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Vacation Elvis Style - Part 3 / 13
Throughout the summer months of 2005 we have a new series of
articles on planning a vacation "Elvis style."
We will explore the places Elvis played, performed and lived. Places
you too might want to visit.
In the 1950s Elvis most often appeared as part of a touring company
of variety entertainers who were booked to perform between movies at
local theaters. Each act on the bill might perform only a few songs
each show. Later as Elvis's fame grew, so did the size of the venues
he played and Elvis would then give a complete concert performance.
Often he literally had to run for his life from the mobs of fans
who would often tear at his clothing for just a little souvenir.
In the 1970s he toured the country with a large contingent of
backing performers as well
as his entourage and they would take up entire floors of hotels.
His shows sold out within hours and often more shows would then be
added to the tour.
When looking for these venues and hotels remember that the names
often changed over the years and it might take further research to
find their exact location when visiting.
ALABAMA
Elvis performed in Auburn on 3/5/74 at Auburn University's Memorial
Coliseum. In Birmingham on 12/29/76 he was at the Jefferson County
Coliseum.In Huntsville he stayed at the Hilton Hotel across from the
Von Braun Civic Center where he sold out shows 5/30-31&6/1/75 as
well as 9/6/76. Elvis performed in Mobile many times.
5/4-5/55 he was at Ladd Stadium while 6/29-30/55 he was at the Radio
Ranch Club which may not still exist.
The Municipal Auditorium was the site for shows 9/14/70, 6/20/73,
6/2/75,8/29/76 and 6/2/77.
He stayed at the Admiral Simms Hotel, the Quality Inn on I-65, the
Battleship Inn and the Sheraton Hotel during these concert dates.
Fans waited at the airport for him for over 24 hours in 1973 just to
get a glimpse of him.
Pritchard, a suburb of Mobile was the site of a 10/26/55 show at the
Greater Gulf Sates Fair.
In Montgomery he performed at State Coliseum on 12/3/55, 3/6/74 and
2/16/77 staying at the Downtowner Inn during the 70s tours. Gov.
George Wallace met Elvis when he attended the 1974 concert.
Sheffield's Community Center was where local Jaycees sponsored
concerts on 1/19/55, 8/2/55, and 11/15/55.
The University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa hosted Elvis on 11/14/71,
6/3/75 and 8/30/76.
GEORGIA
Elvis performed in Atlanta at the Sports Arena on 12/2/55. On
3/14-15/56 He was at the Fox Theater and the Paramount Theater
6/22-24/56. In the 70s he performed at the Omni on 6/21,29-30/73,
7/3/73, 4/30-5/2/75, 6/4-6/76 and 12/30/76. In Atlanta he stayed at
the Stouffer's Hotel, Hyatt Regency Hotel and the Atlanta Hotel.
It is said that on 10/8/54 he performed in Conley south of Atlanta,
at the Silver Slipper a night club owned by radio personality
"Texas" Bill Strength. The exact date is still unconfirmed.
Bell Auditorium in Augusta was the site of shows 3/20/56 and
6/27/56.
Elvis performed at the Macon Coliseum on 4/15/72, 4/24/75, 8/31/76
and 6/1/77 staying at the Hilton Hotel.
Hysterical teens at the Savannah Sport Arena on 6/25/56 caused
Wallace Davis to report,
"Women have discovered burlesque and they love it!"
While at Savannah's Civic Center on 2/177/77 a woman dressed as the
Easter bunny presented Elvis with a basket of fruit. He stayed at
the Hilton.He performed at the Waycross City Auditorium on 2/22/56.
VIRGINIA
Elvis performed at the Rapides Parish Coliseum on 3/29-30/77.
On 9/20/55 he performed at a barn dance at the Danville Fairgrounds.
The show was broadcast on WDVA radio.
On 2/6/56 he was at the National Theater in Greensboro. In Hampton
Roads he performed at the Coliseum on 4/9/72 and this show was
filmed by MGM for the documentary "Elvis On Tour."
He was also at the Coliseum on 3/11/74 and 7/31-8/1/76.
