ELVIS INTERNATIONAL HILTON HOTEL-LAS VEGAS 04/15/2010

[Mike Windgren]

Hi there!! .

I was in "Las Vegas" from 04/15/2010 to 04/20/2010 to celebrate my birthday with the family .





They came all the away from Spain to do this and we had a really great time, we stayed at the brand new ARIA hotel which by the way is fantastic .



I decided once in Las Vegas, I couldn´t miss to pay a visit to the International Hotel in which Elvis performed so many times. I was very excited when I was reaching the point . We took the monorail train to get there, it is just a small trip from the MGM hotel to the Hilton hotel.



Once we arrived I was very surprised that after so many years the hotel is still so huge compared to all the other hotels that were built after, the hotel is now 50 years old .



I had the impression that the hotel still keeps it´s luxury style after hearing so many times that it was staying in a downgraded area in Las Vegas . At that moment performances by "Earth, Wind & Fire" could be watched at the hotel.



After leaving the monorail train we went straight to the main hotel gate. Please take a look at the beautiful chandelier lamp light that is hanging in the lobby, I am almost sure it is original since the hotel was built.



Just beside the main hotel gate on the outside is where you can find the Elvis Statue, Baron Hilton donated in 1978, but at that time it was located inside the hotel lobby. It is very small, thought it was bigger, it has some cosmetic wear, they should protect it if they want to preserve it .



Once in the lobby we went to the casino and at the end you easly find the showroom where Elvis performed, but just before, there is a small Elvis motif casino playing machine room with many Elvis pictures hanging on the wall .



After leaving this small Elvis room, we went to the showroom main gate. We were alone, nobody around, not even security, I tried to open the door but it was closed . But just beside, there is a small stair and I asked my family to stay below and watch out just in case security was coming .



Another beautiful chandelier lamp light is hanging on the ceiling of the balcony by the stair, once again I think it is original from the 70´s.



I took the stair up and saw another door and tried to open it again, and bingo it was open .



I called my family to take the stair up and all together we entered the showroom, I was amazed . The lights were turned off, but I had to take some pictures anyway.



I was very surprised the showroom is so small, I can´t imagine they put over 2000 people in it .

Sadly all the booths you can clearly see in the movie That´s The way It Is are gone, there are just theaters chairs .



We were very lucky to be able to see the original showroom, no it is no longer the same, but anyway for that we have the movie, but now I have a better perception of how it could have been 40 years ago. After taking some more pictures I sadly had to leave, we had other places to visit. Hope you liked my little story. Bye for now .



P.S: Sorry if some of the pictures are bad but I am not a good photographer. .

[Dixieland Rocks]

Thank you for the posting, I enjoyed it a lot.

[frus75]

Alucinante!

[mrbthebarber]

Thank you, enjoyed your post and please don't apologise as was very entertaining.

[Gabriel]

Great post,thank you!

[discking]

Excellent stuff. Really enjoyed looking at your photos and reading the story. Makes me want to pay a visit now. Thanks.

[iplayastrat]

Thanks for the pictures and story Mike!

[OnTourCam]

I must say i love when fans do stuff like this it's really interesting to see.

The best was when people went to Elvis On Tour venues and took pictures hehe.


But in regards to the show room i feel a little sad they did not keep the booths.

It's prob to get more people in the showroom which i understand but i think it's a huge mistake.

The feeling of going to a show there sitting in a nice booth having a meal with all your friends and family around and waiters and all is fantastic and would of been great back then.


I take it when you see a show there is no more meals or drinks ?

i wonder if that side of the bussiness caused alot of people to lose there jobs as i would imagine there would of been alot of staff on back then.

What year did the show room get the renovations done does anyone know ?

[drjohncarpenter]

Hi Mike -- your English is fine, and this was a wonderful topic!

Again I was very surprised the showroom is so small, I can´t imagine they put over 2000 people in it ...

When I snuck in there in the 80s, that was my thought too.

