mid November 2007
- Crone Corkill celebrates 30 years in careers
(Online Recruitment, November 21, 2007)
1977 saw 'Rocky' pick up the Academy Award for best picture, the death of Elvis and the launch of the Apple II computer. 1977 was also a special year for office support recruitment consultancy Crone Corkill as they saw the opening of their first office in Eldon Street, London.
30 years later, 2007 sees the release of Rocky Balboa, 'the King of rock and roll Elvis Presley' firmly positioned as the second highest earning posthumous entertainer and the launch of the new Apple i-phone, demonstrating that quality brands are still impacting on today more than ever. With over 90 consultants in five locations, Crone Corkill is one of the UK's most respected secretarial recruitment consultancies. ...
- Steel guitar player John Hughey dies at 73
(wmctv.com / Associated Press, November 21, 2007)
John Hughey, a steel guitar player who toured for years with country legend Conway Twitty and recorded with Elvis Presley and several other stars, has died. He was 73. Hughey, who died Sunday night, was credited with developing a unique style of playing that focused on the instrument's high tones, resulting in a distinctive "crying sound."
Hughey recorded songs with Presley, Loretta Lynn, Marty Stuart, Willie Nelson, Dickey Betts of The Allman Brothers and others. He recorded and toured with star Vince Gill for about 12 years. Funeral services will be Wednesday at Hendersonville First Baptist Church.
- Elvis is Alive Museum Comes Home!
(Memphis Flyer, November 20, 2007)
Mississippian Andy Key has purchased the collection of Elvis Presley memorabilia displayed near St. Louis for the past 15 years as the Elvis is Alive Museum.
Key, 38, won an eBay auction held by museum owner Bill Beeny, 80, including documentation proving that Presley survived beyond the commonly accepted death date of August 16, 1977. Beeny assembled FBI documents pertaining to Presley's involvement with the feds, a tape recording of the King's voice made after 1977, and a copy of the DNA test proving that someone other than Elvis occupies his supposed casket. Key has said that he'll move the collection to Presley's birth state of Mississippi. He's considering sites in Jackson, Hattiesburg, and Laurel.
- Rhys Meyers arrested at Dublin airport
By SHAWN POGATCHNIK
(El Paso Times / Associated Press, November 19, 2007)
Jonathan Rhys Meyers, star of the Henry VIII soap opera "The Tudors," has been charged with public drunkenness and breach of the peace at Dublin Airport, police said Monday. Rhys Meyers, 30, was arrested Sunday after police twice confronted him over his erratic, abusive behavior at an airport gate and at a desk of the British airline BMI, on which he was planning to fly to London. Dublin Airport Police said they called Ireland's national police force, the Garda Siochana, after Rhys Meyers refused repeated requests to calm down. Police charged him with two counts of violating the Public Order Act, then permitted him to pay an undisclosed cash bail on condition he return to Dublin District Court on Dec. 5 for his arraignment.
Rhys Meyers - who was admitted to a California alcoholism-treatment clinic in April and checked out the following month - was in Dublin to appear on "Tubridy Tonight," a Saturday night national talk show to promote his new film, "August Rush," costarring Robin Williams. Ryan Tubridy said he was surprised and sorry to hear of the actor's arrest.
... Rhys Meyers starred opposite Scarlett Johansson in Woody Allen's "Match Point" and Reese Witherspoon in "Vanity Fair," among other films. He also portrayed Elvis Presley in a 2005 U.S. television miniseries, and is now filming the second season of "The Tudors" for the U.S. cable network Showtime. In an interview last year on the set of "The Tudors," Rhys Meyers said he felt restricted socializing in Ireland because of its hard-drinking pub culture. "I gave up drinking a few years ago, and this is the first time I've spent time in my country trying not to drink," he told The Associated Press in October 2006. ...
- On the road again: Barrie and Linda Mann visit Graceland
By Barrie Mann
(Lake Isabella Kern Valley Sun, November15, 2007)
Elvis has not left the building, at least not here in Graceland, his home in Memphis, TN when he was alive and entertaining the world with his music.
