Elvis Presley BLVD - Las Vegas

[ponygirlup]

IT'S OFFICIAL.

The Viva Las Vegas club has wonderful news to announce. As of December 24, 2016 what was known as Riviera Boulevard is now Elvis Presley Way. { corrected to BLVD!!! }

Originally announced Feb 28 2016. Credit due to Mr Siegel, owner of Westgate, who began the process in April 2015.

The Riviera was fully imploded and destroyed in June. Nice that the street change didn't happen til the Riv was gone.

The sign was still Riviera Blvd the night before.

A mystery: the official documents said EP Blvd, somewhere it changed back to Way.

It is disappointing that there was no fanfare. Elvis deserves that.

But, let's rejoice!

What a great Christmas present to Las Vegas, Elvis fans and to the memory of Elvis Presley!

Sue L
president
Viva Las Vegas Club

EPwayWestgate1.jpg

[moffringa]

Nice gesture. Thanks to mr. Siegel whois a Elvis fan i was told. Too bad the former International/Hilton hotel aka Westgate is now just a ghost from his own past in service.stature etc. (everything is very much dated compared to other hotels/resorts) And the Elvis experience with Martin couldn''t bring the real Elvis feeling back i heard.

[ponygirlup]

The hotel has done a lot of interior improvements and it looks very nice. When was your last visit? The Martin Fontaine show did not do well, so it closed after a few weeks. Since the hotel and EPE have an onging dispute over the closed exhibit, all of that Elvis experience is in limbo. Beyond that, the Westgate removed all Elvis signage and photos except what is inside the steak house. I strongly believe this is related to the dispute.

The statue remains, as always. I still have my memories when I walk into the place, having visited there many times since it opened in 1969. I am a long time resident, and I saw Elvis there 15 times. The showroom still looks fantastic, but I do miss the old seating. One can still tour the 30th floor, although yes, that has changed, too.

The hotel is not a museum, rather it has adapted and changed to keep up with modern Las Vegas in its on way. The Riviera is now gone. If it were not for Mr Siegel buying the former Hilton, that hotel would be gone instead. I prefer to look at my glass of water as half full. Elvis is still in the building.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/roadwarriorvoices/2016/12/21/expedia-names-most-demand-hotel-las-vegas/94583988/

[jurasic1968]

Thanks a lot for your story.

[PEP]

This is Great News if true.

However, I am a little surprised nothing in the news about this either...plus the No fanfare.

EPE sounds like they were not supporting this at all either.

I wonder if that had anything to do with it....

I'm curious are those pictures photoshopped...by chance?

Anyone else from Las Vegas that may have pictures?

PEP

[moffringa]

............ I still have my memories when I walk into the place, having visited there many times since it opened in 1969. I am a long time resident, and I saw Elvis there 15 times. The showroom still looks fantastic, but I do miss the old seating. One can still tour the 30th floor, although yes, that has changed, too.

The hotel is not a museum, rather it has adapted and changed to keep up with modern Las Vegas in its on way. The Riviera is now gone. If it were not for Mr Siegel buying the former Hilton, that hotel would be gone instead. I prefer to look at my glass of water as half full. Elvis is still in the building.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/roadwarriorvoices/2016/12/21/expedia-names-most-demand-hotel-las-vegas/94583988/

Cherish your experiences cause there are not many of you left today. I myself saw Elvis as a teen in 1972 in The Garden voor de first time live and from that moment on i was a diehard fan and compared that to all other concerts i attended later on the years. Think of performances by KISS,Deep Purple, Live Aid,Rolling Stones, Black Sabbath,Michael Jackson, Lionel Ritchie,Neil Diamond,Bruce Springsteen etc etc. No one can equal what i saw as a teen. The aura the whole package. Well .maybe Michael Jackson as a performer a good 2nd.

[promiseland]

IT'S OFFICIAL.

The Viva Las Vegas club has wonderful news to announce. As of December 24, 2016 what was known as Riviera Boulevard is now Elvis Presley Way.

Originally announced Feb 28 2016. Credit due to Mr Siegel, owner of Westgate, who began the process in April 2015.

The Riviera was fully imploded and destroyed in June. Nice that the street change didn't happen til the Riv was gone.

The sign was still Riviera Blvd the night before.

A mystery: the official documents said EP Blvd, somewhere it changed back to Way.

It is disappointing that there was no fanfare. Elvis deserves that.

But, let's rejoice!

