Licensing company orders Las Vegas chapels to stop Elvis-themed weddings

The licensing firm that controls the title and picture of “The King” is ordering Sin Metropolis chapel operators to cease utilizing Elvis in themed ceremonies, the Las Vegas Evaluate-Journal reported on Monday. Genuine Manufacturers Group despatched cease-and-desist letters in early Might to a number of chapels, that are anticipated to be compliant by now.

With Elvis so carefully tied to Vegas’ wedding ceremony business, some say the transfer may decimate their companies.

“We’re a family-run enterprise, and now we’re hanging with the large canine,” stated Kayla Collins, who operates LasVegasElvisWeddingChapel.com and the Little Chapel of Hearts together with her husband. “That is our bread and butter. I do not get it. We have been simply hitting our stride once more by COVID, then this occurs.”

Clark County Clerk Lynn Goya, who led a advertising marketing campaign selling Las Vegas as a marriage vacation spot, stated the order for chapels to cease utilizing Elvis could not have come at a worse time for the sector.

Town’s wedding ceremony business generates $2 billion a yr, and officers say Elvis-themed weddings symbolize a big variety of the ceremonies carried out.

“It’d destroy a portion of our wedding ceremony business. Plenty of folks may lose their livelihood,” Goya stated.

One chapel final weekend had its Elvis impersonator change as an alternative right into a leather-based jacket, denims and a fedora for a “rock ‘n’ roll” themed ceremony, the Evaluate-Journal reported.

Graceland Marriage ceremony Chapel, which performs 6,400 Elvis-themed weddings per yr, has not been served a warning but, in keeping with supervisor Rod Musum.

Within the cease-and-desist letter, the corporate stated it’s going to halt unauthorized use of “Presley’s title, likeness, voice picture, and different parts of Elvis Presley’s persona in commercials, merchandise and in any other case.” The letter additionally stated “Elvis,” “Elvis Presley,” “and “The King of Rock and Roll” are protected emblems.

In an announcement Wednesday, Genuine Manufacturers Group stated it has robust relationships with Elvis tribute artists and fan festivals. There’s “no intention to close down chapels that supply Elvis packages in Las Vegas.”

“We’re looking for to associate with every of those small companies to make sure that their use of Elvis’ title, picture and likeness are formally licensed and licensed by the property, to allow them to proceed their operations,” Genuine Manufacturers Group stated. “Elvis is embedded into the material of Las Vegas historical past.”

The licensing firm oversees the estates of massive names like film star Marilyn Monroe and boxer Muhammad Ali and 50 client manufacturers.

The order mustn’t translate into authorized motion towards Elvis-themed stage reveals in Las Vegas akin to “All Shook Up” as a result of impersonating somebody for stay performances akin to reveals is taken into account an exception beneath Nevada’s proper of publicity legislation, in keeping with Mark Tratos, a neighborhood legal professional who helped write the statute.

“An Elvis present is a performer primarily entertaining others by re-creating that individual onstage,” Tratos stated.

Presley turned indelibly linked to Sin Metropolis within the ’60s and ’70s. His 1964 film, “Viva Las Vegas,” yielded a title observe that turned the town’s unofficial theme. In July 1969, Presley famously redefined the Vegas residency together with his stay stage comeback on the Las Vegas Worldwide Resort. What began as a four-week gig changed into greater than 600 reveals and lasted till December 1976.

Presley himself received married in Las Vegas in 1967 to spouse Priscilla, cementing his affiliation with Vegas weddings.

Kent Ripley, whose enterprise known as Elvis Weddings, stated he has by no means run into this challenge in 25 years of performing as Elvis.

“They need to shield the Elvis model. However what are they defending by taking Elvis away from the general public?” Ripley requested.