Earlier today, Billboard ranked Elvis Presley number four on its updated list of top 100 musical artists of all time. That is incredible staying power for a singer whose last performance took place in 1977, the year he passed away. [1,2]
Who he was and how this came about may be a subject to varying interpretations, depending upon your own age. But 1968 marked a point fifteen years into his career, with chart-topping singles, movies, and military service, and a new marriage behind him — where he found himself deeply in need of reasserting himself on the world stage, feeling that his star was fading.
By all accounts, Elvis, now known as ’68 Comeback Special changed everything. It put him back on top and defined his legacy forever more. [3,4,5,6]
We’ve seen everything from Elvis Presley Christmas ornaments to commemorative Barbie dolls in the decades since the icon’s death. But in the late ’60s, Presley’s career was in decline after several years of corny movies and a slow drift from his rock ‘n’ roll roots.
Then an an explosive NBC TV special, titled simply Elvis, resurrected the singer’s career on Dec. 3, 1968. It’s become known as the ’68 Comeback Special because it served just that purpose, launching a career resurgence for Presley in the face of increasing irrelevance.
In celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of that production, Fathom Events will screen this television special, along with an exclusive making-of feature including exclusive interviews. Locally, premier and encore screenings will happen right here at Emagine Theatre. [7,8]
- August 16 (Thursday), with show starting at 7:30pm
- August 20 (Monday), with show starting at 7:30pm
As always, before finalizing plans, check the Emagine Entertainent website to verify show dates and times.
References
- “Greatest of All Time Hot 100 Artists” (July 17, 2018) Billboard.
- Elvis (home page).
- “Elvis (1968)” IMDb.
- “The real Elvis Presley: The incredible story behind ‘The ’68 Comeback Special’” Robert Burke Warren (January 19, 2015) Salon.
- “The 1968 Concert Film That Revived Elvis Presley’s Career Is Coming To Theaters This Summer” Sam D’Arcangelo (June 3, 2018) Live for Live Music.
- “How Elvis Presley Mounted That Amazing ’68 Comeback” Matt Springer (December 3, 2013) Ultimate Classic Rock.
- Fathom Events (home page).
- Emagine Entertainment (showtimes).