Back then it looked exactly the same as in TTWII, and it was right after an Engelbert MS had gotten out. There was no one in the room, so I ran on the stage center and did my best "Elvis arms spread" pose for a photo. What a thrill that was!

I also was able to go up to the top floor Elvis used to use -- but I didn't venture past the elevators, the hall lights were dim, and it was a little scary!

[Mike Windgren]

Hi Mike -- your English is fine, and this was a wonderful topic!

Again I was very surprised the showroom is so small, I can´t imagine they put over 2000 people in it ...

When I snuck in there in the 80s, that was my thought too.

Back then it looked exactly the same as in TTWII, and it was right after an Engelbert MS had gotten out. There was no one in the room, so I ran on the stage center and did my best "Elvis arms spread" pose for a photo. What a thrill that was!

I also was able to go up to the top floor Elvis used to use -- but I didn't venture past the elevators, the hall lights were dim, and it was a little scary!

Thank you all for your nice words and drjohncarpenter for his wonderful input. I am very happy you liked it . Bye for now .

[drjohncarpenter]

Thank you all for your nice words and drjohncarpenter for his wonderful input. I am very happy you liked it ...

Thank YOU for sharing your trip photos with us. I wish I could have been there!

[ML4EP]

I just stayed there myself for the third time 28 April -1 May. The hotel has undergone quite a renovation since the last time I was there. Baronshire's/Hilton Steakhouse is now called TJ's and has photos of old Vegas inside, such as Elvis at the 69 press conference. The casino has been re-modeled along with the bar in the back. The rooms are quite a bit nicer as well. I almost was able to con my way into getting a look at the Elvis suite, but someone had reserved it so we couldn't get up there. I even tried to get a room upgrade with my TCB chain (Lowell Hays made it for me) and the lady laughed and said that doesn't work anymore, figures. The Manilow gift shop (he's left for Paris by the way) has some Elvis goodies in it, and I was able to get a copy of Elvis Vegas '69 by Ken Sharp. But I was surprised at the lack of items they could be selling - they had a few dvds in there, mostly movies & Aloha. No TTWII, not even one cd of Elvis playing live in the hotel. I asked the sales lady why they didn't have TTWII and she didn't know what I was talking about. I would stock that SOB floor to ceiling with RCA/FTD cds of Elvis live at the International 1969-1972. The fact that they moved the statue outside and off in a corner to the right of the entrance might suggest they are trying to distance themselves from Elvis. Who knows, but you'd think they'd try and celebrate their association with him. It looked to me that their goal was to attract a younger, hipper crowd...judging from the new decor and shows they are offering - Andrew Dice Clay for God's sake. Oh well, to each his own I guess.

[Burning Love]

Funny you should mention Andrew Dice Clay. Guess who he patered his early look after? And guess what singer he idolizes?

Thats right Elvis

Burning Love

[ML4EP]

I know; but Hickory, dickory dock...is funny only so many times. Why not try and snag Michael Buble', or some of the other young hip entertainers and make them proprietary headliners. That was their original business plan when they opened, it could still work now. Although I sincerely doubt they will find anybody who'll do 2 shows a nite, 7 days a week for a month. Might have to get a time machine for that one.

[hollandgroupc2008]

Why on earth you wouldn't want to promote your hotel as the historic sight of many legendary performances and famous live comeback by the most popular artist of the past 100 years is beyond me. Not to forget a whole Movie based around the engagements there, plus multiple live recordings, albums and legendary songs all recorded in the showroom there. If there's ever one place they should stock FTD's outside Graceland it's there! I see no reason why The Live In Las Vegas boxset, the Vegas FTD's and all TTWII products wouldn't get great sales if they were placed in a shop in the hotel, maybe add a mini-exhibit there. I'm sure it would attract more visitors. But hey, maybe my ideas sound too like Col. Parker?

[midnightx]

Mike, thanks for sharing the photos. I've been to Vegas numerous occassions and never had the inclination to venture over to Elvis' old stomping grounds. Maybe I should check it out next time I'm through the area....

