| It was thirty three years ago today that
The sad news of Elvis's death shocked the the world. (On Aug. 16, 1977), it was reported that Elvis had died of
heart failure after years of prescription drug abuse,at his home Graceland's, he was only 42 years old.
The news of Elvis's
death had special significance in Maine, where he had been scheduled to give two concerts
at the civic center on Aug. 17-18. The Portland shows were to be the first of a new leg of his 1977 concert tour.
The anniversary of Elvis's death tomorrow has been getting attention nationally as fans try to wrap their
minds around the fact that the King, the man who electrified audiences and shocked parents, would have been 75
this year. But it has even deeper meaning for the thousands of fans who saw him in Augusta and bought tickets
for his Portland shows.the fans were stunned when they heard the news of his death.
some of his fans formed a fan club called (True Fans for Elvis) which is known for,
its charity work including Camp Sunshine, a camp for
seriously ill children and their
families in Casco, the fan club, is still going today, it
has raised more than $200,000,over the last 33 years.
When the news of Elvis's death spread, fans showed up spontaneously at the civic center and milled
about in the lobby.
Many fans,still have their tickets and are very
active in their-love for Elvis.
fans left flowers,pictures,notes, and all sorts of other things.
a few days later they had a memorial service at the civic center,
with a large portrait of Elvis on stage.with his music playing in the background, people just came in and sat.
The civic center, opened in March 1977,and sold more than 12,000 tickets for the two scheduled shows. When Elvis died,
the venue was left with over 200 of the $15 tickets, because they had more tickets printed than were needed for the show.
some fans took there tickets back The civic center for refunds,they only kept a portion of them so fans could keep the rest as mementos
Still to this day fans still hold tickets to the Portland shows, the greater value is emotional, not monetary. Last week, a
pair of tickets for the Aug. 17 concert were being offered on eBay for $29.95, a nickel less than they would have cost at the civic center in 1977.
while the tickets from any of the scheduled 1977 Presley shows
"hold a special place in the hearts of Elvis fans," the most valuable tickets are from his early shows in the mid-'50s. |