Elvis Presley 1973 Lake Tahoe 3 A.M. Mother's Day Special Charity Concert Poster

A highly unusual concert-advertising poster for Elvis Presley appearing at 3:00 AM in South Lake Tahoe, Nevada on Sunday morning, May 13, 1973. This middle-of-the-night event was a special show in memory of the singer's late mother, Mrs. Gladys Presley, and all proceeds were donated to the local hospital.

The show took place in the High Sierra Theatre at the Sahara Tahoe Casino, and fell in the middle of a typical two-week stand there by Elvis. This poster originated with a fan who was in Tahoe that weekend and tried to attend the show, but it quickly sold out. So instead he took this poster down from inside the casino the next day.

This is thought to be the only Elvis Presley concert poster in history to mention his mother, whom he was extremely close to. It was made on a heavy art board, as opposed to standard cardboard. Measures 22" x 28".

At this moment Elvis was basking in the glow of his last Billboard magazine #1 album, Aloha from Hawaii via Satellite , which was recorded in January, released in February and topped the charts in March.

Interesting how the venue building, the Sahara Tahoe Casino, is not mentioned on the poster. Only the venue-within-a-venue, the High Sierra Theatre. This is pretty strong evidence that these were made for posting inside the casino only, not around town. Knowing it would sell out fast, it's hard to imagine they made more than half-a-dozen of these, or a dozen at the most.

As the poster promises, Elvis donated his entire take of about $12,000 from the performance and donated it to the local hospital's Cardiac and ICU wing. That doesn't sound like much money today, but back then it was substantial. It was the amount Elvis received per concert for his 1973 Tahoe stand.

This actual performance, the 3:00 AM Mother's Day show, was officially released in stereo for the first time on a limited-edition CD as ' Elvis: At 3:AM - Lake Tahoe ' by ' Memphis Recording Service '. Unusual songs performed included Kris Kristofferson's 'Help Me Make It Through the Night' – perhaps a nod to doing a third concert in the middle of the night? – and Paul Anka's 'My Way'. Reviews called this show possibly the best of Elvis' current Tahoe residency. In fact, in a highly unusual move, Elvis even came out after the show and mingled with fans, at 5:00 AM or whatever, so you know he must've been pretty pleased.

Elvis Presley 1973 Lake Tahoe 3:00 AM Mother's Day Special Charity Concert Poste

Elvis Presley 1973 Lake Tahoe 3 A.M. Mother's Day Special Charity Concert Poster

Concert | 13th May 1973 (3.00am Show)

01. Also Sprach Zarathustra
02. See See Rider
03. I Got A Woman / Amen
04. Help Me Make It Through The Night
05. Steamroller Blues
06. You Gave Me A Mountain
07. Love Me
08. Blue Suede Shoes
09. Long Tall Sally / Whole Lotta Shakin'/ Mama Don't Dance / Shake, Rattle & Roll
10. My Way
11. Hound Dog
12. What Now My Love
13. Suspicious Minds
14. Band Introductions
15. I'll Remember You
16. I Can't Stop Loving You
17. Bridge Over Troubled Water
18. Funny How Time Slips Away
19. It's Over
20. Release Me
21. Faded Love
22. Can't Help Falling In Love