Overton Park Shell Saved
August 21, 2006 | Other
The Elvis Family of Fans Club along with the friend of Levitt Pavilion Memphis announced during Elvis Week that the City of Memphis and the Levitt Foundation have agreed to save the Shell (Overton Park Shell is where Elvis first performed after recording "That's Alright Mama"). Over $500,000 has been set up to restore the Shell to it's 1950's glory and to provide live entertainment there again. Restoration is expected to be completed by September of 2007.
Source:Email
Steve Morse wrote on
August 21, 2006
That's fabulous news. I was privileged to be able to watch the end of an informal schools dance event there, around midday on July 31 2000.`This was 46 years and 1 day after Elvis's debut appearance on that same stage. I stood on the stage afterwards and, together with my two children, was invited backstage to have a look around.
Bill E. Burk wrote on
August 21, 2006
A bit of Overton Park Shell history for those of you who do not live in Memphis. When it was opened, it was called the Memphis Open Air Theater (MOAT), and there were well-attended musical programs there every week. Well-attended because in the early years of the MOAT, we had no air conditioning in our houses, so people went to sit outdoors at the MOAT to cool down. The touring group of the Metropolitan Opera even played the MOAT a couple of times in the early years. Then, as more and more homes and offices got air conditioning, the popularity of the MOAT fell off and it sank in quality and conditioniong.
judy presley wrote on
August 21, 2006
Well done the Elvis Family of Fan Clubs (that has a nice ring to it) - fantastic news. It must have been really something to have the experience of being there live in the 50's and see the young and dynamic Elvis bringing the darkness to life. I'm glad it isn't going to disappear.
DEL BOY wrote on
August 21, 2006
That's brilliant news. We've visited the shell, travelling over from England, in earlier years but have never seen any performances there. I should think that the atmosphere for any Elvis fans watching an Elvis type show would be great. For those fans let's hope that either the Dempseys, or someone like Jamie Aaron Kelley or Ronnie Mcdowell can put on a benefit show. Wouldn't it be great if the show could be put on during the 2007 Elvis week. (30th Anniversary of his passing on). Get Scotty Moore and D.J. Fontana....MAGIC!!
Crawfish wrote on
August 22, 2006
Fantastic news. Well done to everyone; also to the guys "squatting" there and making sure there was always a human prescence at the Shell. Be great to see it done up and maybe ready for next years celebrations! Thank you to all involved!
cathyreno wrote on
August 22, 2006
I am ecstatic for ya's well done to all involved well done!!! be over there in 2007
Greg Nolan wrote on
August 28, 2006
That's great news. Mr. Burk, I seem to recall Elvis referring to MOAT in some way in one of his '50s interviews.... Good work, preservationists!