Saturday, July 25, 2009
Music news Riding with the King plays tonight at Push Push
Posted by Chad Radford @ChadRad on Sat, Jul 25, 2009 at 10:32 PM
Riding With The King - 20th Anniversary Celebration
Sat., July 25, 2009
Screenings at 8 p.m.
121 New Street
Decatur, GA 30030
404-377-6332
Cost: $5 adults, $2 kids between 3-11, Free for under 3y/o.
According to CL writer and King Ride participant James Kelly,
In August 1988, a troupe of intrepid Elvis fans left Atlanta and traveled across Dixie to Memphis TN. Their goal was to document on film the international phenomenon of the pilgrimage, a longstanding tradition among various cultures wherein the individual is expected to visit a special place at least once in their life. In this case the “special place” is Graceland, home of the late King of Rock n’ Roll, Elvis Presley. Leaving Inman Park’s lamented Austin Avenue Buffet armed with cameras and led by Atlanta country singer Slim Chance driving a massive Cadillac convertible, the group first explored Elvis’ birthplace and the hardware store where he got his first guitar in Tupelo. In Memphis the crew visited Elvis’ karate’ instructor Kang Rhee, got fashion tips fit for a King in Lansky’s Clothing Store, attended an Elvis impersonator’s contest, discussed the furniture in Graceland with Elvis’ personal interior decorator, and many other unique adventures.
But the most fascinating part of the documentary is the interviews with the pilgrims, many who traveled from as far as Germany, New Zealand, and Japan to spend a moment with the King. The unconditional love and reverence of his fans is a powerful statement about the global influence of Presley’s work, and the heartfelt emotion his fans express over his passing 11 years after the fact is profoundly touching.
Sharing conversations with the people you never see in other Elvis documentaries, rare footage from Atlanta’s Austin Avenue Buffet, featuring a soundtrack loaded with Elvis-centric contributions by Mojo Nixon, The Swimming Pool Q’s, Syd Straw and others, and full of fun and sincere appreciation for the real people who made Elvis the biggest star in the world, “Riding With The King” is a must-see documentary for fans and film scholars alike.
Join RWTK Director Lisa Roach Maddox and Slim Chance for a Q&A after each of these rare 20th anniversary screenings. Kids are welcome, regular and adult beverages and snacks will be available for purchase. The event is a fundraiser for PushPush Theater.
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