ELVIS in advertising, commercials & GAMES
In 1954, a young guitar player named Elvis Presley started performing at the Hayride and apparently liked the Southern Maid Donuts so much, that he agreed to make a commercial which was broadcasted during the Louisiana Hayride. He made the ad in exchange for a box of hot glazed donuts.
He sang the jingle: “You can get them piping hot after 4 P.M., you can get them piping hot, Southern Maid Donuts hits the spot, you can get them piping hot after 4 P.M.”
Unfortunately, the commercial was never released.
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Apple unveiled a new 68-sec commercial that promotes Group FaceTime on iPhone. The charming film features different Elvis Presley impersonators all around the world on a Group FaceTime on iPhone singing the song “There’s Always Me” by Elvis Presley with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
Rare and highly sought after Elvis Presley board game made in 1956 by Teen-Age Games, Inc. The board game was housed in a pink box with a large black-and-white image of a smiling Elvis on the cover.
Not surprisingly, the theme was love and the tag line on the box cover was "A Party Game for the Young at Heart." This example includes original box; colorful board printed with phrases like "Let's Go Steady" and "Can't Do Without You"; suggested retail price of $2.98 and touting "an 8 x 10 photo of Elvis Presley Free in Every Game."
The game set contains everything for an evening of fun centered on love and Elvis—what better combination?
April 5, 1957. Sports Arena, Philadelphia.
Excerpt from The Philadelphia Inquirer:
The Game
Game comes with a game board which has both a Blue Side (Boys) and Pink Side (Girls). Each side has popular Elvis songs listed. There are 110 question cards divided into 40 Love and Etiquette cards, 40 Elvis Presley question cards and 30 penalty cards, 10 miniature records. The game requires you to spin a spinner which determines what color card to chose for your question and then answering the question correctly and moving forward on the board or answering the question incorrectly and moving backwards and then having to incur a penalty. The penalties might require you to "walk like Marilyn Monroe" or give your solution to "How would you cheat on an exam?"
Players wind up going through different areas of the board from "Getting to Know You," "Learning to Like you," "Let’s go Steady," and finally "Get the Preacher." Players wind up pairing up depending on when they finish the board.
Elvis
The Official Graphic Novel by Z2 Comics
Billboard 1956
Elvis Presley Enterprise merchandising: Jacket styled by Rich Mart and manufactured by M.B. Greenfield | Black and white (faded over time) canvas "Randy" sneakers by Randolph Mfg Co.
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Elvis’ Manager Was a Marketing Genius: The Story Behind His ‘Walking Billboard’ Jackets
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Elvis still needed a bit of help in the promotional aspect of his career and that was something his manager, Colonel Tom Parker, knew just how to do.
The talent manager began wearing custom-made promotional trench coats to inform the public of Elvis’ newest project, whether that be his upcoming record or a new film. The jackets were designed as wearable advertisements to promote the project, sharing the logos, the film title and Elvis’ co-stars’ names.
They were responsible for “turning Parker into a walking billboard for Elvis’s movie career,” according to the Graceland archives, as he flaunted them on film sets and public appearances. Parker’s advertisement style was often caught on camera and by fans, ushering them into Elvis’ latest project.
Despite Parker’s unorthodox way of promoting Elvis’ career, it clearly did what it was meant to do as it helped solidify Elvis’ title as the King of Rock n’ Roll and arguably one of the most famous singers in the world.
“Flashy, eccentric, and completely unique, these jackets reflect Parker’s bold marketing style and tireless dedication to keeping Elvis in the spotlight.”
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1956 The goal was to turn Elvis into a brand.
It was a revolutionary strategy, as it was the first all-out merchandising campaign ever aimed at the teen market.
In just a few months, over 50 different Elvis-themed products were produced, from charm bracelets and necklaces, to scarves, teddy bear perfume, Topps bubble gum cards, and sneakers... to record players, hats, and lipsticks in "Heartbreak Pink" and "Hound Dog Orange" - sold with the slogan, "Keep Me Always On Your Lips."
A lot of girls kept Elvis on their lips - thanks to Colonel Parker's merchandising ideas.
The Wall Street Journal reported that by the end of 1957, Elvis merchandise had grossed over $22 million dollars.
By 1962, Colonel Parker's share of that booty would become an eye-popping 50%.
His most ingenious product, though, was "I Hate Elvis" buttons.
The Colonel even made money from people who despised his hip-swivelling star.When Elvis went into the army for a two-year posting in 1958, this sustained merchandise marketing helped keep his image alive. When he returned in 1960, it was as if Elvis hadn't skipped a beat.The nearly 50 year-old Colonel Tom Parker had not only promoted the first major rock and roll star in history, he had designed the first-ever blueprint for marketing rock and roll that included not just the music, but movies, TV shows, concerts and hundreds of products.