Our trip has taken us to Memphis and we have decided to spend a day and visit Graceland. There are many things that a visitor to Memphis can enjoy. For example you can tour the Gibson Guitar factory, or stroll down Beale Street the home of the Blues, you can visit several museums such as the Memphis Pink Palace something that is a must see if you haven't seen it before, or the Mississippi River Museum plus a few more.
But if you are to be in Memphis for just a short time and if you've heard of Elvis Presley (who hasn't?) then you must visit Graceland. Entering the ticket concourse the first thing you are faced with is making the decision on what tour you should take. My recommendation is the Platinum Tour. This tour gives you the opportunity to wander through the Mansion and grounds guided by your own personal audio system given to you at the beginning of the tour. After this you can tour Elvis's two custom planes and his automobile museum then move on to his 'Sincerely Elvis' a display of his Jump Suits. But let me give you a little taste of what to expect.
Taken by bus from the ticket area to the front door of the mansion you really donıt know what to expect. Built in 1939 by a local doctor, Elvis Presley purchased the mansion and 14 surrounding acres for $100,000 in 1957 and lived there until his death in 1977. The first impression you have that the mansion is smaller than you expected because of the image you may have had of Elvis. After all he was a giant on stage, but off stage he was by all accounts an ordinary man and this becomes evident as you pass through rooms of his home still furnished, as it was when he lived there.
Of course the furnishings are lavish but not over stated in the manner of many of celebs that come into fame and wealth overnight and wish to impress the world with their success. The rooms you see are fairly normal and are furnished in the style of the 50's, 60's and 70's.
The only room that is overstated in my opinion is the 'Jungle Room' but as it was a fad in the seventies to furnish rooms in this style (if you had the money to do so) you could accept it as 'K¸well it's Elvis right?
As you leave the area in the mansion that has the living rooms you are guided to the area known as 'The Hall of Gold., This houses the gold and platinum records that were awarded to Elvis for his work in music. He recorded many different hits, most of them still well known today. He recorded songs in every modern different music genre of the time, including Rock-n- Roll, Gospel (a personal love of his) R&B and Country, receiving awards in all of them, Elvis sold over a billion records during his career the most productive performer of his time. Also in this hall are displays of Elvis's generosity that is largely forgotten by the public. He was always donating money and holding benefit concerts for charity and it is said that if you lived in Memphis and landed on hard times you could approach him and he'd help you get back on your feet.
Elvis's most common donation and handout was $1,000 but it is said that he paid off debts and bought houses for those he felt were in need. In 1979 he was recognized as one of ten young man of the year by the international Jaycee's and received a joined hands trophy that he took everywhere he performed.
Once leaving the main mansion you are guided to the Racquet Ball Court building that is converted to another display room of Elvisıs career. When you enter this building you are struck by the number of people who are just standing entranced watching a TV screen that is showing a video of Elvis performing a concert in Hawaii.
Most of the people watching are in their late fifties to mid sixty years of age, the woman stand enraptured by what's occurring on the screen and most have looks of adoration on their faces. The men stand and try to look cool and disinterested, but if you look closely you notice them also looking closely at the screen and tapping their feet in time to the music. All of them have a look of times being remembered and a dream of times gone by.
As you leave this building you walk along a short path past a large area that is fenced and still has horses grazing. This is the area that Elvis rode horses in just for fun. Further along the path you enter the 'Garden of Inspiration' originally built for a place to go to and be alone with your thoughts that now has become a shrine to Elvis.
This is the site where Elvis, his parents and grandmother lie in their final resting place and is the place where fans of Elvis place flowers and other mementos on the celebration of his birthday and death.
After you leave the Garden of Inspiration you basically have concluded the tour of the mansion and grounds. Once again you board a tour bus that takes you back to the other exhibits. From here you can tour the two planes that Elvis used but to be candid it takes only a few minutes to do so.
Take the time to visit instead the 'Sincerely Elvis' exhibit of costumes he wore on stage. All of us remember seeing Elvis in jump suits, but I don't believe that we had any concept of the number of suits he had or the exquisite work that went into them. All hand stitched, the workmanship is outstanding and causes you to make two observations. The first is that these outfits must have cost Elvis a fortune. The second is that although Elvis was as large as life on stage, in life he actually was of slender build and was probably just shy of being six foot in height.
