December 16, 2001|By Sloane Brown
Elvis Presley was alive, well and everywhere at the "Eighth Night of 100 Elvises." In one corner, a young Elvis in a peg-legged dark suit. In another, an older Elvis Presley in a dazzling red and white embroidered and rhinestoned jumpsuit. Or how about those five female line-dancing Elvis Presleys in matching high-collared black jumpsuits and pompadour wigs? Those were just some of the almost 50 individual artists and bands who performed Elvis songs on two stages at Baltimore's Lithuanian Hall. Even some of the guests got into the act.
"Where else would you wear this?" remarked D.C. attorney Gil Tietz, referring to the bouffant of black plastic hair -- replete with waterfall -- sitting atop his head.
The Elvis tunes and performers weren't the only hit with this crowd. So was the "Elvis food" -- some of his binge favorites. Little bags of hamburgers and fried peanut butter-and-banana sandwiches disappeared so quickly, you coulda sworn the real King was there.
Spotted in the sellout throng of over 600: Carole Carroll and Craig Curley, event co-chairs; Walt "the Band Man" Fales, event emcee; Kelly Conway, Anita Rozenel, Wild Bill Hagy and Brian Parrish, event committee members; Antanas Uleckas, Lithuanian Hall Association Inc. board member; Joe Goldsborough, Merkin Records president; Denise Whiting, Cafe Hon owner; Jim Airey, University of Baltimore associate budget director; Pratheep John Ponraj, World Bank information officer; Frank Gant, Gant Hart Brunnett Architects partner; Annie Shade, UPS driver; Debbie and John Ruthke, New System Bakery co-owners; Patty Irwin, Baltimore area graphic designer; Gordon Cumming, Chesapeake Science vice president; David Shaffer, Tier One Technology Partners president; Kristin Miller, T. Rowe Price business specialist; Frank Hackley, Baltimore Mack Trucks diesel mechanic; and Miriam Hyson, Legg Mason customer service representative.
The hullabaloo raised about $5,000 for Johns Hopkins Children's Center -- and served more than 800 pieces of fried chicken (another Elvis fave).
