It's a battle of some of the greatest U.S. and international stars, with Marilyn Monroe up against Elvis Presley, boxer Muhammad Ali, former President Bill Clinton and even Pope John Paul II.

 

U.S. television viewers are being asked to vote on the greatest moment at one of the world's most famous arenas, New York's Madison Square Garden, which has played host to a list of sports stars, musicians, politicians and religious leaders in its 127-year history.

 

Everybody who has been anybody has had a magical moment at Madison Square Garden, according to producers of a new TV series, "The 50 Greatest Moments at Madison Square Garden," that will be broadcast next week.

 

"It's based on the 50 most incredible experiences that have occurred in this building," said Michael Bair, president of sports and entertainment network MSG Media, which is airing the 10-part series from next week.

 

Madison Square Garden has been the name of four arenas in New York City, with the first opening in 1879 and the most recent in 1968 with the capacity to hold 20,000 people.

 

Throughout its history it has been a top venue for major stars and events.

 

These include Marilyn Monroe's 1962 birthday serenade to President John F. Kennedy on his 45th birthday, the 1971 fight in which Joe Frazier beat Muhammad Ali for the heavyweight title, Elvis Presley's sell-out 1972 shows, and John Lennon's last live performance in 1974.

 

Pope John Paul II visited Madison Square Garden in 1979 and in 1982 the Rev. and Mrs. Sun Myung Moon held a blessing ceremony there for 2,075 couples which was dubbed a "mass wedding" by media at the time.

 

Bill Clinton accepted the presidential nomination at Madison Square Garden in 1992.Source: Reuters / Updated: Oct 26, 2006

 

go to http://www.msg50.com/

It's great to see Elvis up there for his sell out shows at the Garden I love to see Elvis at the press conference for the shows, I'll have to see if the footage has been put on YouTube :dance:

Up until, June 1972, Elvis had never performed in New York City apart from his 1956 and 1957 appearances on the Dorsey Brothers, Steve Allen and Ed Sullivan shows. The four shows at Madison Square Gardens are sellouts and RCA records the 2 shows on June 10th. Elvis became the first entertainer to sell out four consecutive shows in the Garden with a box-office gross of $473,000. The New York Times headlines one of it’s three stories on the phenomenon ‘Like A Prince from another Planet’, characterising Elvis as ‘a special champion (like) a Joe Louis, a Jose Capablanca, a Joe DiMaggio, someone in whose hands the way a thing is done becomes more important than the thing itself….Friday night at Madison Square Garden, Elvis was like that. He stood there at the end, his arms stretched out, the great gold cloak giving him wings….the only one in his class..’

 

At the 4pm press conference before the first show, he was asked about his image as a shy, humble country boy. Elvis responded ‘ I don’t know what makes them say that’, then he stands to reveal the International Hotel gold belt under his jacket with his father proudly beaming beside him. A great moment!

 

Here's part of that press conference :D

 

[flash=450,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZSfqYteocg.swf

 

And here's a clip of the show on June 10th 1972 with Elvis performing Polk Salad Annie and Hound Dog :dance:

 

[flash=450,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gR2wWqqBws.swf

 

 

Here's another clip from one of the Madison Square Garden concerts, Elvis performing Proud Mary :dance:

 

[flash=450,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odrhurPFcKM.swf

During the end of the year, the TV-station Madison Square Garden Networks aired a documentary about

their 50 greatest moments in history.

 

The Garden hosts mainly sportsevents and that's the reason why more than 50% of the items are dedicated

to sport.

 

The 4 legendary sold-out concerts from Elvis in NY finished 4th in the list of 50 events and is the only

non-sports event to feature in the Top 20.

 

The 9/11 concert (an event that shocked the USA and happened recently) comes in at # 21. The item in the

show is documented with unknown footage of the concert and news coverage. It is unknown if the series will

be published on DVD.

 

Originating Source: Elvis Matters

 

Nice one Elvis

Quite an achievement.

incredible

Just voted, Elvis As Recorded At Madison Square Garden is one of my favorites.

Hi Elvis2010 and welcome to BJs Elvis Forum It's great to see you! I love that album too :D