What a great Christmas present to Las Vegas, Elvis fans and to the memory of Elvis Presley!

Sue L
president
Viva Las Vegas Club

EPwayWestgate1.jpg

Now that is damn cool! Something Elvis would be proud of - well deserved!

[G.C.]

The picture of the sign in this thread is different to a video I've seen. The video shows the sign instead of say Elvis Presley way it says Elvis Presley Blvd.

[lovin' EP]

Copy of Showroom73ret.jpg

Thought I"d post this pic of the stage/showroom like it was when I was there. I went to Vegas from 1971 through 1976. Not sure what year this pic is from. We sat in the third and fourth blue seats from the stage on the ramp. This picture was made around 8:30 a.m. the morning we were flying back to Atlanta. I opened the showroom door and walked down to the stage and made the picture. The lights were turned off in the showroom, but I was pleased with how the picture turned out. I've posted this before so a lot of you may have already seen it. Sorry!

Elvisly,

Linda

[elvis_king]

Google Street View/maps says boulevard

[moffringa]

Copy of Showroom73ret.jpg

Thought I"d post this pic of the stage/showroom like it was when I was there. I went to Vegas from 1971 through 1976. Not sure what year this pic is from. We sat in the third and fourth blue seats from the stage on the ramp. This picture was made around 8:30 a.m. the morning we were flying back to Atlanta. I opened the showroom door and walked down to the stage and made the picture. The lights were turned off in the showroom, but I was pleased with how the picture turned out. I've posted this before so a lot of you may have already seen it. Sorry!

Elvisly,

Linda

I never knew there was a ramp in the showroom of the then Vegas Hilton. I mean was it suited at the end of the stage of somewhere in the middle?
Nice picture and thanks for sharing it and...shooting it then.

[LuckyJackson2]

When the sign was first installed it said 'way' but has now been amended to 'blvd'
Great for Elvis

[lovin' EP]

Copy of Showroom73ret.jpg

Thought I"d post this pic of the stage/showroom like it was when I was there. I went to Vegas from 1971 through 1976. Not sure what year this pic is from. We sat in the third and fourth blue seats from the stage on the ramp. This picture was made around 8:30 a.m. the morning we were flying back to Atlanta. I opened the showroom door and walked down to the stage and made the picture. The lights were turned off in the showroom, but I was pleased with how the picture turned out. I've posted this before so a lot of you may have already seen it. Sorry!

Elvisly,

Linda

I never knew there was a ramp in the showroom of the then Vegas Hilton. I mean was it suited at the end of the stage of somewhere in the middle?
Nice picture and thanks for sharing it and...shooting it then.

It was right in the middle of the stage in front of Elvis' microphone. I believe they only had it in for one (maybe two) engagements as I think they decided it was too dangerous for Elvis to be out on the ramp. Sure were great seats. I got a scarf on "Fever" when he was out on the ramp. Glad you enjoyed the pic!

Elvisly,

Linda

[It's a matter of Time]

Linda,
Actually they removed the ramp because it was costing the showroom too much in tips that they were losing. I was friends with Emilio and Bill Jost the assistant Maitre d' who both told me that was the reason.. I certainly wasn't surprised though.

[elvislady1964]

Copy of Showroom73ret.jpg

Thought I"d post this pic of the stage/showroom like it was when I was there. I went to Vegas from 1971 through 1976. Not sure what year this pic is from. We sat in the third and fourth blue seats from the stage on the ramp. This picture was made around 8:30 a.m. the morning we were flying back to Atlanta. I opened the showroom door and walked down to the stage and made the picture. The lights were turned off in the showroom, but I was pleased with how the picture turned out. I've posted this before so a lot of you may have already seen it. Sorry!

Elvisly,

Linda

Its beautiful, thanks for sharing linda.

[elvislady1964]

Looks good up there

[ponygirlup]

DSCN1683.JPG

I have been researching getting a piece of pavement named after Elvis since 2004. Learning that I could not rename a street or even a length of memorial highway, my club instead raised the money to install Elvis' star in the Las Vegas Walk of Stars in 2008. We have bricks at the Clark County Museum and the Flamingo garden area. We donated a poster of Sgt Presley to the airport's USO space. We've done all we can, because we could not name a street. I know the whole process of the Westgate applying for the street name change of Riviera to EP. It was approved in the spring of 2015. You can see the the whole process, even a video at the Clark County gov't site. I have been in contact with Mr Kulin, the PR rep for the county. All along the street was BLVD, but someone made a mistake with WAY. I asked Mr Kulin about it and he fixed it that day. So that's the reason behind the confusion. The picture I posted came from a member of my club. Here is a new photo taken by me, the night the BLVD sign went up.

ps- Thanks for the showroom picture. OMG, what a flashback. I saw Elvis 15 times 70-76 in there. The ramp did exist. It was left over from a big show by Don Ho and Elvis liked it, so it remained for his gig. It really added to the excitement of the show. I am sure the maitre's loved having more close access seats they could collect huge tips for. Like it was said, Elvis' moment of singing FEVER there was mind blowing. I will never forget it.

