Rare Elvis Presley interview from 1964

1964 (June 10) interview of Elvis Presley

 

THE BEATLES - `They don't bother me ... I wish them luck'

HIS CAREER - `I haven't been hiding. There's no attempt to keep me out of the public eye'

GIRLS - `I'll admit something. I'm as red-blooded as the next guy'

 

According to Ann-Margret you were or are engaged to her. This is not true either?

Elvis: 'The papers quoted her as saying it, but later she told me how it happened. They asked if it were true she was in love with me. Well, she was in love with me and she didn't want to lie about it. So she told them. And that's how it happened.'

 

 

You could mistake it for any small American town the morning after the night the circus arrived. Carnival booths, shooting galleries and popcorn stands face each other across a dusty road littered with empty paper bags. It looks seedy enough to be the real thing until you gaze down the road where bored property men are adding another house to the film set's mock town.

 

 

But there is no mistaking the young man slumped in a canvas chair, halfway down the road, staring aimlessly ahead.

 

 He is wearing blue jeans, blue shirt, short blue jacket and black boots.

 His face is made up in a light even tan and his hair has been dyed jet black.

 The make-up people have done a good job on him, though they have done nothing about the rosebud mouth, strangely small and almost feminine.

 Pop idols have come and gone over the past eight years but that mouth still has a hypnotic magic for millions of girls around the world.

 

So has the name Elvis Presley.

 

 

He sits there bored, resigned to the film-making waiting game, while pretty starlets swivel by.

 They are just about to shoot Roustabout, Presley's 16th film, for producer Hal Wallis who discovered him for the screen.

 

 

At that time, Hollywood dismissed Presley as a fluke. But the fluke minted enough money - a reputed £5,000,000 - to make them eat their words with their cocktail olives.

 

"Never", producer Hal Wallis (right) insisted, "Not for one moment, have I thought of Elvis as a freak. I am reminded of this when I am asked why it is I have not gone after the Beatles the way I went after Elvis.

 

"My answer is that I have no use for them. I doubt that they can last more than a couple of pictures.

 I don't want to be unkind and call them a flash-in-the-pan, but they are no match for Elvis, the unknown Elvis of 1956.

 

Not that I haven't had a good look at them. I have. And I found them wanting. They have no sound, no rhythm. I wouldn't touch them. It's as simple as that."

 

 

After talking to the star-maker, I moved over to the star. What did he think of the Beatles who deposed him from the Top Ten and the jukeboxes? There were many questions to put to him. Why for instance, had he never visited Britain, where a personal appearance might win back fans from the new boys?

 

We talked...

 I said: You haven't appeared in a live show at all in the past few years. Why are you hiding from the world?

 

 

Presley replied: "I haven't been hiding, there is no deliberate attempt to keep me out of the public eye.

I know people have said the Colonel (Colonel Tom Parker, the mastermind behind Presley's career) has some sort of strategy about my exposure to the public. It isn't that at all.

 

But we do have a program which calls for three pictures in a year and that is a lot of pictures. It doesn't leave one with much time in between.

 

 Q: You rest up? Even if you realize that your insistence on staying out of the public eye may cost you some of your popularity? 　

 　

Elvis: I wouldn't say that. But the Colonel says I cannot go to one country without offending people in another country, and I guess he is right. Somebody will always be unhappy.

 

 But it's different with movies. They go everywhere. Yet, don't think I wouldn't love to go to England, for instance, and make a couple of appearances there.

 

 I've been thinking of that for some time, and I'm as close to going as I was a couple of years ago.

 

 

Q: You make it all sound so difficult, but is it really? I’m sure the people in Germany, for instance, wouldn’t mind if this year you visit England only.

 

 Elvis: This is not the way the Colonel sees it. And I trust the Colonel.

 

Q: In the meantime, the Beatles have taken over. People have said that, in a sense, you, or the absence of you, are responsible for their emergence and their fabulous success.

 

 Elvis: As for the Beatles, all I can say is so much more power to them. They’ve appeared on three Ed Sullivan shows in this country and I watched the all.

 

Q: What did you think of them?

 

Elvis: You can’t ask me to tell you what I really feel about them. I don’t think I should. I don’t think it would be fair to fellow entertainers.

Remember, I am a lucky guy myself. I’ve never forgotten that. It’s too vivid in my memory. I’ll say that the Beatles have got what it takes, and in great abundance that they have been given a heck of a vote of confidence. I’m sorry, but I have to be diplomatic.

