You’d think his popularity would be waning, but if it is someone ought to tell EP Enterprises. They are spending a fortune right now to build restaurants and a 500 room convention center around Graceland. They also ought to tell all those people that flock to Memphis every year from all over the world. They come to tour Graceland and Sun Studio, many clearly born after he died in ‘77.
I’m from Memphis and rather tired of it all. I’m in my fifties and have lived with this phenomenon all of my life. I’m tired of hosting visitors who want to go to Graceland. When I was a boy they wanted to drive by to see if we could see Elvis. Now they want to take the tours. I was in Belize a few years ago and went to a restaurant that played Elvis and Sun Studio acts the whole time we were there. I can’t escape it!
You certainly have my sympathy and condolences. I’m not joking.
Maybe this is the last gasp of the Elvis groupies? I can’t imagine it lasting much longer. I’ve been wrong many times before but how much further can marketing carry it?
IIRC Priscilla was the one who pretty much reignited the Elvis phenomenon after he died and made sure there was something for Lisa Marie.
I remember his estate selling his music rights to Michael Jackson. I figured the jig was up then.
I wonder if the younger people going to Graceland are people who grew up with parents who were big fans and are taking grandma for the tour as a family thing? I can kind of understand the foreign interest in Elvis, but to the extent of traveling here to tour Graceland? Must be part of their American vacation “experience”.
All said, I never understood the whole Elvis thing. Never liked him or his music that much.