Imitation contest: So that Elvis lives

The Elvis Presley impersonators who have hung around the fringes of Graceland for years are finally being invited up to the big house.

On the 30th anniversary of Presley’s death next August, the managers of Graceland, Presley’s former Memphis home, will stage their first official impersonator competition. It’s a big change for managers of Presley’s estate, who have always kept the tacky, kitschy and outrageous Elvis impersonators at arm’s length.

To find the king of imitation kings, there will be a series of qualifying contests staged around the country, all licensed by Elvis Presley Enterprises Inc., whose new bosses took over Graceland and the business of the Presley estate last year. They believe such a contest could help keep the shine on Presley’s image and attract a new generation of fans.