 

 

Q: You don’t sound envious, but as you watch the teenage audiences scream, it must have brought back memories… Wasn’t it more or less the same to you?

 

 Elvis: More or less. But let me add, I sure wish them luck.

 

Q: A lot of what you say implies that money is of no importance to you?

 

Elvis: I’m not implying anything. I am most grateful for my good fortune. But I am a man of simple tastes. I don’t need the money for myself. For a while, I was like a kid with a new toy, but it was never my goal and never will be.

 

 Money can never buy everything your heart desires. It won't buy love, or health or true happiness. And even sometimes when you give it away, you don't get the thanks you're entitled to.

 

 

Presley, the ex-truck driver from Mississippi, is now the master of a mansion outside Memphis, Tennessee, which he calls home, and a villa outside Hollywood he regards as his working quarters.

 Once a film is finished, he drives 2,000 miles back to Memphis with the private army he calls "my guys" (cousin Billy Smith, aide Joe Esposito, transport boss Allan Fortas, pals Jim Kingsley and Richard Davis)

 

 Elvis is at the wheel every inch of the way, "These are the happiest days of my life," he said.

 

This seemed an apt moment to ask about the other side of his life which has been kept so secret.

 I said I hoped he would be as outspoken as he had earlier, Presley said he didn't as a rule discuss his private life.

 

 I told him; "I see you as a red-blooded young man with normal instincts. I refuse to accept the theory that you spend your time with your guys or timidly taking girls out on dates that end with a shy kiss on the doorstep."

 

Presley replied, "I'll admit something to you. But without going into details. Let me say that I've led quite a fast life, really, and that I'm as red-blooded as the next guy.

 

 The difference between me and the other guy is that I hate to publicize it. I've been in love, but it's not true that I am secretly married or that I am secretly engaged, I have no permanent attachments and you can take my word for it."

 

 

 

There have been many rumors that Presley was engaged to Priscilla Beaulieu, the pretty 19-year-old daughter of an American Air Force captain he met while in the Army in Germany.

 Last year, Priscilla took up an offer from Presley's father to live with the family at Memphis because her father was still in Germany. Presley's public promptly assumed she was engaged to Elvis.

 

Elvis: I know what people are saying. I knew that people would say it even before Priscilla came to stay with us. I had to make a decision and I made it. All I can say is that Priscilla is a great girl and I like her very much.

 You never know what the future holds. All I can say is to repeat that I am not secretly married or secretly engaged.

 

 

 

Q: According to Ann-Margret (his co-star in Viva Las Vegas) you were or are engaged to her. This is not true either?

 

Elvis: The papers quoted her as saying it, but later she told me how it happened. They asked if it were true she was in love with me. Well, she was in love with me and she didn't want to lie about it. So she told them. And that's how it happened.

 

 Q: And she told you all this?

 

Elvis: Yes. Because she felt she owed me an explanation. She is an honest girl, a good girl and she told the truth. I have great respect for her.　

 

 

Q: Would that mean that all is over between you two?

 

Elvis: I haven't seen her in a while, but that is because she has been working in a movie. But that's all. I like her very much. I guess I have now told you more about my private life than I've told anybody. You can't expect more than that.

 The main point I want to make is that I am not ready for marriage. I mean it sincerely and I feel very strongly about it.

 Of course, people don't believe this is so and think I am playing games, but it is a deep conviction with me.

 There are a great many, things want to do and I have to do them all first, and it may take a long time.

 

 Meanwhile, I intend to stay the way I am and lead the life the way I lead it now.

 

 I like my present ways and there is no reason in the world to change anything.

 

 

 

I believe I have matured since I first came to Hollywood. You see it reflected in my pictures. The dialogue is more mature because I am ready for it.

 

You asked me how far is the Colonel "the boss"?

 I have left it to the Colonel to guide my career and I trust him because he knows his business like nobody else. But I draw my own conclusions and make my own decisions.

　

Which includes anything from picking the songs for my new film, to cutting a new record, to falling in love....

　

Q: It still leaves the Colonel with a heavy load of responsibilities doesn't it!

 

Elvis: You bet it does...

 

Presley smiled as he said that. Across the Paramount studios, in an office, cluttered with Presley posters and records, the legend behind the legend is talking on the telephone to a film magnate.

 

Colonel (a title he claims was conferred on him by several State governors) Tom Parker's voice is as sweet as honey.

 "If you don't want us." purrs the Colonel. "You wouldn't call us. You know what's good for the public and so do we, so we are in full agreement, aren't we?"

