The world lost Elvis Presley August 16, 1977. For millions of fans, the King of Rock-n-Roll was gone, but his lasting impact on the music industry, as well as the sound of American Rock, would not be forgotten. Even today, it isn’t hard to find people who will dress as Elvis, eat food that he ate and imitate his hair, his voice, and even his famous hip thrusts.  Not only is there a sub-culture of impersonators but there are also two major cities, Memphis, Tenn. and Las Vegas, seemingly devoted to his legacy. Elvis’s home in Memphis is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the state and draws millions of visitors a year. Heck, even the wart he had removed in 1958 has thousands of visitors each year at the Loudermilk Boarding House Museum in Cornelia, Georgia. The souvenir T-Shirt from the gift shop proclaims, “The King is gone, but the Wart lives on!” Sadly, his formaldehyde-encased wart is the closest that I will ever get to Elvis. But that doesn’t mean that I can’t have an Elvis experience.

At the Hollywood 14 Theater (6200 S.W. 6th Ave.), I can watch Elvis Presley on the big screen in a way that none have seen since before I was born. There will be 25 different songs, as well as never-before-made-public footage of the King, edited by none other than Martin Scorcese, that will play for one night—nay, one show only. This Golden-Globe winning documentary has never been shown in movie theaters, and is expected to draw quite an audience.  Admittedly, not the audience that Toy Story 3 or Shrek 4 will draw, but it is undeniable that Elvis was such a cultural phenomenon, and that even a third of a century after his death, his influence is still deeply felt.

The Elvis 75th Anniversary Concert is going to be broadcast in Topeka and across the United States for one night only, on Thursday, July 29. Besides marveling at this cultural phenomenon, I wondered why concerts are being broadcast at our local theater, and also, how long has this been going on?  Michelle Portillo of NCM Fathom was able to provide me with some answers.  Her company acts as a go-between for entertainers and movie theaters and her company’s been helping to put on one-night-only shows in movie theaters across the country since 2002. The shows and their audiences are “growing and growing and growing.” Last year they put on 59 shows, and this year they are already out-pacing the number of shows from last year.

“We schedule our events for Monday through Thursday during non-peak days in order to supplement their movie line-up,” said Michelle.

If a theater isn’t selling out during the week, NCM can provide unique, alternative entertainment that has a good chance of getting a larger crowd in the theater than it would have had otherwise. Theater managers love this, and the fans love it, too. It’s a win-win situation.

Still, I wondered what kinds of shows usually get put on.  Michelle told me that it was usually concerts, but not always.  Garth Brooks was broadcast in theaters a few years ago when he had shows in Kansas City, and a talk by Warren Buffet was pretty popular not so long ago.  Also, a lot of UFC pay-per-view fights are shown in theaters. UFC Fights are definitely great on a 50-inch television, but I could also see Brock Lesnar have the living snot beaten out of him on a 40-foot screen?  Now, that could really draw a crowd.

“That’s the thing with these events,” said Michelle. “They’re convenient and affordable and accessible and you don’t have to worry about parking. If it’s a concert and your 12 year old wants to go see the Black Eyed Peas and you might be like ‘Hmmm…’ but you could be okay with your child going to a local theater to see it.”

I think I’m starting to buy this.

“A lot of different original programming is what we’re after. It makes it into an event. That live element is what people want to see.”

Well, now, going to an Elvis Concert with 200 other people in Topeka, Kansas in 2010 would definitely be an event.  But what were the actual Elvis Concerts like?

For that, I spoke to Sue LaCrone, who has attended too many Elvis Concerts to count.  She has seen him live several times in places including Kansas City, Aimes, Las Vegas, Lake Tahoe and Omaha.

“I loved his music.  His concerts were always so exciting because he was one of the biggest performers around.  He sang all types of music.  He did some good religious music too, ya know,” Sue remembered.

She told me that, for a lot of Elvis’s concerts in Las Vegas, “We would stand in line for most of the day so that we could get a seat.  Back then it depended on how much you tipped as to how close you got.”

No longer is that a problem since the seats at the theater get everyone much, much closer than any concert seats could.

I have stared at Elvis’ wart in Cornelia, Georgia and wondered what kind of a man could inspire this kind of a following and how so many people remain devoted to him after all these years.  I’ve eaten a fried peanut butter and banana sandwich and wondered, too. I certainly don’t know. I do know that loyal Elvis fans won’t have to wait for hours in line for a ticket to his show on July 29. They can visit the National Cinemedia, Fathom, at their website, www.fathomevents.com to buy tickets early or, here in town at Hollywood 14, they will have ample parking, and comfortable seating to go see him performing from River Hill Theater. Don’t forget to wear your rhinestone bellbottoms.

[ July 2010 | Boone Smith | photos by Adam Koger (Elvis photo album cover) ]