Thank you. I'm not an expert, but I have probably installed a hundred heating and air conditioning systems in my time, and the ones in theaters are vastly better than what is installed in any home or office.
My gal and I just felt like we had total cabin fever from avoiding traveling and crowds for almost two years plus. We finally took our first real vacation to see Carrie Underwood in Las Vegas at the Resorts World last December. The theater seats 5,ooo people, but neither one of us got sick. We took an airplane to get there. I think I wore a mask some of the time in the casino. We went back in April of this year to see Michael Buble's limited first Las Vegas residency at the same theater. We did not wear a mask the entire time. I think those hotels have amazing air filtration systems from what I have read. You probably know about it more than me, Lol. We just decided we had to go on living, but we still often choose outside dining when we can, but we are no longer housebound. Everybody has to make their own risk analysis and do what's best for them.
Las Vegas hotels do have excellent air filtration systems, designed to deal with huge quantities of cigarette smoke. As PJ O'Rourke said, "In Vegas you can't expect 'Thank you for not smoking'. The best you can hope for is 'Thank you for not spitting pieces of your cigar on my neck'."
Here is a great piece in Forbes which indicates that Elvis is leading all VOD platforms while also still earning big bucks at the theater. Warner Bros. Discovery’s Elvis swept the VOD ratings charts over the weekend, topping Vudu, Google Play, iTunes, YouTube and Amazon. The acclaimed and buzzy Austin Butler/Tom Hanks flick, which is almost sure to be a major awards season player, debuted on PVOD ($20 to rent or $25 to buy) this past Tuesday but still dropped just 34% in North America to bring its 52-day total above $141 million. It’s a few days away from passing Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time... In Hollywood ($142.5 million from a $41 million debut) to become the biggest-grossing, in domestic earnings, straight drama (all due respect to Universal’s World War I-set actioner 1917) since Fox’s Bohemian Rhapsody ($216 million) and WB’s own A Star Is Born ($215 million) in late 2018. 'Elvis' Sweeps VOD Charts, Reaffirms Box Office Strength Of ...
In no way, shape, or form, can anyone claim that this movie is not a bonafide hit at this point. I was 4 when Elvis died and he has been my idol ever since. This whole thing sure feels good. Elvis' greatest fear will never come to pass. He will always be remembered. TCB, baby.
I'll never understand smoking being allowed in casinos. You're catering to about 13% of the population. Why would you do that? I suppose they don't want them to leave the tables or machines to go get a smoke but really, they'll still come back and lose that money. Plus all statistics point to smokers being less educated and less wealthy. Not the crowd I'd be catering too. I believe there's way more people who won't sit in a smoky casino for health reasons then the few extra bucks they make by allowing a smoker to sit there and smoke.
Welcome to the forum and what an honor that your first post is on this fine Elvis thread. We could stand some fresh faces around here, Lol.
I have never smoked myself, but I think the bean counters pride themselves on earning every possible dollar they can in the casino. The PR people also like the Sin City image of Vegas being the last place you can do things that you can't do anywhere else. I guess smoking is considered bad ass as well. You know the line, "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas," Lol.
Thanks buddy. I've actually been in the background reading Elvis threads in this forum for years. This thread on the Elvis film, I finally respond. I saw the film five times in the theatre and three times on VOD (Amazon Prime) already. Like many folks here, I've been an Elvis freak since I was a kid. I was around 2 and 1/2 years of age when Elvis passed. As a kid, I got hold of my mother's G.I. Blues soundtrack album on vinyl (which I still have/plays great still), and all these years later still adding to my collection.
An interesting quote from Priscilla and Jerry Schilling when they were at Graceland for Conversations On Elvis in the Commercial Appeal newspaper. "I don't know of one [other] director or producer who could have done it," Priscilla Presley said of the film. "I love Baz, he's just so great." Priscilla Presley and Schilling recalled their nerves before their first screening of the film, and their relief once they knew Luhrmann had created something worthy of Elvis. "It was so touching, both of us were so touched," Presley said. "We were a little speechless at the end of it," Schilling added.
Considering the number of people in Vegas casinos I see using oxygen tanks I can only conclude the casinos have some sort of deal with oxygen tank manufacturers to keep the air unhealthy. I kid. Well maybe
Billboard Magazine has updated their article on the 25 most successful biopics since the 1970's. It now lists Elvis as the third most successful biopic domestically and the second highest worldwide. Elvis has grossed more than $261 million worldwide. In terms of global box-office, it’s No. 2, just behind Bohemian Rhapsody, the Oscar-winning 2018 biopic of Queen‘s Freddie Mercury.
I am quite enjoying the film so far, but was the real Hank Snow as anti-Elvis/conservative as he is presented? I never got that vibe from his music...
I think the real problem Hank had with Elvis was the fact that the young singer was stealing his crowds and glory right in front of him. Hank got to the point that he did not want to really follow Elvis on stage, Lol. I know Elvis later recorded a great version of Hank's I'm Moving On, so at least Elvis seemed not to have any hard feelings about what happened.
Austin Butler's embodiment of Elvis is wonderful...tho I wasn't sure there was so much screaming between Gladys, Scotty, etc. (there wasn't, to my knowledge) or so much furious blowback to Steve Allen (I thought it was less bad). Nice thematic inclusion of Big Mama Thornton, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, B.B. King, and Little Richard...absorption rather than appropriation
One of the many great songs recorded from 60-62 at Nashville's Studio B. Elvis didn't have Graceland built. It was an existing mansion built in 1939 and named "Graceland" to honor the original landowners daughter, Grace.
And of course Elvis did (Now and Then There’s) A Fool Such As I, which, while not written by Hank Snow, was a big hit for him.
Neat. I'm now at the Florida portion...which, yes, events and songs were conflated, but it does a fine job presenting Elvis as vital, young and a little dangerous, which fits the perception of him in the mid 50s.