 

 "Nobody has yet lost any money on a Presley picture and you're much too good a man to be the first . . . Now 1965 and 1966 are filled but if you want a word of advice, take spot No.1 in 1967 for 750,000 dollars (nearly £270,000) and I tell you, sir, you will never regret it."

 

 Nothing can bother Elvis Presley while Colonel is taking care of things in the background. Tough-talking producers, hard-dealing impresarios, the Colonel looks after that side of the business.

 Girls, Presley can handle.  

 

And as for the new pop liners who are challenging him. . Well, Presley has 51 Gold Discs to show he was king for eight years and could well be again.

 

"The Beatles?" asks Presley "Do they bother me?" Of course not. They are entertainers like myself and I guess they are as dedicated as the rest of us. In the long run, this is all that matters."

 

 Mr. Elvis Presley is of course, entitled to his own opinions.

 

2013 by Jeff Schrembs ALL RIGHTS RESERVED　

 

Some facts about Colonel Parker and his relationship with Elvis Presley

NOTE - this article has an unknown author

 

Elvis thought he owed it all to Colonel Tom Parker. Others aren't so sure.

Andreas 'Dries' Cornelis Van Kuijk was born on 26 June 1909 in Breda, Holland. He was the fifth of nine children. His father, Adam, was a liveryman who met his mother, Maria, while he was in the army. When Andreas was 16 years old, his father died, and he moved to Rotterdam. He worked as a bargeman but was entranced by the ocean-going ships in the port. It wasn't too long before he was on board a ship to New Jersey. It was thought he stowed himself away.

He was then enlisted with the US Army - they didn’t really care about papers back then - and was stationed in Hawaii. When he finally wrote home, it was in English and it was signed ' Thomas Parker'. The name was given to him by the Captain who interviewed him at the time of his enlistment.

Years later Elvis's friend Lamar Fike asked parker ' how come you never told us you were a Dutchman?' Parker looked at him and said ' Son, you never asked me'.

Parker spent several years with a touring carnival called The Johnny J. James Exposition. His special act was dancing chickens, which he achieved by hiding a hot plate under the straw of the cage! After marrying Marie Mott in 1935, Parker left the carnival to work for the Tampa Humane Society (I bet he never told them about the dancing chickens!) he then moved to Nashville and became the manager to country singer Eddie Arnold.

Parker was given an honorary commission, from an old friend called Jimmy Davis. He became Louisiana Governor and then Parker was known as the Colonel from that day onwards. Funnily enough, in March 1961, Governor Buford Ellington of Tennessee made Elvis an honorary Colonel. Elvis didn’t deem it necessary to use his title.

In 1953, Eddie Arnold fired Parker for unknown reasons. Parker then hooked up with Hank Snow and created Jamboree Attractions, which became the biggest booking agencies in the South. Yet that partnership broke up bitterly when Parker, without Snow, signed a new young talent. His name was Elvis Presley.

Parker first met Elvis in February 1955, in a Memphis Coffee Shop. Parker’s first words to Elvis were ' you got a manager, son?’ He signed Elvis onto the Jamboree Attractions and was ready to pounce on him. Elvis was still under-age in 1955, so Parker knew the contract had to be signed by his parents. Vernon was a push over but Gladys didn’t trust Parker. So to get her into his good books, backstage at one of her son's shows, she met a close friend of Parker's who told her ' Parker is a good Christian gentleman'.

Then Elvis's parents signed the contract on 15 August 1955.

Soon Parker set up a deal with RCA Records Company and Hill and Range, his own music publishers. Steve Scholes, RCA's Director of Country music, put his neck on the line by offering $23,000. Hill and Range offered a further $15,000. So with $40,000 offer in place, Parker paid Sam Phillips an agreed $35, 00 and give Elvis $5,000. Elvis signed with RCA on November 21 1955. The next day he sent a telegram to Parker in which he promised to stick with him through thick and thin, and he also loved him like a father.

On January 8, 1956, Elvis turned 21 years old and was given a new contract - To sign as an adult. It ratified all previous contracts and gave the Colonel 25% of all Elvis's earnings. Once Parker became his full time manager, he never wanted anyone else. He told the press ' I'll live and breathe Elvis 24 hours a day'.

Parker showed his nerve when he demanded $100,000 for Elvis to star in Love Me Tender. When the Producer said even Jack Lemmon didn't get that kind of money. Parker looked into his eyes and said ' Maybe Lemmon needs a new manager!’

