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Elvis statue arrives at Louisiana Hayride site


By: Elvis Australia
Source: Elvis Australia
October 13, 2004
Elvis News

The bronze sculpture is 7 1/2 feet tall and weighs approximately 1,000 pounds.
The bronze sculpture is 7 1/2 feet tall and weighs approximately 1,000 pounds.
SHREVEPORT, La. A bigger-than-life bronze statue of Elvis Presley was unveiled today in front of the Municipal Auditorium where the king of rock 'n' roll performed before the Louisiana Hayride for the first time 50 years ago.

The 60-thousand dollar statue stands seven-and-a-half feet tall and weighs nearly one-thousand pounds.

The Downtown Development Authority funded 40-thousand dollars of the sculpture's total cost while the Elvis Angels, a fan group, raised 20-thousand dollars in private donations.

Saturday marks the 50th anniversary of Presley's Hayride debut on the Municipal Auditorium stage on October 16th, 1954.

The statue was created by Houston artist Erick Kaposta. Kaposta, a Shreveport native, said having a piece of his artwork in his home city "is a wonderful feeling."

The remaining $20,000 has been raised for the Shreveport Municipal Auditorium statue. The statue will either be unveiled the morning of October 15, 2004, between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m., or if CBS News will cover the story, Saturday, October 16, 2004.

Artist Eric Kaposta works on a statue of Elvis.
Artist Eric Kaposta works on a statue of Elvis.
Elvis Statue For Shreveport's Municipal Auditorium

October 16, 2004
 
The statue by Houston artist Eric Kaposta, formerly of Shreveport, is being timed to take its place in front of Municipal Auditorium for the 50th anniversary of Elvis' first career performance, Oct. 16, 1954, at the Louisiana Hayride.

Shreveport's Municipal Auditorium Downtown Development Authority committed $40,000 toward the $60,000 statue with the remaining funds being raised by the Elvis Angels fan club.
 

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