Continue on to some of the other exhibits such as his collection of cars and an interesting exhibit of his life after the lights went out in most homes of normal people in the world.
As John Lennon once said 'Before Elvis Presley there was nothing' but then Elvis was the King and if ever there is a vote for entertainer of the century then Elvis would be in the running. One thing is sure, if you were ever a fan, then Elvis is still very much in the building, at least his spirit is. So if you're in Memphis take the time to visit Elvis in his home at Graceland.
- Jay-Z scores tenth number one
(Music News, November15, 2007)
Jay-Z has managed to clock up his tenth chart-topping album in the US, tying with Elvis Presley for the solo artist with the most number ones. His album, American Gangster, sold 425,000 copies, according to US industry figures. The Beatles currently hold the record for the most number one albums overall, with 19 chart-toppers. Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, first topped the charts in 1998 with Vol 2... Hard Knock Life. ...
- Elvis Presley Enterprises licenses jumpsuits
By CHERYL WITTENAUER
(Memphis Business Journal, November15, 2007)
Elvis Presley Enterprises has awarded a license to B&K Enterprises Inc. to allow the Charlestown, Ind.-based company to manufacture replicas of Elvis jumpsuits. Bill Belew and Gene Doucette originally designed and produced many of Elvis' jumpsuits in the 1970s. Doucette will produce the embroidery work on the costumes using original patterns and designs. B&K produced the costumes for the 2001 film, "3000 Miles to Graceland."
- Analysis: Vegas has become a political boomtown
(CNN, November13, 2007)
What's new in Las Vegas? Everything -- including the politics! Las Vegas is a boomtown, literally. Take Tuesday night's giant implosion of the Frontier Hotel. It was the Las Vegas Strip's first themed casino. It went up in 1942 and came down at 2:30 a.m. (5:30 a.m. ET) Tuesday. Elvis Presley and Siegfried and Roy made their Vegas debuts at the Frontier, and Ronald Reagan performed there.
Now it's being replaced by -- what else? A $5 billion development modeled after New York City's Plaza Hotel. They say what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. But not for long. This is a town where everything changes -- fast.
Las Vegas's Rep. Shelley Berkley, a Democrat, points out, "I've got the fastest growing congressional district in the United States with 1.9 million people. We have 5,000 new residents a month coming into town." Who are all those people? They're young people with families, taking new jobs in the booming service sector. They're retirees, veterans, Hispanics and Asian-Americans. "We build a school a month in order to keep up with the growth," Berkley said, noting that her congressional district also has the fastest growing senior population. "I've got 212,000 veterans here in the Las Vegas Valley," Berkley said, in addition to the fastest growing Asian and Hispanic populations.
You've heard how the American labor movement is struggling to survive? Not here. Berkley says Las Vegas is "the only community in the United States that has a growing union population."
The politics are changing, too. Until the 1980s, Nevada tended to vote Democratic. It's the Silver State. William Jennings Bryan, the candidate of "free silver," carried it three times. New Deal Democrats like Lyndon Johnson did well here. The population boom of the 1970s and '80s brought a lot of new voters. Mostly white, mostly Reagan Republicans.
Now with a new population boom, it's changing again. "We have recently flipped the state and there are now more registered Democrats than Republicans in the state of Nevada." Berkley said. Who's this "we?" Vegas, baby, Vegas. "Seventy percent of the state population is located here in southern Nevada. We've dramatically changed the state," she says.
With just five electoral votes, why is Nevada significant? It's a bellwether. Nevada has voted for the winner in every presidential election since 1912, save one -- 1976. What happens in Vegas may happen everywhere.
- New Frontier casino-hotel imploded, destroying 1 of the earliest spots on the Vegas Strip
(wmctv.com / Associated Press, November13, 2007)
The casino where Elvis Presley made his debut in Las Vegas has been imploded to make room for a new resort. The New Frontier casino and hotel was brought down early this morning. It was the second property to open on the Las Vegas Strip. Presley performed for the first time in Las Vegas at the resort in 1956. An $8 billion resort bearing The Plaza brand will go up where the New Frontier stood.