Parker was also scared once Elvis hit Hollywood, he would see what Parker was really going. So Parker started to isolate Elvis from the outside world. That's how the Memphis Mafia started. One day songwriter Mike Stroller knocked on Elvis's hotel room door, Elvis greeted him nervously and said the Colonel wouldn’t like me doing one to one meetings.

When Elvis joined the Army, Parker told him ' Son, I consider it my patriotic duty to keep you in the 90% tax bracket'.

Parker's view was ' if you want to see Elvis Presley, you buy a ticket!’ Elvis was not allowed to give private shows, in the army or anywhere else. Also Elvis never did encores, he always left them begging for more.

During the filming of Blue Hawaii, Parker ran shouting and yelling into the middle of a scene, pointing at Elvis's watch and demanded ' if you want the watch in, you'll have to pay another 10 grand!’ No wonder Elvis began to hate making films. In public, Hal Wallis admired Parker, as a super salesman - Yet in private, he said ' I'd rather try and close a deal with the devil'. Parker really couldn’t care less about Presley's acting talent. He wanted a simple film, with cute girls and an album worth of songs. Also Parker wanted a lot of money for these films, after all he was making a fortune.

When a TV executive came to Parker offering $50,000 for a single prime time appearance by Elvis, Parker responded ' That'll be be just fine for me, but how much will you give Elvis?'

The extent of Parker's role in Elvis's wedding is disputed, some say he told Elvis to get married for publicity purposes, but it was a rushed affair with a brief guests list, which caused a huge ructions among Elvis's entourage. Parker also refused to let the happy couple have the honeymoon in Europe they wanted, he said it would upset the fans around the world. Why Elvis didn't insist on the wedding he and Priscilla really wanted is enduring mystery.

Parker was a competent hypnotist. He liked to get staff members to act like chickens and once had the Memphis Mafia barking like dogs. However, theories that Parker kept Elvis hypnotized for 20 years should be taken with a pinch of salt.

Elvis stood up to the Colonel on a handful of occasions. One was the 1968 TV Special, which Parker wanted a dull Christmassy show, thank god Elvis did it his way. It give him one of his finest, rawest performances. Then the second time happened when Parker didn’t want Elvis to record a particular song due to recording right. That song was ' Suspicious Minds'.

In 1969, Elvis went back on the road and played the International Hotel in Las Vegas. Alex Shoofy, the hotel's general manager, came to see Parker in the hotel dining room and offered a 5 year contract in which Elvis would play the hotel in February and August each year and earn $125,000 a week. Parker scribbled some terms on a red tablecloth, but he ignored inflation and tied Elvis long term. Alex Shoofy signed his agreement on the tablecloth and promptly told the press it ' was the best deal ever made in this town'. Not, perhaps, for Elvis.

Parker had a long term gambling habit and it got a lot worse in Vegas. He moved into the hotel in a fancy suite and lost million a year on the tables!

In the 70's, Elvis's income came from touring. In February 1972, he signed away one third of his tour profit to Parker.

In 1973, after a heated row, Elvis fired Parker, but he wouldn’t leave - without his million he was still waiting for. Elvis threw a fit and went on a huge drug fuelled week that culminated in a teenage girl almost overdose. Who does Elvis call to sort out the mess and keep the press away?? Parker.

Parker turned down endless offers for Elvis to tour the world. The reason was Parker was an illegal immigrant without a passport.

In 1973, RCA bought the masters - and royalty rights - of all Elvis's previous recordings for $5.4million. Jack Soden of EPE describes the deal as being right up there with the Indians selling Manhattan for 24 dollars. Seven years later, a lawyer for the Presley Estate Blacnchard Tual, concluded that Colonel Parker and RCA were probably guilty of collusion, conspiracy, fraud and misrepresentation.

In 1974, Parker set up Boxcar Enterprises to handle the merchandising business. Parker was on 40% on the income while Elvis only got 15%!

When Joe Esposito phoned Parker to tell him Elvis had died, Parkers first words were ' Oh dear god! Then after a long pause ' nothing has changed! This won’t change anything!' Within a day of Elvis's death, Parker got Vernon Presley (the executor to Elvis's will) to agree to keep al l the deals made with Elvis as they were. He also signed a deal with the merchandising company, Factors Inc. that meant Parker would take 78% of the proceeds of the forthcoming souvenir boom! At Elvis's funeral, Parker wore a Hawaiian shirt and a baseball cap. At the cemetery he wondered away from the graveside and say by himself on a police motorbike. After Vernon's death in 1979, the courts got involved and after a long battle, a deal was struck whereby Parker was cut from all connections with the Presley Estate for a hefty sum.

