Recently, a so-called collector has approached fans and fan clubs around the world in an attempt to sell the so-called �original Aloha belt�. The letter of authenticity states that Elvis threw the belt in the audience, where it was caught by Jack Lord�s daughter. The asking price is 125.000 $US. Apart from the fact that Jack Lord did not even have a daughter, we submitted the pictures to the team of Butch Polston, who acquired the original patterns for Elvis�s belts and jump suits. This is their reaction� so buyer beware!

Hi Peter, thanks for asking. This is a fake. Butch made it several years ago for Joe Battig who said he wanted to display it in a restaurant. He lied to Butch, and made a fake letter to go with the belt and tried to sell it as the real thing. Butch and Kim saw it at a store in Las Vegas that sells memorabilia, and told them it was a fake. Supposedly, the shop took it down. It showed up on eBay about a week ago. Butch took notes from his conversation with this guy. He asked about Jack Lord's family. You can tell by looking at the picture a few things that are certainly wrong.

1. The hooking device on the back of the belt if Butch's own design. Elvis' did not have two loops that would be visible. It had one loop and it was sewn on the the end of the belt.

2. The red stones on the belt would be flat. The big rounded dome is what we use, because the flat "buff top" stones aren't available anymore.

3. The eagles on the belt aren't right. These are ones that Butch had made, and we hold the copyright on.

4. A leather belt wouldn't look that white after 35 years. The studs and chains would be tarnishing too.

The letter says "Elvis took off his belt and gave it to my daughter." Jack Lord never had a daughter, or this belt. So on the eBay auction, they were forced to take the belt off the website because someone told him Jack Lord didn't have a daughter in the question and answer section.

Also, Bill Belew only had Gene make 2 Aloha suits. There were 4 of this style belt made for Elvis. One was thrown at the Hawaii concert, one he wore with the suit until it fell apart, a third was given to Ed Parker, and the fourth was made to be worn with the Embroidered Eagle suit.

We've gotten a lot of questions about this belt recently. If you could, pass some of this information along. It makes Butch crazy when people try to pass his belts off as the originals. It's flattering, but it's not why we're in business. You know how honest Butch is! Thank you for asking about the belt.

Take care,

Virginia

Posted:  31st. May 2008