In Newport News the Paramount Theater on Washington Avenue was the
venue for a 2/13/56 performance.
On 5/15/55 Elvis was at the Norfolk City Auditorium. He came back
9/11-12/55 where his clothes were torn off by fans that mobbed him.
(In the audience was Eugene Vincent Craddock, who would win an Elvis
sound alike contest in April 1956, winning a record contract with
Capitol Records and becoming recording artist Gene Vincent.) On
2/12/56 Elvis performed at Norfolk's Montecello Auditorium.
Richmond's Mosque Theater was the site of shows 5/16/55, 2/5/56,
3/22/56, and 6/30/56. On 9/18-19/55 he was at WRVA's Theater for the
Old Dominion Barndance.
He performed in the 70s at Richmond's Coliseum. The 4/10/72 show was
also filmed by MGM.
Other dates there were 3/12&18/74 and 6/29/76.
Roanoke's American Legion Auditorium was used for shows on 5/18/55
and 9/15/55. The latter show was sponsored by the Chamber of
Commerce to raise money for the Children's Baseball Program and
Elvis was referred to as the "hillbilly Frank Sinatra." He stayed at
the Hotel Roanoke. The Roanoke Civic Center was the site of 70s
concerts. The 4/11/72 show was filmed by MGM as well as the then
Mayor, Roy Webber, giving Elvis a key to the city aboard the plane
when it landed. Other shows at the Roanoke Civic Center were on
3/10/74 and 8/2/76.
WEST VIRGINIA
Elvis performed in Charleston, West Virginia on 7/11-12/75 and again
on 7/24/76.
He stayed at the Daniel Boone Hotel.
SOUTH CAROLINA
Charleston's County Hall Auditorium was the location of a 3/18/56
show.
While the College Park Baseball Field in Charleston hosted a show on
6/28/56.
On 3/19/56 Elvis was at Columbia's Township Auditorium and on
2/18/77 he was at Columbia's Carolina Coliseum.
Elvis had a show in Spartanberg at the Carolina Theater on 2/9/56.
On 9/17/55 Elvis performed a show at the Thomasville High School
Auditorium.
NORTH CAROLINA
Ashville's City Auditorium hosted Elvis shows on 5/17/55 and
9/16/55.
While performing at the Ashville Civic Center 7/22-24/75 Elvis
stayed at the Roadway Inn.
Charlotte's famed Charlotte Motor Speedway was one
of the locations where Elvis's 1968 movie "Speedway" was filmed.
The movie included a number of professional stock car racers who
played themselves.
Elvis performed at Charlotte's Carolina Theater on 2/10/56. He was
at the Coliseum on 6/26/56, 4/13/72, 3/9/74, 3/20/76 and 2/20-21/77.
In Charlotte Elvis stayed at the Downtowner Motel and the Sheraton.
Elvis stayed at the Ramada Inn when he played Fayetteville's
Cumberland County Civic Center on 8/3-5/76.
The National Theater in Greensboro no longer stands but it was the
site of a 2/6/56 show. Elvis played the Greensboro Coliseum on
4/14/72, 3/13/74, 7/21/75, 6/30/76 and 4/21/77 staying at the Hilton
Hotel.
On 2/7/56 Elvis was at High Point's Center Theater. Elvis was ill
with a fever during his 3/21/56 visit to Lexington's YMCA
Gymnasium.He sought out a local doctor but still performed his show.
On 5/14/55 and 9/13/55 he performed at New Bern's Shrine Auditorium.
Raleigh 's Memorial Auditorium was where Elvis performed on 5/19/55
and 9/21/55. On 2/8/56 he
was at Raleigh's Ambassador Theater. In Wilson, on 2/14/56 fans who
couldn't get tickets to the sold out show,
tried to get in through windows of the Charles L. Coon High School
Auditorium.
Elvis ate bacon and eggs at the local Cliff's Drive-In. In Wilson,
Elvis had a show on 9/14/55 at the Fleming Stadium In Winston-Salem
on 2/16/56,
Elvis performed at the Carolina Theater, now the home of the Stevens
Center. |
