Topeka Capital-Journal, The: Elvi shake up casino

BLUE SUEDE CHUTES

PHOTOGRAPHS BY NICK KRUG/THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL

The Flying Elvi strut around an outdoor stage at Harrah's Prairie Band Casino during a post-jump concert. The Las Vegas-based group landed at about 2 p.m. Thursday and were greeted by hundreds of fans awaiting the performance.

One of the Flying Elvi makes his way to the landing strip.

Please see ELVI, Page 8A

Continued from Page 1A

Elvi: Bands scheduled to perform

By Bill Blankenship

THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL

MAYETTA --- It rained Elvises over Harrah's Prairie Band Casino.

One by one, the Flying Elvi, a team of 10 skydivers dressed as the King of Rock 'n' Roll, dropped in Thursday afternoon on Lot D of the Potawatomi-owned gaming establishment north of Topeka.

A hunka-hunka burning something strapped to their legs produced a trail of smoke that let the crowd on the ground track the parachuting Presleys as they descended with a whole lot of twisting going on.

Awaiting them on the ground were a few hundred casino-goers getting a not-so-typical amount of sunlight. Sunburn isn't a hazard experienced by most gamblers, the most ardent of whom sometimes lose track of time amid the clanging slot machines.

Once earthbound, spectators could see the bevy of Elvi in their white-and-red jumpsuits, each wearing a foam-padded helmet of hair coiffed down to the sideburns in the style of the King.

The Flying Elvi then traded the sky for a stage as they lip- synched their way through a medley of Elvis hits.

Pelvises were thrust to the delight of fans who sang along.

During "Love Me Tender," one of the Elvi slipped a scarf off his neck and tossed it to one of the adoring female fans who crowded around the stage.

It was a classic Elvis move, but no one in the audience tossed back onto the stage a more intimate piece of apparel to the pretend Presleys.

After all, faux will only get you so far.

The stage show ended with the Elvi flipping switches on their fake guitars, revealing they were confetti cannons that launched colorful bits of paper into the air to the delight of the audience.

The Flying Elvi then lined up and led their newfound fans into the casino to get them back to the slot machines and gaming tables.

After all, the Flying Elvi and the other direct-from-Las Vegas tribute acts performing this weekend at Harrah's are there to celebrate the completion of a $55 million expansion and remodeling of the casino.

No more Elvis impersonators will skydive into Harrah's this weekend, but there will be tribute acts to the King, as well as to the Blues Brothers, Garth Brooks, Dolly Parton, Bobby Darin, Ritchie Valens, Buddy Holly and the Big Bopper, the latter done by the son of the late singer, J.P. Richardson.

And to keep things lively during the grand reopening, Harrah's also has booked showgirls and a brass band from New Orleans.

All the entertainment is free, but you must be 21 or older to attend.

For a complete list of the weekend's entertainment, see Page 2D.

Bill Blankenship can be reached

at (785) 295-1284 or bill.blankenship@cjonline.com.