Viva Las Vegas - Elvis Landmarks in the Entertainment Capital of the World

Elvis has a special place in the heart of the Entertainment Capital of the World and judging by the hundreds of Vegas venues and businesses using his name and image, the king of rock 'n' roll has been returning the love in dollars :)

This year marks the 50th aniversary of the release of one of the best-liked films starring Elvis - Viva Las Vegas, with Ann-Margaret (where Elvis plays a racing car driver trying to raise money for a new engine so he can take part in the first Vegas Grand Prix).

The same-titled song only became a hit later, even though Elvis apparently never performed it live.

In fact, Elvis made his unsuccessful Vegas debut when he was 21 and already a nationwide sensation - in 1956 at the New Frontier Hotel.

He was not well-received by the Vegas audience of the time and would not return again as a performer until 1969. The year marked the beginning of a seven-year-long successful collaboration with the International, now Las Vegas Hotel and Casino - with a total of 837 sold-out performances in front of 2.5 million people.

Meanwhile, in 1967, Elvis had formed yet another bond with Las Vegas. He married his fiancée, Priscilla on May 1, in a private ceremony at the Aladdin hotel. 

Little did they know that their wedding would later inspire an entire industry of Elvis-themed wedding chapels and impersonators. One of these is The Little Church of the West - the oldest wedding chapel in Vegas and the one featured in the Viva Las Vegas movie (and listed in the National registry of Historical Places).

Today "Elvis Slept Here" signs can be spotted across Las Vegas and he is even present in restaurant menus. The Hard Rock Cafe features an entire Elvis wall, with a life-size statue of the King, some of his guitars and gold albums.

Of course, one other Vegas industry in which "Elvis never left the building" is show business. The world famous Cirque du Soleil created a special show dedicated to the King - Viva Elvis, which ran for two years at the @Aria Resort and Casino. Another attraction are the Flying Elvi (a ten-member sky-diving team of Elvis impersonators). Currently running music shows include: Legends in Concert at the Flamingo Hotel and Million Dollar Quartet, at Harrah's. 

Elvis fans and art lovers will be sorry to hear that the much acclaimed "Warhol Out West" exhibition at the @Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art is no longer on view. In 2013 Vegas visitors could see the iconic "Double Elvis" and more than 50 other works by Andy Warhol at the Bellagio Gallery.

List of Elvis-themed restaurants in Vegas here 

Buy tickets for Elvis shows in Vegas here

Viva Las Vegas wedding packages 

More on RankingHero and #VegasBaby :

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