Is it a line from a movie, or something security said at Elvis concerts? Have always been curious.
Without knowing anything, I would assume it was the “all-clear” signal that crowd-control teams used at Elvis concerts.
The Phrase Finder says simply, “Announced at the end of Elvis Presley’s concerts to encourage fans to go home. Now used to indicate that something is complete.”
I believe the full statement is, “ladies and gentlemen, Elvis has left the building. Please make your way to the exits.” This of course was a not-so-subtle notice to frothing fans that there would not be a fourth encore.
I believe the modern use of the term has its origins from Late Night With David Letterman. Letterman would ask his sports announcer guests, notably Bob Costas and (I think) Al Michaels to insert some quirky phrase into the next game. Costas actually used the phrase as a game-ending home run sailed into the crowd during a televised game–I don’t remember who, when or where. It made the highlight rounds for years thereafter. More recently, I’ve heard Michaels use the phrase as well.
A quick search of the phrase turned up this site with many fans’ memories of Elvis in concert. The phrase shows up several times. Apparently this phrase was coined by Elvis’ announcer, Al Dvorin and is of long standing. As it’s attested to by almost every concert-goer in the first site mentioned, I’m pretty sure we’ve got the source nailed down.
Thanks a bunch, guys… looks like i’ll be a regular visitor from here on…
It was featured prominently in the concert movie “Elvis-That’s The Way It Is”, which showed parts of several concerts and it used the line several times. I had the pleasure??? of seeing that movie when I was about 11 years old. My best friends mom was an Elvis freak (pictures, figurines etc the whole nine yards) and we got trundled off to the saturday matinee with her (I believe our presence was used to justify her going to the matinee). I remember thinking each time the line was used that the movie would be over, but no such luck.
Keith
It originated back at Elvis’ concerts. When the actual concert was over the audience would be so worked up they would go nuts and not leave… expecting more encores I imagine. Elvis would immediately leave through the back door, get in his limo and go back to his hotel. To get the audience to calm themselves and actually leave the place the announcer would come on and tell them that “Elvis has left the building”.
Most concerts “end” the same way; the performers sing their last song, leave the stage, and then return to play an encore song, supposedly due to overwhelming demand from the crowd.
Elvis Presley was unusual in that he didn’t follow this tradition. He sang the songs he planned on singing and then left. Audience members, who were unaware of this, often lingered for a long time in expectation that he would return for an encore. So eventually, the announcement that “Elvis has left the building” started being made so the audience would he wasn’t coming back on stage and the show was really over.
The King sang no encores?
Can anyone verify this?
Okay, I was in the building, and then I left. Someone asked the Colonel where I was, and he said that “Elvis has left the building.”
Not really.