Statement from EPE on the delay of the Aloha and '68 Comeback Special TV Shows. They are now set for release "sometime in 2004".
Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc. owns the 1968 TV special Elvis and the 1973 television special Elvis: Aloha from Hawaii, via Satellite along with any existing additional footage shot for these shows. The '68 and Aloha shows have been out on video/DVD. Also out on video/DVD have been the Aloha rehearsal show, entitled The Alternate Aloha Concert, and outtake footage from the '68 TV special, entitled Elvis, One Night with You.
In 2002, EPE's contract with Lightyear Entertainment, the North American distributor for the '68 and Aloha material, ended. These programs are no longer in distribution but for leftover stock in some retail outlets and in the continuous stock maintained by Graceland/EPE for its own merchandising operations. EPE was without an overseas distributor for these programs for some time and opted to cease pursuing one for them. Why are these programs mostly off the market? The reason is very exciting. We are presently working on our dream "ultimate" video/DVD editions of the '68 and Aloha material. The plan is to release these new editions worldwide in all formats sometime in 2004. As this project evolves, we will post information in News here on Elvis.com and update this section of the FAQ.
Aloha And Comeback Special Set For Release Sometime In 2004
August 21, 2003 | Video Source:EPE - Elvis Presley EnterprisesJim Semple wrote on
August 21, 2003
With regard to Aloha, does anybody know if Elvis was filmed back stage walking from his dressing room, waiting nervously as 2001 is played, just like in the 77 CBS Special? For me, thats the sort of stuff we're all after.
Patrick68 wrote on
August 22, 2003
"Sometime in 2004"? That could be in January or even December? What a freaking joke.
CD King wrote on
August 22, 2003
The latest update is that EPE will only release the "new" Aloha from Hawaii & 68 Comeback in 2027 specially for the Mega Celebration of ELVIS' 50th Golden Memorial Anniversary. But will you & I be around? Who will be interested in these DVD by then? Seriously, why is EPE so bloody slow in getting these DVDs out? They must be the slowest coach from Memphis... Mystery Train
yankee1104 wrote on
August 22, 2003
People complaining about the delay of these dvd's have no idea what they are talking about... There is a lot of legalities and money involved regarding this... And then when they bring out a rushed product, there is complaints. I am a huge elvis fan and a there are a lot of great Elvis fans but im sick and tired of these complaints about EPE . All I ever see is complaints about how EPE is delaying this or delaying that. Just let them do their job and enjoy the product when it comes out. They know what they are doing.
Colin B wrote on
August 22, 2003
yankee1104 - Well all right. But after such a prolonged wait, they'd better be perfect !
Lou A wrote on
August 22, 2003
Do you know what would be nice to include in the 68 package? The original Singer show as it aired in 1968, commercials and all. Of course this should be a bonus, in addition to the longer version of the show, and all of the extra stuff we're anticipating. But it would be nice to see the original show as it aired in nice quality.
GeeBee wrote on
August 21, 2003
I now wish I'd bought what is currently available on DVD. I thought that back in January we were told these new DVDs would be available THIS year. Maybe I misunderstood, but either way, I'm currenlty looking at a blank screen.
johnlennon wrote on
August 21, 2003
Sometime in 2004, eh? Sure, then it'll be sometime in 2005. Around and around we go with EPE. It was origionally said in late 2002 that it would be out in 2003. I wish they'd stop giving out wrong information, and why on earth does it take so long to do what they're doing with the DVD's? HOPEFULLY with this extra time they will get all footage and features on the DVD's and if they don't then they should hang their heads in shame after almost 2 years working on them! I mean, tey say they've got trouble with Johnny B Goode for the Aloha show, and we'd jave to cue up our CD's to listen to the audio.....how poor would that be? What if some people don't have the CD of the show? I bet it's EPE's plan to get people to go out and buy the CD of the show! :)
Seriously, they've kept delaying these shows more and more and I'm frankly annoyed. I was going to get the new DVD of the '68 for my dad for Christmas, who loves that show but now I'm going to have to re-think my Xmas shopping! Plus there were loads of talk of them coming out in October 2003, so I wanted the Aloha for my birthday, now I'm disappointed again. I first read about these DVD's at the end of 2002 for God's sake, and I'm sick to death of waiting. They bring it on themselves with the amount of people moaning about these DVD's!
johnlennon wrote on
August 21, 2003
I hope there is footage of this, and also of him running off backstage once he finishes the show! That'd be nice to see. Is there going to be the rehersal show on too on this new release, as I keep reading about it and it would make sense to fit into the claim of it being the "ultimate" DVD, but I don't think EPE have actually mentioned it. I've got the Aloha show on video, and versions of the '68 special about 3 of them. So they had best be good these new "ultimate" releases if they ever do get released that is!
TCB fan wrote on
August 21, 2003
I'll hope it's going to be a great!! My reaction to Jim Semple: I don't know if Elvis was filmed back stage. But I do no, is that the band members of Elvis are filmed at a rehearsel at the stage and smoking sigaret's! It's was probably a soundcheck for the instruments, I didn't saw Elvis in this footage, but I don't know if he's filmed backstage. !!! I saw a couple of years ago this footage at a meeting of the dutch fanclub "It's Elvis Time". I didn't see Elvis at the short footage of that. B