Don’t be surprised if you find yourself humming “Love Me Tender” in the days ahead. We’re fast-approaching Elvis Week (August 9-17), an annual tradition when mourners flock to Graceland to remember Elvis Presley, who passed away on August 16, 1977. In more positive memories, next week marks 55 years since the King played the first shows of his iconic Las Vegas residency, setting a new standard for a destination built on entertainment.
🎙️ A New Era
Elvis kicked off a seven-year residency at the International Hotel on July 31, 1969. The shows defined a new era for Elvis Presley, who was hot again after two years of military service, a diversion into movies, and the success of his famous ‘68 Comeback Special.
😵 Packed Schedule
The singer played 636 concerts at the International, which became the Hilton in 1970 and is now known as the Westgate. The schedule was impressive, but grueling (and likely contributed to a notorious drug dependency in his final years). Elvis would come to Vegas for four weeks at a time (in the summer and winter), typically playing two shows a night, seven days a week. The first performance was a dinner show at 8 p.m., followed by a midnight concert.
🎸 Large Capacity
At the time, the showroom at the International was the largest in Vegas and the first with a balcony. It held 2,200 people, although that’s less than half the size of more contemporary theaters like the Colosseum at Caesars Palace and Dolby Live at the Park MGM.
Opening night at the International: July 31, 1969. (Oscar Abolafia/TPLP/Getty)
🎰 Elvis Was No Stranger to Vegas
He performed at the New Frontier in 1956 — shows that were notoriously panned — married his 21-year-old bride Priscilla at the Aladdin hotel in 1967, and spent time at the Sahara between film shoots. Much of “Viva Las Vegas” (one of the star’s better received movies) was filmed on location and the title song became an unofficial Sin City anthem.
🎵 Today’s Legacy
The Westgate continues to celebrate Elvis Presley’s legacy with a bronze statue in the lobby and new tribute show “The King Comes Home.”
- The King’s presence isn’t the same as it used to be in Vegas, but the 2022 “Elvis” biopic brought the singer back into the spotlight. [City Cast Las Vegas 🎧]
