Elvis Presley’s Legacy Is Being Threatened in Las Vegas
Elvis Presley is not only one of the world’s most beloved entertainers, but he created a cultural movement that is going strong to this day. His tragic death in 1977 cut short an incredible career and ended a life that was remarkable by any stretch of the imagination.
Although Presley has long since died, his legacy lives on, preserved by his remaining family members. In 2013, Presley’s estate underwent a major shakeup, with the legendary entertainer’s rights being sold in a major deal to a group that has been cracking down in recent years on how Presley’s likeness is being used.
When were Elvis Presley’s rights sold?
In 2013, media was abuzz with the news that the rights to Presley‘s music had been purchased by Authentic Brands Group. The intellectual property corporation also owns the rights to superstars like Marilyn Monroe and boxer Muhammad Ali.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the deal included a partnership with Joel Weinshanker and the National Entertainment Collectibles Association. Weinshanker would be managing Graceland, Presley’s mansion in Tennessee, although Presley’s daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, maintained ownership of Graceland and all the original artifacts.
In a statement, Lisa Marie clarified that she was looking forward to the expansion opportunities that the deal allowed. She noted, “The licensing and merchandising aspect of this business is not to be confused with the fact that the property will always remain with me and my family.”
Authentic Brands Group issued a crackdown on Elvis impersonators in Vegas chapels
In recent months, Authentic Brand Groups (ABG) has been cracking down on one particular aspect of Elvis’s image: the use of the King impersonators in Las Vegas wedding chapels and marriage packages. According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the company issued a cease and desist letter in May 2022 to several Vegas chapels that book Elvis-themed weddings.
The publication quoted a portion of the document as reading that they intend to stop the “unauthorized use” of “Elvis Presley’s name, likeness, voice image, and other elements of Elvis Presley’s persona in advertisements, merchandise, and otherwise.”
Elvis-themed tribute shows are protected in Vegas by a specific statute. However, The Hustle notes that the move by ABG could have a devastating effect on the Las Vegas wedding industry. Several sources spoke to media outlets about how the cease and desist could damage business, with Clark County Clerk Lynn Goya telling the Las Vegas Review-Journal that the move could “destroy a portion of our wedding industry.”
Would Elvis Presley be happy with how his image is being used?
With the future of Elvis-themed weddings in flux, many fans might be wondering what the King himself would think of all the hubbub. While Elvis died at the young age of 42, he was devoted to his career and to his fans. Interestingly enough, his ex-wife, Priscilla Presley, spoke to Larry King about what Elvis’s greatest fear was.
According to Newsmax, Presley revealed, “I remember Elvis saying that he didn’t really know if he gave up singing, if he did want to retire, he felt that people would forget him.”
She went on to say “Shows you where he was. It shows you where he emotionally was and … where in his career he thought he was.” While it’s impossible to truly know what Presley would think about the state of his estate and legacy now, it seems safe to say that the iconic singer would want his fans to be inspired by his music – and to continue to derive joy from his image.