Colonel Tom Parker (aka Andreas 'Dries' Cornelis Van Kuijk) died in January 1997.

Interesting article about Colonel Parker

Elvis thought he owed it all to Colonel Tom Parker. Others aren't so sure.

Andreas 'Dries' Cornelis Van Kuijk was born on 26 June 1909 in Breda, Holland. He was the fifth of nine children. His father, Adam, was a liveryman who met his mother, Maria, while he was in the army. When Andreas was 16 years old, his father died, and he moved to Rotterdam. He worked as a bargeman but was entranced by the ocean-going ships in the port. It wasn't too long before he was on board a ship to New Jersey. It was thought he stowed himself away.

He was then enlisted with the US Army - they didn’t really care about papers back then - and was stationed in Hawaii. When he finally wrote home, it was in English and it was signed ' Thomas Parker'. The name was given to him by the Captain who interviewed him at the time of his enlistment.

Years later Elvis's friend Lamar Fike asked parker ' how come you never told us you were a Dutchman?' Parker looked at him and said ' Son, you never asked me'.

Parker spent several years with a touring carnival called The Johnny J. James Exposition. His special act was dancing chickens, which he achieved by hiding a hot plate under the straw of the cage! After marrying Marie Mott in 1935, Parker left the carnival to work for the Tampa Humane Society (I bet he never told them about the dancing chickens!) he then moved to Nashville and became the manager to country singer Eddie Arnold.

Parker was given an honorary commission, from an old friend called Jimmy Davis. He became Louisiana Governor and then Parker was known as the Colonel from that day onwards. Funnily enough, in March 1961, Governor Buford Ellington of Tennessee made Elvis an honorary Colonel. Elvis didn’t deem it necessary to use his title.

In 1953, Eddie Arnold fired Parker for unknown reasons. Parker then hooked up with Hank Snow and created Jamboree Attractions, which became the biggest booking agencies in the South. Yet that partnership broke up bitterly when Parker, without Snow, signed a new young talent. His name was Elvis Presley.

Parker first met Elvis in February 1955, in a Memphis Coffee Shop. Parker’s first words to Elvis were ' you got a manager, son?’ He signed Elvis onto the Jamboree Attractions and was ready to pounce on him. Elvis was still under-age in 1955, so Parker knew the contract had to be signed by his parents. Vernon was a push over but Gladys didn’t trust Parker. So to get her into his good books, backstage at one of her son's shows, she met a close friend of Parker's who told her ' Parker is a good Christian gentleman'.

Then Elvis's parents signed the contract on 15 August 1955.

Soon Parker set up a deal with RCA Records Company and Hill and Range, his own music publishers. Steve Scholes, RCA's Director of Country music, put his neck on the line by offering $23,000. Hill and Range offered a further $15,000. So with $40,000 offer in place, Parker paid Sam Phillips an agreed $35, 00 and give Elvis $5,000. Elvis signed with RCA on November 21 1955. The next day he sent a telegram to Parker in which he promised to stick with him through thick and thin, and he also loved him like a father.

On January 8, 1956, Elvis turned 21 years old and was given a new contract - To sign as an adult. It ratified all previous contracts and gave the Colonel 25% of all Elvis's earnings. Once Parker became his full time manager, he never wanted anyone else. He told the press ' I'll live and breathe Elvis 24 hours a day'.

Parker showed his nerve when he demanded $100,000 for Elvis to star in Love Me Tender. When the Producer said even Jack Lemmon didn't get that kind of money. Parker looked into his eyes and said ' Maybe Lemmon needs a new manager!’

Parker was also scared once Elvis hit Hollywood, he would see what Parker was really going. So Parker started to isolate Elvis from the outside world. That's how the Memphis Mafia started. One day songwriter Mike Stroller knocked on Elvis's hotel room door, Elvis greeted him nervously and said the Colonel wouldn’t like me doing one to one meetings.

When Elvis joined the Army, Parker told him ' Son, I consider it my patriotic duty to keep you in the 90% tax bracket'.

Parker's view was ' if you want to see Elvis Presley, you buy a ticket!’ Elvis was not allowed to give private shows, in the army or anywhere else. Also Elvis never did encores, he always left them begging for more.

