Elvis Mania

How many Elvises does it take to screw in a light bulb? It doesn't matter because there are more than enough to do the job in Graceland this week.

Bad jokes aside, Early Show National Correspondent Tracy Smith reports that the home of Elvis Presley is rocking with ceremonies marking the 25th anniversary of "the King's" death.

Organizers estimate some 75,000 people are in town to mark the occasion — which fans are using as a celebration of all things Elvis and a vindication of their devotion to one of rock 'n' roll's greatest performers.

At what's considered the Super Bowl of Elvis impersonator contests — "the King" lives.

"Here we are 25 years later and going stronger than ever," said Edward Franklin.

Franklin is the man behind this 15-year-old contest and he knows a thing or two about hound dogs. He was Elvis Presley's veterinarian.

Elvis Music In Demand

Fans, old and new, are keeping the dead singer's music alive by buying a number of recordings and DVDs. Rhino home video has a new Elvis DVD and RCA is releasing a compilation of his 30 No. 1 hits. Elvis is No. 1 in nine countries with a remix of his "Little Less Conversation."

And he is enjoying a popularity that living musicians would die for. "It's expanding the most rapidly in the youngest demographics," said Elvis Presley Enterprises CEO Jack Soden.

Soden works for an Elvis empire estimated to earn $35 million a year. "The business has grown in a way well beyond what it was when Elvis died," said Soden.

"If you're an Elvis fan, you have to come here — you just have to," said Rosie Anderson, a Graceland visitor.

Graceland alone gets over 700,000 visitors a year.

"And now 53 percent of our visitors are 35 years old or younger and we're just about at the point where a third of our visitors were born after he died," Soden explained.

Even though Presley never toured outside North America, Elvis-mania has taken root around the world.

In Tokyo, the fans consider Elvis as almost a classical musician, a little like Mozart. In Paris, an Elvis boutique is chic.

"Elvis was uncool all though the '80s," said Elvis memorabilia collector Robert Alaniz.

Alaniz says 2002 has been the best year for Presley collectibles since Elvis left the building.

"I think it touches something inside everybody because they got a piece of rock 'n' roll history and they got a piece of their own past they can look at and relive," said Alaniz.

Keeping Elvis alive is the mission of devoted fans, and wise men say only fools aren't rushing in.

"He would be amazed and surely thrilled to know he was so remembered and so influential, so he'd have to be really proud," Alaniz said.