis Golf Tournament and the Elvis Impersonator Contest. Also this year is the best-decorated hotel or motel room contest, where visitors transform their lodgings into Elvis shrines and leave the doors open for visitors.
Wednesday (8/15) will mark the candlelight vigil, which starts on Elvis Presley Boulevard, then makes its way to his grave.
For fans who can't make the trek to Tennessee, the vigil will be shown live on Elvis' official Web site, elvis-presley.com. In fact, the site has been revamped just in time for Elvis Week. New features include an Elvis-voiced interactive trivia game; Flash audio, video and animation of Elvis singing "Hound Dog" and translation into five languages.
The site also features panoramic views of selected rooms at Graceland, Elvis Presley's Heartbreak Hotel and Elvis Presley's Memphis restaurant/nightclub. Utilizing IPIX technology, site visitors will be able to virtually "step into" a room, zoom in on items in the room and experience a 360-degree view. Visitors will also be able to send E-cards and subscribe to E-newsletters (where the "E" stands for both "electronic" and "Elvis"), download an Elvis screensaver and make on-line reservation requests for Graceland and Heartbreak Hotel.
Elvis Week began yesterday (8/9) and runs through the anniversary of his throne-bound demise.
The Elvis Candlelight Vigilcast will occur on Aug. 15 from 8:45-11 p.m. CT.
