Long Live The King

Elvis may have left the building, but he certainly hasn’t left Las Vegas. The King of Rock and Roll would have celebrated his 75th birthday on Jan. 8, but his legend lives on in the Entertainment Capital of the World.

During his seven-year reign on the Las Vegas Strip from 1969 to 1976, Elvis Presley left behind a legacy fondly referred to as the Vegas Years. But Presley’s start in Sin City certainly didn’t cause fans to flock here. His first gig at age 21 was at the Venus Room at the New Frontier hotel, where he was billed the Atomic Powered Singer. By 1956, he had gained a teen following, but the older crowds of Vegas gave him a cool reception.

While that two-week run may not have captured the hearts of Vegas, the city certainly had an influence on the King. He returned in 1963 to film “Viva Las Vegas” with Ann-Margret, and a theme song was born. His film marriage to his co-star was mirrored four years later when he married Priscilla Anne Beaulieu at Milton Prell’s Aladdin Hotel, now Planet Hollywood Resort.

Then on July 31, 1969, he landed a gig at The International, now the Las Vegas Hilton, in a showroom he would make famous. Over the course of seven years, he performed 837 consecutive sold-out shows for an audience of more than 2.5 million. At that time, nearly one out of every two Vegas visitors saw one of his shows, which sold $43.7 million in tickets. The $17.50 ticket included steak or lobster, while the midnight show included drinks.

Dec. 12, 1976, turned out to be his final performance in Las Vegas. Presley suffered a heart attack on Aug. 16, 1977, at his Graceland mansion in Memphis. His memory lives on though. A year later, the Hilton dedicated a statue of the King that is now on display outside the casino. The King lives on.