During the filming of Blue Hawaii, Parker ran shouting and yelling into the middle of a scene, pointing at Elvis's watch and demanded ' if you want the watch in, you'll have to pay another 10 grand!’ No wonder Elvis began to hate making films. In public, Hal Wallis admired Parker, as a super salesman - Yet in private, he said ' I'd rather try and close a deal with the devil'. Parker really couldn’t care less about Presley's acting talent. He wanted a simple film, with cute girls and an album worth of songs. Also Parker wanted a lot of money for these films, after all he was making a fortune.

When a TV executive came to Parker offering $50,000 for a single prime time appearance by Elvis, Parker responded ' That'll be be just fine for me, but how much will you give Elvis?'

The extent of Parker's role in Elvis's wedding is disputed, some say he told Elvis to get married for publicity purposes, but it was a rushed affair with a brief guests list, which caused a huge ructions among Elvis's entourage. Parker also refused to let the happy couple have the honeymoon in Europe they wanted, he said it would upset the fans around the world. Why Elvis didn't insist on the wedding he and Priscilla really wanted is enduring mystery.

Parker was a competent hypnotist. He liked to get staff members to act like chickens and once had the Memphis Mafia barking like dogs. However, theories that Parker kept Elvis hypnotized for 20 years should be taken with a pinch of salt.

Elvis stood up to the Colonel on a handful of occasions. One was the 1968 TV Special, which Parker wanted a dull Christmassy show, thank god Elvis did it his way. It give him one of his finest, rawest performances. Then the second time happened when Parker didn’t want Elvis to record a particular song due to recording right. That song was ' Suspicious Minds'.

In 1969, Elvis went back on the road and played the International Hotel in Las Vegas. Alex Shoofy, the hotel's general manager, came to see Parker in the hotel dining room and offered a 5 year contract in which Elvis would play the hotel in February and August each year and earn $125,000 a week. Parker scribbled some terms on a red tablecloth, but he ignored inflation and tied Elvis long term. Alex Shoofy signed his agreement on the tablecloth and promptly told the press it ' was the best deal ever made in this town'. Not, perhaps, for Elvis.

Parker had a long term gambling habit and it got a lot worse in Vegas. He moved into the hotel in a fancy suite and lost million a year on the tables!

In the 70's, Elvis's income came from touring. In February 1972, he signed away one third of his tour profit to Parker.

In 1973, after a heated row, Elvis fired Parker, but he wouldn’t leave - without his million he was still waiting for. Elvis threw a fit and went on a huge drug fuelled week that culminated in a teenage girl almost overdose. Who does Elvis call to sort out the mess and keep the press away?? Parker.

Parker turned down endless offers for Elvis to tour the world. The reason was Parker was an illegal immigrant without a passport.

In 1973, RCA bought the masters - and royalty rights - of all Elvis's previous recordings for $5.4million. Jack Soden of EPE describes the deal as being right up there with the Indians selling Manhattan for 24 dollars. Seven years later, a lawyer for the Presley Estate Blacnchard Tual, concluded that Colonel Parker and RCA were probably guilty of collusion, conspiracy, fraud and misrepresentation.

In 1974, Parker set up Boxcar Enterprises to handle the merchandising business. Parker was on 40% on the income while Elvis only got 15%!

When Joe Esposito phoned Parker to tell him Elvis had died, Parkers first words were ' Oh dear god! Then after a long pause ' nothing has changed! This won’t change anything!' Within a day of Elvis's death, Parker got Vernon Presley (the executor to Elvis's will) to agree to keep al l the deals made with Elvis as they were. He also signed a deal with the merchandising company, Factors Inc. that meant Parker would take 78% of the proceeds of the forthcoming souvenir boom! At Elvis's funeral, Parker wore a Hawaiian shirt and a baseball cap. At the cemetery he wondered away from the graveside and say by himself on a police motorbike. After Vernon's death in 1979, the courts got involved and after a long battle, a deal was struck whereby Parker was cut from all connections with the Presley Estate for a hefty sum.

Colonel Tom Parker (aka Andreas 'Dries' Cornelis Van Kuijk) died in January 1997.

When Elvis Presley met the Beatles

THE BEATLES: John, Paul, George & Ringo talk about Elvis Presley
 February10, 1964 Elvis Presley sends a congratulatory telegram to the Beatles

PAUL We met Elvis Presley at the end of our stay in L.A. We'd tried for years to, but we could never get to him. He was our greatest idol, but the styles were changing in favor of us. He was a pretty powerful image to British people. You'd look at photos of him doing American concerts, and the audience would not even be jumping up and down. We used to be amazed, seeing them sitting in the front row - not even dancing. 

