Early 1970s “Elvis Summer Festival / Sahara Tahoe” Styrofoam “Straw” Hat – Very Rare Example

Offered is an example of a styrofoam hat from the Summer Festival at the Saraha Tahoe, a rare version given the small number of shows Elvis performed at this venue. The light orange band on this scarce example reads “Elvis Summer Festival / Sahara Tahoe RCA.” The Colonel, always keen to exploit any cost-effective marketing method that could be used for multiple events, venues and dates, adopted the Styrofoam hat for use at Elvis’ performances and simply swapped the colored bands to advertise the location, event and record label. In addition to his many appearances in Las Vegas, Elvis performed five times at Del Webb’s Sahara Tahoe Hotel and Casino from 1971 through 1976. The shows were beloved by fans and Elvis alike for their more intimate atmosphere. The hat measures 6 1/2 x 8 inches on the interior and 4 inches in height. The hat presents with its paper band intact, and relatively unfaded, with the expected adhesive bleed-through. The Styrofoam has some staining near the brim edges and on the interior, and there are a few areas of chipping. Excellent condition, overall.