Warp Productions has done it again, with a big save for the Odd Duck. Hundreds of dollars were reportedly made. Culture (and duck) was served. And all sorts of luminaries were there, both onstage and off. Here are a few of the highlights:
Scot Bastian emceed.
Champagne and Duck (well… chicken) Were Served
Scot Bastian read a poem written specially for the Duck.
After a lot of work, here they are: my final words on the Elvis Invitational.
Elvis Invitational Wrap-Up
” A bold addition to the classic splashy white jumpsuit is multiple old glory scarves (hey, where’s the blue?) & … a moustache?! Elvis as gigolo!!! The movie he forgot to make!”
"Back view of Robert (no bad sides on this guy!)"
“Torso of ultra (23 years) pro Robert Washington. THIS is how ya do it!”
"Mike D. fronts the Graceland Five. Enough said."
"Fringe & a determined sneer are de rigeur!"
"Jim Dever shows off the Stay Puft Marshmelvis look!!!"
"Add B-Side Elvis & you got a black- clad stingin' good time!!"
" If the only costume ya gots is a t-shirt, make sure to have a phalanx of dancin' cuties!"
"The ultimate accoutrement! Peter "The Colonel" Verbrugge holds up the champ's belt. Ronnie Porter wears it this year."
Thank y’all very much…
Photos by Carl Nelson
"Emily Cappel as Money Honey, a show unto herself"
Editor’s Note: A lot of you have been getting upset about our lapsed coverage of the Elvis Invitationals. Sorry! We had to interrupt our coverage for breaking news. But here is the denouement you’ve all been waiting for… Except that first we want to post a bit of the dress standard for the event. Start planning! those of you who are planning to attend next year’s event.
Elvis Invitational Audience Dress Standards
A Bit of Haute Coutre Showed Up
Formal Attire
Eclectic Goth Rockabilly
The Well-Heeled Were There
Everyone Wanted to Touch These to See If The Little Black Things Were Bumpy
Meow!
Court Jester to The King
And finally: Let's Give It Up for the Lone Star State!
Editor’s Note: Chris is a bit tired from the Holidays and has decided to forgo the New York to Paris to Milan fashion tour this year. Instead, he thinks what is really needed is to focus more, and to buy more local home-grown fashion. And to kick the thing off, he is offering his services – in this time-limited offer – to the first ten people who come forward to have their ‘looks’ adjusted, perhaps brought a little more up to date or maybe add some edge. Or, maybe you are one of those people who wants to toss it all up! and get something a little more out of the box. Chris can help you there too.
We discussed the price:
Carl Nelson What I WILL do… I was going to offer your ‘fashion services’ @ $29.99/hour plus travel costs on by blog. What do you think? (more – or less?)
Carl Nelson Sounds as though you think it would be a ‘shady business practice’ to charge one cent less? Sounds… counter-intuitive! But, I can go with it.
Editor (me again – this blog tech thing sometimes overwhelms me): Anyway, there it is! First in line of course will have more luck dictating the times of their appointments.
Chris Takes a Hard Look At What Passes For Elvis NowADays
Editor’s Note: Though there is an obvious ‘conflict of interest’, as our own Chris Mathews WAS one of the contestants – we don’t care. (Well, actually, Chris might care a little but I pooh-poohed his concerns. “For goodness sakes,” I said, “we pride ourselves on being a tabloid… and therefore somewhat irresponsible. C’mon. It’ll be fun.”)
"Blue was not a color Elvis wore much (but he was hugely BLUES-influenced), but Mike "Blue Calcutta" Weber pulls it off here, complete with exposed chest."
"Mike Dippery chooses the superhero look, complete with big ol' belt & cape (& adoring damsels)"
"Or you could do like Tor & opt for the simple ice cream suit with skinny tie. So many choices!"
“Host Jim Dever shows us the most garish choices: bad wig, big shades & mucho glitz!!! “
And WE were there! Chris Mathews will be covering the Fashion end of the event. And Yours Truly will be offering up taped interviews with Elvis Impersonators (done in character). You can vote for your favorite! Right here. Vote as many times as you like. (Just fill out the comment box.) – AND, in order to establish a baseline, we will be posting other Elvis interviews – done with your average man in the street . So, you can gauge how good these pretenders to the throne actually are. Are they a cut above your street level Joe? Find out! Listen to them all in the upcoming posts. Watch for them!