Should you want more information about Elvis in Las Vegas, please visit my club's website. When you visit, you can find much of Elvis here. But yes, updates take place here and change is constant. I have lived here since 1964. (think Viva Las Vegas movie) I have seen so much....

[lovin' EP]

[quote="ponygirlup"]

DSCN1683.JPG

I have been researching getting a piece of pavement named after Elvis since 2004. Learning that I could not rename a street or even a length of memorial highway, my club instead raised the money to install Elvis' star in the Las Vegas Walk of Stars in 2008. We have bricks at the Clark County Museum and the Flamingo garden area. We donated a poster of Sgt Presley to the airport's USO space. We've done all we can, because we could not name a street. I know the whole process of the Westgate applying for the street name change of Riviera to EP. It was approved in the spring of 2015. You can see the the whole process, even a video at the Clark County gov't site. I have been in contact with Mr Kulin, the PR rep for the county. All along the street was BLVD, but someone made a mistake with WAY. I asked Mr Kulin about it and he fixed it that day. So that's the reason behind the confusion. The picture I posted came from a member of my club. Here is a new photo taken by me, the night the BLVD sign went up.

ps- Thanks for the showroom picture. OMG, what a flashback. I saw Elvis 15 times 70-76 in there. The ramp did exist. It was left over from a big show by Don Ho and Elvis liked it, so it remained for his gig. It really added to the excitement of the show. I am sure the maitre's loved having more close access seats they could collect huge tips for. Like it was said, Elvis' moment of singing FEVER there was mind blowing. I will never forget it.


WOW, thanks so much for your interesting story. Love your information about the ramp! It was truly amazing to sit on the ramp and watch Elvis.

Elvisly,

Linda

[elvislady1964]

DSCN1683.JPG

I have been researching getting a piece of pavement named after Elvis since 2004. Learning that I could not rename a street or even a length of memorial highway, my club instead raised the money to install Elvis' star in the Las Vegas Walk of Stars in 2008. We have bricks at the Clark County Museum and the Flamingo garden area. We donated a poster of Sgt Presley to the airport's USO space. We've done all we can, because we could not name a street. I know the whole process of the Westgate applying for the street name change of Riviera to EP. It was approved in the spring of 2015. You can see the the whole process, even a video at the Clark County gov't site. I have been in contact with Mr Kulin, the PR rep for the county. All along the street was BLVD, but someone made a mistake with WAY. I asked Mr Kulin about it and he fixed it that day. So that's the reason behind the confusion. The picture I posted came from a member of my club. Here is a new photo taken by me, the night the BLVD sign went up.

ps- Thanks for the showroom picture. OMG, what a flashback. I saw Elvis 15 times 70-76 in there. The ramp did exist. It was left over from a big show by Don Ho and Elvis liked it, so it remained for his gig. It really added to the excitement of the show. I am sure the maitre's loved having more close access seats they could collect huge tips for. Like it was said, Elvis' moment of singing FEVER there was mind blowing. I will never forget it.

Should you want more information about Elvis in Las Vegas, please visit my club's website. When you visit, you can find much of Elvis here. But yes, updates take place here and change is constant. I have lived here since 1964. (think Viva Las Vegas movie) I have seen so much....

Thank you for sharing this info, ponygirlup, and your lnk of the club, it looks like a great place to visit.

[drghanem]

Thank you for a very interesting thread. The ramp was in the showroom, at least, during the 1973 Summer Festival:

https://www.google.se/search?q=elvis+august+1973&prmd=ivn&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjz66OL6KDRAhXGkywKHSY0C94Q_AUIBygB&biw=1024&bih=672&dpr=2#imgrc=6zyZgR3mk3n9IM%3A

[ponygirlup]

As far as I recall, that was the only time the ramp was there.
I saw Elvis every time Feb 70-Dec 76. I only missed Aug 75.... and yes, Aug 69.