- Historic Vegas casino demolished
By Lacy Ledford
(KETK News, November13, 2007)
The casino where Elvis Presley made his Las Vegas debut has been demolished. The New Frontier, which opened in 1942 as a Wild West-styled resort, was imploded early this morning. The Vegas landmark was the first themed casino on the strip. A new luxury resort will replace it.
- Heartbreak hotel
(Guardian Unlimited / Reuters, November13, 2007)
The hotel where Elvis Presley made his Las Vegas debut is demolished to make way for a new multi-billion dollar development
- Elvis to kick start Christmas lights switch on
By Angela Knight
(St Albans & Harpenden Review, November13, 2007)
SHOPPERS will get a taste of Las Vegas glitz and glamour at the Christmas light switch-on this Sunday. Elvis Presley aka Leigh Casling will shake things up with the Skyswood Vegas Dancers outside St Albans Town Hall before the great switch on at 5.30pm.
Sight 'n' Sound Roadshow will kick start the festivities at 2pm. Father Christmas will pop along in the afternoon for a sing song with Sandringham School Junior Choir, Sandringham Community Jazz Band and the St Albans Cathedral Girls Choir. Top Hat Stage & Screen School will also take centre stage to entertain the crowds.
- Elvis is Alive Museum to move to Miss.
By CHERYL WITTENAUER
(Yahoo! News / Associated Press, November13, 2007)
Don't count Andy Key as one of those Elvis Presley fanatics who insist the King never died. Key, 38, said he's "open to the possibility" Presley is alive, but he's counting on there being enough skeptics out there to make his new business a success. With an $8,000 eBay bid, Key won the Elvis is Alive Museum's collection and plans to move the museum from its current site in Wright City, Mo., to Mississippi, where Key lives and Presley was born. "If (Elvis) wants to come to the opening, he can certainly come back," he said.
Included in the collection are photographs, books, FBI files, DNA reports and other memorabilia that aim to support the theory that Presley never died. Bill Beeny, 81, who founded the museum's collection, said he sold the collection hoping its new owner would continue his work. "I'll certainly go down and visit once it sets up," he said.
Key said he'd like the museum to complement the tourist attraction in Tupelo, Miss., where Presley was born and bought his first guitar. He's considering opening it in Laurel, Jackson or Hattiesburg, Miss. Elvis Presley Enterprises, which manages Graceland, the King's estate and mansion in Memphis, Tenn., previously has said it has no comment on the museum, a transformed coin-operated laundry 55 miles west of St. Louis.
- High bidder for memorabilia from Elvis' home state
By CHERYL WITTENAUER
(Daily Journal / Associated Press, November12, 2007)
Someone from the King's home state has placed the highest bid on a trove of memorabilia from the Elvis is Alive Museum. The bidder, a man from Laurel, Miss., must make a $500 deposit toward his $8,300 bid by the end of the weekend or lose his right to claim the stuff. He should have made a deposit within 24 hours of the eBay auction's closing at 5:20 p.m. Thursday.
But late Friday, the man contacted Bill Beeny, the 81-year-old proprietor of the Wright City roadside attraction, saying he hadn't received official notification from eBay that he had placed the highest bid.
"He's saying he's going to go through with it and send a deposit over," said Steve Beeny, the museum owner's son. "Technically he's in violation, and we could give the second (highest bidder) a chance. But (Bill Beeny) says he wants to give the guy through the weekend."
Bill Beeny placed his Elvis Presley memorabilia on eBay late last month hoping someone would buy the collection and open a museum dedicated to the theory that Elvis never died. The collection includes photographs, books, yellowed news clippings and replicas of the Cadillac Elvis drove and the casket and gravestone from his 1977 funeral. There is a casket and mannequin, a poster of the famous photo of President Nixon and Presley from 1970, and a tape recording of what is said to be Presleyıs voice - a recording made long after the date of his death. The collection also has an Elvis head and piles of documents that Beeny said are FBI files proving Presley's involvement with federal authorities. ...
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