Once the papers have been signed, Robert FX Sillerman will close Chris Davidson's Elvis Museum at a future date. It could be January or as late as August 2006.
Nothing has been signed and no money has changed hands, but the deal is all but sealed. The Elvis-a-Rama deal has nothing to do with the recent announcement that EPE would soon open a giant Elvis project along Las Vegas' famed strip.
While Sillerman, did say in 2004 that he had plans to expand Elvis' presence around the world, including Vegas, the "announced" Vegas project are far from concrete.
Such a deal would require the acquisition of vast amounts of land along the Strip and, at present land is not available. It has been estimated by Vegas insiders that should land deals be closed even now, it would take "2 to 3 years" for any development to be realized.
Once Davidson closes Elvis-a-Rama he will devote more time to Hot Boats, a publication about racing boats. An ardent Elvis fan, he has spent years and millions of dollars collecting the exhibits now on display in Vegas.
Earlier this year, thieves smashed thru the door of the Elvis Museum with a truck and made off with a number of expensive Elvis artifacts. Nothing has been recouped from that burglary and clues are almost non-existent.
Davidson was in the process of developing a TV series called "Don't Be Cruel," loosely based on the American Idol series (which CKX recently purchased).
The series planned to search the world for the best Elvis impersonator and the winner would sing a song titled
"If
I'd Only Bought Her Roses" in the series finale. The song was reportedly co-written by Elvis, has been questioned around the world by Elvis experts. That series in now dead.
Davidson bought the trademark "Elvis-a-Rama" from Jimmy Velvet. It pre-dated EPE's trademark of all things Elvis. EPE, after this deal is finalized, will then own all trademarks regarding Elvis.
Velvet, has been working at Elvis-a-Rama the past few months as a greeter.
