It's a legendary hotel that hosted many legendary performers - and none had more of an impact on Las Vegas entertainment or the city than Elvis Presley.
“Graceland Presents ELVIS: The Exhibition - The Show - The Experience” is now open at
Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino, the same hotel where Elvis performed more than 600 record-breaking, sold-out shows between 1969 and 1976 when it was the International Hotel, then Las Vegas Hilton, and most recently the LVH.
On the 59th anniversary of Elvis Presley’s first Las Vegas performance, Graceland has opened the doors to a multi-faceted, authentic Elvis experience that showcases the man, the performer and the music that revolutionized popular culture around the world.
A formal “blue suede” ribbon-cutting ceremony was hosted by
Priscilla Presley and Lisa Marie Presley to unveil their personal treasures from the family archives, from rarely seen artifacts including Elvis’ personal television remote from his Graceland bedroom to Lisa Marie’s baby shoes. In addition to the Elvis Presley’s Graceland Wedding Chapel, the hotel also debuted the
“Elvis Experience” - a limited-engagement musical production that embodies the spirit of the king himself.
“Just think, it was 59 years ago today that Elvis performed his first show in Las Vegas,” said Priscilla Presley. “Elvis loved Las Vegas and he loved his fans – he would be the first to welcome you to this great exhibition of his life. Lisa and I are so happy to share these wonderful artifacts from our family with you and are thrilled to bring the authentic Elvis back to Las Vegas for the first time in 40 years.”
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| "The Elvis Experience" production at the Elvis Presley Theater at the International Showroom. Photo Courtesy: Elvis Presley's Graceland |
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| "The Elvis Experience" production at the Elvis Presley Theater at the International Showroom. Photo Courtesy: Elvis Presley's Graceland |
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| "The Elvis Experience" production at the Elvis Presley Theatre at the International Showroom. Photo Courtesy: Steve Spatafore, Las Vegas News Bureau |
The newly renamed and renovated Elvis Presley Theater at the International Showroom is now featuring the critically acclaimed “Elvis Experience,” produced by LCQ Productions, on the very stage where Elvis performed for millions of guests during his record-breaking, seven-year stint from 1969 through 1976. The theater has been restored to have the same look and feel it had when Elvis performed in this historic showroom.
Elvis Experience is a large-scale production replicating one of Elvis’ legendary Las Vegas shows, starring actor Martin Fontaine and featuring 24 musicians and eight choir members portraying the original musicians and artists on stage with Elvis. Following this limited engagement that will end May 30, the property will feature other limited-run, Graceland-produced live shows in The Elvis Presley Theater.
Joel Weinshanker, Managing Partner of Graceland Holdings, LLC, stated, “In a country without royalty, there has truly only been, and continues to be, one king – Elvis Presley. And now in Las Vegas, there is only one place to see the real thing, at the Westgate Resort & Casino.” He continued, “I can promise each and every visitor to our Elvis exhibition, live shows and chapel, an experience that will make them want to come back time and time again, as well as take a trip to Memphis to visit the one and only Graceland.”
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| David Siegel, from left, CEO of Westgate Resorts, Joel Weinshanker, Managing Partner of Graceland Holdings, Priscilla Presley and Lisa Marie Presley prepare to cut the ribbon at the grand opening of "Graceland Presents Elvis: The Exhibition - The Show - The Experience" at Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino on Thursday, April 23, 2015. The opening of the permanent exhibition, theater showroom and wedding chapel takes place on the 59th anniversary of Elvis' very first performance in Las Vegas in 1956. (Mark Damon/Las Vegas News Bureau) |
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| Priscilla Presley, left, and Lisa Marie Presley prepare to cut the ribbon at the grand opening of "Graceland Presents Elvis: The Exhibition - The Show - The Experience" at Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino on Thursday, April 23, 2015. The opening of the permanent exhibition, theater showroom and wedding chapel takes place on the 59th anniversary of Elvis' very first performance in Las Vegas in 1956. (Mark Damon/Las Vegas News Bureau) |
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| David Siegel, from left, CEO of Westgate Resorts, Priscilla Presley and Lisa Marie Presley prepare to cut the ribbon at the grand opening of "Graceland Presents Elvis: The Exhibition - The Show - The Experience" at Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino on Thursday, April 23, 2015. Joel Weinshanker, Managing Partner of Graceland Holdings, is at rear. The opening of the permanent exhibition, theater showroom and wedding chapel takes place on the 59th anniversary of Elvis' very first performance in Las Vegas in 1956. (Mark Damon/Las Vegas News Bureau) |
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| David Siegel, from left, CEO of Westgate Resorts, Priscilla Presley, Lisa Marie Presley and Joel Weinshanker, Managing Partner of Graceland Holdings, react after cutting the ribbon at the grand opening of "Graceland Presents Elvis: The Exhibition - The Show - The Experience" at Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino on Thursday, April 23, 2015. The opening of the permanent exhibition, theater showroom and wedding chapel takes place on the 59th anniversary of Elvis' very first performance in Las Vegas in 1956. (Mark Damon/Las Vegas News Bureau) |
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| A visitor takes photos during the grand opening of "Graceland Presents Elvis: The Exhibition - The Show - The Experience" at Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino on Thursday, April 23, 2015. Among the memorabilia on display is the tan jacket, in the case at left, worn by Elvis Presley in the 1964 film "Viva Las Vegas." The opening of the permanent exhibition, theater showroom and wedding chapel takes place on the 59th anniversary of Elvis' very first performance in Las Vegas in 1956. (Mark Damon/Las Vegas News Bureau) |
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| Visitors check out Elvis Presley movie posters at the grand opening of "Graceland Presents Elvis: The Exhibition - The Show - The Experience" at Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino on Thursday, April 23, 2015. The opening of the permanent exhibition, theater showroom and wedding chapel takes place on the 59th anniversary of Elvis' very first performance in Las Vegas in 1956. (Mark Damon/Las Vegas News Bureau) |
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| Visitors take photos with Elvis Presley memorabilia at the grand opening of "Graceland Presents Elvis: The Exhibition - The Show - The Experience" at Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino on Thursday, April 23, 2015. The opening of the permanent exhibition, theater showroom and wedding chapel takes place on the 59th anniversary of Elvis' very first performance in Las Vegas in 1956. (Mark Damon/Las Vegas News Bureau) |
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David Siegel, from left, CEO of Westgate Resorts, Priscilla Presley and Joel Weinshanker, Managing Partner of Graceland Holdings, prepare to cut the ribbon at the grand opening of "Graceland Presents Elvis: The Exhibition - The Show - The Experience" at Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino on Thursday, April 23, 2015. The opening of the permanent exhibition, theater showroom and wedding chapel takes place on the 59th anniversary of Elvis' very first performance in Las Vegas in 1956. (Mark Damon/Las Vegas News Bureau)
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| David Siegel, CEO of Westgate Resorts, greets the crowd as he arrives for the grand opening of "Graceland Presents Elvis: The Exhibition - The Show - The Experience" at Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino on Thursday, April 23, 2015. The opening of the permanent exhibition, theater showroom and wedding chapel takes place on the 59th anniversary of Elvis' very first performance in Las Vegas in 1956. (Mark Damon/Las Vegas News Bureau) |