[drjohncarpenter]

I recall also going into the New Frontier Hotel before it got razed. It was in decline, but I was able to access the main showroom where Elvis had played 27 years before. Again, a pretty small room, relatively speaking. I could almost see Elvis, Scotty, Bill and D.J. up there, with the Freddie Martin Orchestra sitting stage left, bored as hell.

[ML4EP]

I recall also going into the New Frontier Hotel before it got razed. It was in decline, but I was able to access the main showroom where Elvis had played 27 years before. Again, a pretty small room, relatively speaking. I could almost see Elvis, Scotty, Bill and D.J. up there, with the Freddie Martin Orchestra sitting stage left, bored as hell.

Was that when Ziegfield & Roy used to play there in the mid 80's? That was the first show I ever saw in Vegas- very good, too; the only one since is Manilow at the Hilton. Which wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Never been able to catch Tom Jones or Englebert in Vegas, but I've seen them both on tour.

[nyelvfan]

How small could the hilton showroom have been if it could fit 2,200 people? It looked pretty big (for a showroom) in TTWII.

[drjohncarpenter]

How small could the hilton showroom have been if it could fit 2,200 people? It looked pretty big (for a showroom) in TTWII.

Looks can be deceiving.

[Mike Windgren]

Hi there!! .

Two things I wanted to add on this topic is that The Elvis exhibition: The King´s Ransom Museum held at the Hotel Imperial in Las Vegas has been cancelled without any notice . But on the other hand the official promoting website still states it is open . And finally I wished I could add to the final pictures, the famous Las Vegas Cowboy sign you see in Elvis Viva Las Vegas movie, but I couldn´t find it . A big Thank You! to RCsun , who no longer post here anymore, and whom was kindly enough to sent me a picture of it, so I place it here where it belongs . Bye for now .



Mike Windgren.

[explosionrocket]

Hi there!! .

Two things I wanted to add on this topic is that The Elvis exhibition: The King´s Ransom Museum held at the Hotel Imperial in Las Vegas has been cancelled without any notice . But on the other hand the official promoting website still states it is open . And finally I wished I could add to the final pictures, the famous Las Vegas Cowboy sign you see in Elvis Viva Las Vegas movie, but I couldn´t found it . A big Thank You! to RCsun , who no longer post here anymore, and whom was kindly enough to sent me a picture of it, so I place it here where it belongs . Bye for now .



Mike Windgren.

Hi Mike,
You can find the famous sign in the , so called, ´old, original´ Las Vegas, just a few miles from the strip. Thats were Las Vegas and its history started. They put a roof above the street and it really looks cool, and reminds you of the 1960s Las Vegas and scenes of Viva Las Vegas.

[Mike Windgren]

Hi there!!

Hi there!! .

Two things I wanted to add on this topic is that The Elvis exhibition: The King´s Ransom Museum held at the Hotel Imperial in Las Vegas has been cancelled without any notice . But on the other hand the official promoting website still states it is open . And finally I wished I could add to the final pictures, the famous Las Vegas Cowboy sign you see in Elvis Viva Las Vegas movie, but I couldn´t found it . A big Thank You! to RCsun , who no longer post here anymore, and whom was kindly enough to sent me a picture of it, so I place it here where it belongs . Bye for now .



Mike Windgren.

Hi Mike,
You can find the famous sign in the , so called, ´old, original´ Las Vegas, just a few miles from the strip. Thats were Las Vegas and its history started. They put a roof above the street and it really looks cool, and reminds you of the 1960s Las Vegas and scenes of Viva Las Vegas.

Thank you!, but you know what?. I went to that place but I missed this famous sign . Probably it happened because I entered the street from the right, I don´t know . Any way thanks to RCsun I have a picture of it now. Bye for now .

Mike Windgren.

[thefunkyangel]

Mike Windgren, this is a damn good thread! Thanks for uploading your photo's for all to see! Doc, could you please upload some of your photo's from the 80's, as I would lllllllllllllove to see them! Cheers

[Little Darlin]

I wanna go to Vegas

GREAT photos Mike......thanks for sharing.