SkyMall Monday: Undead Elvis & Marilyn

How we remember our heroes usually depends on when we idolized them. The images that move us the most get etched into our brains. As a kid, I wanted to be Indiana Jones. In my mind, Harrison Ford will always been that whip-toting adventurer (though not the one with the sagging man-boobs in the most recent Indy film that I refuse to acknowledge). He’ll always have a place on the Wall of Honor in the SkyMall Monday headquarters (next to a jar of Nutella). But what really becomes of our icons? Well, they die. They all die. That’s the circle of life (it’s a tad darker than hakuna matata). And, while we remember our heroes deaths, we never commemorate how they would look if they continued to entertain us after their demise…until now, thanks to SkyMall and the Undead Icons Statues.Few other American cultural icons are as wildly celebrated and treasured as Elvis Presley and Marilyn Monroe. While Marilyn is typically remembered as a buxom beauty, she had her demons and died tragically. As for Elvis, those who loved him in his early days of fame think of him as a dynamic sex panther, while others who enjoyed his later work recall him as a crooning sex hippopotamus. However, he died in the bathroom, unable to escape the icy grip of peanut butter, banana and bacon sandwiches. But, what if these two great artists could still entertain us despite their vices having taken them far too soon? Well, that would be pretty creepy amazing.

Think that we should remember our heroes respectfully? Believe that skeletons lack the anatomy to perform for our enjoyment? Well, while you watch this creepy video for ‘Them Dry Bones,’ we’ll be reading the product description:

Artist Liam Manchester has taken artistic liberties with these tongue-in-skull images to create unique skeleton icons that live on in infamy!

Blonde Bombshell poses with her windblown dress atop candy apple red lips while a record spins the number one, chart-busting tunes of the Rock n Roll King.

The lesson here: licensing issues are expensive and complicated.

We never to think of our heroes as fragile, as though they were just some kind of candle in the wind. We cling to them. Idolize them. But, they can never come back. It would just be too scary if they did.

Check out all of the previous SkyMall Monday posts HERE.

Elvis’ favorite roller coaster Zippin Pippin comes to Green Bay


Green Bay Wisconsin’s Bay Beach Amusement Park will soon be home to a classic wooden roller coaster known as the Zippin Pippin. The remains of the defunct ride were purchased from a Memphis, Tennessee park last year. It was known to be Elvis Presley’s favorite roller coaster as he often rented out the park so that he could ride it without being bothered by fans. Reports are that Pressley rode Zippin Pippin eight days before he died. To support the ride’s history, Bay Beach Amusement Park is working on adding Elvis’ favorite food, peanut butter and banana sandwiches.

According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Bay Beach Amusement park is aiming for the ride to open when the park opens on May 7th. Even with the harsh Wisconsin weather, recent construction photos show that Zippin Pippin’s track work is nearly complete. It appears that the park should be able to hit their target date. Bay Beach Amusement park is the ninth oldest operating amusement park in the U.S. according to ZippinPippin.org. The park is already home to historic amusement park rides, so this classic wooden coaster with an interesting claim to fame should be right at home.

[Image credit: Flickr user – theogeo]

Las Vegas announces dates for first-ever Cirque du Soleil week

Are you crazy about Cirque du Soleil? If so, this is just the experience for you. For the first time ever, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority is sponsoring “Cirque Week,” a convention that will offer guests special behind-the-scenes access into some of the world’s most complex theater productions. From November 29 through December 5, 2010, guests will get to see what brings Las Vegas’ seven Cirque du Soleil shows to life every night.

For $160, guests can enjoy a two-show package, and mere $450 gives access to all seven shows.

Choose to experience a custom theater technology demonstration and Q&A at LOVE Theatre at the Mirage, a state-of-the-art sound demonstration through over 6,300 custom-made speakers, go behind the scenes at Zumanity to watch an exclusive dress rehearsal on stage and take part in a Q&A session with cast and crew, or relax in Gold Lounge at ARIA Resort & Casino at CityCenter as the Viva ELVIS musicians serenade you with an acoustic performance and explain what it was like to re-imagine music from one of the most notable entertainers of all time, Elvis Presley.

Or perhaps you’d like to meet Criss Angel following the show, watch a technical presentation to learn how KA is put together, or enjoy a special Q&A with the coaches for the cast of “O” at the Bellagio.

Plus, all guests will get an intimate look into what goes into making a Cirque du Soleil production from the people who work behind-the-scenes. Sounds pretty awesome, right?

Tickets can be booked at VisitLasVegas.com/CirqueWeek.

Chilean miner Edison Pena invited to meet Elvis in Las Vegas

What do you do when you’ve finally escaped from the mine? Hit Las Vegas, of course. Las Vegas’ official Elvis, Jesse Garon, is sponsoring a star-studded vacation for rescued miner Edison Pena to meet his favorite star – Elvis! Pena used music and movies of the King including the 1960s Elvis movie Viva Las Vegas and Jailhouse Rock to pass the time and keep up the spirits of all the miners trapped underground.

Pena’s invitation includes a visit from the Official Elvis of Las Vegas (Jesse Garon), showgirls, five star accommodations, show tickets, buffets, and a renewal of vows with the King under the Welcome to Las Vegas sign in a 1955 Pink Cadillac.

“How those men survived is nothing less than miraculous,” said Garon. He continued with, “All of the Elvis community and fans everywhere bonded together and have been inspired by the miner trapped underground since first hearing about the fan of the King on Facebook.”

Mr. Garon extending the invitation by saying, “These men deserve the best.”

Pena has also reportedly been invited to visit Gracelan and run the New York Marathon.

[Flickr via ]

Daily Pampering: Graceland Suite at Hard Rock Hotel, Universal Orlando

There’s a luxurious side to rock ‘n’ roll, and it doesn’t involve tour buses and groupies.

The Hard Rock Hotel at Universal Orlando recently set up the “Graceland Suite” for guests who want to reconnect with their Elvis days, and embrace their luxurious side like the King himself so often did.

The 2,375-square-foot Graceland Suite features authentic Far East artifacts and subtle nods to Elvis in the wall art. You’ll also find older images of Graceland, a master bathroom with a whirlpool tub, a glass-encased, double-sided fireplace that can be seen from the master bedroom and master bathroom, a baby grand piano in the living room, wall-mounted 65-inch plasma TV in the living area, and a 42-inch plasma TV in the master bedroom.

If Elvis were alive today (and maybe he is), we think he’d totally shell out $2,175 a night for the posh Graceland Suite.

Want more? Get your dose of daily pampering right here.