Posted November 10, 200618 yr 50th anniversary of famous Elvis & Liberace photo: http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y48/elvis1959/liberace_elvis_sml.jpg It will be 50 years ago next Tuesday when a popular piano player and a young up-and-coming rock ‘n’ roller posed for a publicity photo in Las Vegas. Who could have predicted then that both performers not only would become worldwide legends but would continue to attract thousands of devoted fans decades after their respective deaths. On Nov. 14, 1956, Liberace and Elvis Presley posed for a publicity photo taken by the Las Vegas News Bureau in which they switched jackets and instruments. To commemorate the golden anniversary of this picture seen around the world, tribute artists Wes Winters as Liberace and Matt Lewis as Elvis re-created the famous photo at the Liberace Museum. When Wladziu (Walter) Valentino “Lee†Liberace opened the Riviera in April 1955, he was the city’s highest paid entertainer, earning $50,000 per week. It was also the first time he wore a gold lame jacket, the first of hundreds of extravagant costumes that became his signature trademark. The following April, Elvis performed in Las Vegas for the first time when he was 21. He received a lukewarm reception from an audience of adult gamblers, despite being on his way to becoming an international singing sensation and silver screen heartthrob. The story goes that seven months later, Elvis went to see Liberace’s show and afterward was introduced backstage to Mr. Showmanship by Liberace’s agent. As the agent and photographer waited onstage by the piano, Liberace told Elvis he needed more glitz in his wardrobe if he wanted to make it in Vegas and suggested they ham it up by switching jackets and instruments. Both emerged onstage, Elvis sat at the piano, Liberace strummed The King’s guitar – and the News Bureau snapped the picture that would forever have its place in the entertainment history of Las Vegas. Backstage in Las Vegas with Liberace - no sound unfortunately :( [flash=450,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Z8LiiUvIPY.swf
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