JOHN LENNON : When I first heard "Heartbreak Hotel," I could hardly make out what was being said. It was just the experience of hearing it and having my hair stand on end. We'd never heard American voices singing like that. They'd always sung like Sinatra who enunciated well. Suddenly, there's this hillbilly hiccupping with echo and all this bluesy background going on. We didn't know what the hell Presley was singing about or Little Richard or Chuck Berry. It took a long time to work out what was going on. To us, it just sounded like great noise.

PAUL We tried many times to meet Elvis, Colonel Tom Parker, his manager would just show up with a few souvenirs, and that would have to do us for a while. We didn't feel brushed off we felt we deserved to be brushed off. After all, he was Elvis, and who were we to dare to want to meet him? But we finally received an invitation to go round and see him when he was making a film in Hollywood.

GEORGE HARRISON Meeting Elvis was one of the high-lights of the tour. It was funny, because by the time we got near his house we'd forgotten where we were going. We were in a Cadillac going round and round along Mulholland, and we'd had a couple of "cups of tea" in the back of the car. It didn't really matter where we were going - it's like the comedian Lord Buckley says, "We go into a native village and take a couple of peyote buds, we might not find out where we is, but we'll sure find out who we is." Anyway, we were just having fun, we were all in hysterics. (We laughed a lot. That's one thing we forgot about for a few years - laughing. When we went through all the lawsuits, it looked as if everything was bleak, but when I think back to before that, I remember we used to laugh all the time.) We pulled up at some big gates and someone said, "Oh yeah, we're going to see Elvis," and we all fell out of the car laughing, trying to pretend we weren't silly, just like a Beatles cartoon.
 

The Beatles sit down on the floor right in front of Elvis, in a semi-circle, and they look up and they are just staring at him. There's this dead silence in the room until Elvis says, 'Well, what-the-hell, if you guys aren’t going to talk to me I’m going to my bedroom'. And then everyone started to laugh and that broke the ice.

JOHN It was very exciting, we were all nervous as hell, and we met him in his big house in L.A. - probably as big as the one we were staying in, but it still felt like "big house, big Elvis." He had lots of guys around him, all these guys that used to live near him (like we did from Liverpool, we always had thousands of Liverpool people around us, so I guess he was the same.) And he had pool tables! Maybe a lot of American houses are like that, but it seemed amazing to us. It was like a nightclub.

RINGO STARR I was pretty excited. We were lucky because it was the four of us and we had each other to be with. The house was very big. We walked in, and Elvis was sitting down on a settee in front of the TV. He was playing a bass guitar, which even to this day I find very strange. He had all his guys around him, and we said, "Hi, Elvis." He was pretty shy, and we were a little shy, but between the five of us we kept it rolling. I felt I was more thrilled to meet him than he was to meet me.

PAUL He showed us in.  He just looked like Elvis - we were all major fans, so it was hero worship of a high degree. He said, "Hello, lads - do you want a drink?" We sat down and watched telly, and he had the first remote any of us had ever seen. You just aimed it at the telly and - wow! That's Elvis! He was playing Charlie Rich's "Mohair Sam" all evening - he had it on a jukebox.

JOHN He had his TV going all the time, which is what I do; we always have TV on. We never watch it - it's just there with no sound on, and we listen to records. In front of the TV, he had a massive amplifier with a bass plugged into it, and he was up playing bass all the time with the picture up on the TV. So we just got in there and played with him. We all plugged in whatever was around, and we played and sang. He had a jukebox, like I do, but I think he had all his hits on it. But if I'd made as many as him, maybe I'd have all mine on.

PAUL That was the greatest. Elvis was into the bass, so there I was, "Well, let me show you a thing or two, El..." Suddenly he was a mate. It was a great conversation piece for me. I could actually talk about the bass, and we sat around and just enjoyed ourselves. He was great. Talkative. Friendly and a little bit shy. But that was his image. We expected that, we hoped for that.

JOHN At first we couldn't make him out. I asked him if he was preparing new ideas for his next film and he drawled, "Ah sure am. Ah play a country boy with a guitar who meets a few gals along the way, and ah sing a few songs." We all looked at one another. Finally Presley and Colonel Parker laughed and explained that the only time they departed from that formula - for Wild in the Country - they lost money.

