h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

A11039609 - Elvis Impersonators - return to sender! I mean: for ease of loading the entry..

*puts on "really stupid" hat*

Bubba Ho-tep (aka The King vs The King of the Dead) starring Bruce Campbell in which Elvis and JFK (now both living in a retirement home in the deep south) get to take on an ancient Egyptian mummy.
Eh? Don't get it

and

could you maybe do a link to the rasberry awards or explain them?


W

"In an alternate universe..."

added a link to the "Razzies" and also an explanation in the footnote

thanks, Annie. That reads better for me now.
W

You're welcome

I liked this!! I've never understood why anyone would want to be an Elvis impersonator, but it's good to have a knowledge of it all the same!

Couple of things:

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So is that choice still available? The 'Up till early 2006' suggested to me that it isn't.

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Does he get a thrill out of wearing the suit for the church groups and seniors?

Can I suggest, 'Evangelist Gary Stone's favourite Elvis song is Suspicious Minds. He wears a white rhinestone jumpsuit and cape while he sings for church groups and senior citizens in nursing homes.' or something similar?

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Initially I thought, Margaret, who, what? I'd suggest putting the picture link on 'Margaret' rather than 'visit'.

Another very good Entry GB! There's gonna be a Blob attached, I'm sure. (excuse the burger-filled pun...)

BTW, is 'Ask Elvis' still featured on Steve Wright on Radio 2? Not heard it for yonks now I'm in Portugal. Some of those were great! 's off to search 'listen again'...

Yes he is!!!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/realmedia/wright/ae19012005.ram

Magic stuff!!!

Hi Deep Doo Doo

The reason I wrote this article is because Elvis' likeness has been sold and the Elvis impersonator's websites (in the USA) have been closed down (the British ones are still live but I reckon it's just a question of time).
I suspect that paying $100 million to "own" something means it's going to be illegal to copy or imitate or impersonate Elvis, unless you have a licence, but this hasn't happened yet so I can't talk about it.

Changed 'Evangelist Gary Stone'

Changed picture link to 'Margaret' rather than 'visit'

Steve Wright/Ask Elvis - What a great link! You don't have to miss out on it now you're in Portugal, listen over the 'net!

Added this to the Film & TV section under a separate subheader: Ask Elvis

Ask Elvis is featured on Steve Wright's programme on Radio 2. Viewers phone the show and an Elvis impersonator answers their questions in the unique Elvis style. If you have ever wanted to know why the sea is salty; what an ice-cream head is; how long snails sleep for; if any foods contain rubber; in an average lifetime how many spiders do we eat while asleep and similar types of questions, then this is the show for you. 'Elvis' also sings his own take on other artists' songs.

with links provided to the show.

Thanks!

Hmm, interesting that 3000 Miles To Graceland won a Razzie. Of course, Kurt Russell was also the (I seem to recall uncredited) Elvis figure that Christian Slater keeps running into throughout 'True Romance'.

Wilma - Bubba Ho-Tep. Difficult to describe, but no-one ever said you got easy from Joe Lansdale, who wrote the original short story. Certainly not set in an alternative universe. Campbell's Elvis spends his time mostly in bed reminiscing, and it is obvious during one such reminiscence that The King 'sold' his life to an impersonator to get away from the trappings of fame. Of course, the disadvantage of that is you get to get old doing impersonations of yourself without the security blanket of wealth. He ends up in a decrepit old folks home with a best friend who happens to be black and believes himself to be JFK, his brain having been transplanted following the shooting in Dallas.

The film is about identity and how it defines us, and about heroism and loss of (self)-respect. Just happens to be a rather fun horror movie as well - the mummy is one that was being toured round the US in the 30's and fell into a local river.

Bruce Campbell's King is remarkable - easily one of the best I've ever seen, and required hours of make up each day.

that was a massive (wrong) assumption on my part and I'll change that now. Sorry BS

I can see how you made the assumption, so no worries there. It's a strange film and it's lack of easy premise probably led to it's (relative) obscurity. I'll see if I can find a better description of it that isn't so...confusing.

I suspect what will happen with Elvis impersonators, btw, is that the new owners of The King will simply licence them. Why kill a cash cow? Even only a 5-7 1/2% tariff on every wedding in Vegas with an Elvis in would be worth a fortune.

Yes, I suspect they will need a licence

It was Val Kilmer played Elvis in Quentin Tarantino's "True Romance". I have added "True Romance" to the list of films & TV section, can you recall any other films I've missed?

The most durable Elvis Presley impersonator was Belgian Victor Beasley who had been belting out The King's tunes since 1955. He spanned every stage of the late King's career – from the early rock-a-billy days right through to the lavish showmanship of the Vegas era. Like Elvis, Victor also developed his singing voice at a local church, and in another parallel with the life of the King, did military service in Germany. He had been impersonating Elvis for longer than The King had lived, when he died in 1999.
Nother

Another movie with an 'Elvis' was Into The Night.
The movie starred Jeff Goldblum and co-starred Michele Pfeifer. Michele's character visited her brother's apartment, the brother being the 'Elvis'. I think they stole his Cadillac, too.

thanks!

Updated

Added another film:

Longtime Elvis fan Nicolas Cage (in 2002 he was briefly married to Lisa Marie Presley, Elvis' daughter) also played an Elvis-type ex-jailbird and sang 'Love Me Tender' in Wild at Heart.

Do we get a credit for supplying information Galaxybabe?
Nother

I never ask for credit in Peer Review.
We do put together collaborate entries when everyone is listed as co-author - they are ususally advertized on the Front Page.
Then there are the Flea Market rescues, which I add contributing researchers to, as it's not my entry to start with.

Good entry . As a career -> daft but fun.

Only a couple of comments - you mention the conventions, but not the competitions. Unless I missed it. (Btw, the Blackpool one is still planned for Jan'07, http://www.elviscontest.co.uk/ so they seem to think the impersonating will continue. Hope so.) I don't think it has to be mentioned, but it's a career goal I suppose, to be a 'best' Elvis. That Blackpool one is seeded . I suppose competition helps keep quality up too.

The other thought I had was whether celebrities in 'top-earning dead celebrities' was the best word? But I actually don't know what else to suggest. It just seems to imply earnings through fame, as opposed to from their work, which is a pity.

Oh, and there's a missing . on 'the image of 'The King' has been sold'

Good read GB, thanks,
Waz

Thanks Waz

Added that Blackpool contest (I hope the impersonating continues too)

Added that stray full-stop.

Changed "dead" to "deceased"

BTW did you know that when Elvis died his estate was only worth about $1m?