Shake, rattle and roll in sydney
A record number of Elvis faithful headed to the quiet Australian town of Parkes recently to pay homage to The King, according to organizers...
The quiet Australian town of Parkes was awash with Brylcreem, gabardine
and gospel, as a record number of Elvis faithful met there to pay homage to The
King, according to organisers.
Cooked up one summer's night at the local "Gracelands" restaurant,
the Elvis Festival has exploded from a one-night event in 1993 to an annual
five-day phenomenon attracting thousands of fans and curious tourists.
Festival Organiser Ellie Ruffoni said this year's crowd, many of whom dress as
their musical hero for the event, was the biggest ever.
"We had 8,000 in 2008 and we know that we've got more than that this
year," Ruffoni told AFP, estimating that some 9,000 to 10,000 people had
made the journey to western New South
Wales state for the event which coincides with
Elvis's January 8th birthday.
"The word has spread a lot more. And I think people realise that you don't
have to be die-hard Elvis fans to enjoy it."
All the better if you are, though, to soak up the Presley-themed gospel
services, the street parade, the "big hair" competition and possibly
renew your wedding vows at a "Back to the Altar with Elvis" service.
For the truly devoted there's even an "Elvis Express" train from Sydney, featuring five
hours of aisleway serenades and prizes for the best dressed of the 400
passengers.
In Parkes, every venue has an impersonator, manifesting their own particular
brand of Elvis and crooning their favourite Tunes.
"I think there are some people who head out there just to see the
spectacle of the festival and celebrate life," committed Elvis fan Greg
Page said.
"I think it captures a lot of people's imaginations -- why people would
run around in 40 degree (104 Fahrenheit) heat in jumpsuits? I think there's a
fascination with the festival itself."
Page, a founding member of children's act The Wiggles, developed an acute case
of Elvisitis when he visited Presley's Gracelands home on a break from touring
in Memphis 10
years ago.
Touched by the "human side" of Presley, Page began collecting Elvis
memorabilia; personal and stage clothing, jewellery and costumes from his movie
roles.
His collection is now believed to be the world's largest outside the US,
boasting The King's last Cadillac, his marriage certificate to Priscilla and
the first contract he signed with manager Colonel Tom Parker.
"There's only two copies of that in the world, and the other's at
Gracelands," said Page.
The entertainer this week put his collection on show in Parkes in an exhibition
it is hoped will be a permanent fixture in the town.
The silver-and-burgundy Cadillac's not there yet but fans can get a taste of
Presley, who Page credits as the father of glitz.
"All the rap stars today are wearing all that bling," joked Page.
"Elvis was ahead of his time."
Among his favourite pieces on show is a golden lion's head necklace, with 24
diamonds, two emeralds for eyes and a ruby tongue. Presley bought it in 1971,
and wore it to a meeting with US President Richard Nixon.
There's also a gold lame suit, designed for Elvis by celebrity tailor Nudie
Cohn and given by the artist to singer Elton John.
Parkes is a mining town of 11,000 deep in the country's drought-parched west,
most famous for its radio telescope which played a pivotal role in bringing
Neil Armstrong's 1969 moon landing to the world by providing satellite support
to Ground Control for the Apollo 11 mission.
Ruffoni said it was now the Elvis festival bringing people to Parkes. And as in
life, The King pulls the ladies; 66 per cent of festival-goers in 2008 were
women.
Source: www.homesworldwide.co.uk