| The Elvis Presley comeback special was the | | | | director, Steve Binder, saw this as an opportunity |
| top-rated television special of 1968, and most | | | | to re-establish Elvis Presley's dwindling career. |
| experts and fans agree it not only revitalized his | | | | Steve Binder's visionary personality played a large |
| career, it sealed his destiny as becoming a | | | | role in Elvis Presley's ultimate success! |
| larger-than-life, almost mythical performer for the | | | | On December 3, 1968 the Elvis Presley |
| entire world. But there's a great story behind the | | | | Comeback Special aired, it became an amazing |
| Elvis Presley comeback. | | | | success, and it went down as one of the top |
| When talk of the comeback special in Elvis' camp | | | | moments in entertainment television history. Soon |
| surfaced, he confessed he was nervous about | | | | after, the slim Elvis Presley was in high demand |
| playing live; after all, he hadn't played a live | | | | and on his way to his legendary Las Vegas |
| concert in 7 years since he played in Pearl Harbor, | | | | performances. He spent most of the next eight |
| Hawaii, on March 25, 1961! However, a short while | | | | years on the road with his band. Some experts |
| after rehearsals began for the show a more | | | | say the Elvis Presley Comeback Special revived |
| confident Elvis Presley told his producer Bob Finkel | | | | his career in 1968, but that ironically, it also |
| he wanted to show the world what he could do. | | | | marked the beginning of the end of his life. Elvis |
| And do, he did! The Elvis Presley Comeback | | | | died doing what he loved and he knew his fans |
| Special was filmed over the course of five hours | | | | loved him. Days before he passed away he said |
| on June 27, 1968 in front of two separate | | | | he was looking forward to to his greatest concert |
| audiences at NBC Burbank Studios, with a one | | | | tour ever. |
| hour break in between so Elvis could shower and | | | | For many Elvis Presley fans, one of the most |
| have his black leather suit designed by Bill Belew | | | | memorable moments deeply etched in their minds |
| dry cleaned. | | | | is watching a slim, incredibly handsome man walk |
| Originally, Elvis' manager Colonel Tom Parker | | | | onto the stage in 1968 wearing that famous black |
| wanted the show to be a Christmas special | | | | leather suit, and giving his fans "his all" as he had |
| complete with Christmas carols, but the chosen | | | | always done. |