The Safest Marketplace to Buy or Sell Music Memorabilia

This original concert ticket originates from March 25, 1961, when Elvis Presley performed a one-night-only benefit concert at Bloch Arena, Pearl Harbor, in support of the USS Arizona Memorial Fund. Organized at the request of Colonel Tom Parker, the event raised over $54,000, helping secure completion of the memorial, which was dedicated the following year.

The concert holds exceptional historical importance as Elvis Presley’s final live performance before 1968 and the last time he wore his iconic gold lamé jacket on stage. Following this appearance, Elvis focused exclusively on films and soundtrack recordings, not returning to full-scale live performances until the NBC Comeback Special and Las Vegas engagements years later.

This example is made significantly rarer by the presence of its original mailing envelope, printed with “USS Arizona Memorial Fund Benefit, Bloch Arena, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, March 25, 1961”, and accompanied by a handwritten contemporaneous note from the original purchaser, a U.S. service member, reading: “Exactly one year since I landed in Hawaii, March 25, 1960.” This personal annotation firmly anchors the ticket to its historical moment and reflects the unique opportunity this event represented for servicemen stationed in Hawaii.

The ticket remains in outstanding condition for a 1961 Hawaii concert issue, with only very minor creasing. There is no writing on the ticket itself, no holes, and the print remains strong and well-preserved. The envelope retains bold, legible text, making this a highly desirable and complete survivor from one of the most important concerts of Elvis Presley’s career.