PAUL She came in, and I got this picture of her as a sort of a Barbie doll - with a purple gingham dress and a gingham bow in her very beehive hair, with lots of makeup. We all said hello, and then it was, "Right, lads, hands off - she's going." She didn't stay long. I can't blame him, although I don't think any of us would have made a pass at her. That was definitely not on - Elvis's wife, you know! That was unthinkable - she didn't need to be put away quite so quickly, we thought.

GEORGE I don't remember even seeing Priscilla. I spent most of the party trying to suss out from the gang if anybody had any reefers. But they were uppers and whiskey people. They weren't really into reefer smoking in the South.

JOHN It was nice meeting Elvis. He was just Elvis, you know? He seemed normal to us, and we were asking about his making movies and not doing any personal appearances or TV. I think he enjoys making movies so much, we couldn't stand not doing personal appearances, we'd get bored - we get bored quickly. He says he misses it a bit. We never talked about anything else - we just played music. He wasn't bigger than us, but he was "the thing." He just wasn't articulate, that's all.

PAUL It was one of the great meetings of my life. I think he liked us. I think at that time, he may have felt a little bit threatened, but he didn't say anything. We certainly didn't feel any antagonism. I only met him that once, and then I think the success of our career started to push him out a little, which we were very sad about, because we wanted to coexist with him,

RINGO I saw him again. I remember one time I got really angry with him because he just wasn't making any music. He'd stopped everything and was just playing football with his guys. So I said, "Why don't you go into a studio and give us some music here? What are you doing?" I can't remember what he said - he probably just walked away and started playing football again.

JOHN Up until Elvis joined the army, I thought it was beautiful music and Elvis was for me and my generation what the Beatles were to the '60s. But after he went into the army, I think they cut "les bollocks" off. They not only shaved his hair off but I think they shaved between his legs, too. He played some good stuff after the army, but it was never quite the same, it was like something happened to him psychologically. Elvis really died the day he joined the army. That's when they killed him, and the rest was a living death.

The Beatles performed their last concert in Candlestick Park, San Francisco on 29th August 1966. In this exclusive excerpt from the book The Beatles Anthology recounts what it was like to come face-to-face with their idol Elvis Presley

The Elvis Presley Expert Blog: Lets start collecting (of quality) items about Elv...

The Elvis Presley Expert Blog: Lets start collecting (of quality) items about Elv...: Congratulations on your desire/intent to start, continue, etc. collecting Elvis Presley Memorabilia! We have been collecting “all thin...

Getting to, or do you already, know about Elvis Presley?

Elvis.

His name "triggers" a flood of emotions, memories, thoughts, that is...never-ending.

 

Elvis was the GREATEST Entertainer who ever lived...period. Elvis was the GREATEST Singer. Elvis was the most successful Hollywood Movie Star...ever (every one of Elvis' movies made money and no other "actor/actress" can make the same claim).

 

Elvis was the GREATEST Gospel Performer...ever. When Elvis was on TV (i.e. Milton Berle, Ed Sullivan, Comeback Special, Aloha from Hawaii, etc.) he was the RATINGS KING! Elvis was the CONCERT SELL OUT KING of all time from 1969 through 1977. NO ONE will ever touch Elvis' Concert attendance records...ever!

Elvis had style, swagger, desire to reach out of his "monetary challenged" existence and use the ONE "tool" that he could count on for success...himself. Elvis wanted to provide for his Mother and man he looked the part, acted the part, played the part, and just flat out BLEW everyone away onstage, and was just as "exciting" offstage.

Elvis was a loving son, husband, father, and a wonderful friend who gave of himself as he truly cared.

Elvis was gifted by God with a face, stance, physical presence, that was COMMANDING and there was NO ONE who looked like him before, then, after, now, as he was similar to a "Greek god statute" with the physical prowess of a Tiger.

If Elvis wanted it...he got it. He absorbed it. He turned it inside out and outside in. He read, he asked questions, he prayed, he kept a dialog with his Mother (after her passing) as well as to his twin brother (who died at birth) and he constantly questioned WHY did God allow him such success?

WOW not many people realize/know how HUMBLE a person Elvis was and it was NOT an act. Yeah, sure he could/would "yes mam" and be very respectful and some people (like you Geraldo Rivera give Elvis his PROPS!) thought it was an "act"...but it was as real as that perfectly defined nose and that jet black hair and those grey-blue-auburn colored eyes that Elvis had.

Elvis was the HIGHEST PAID ENTERTAINER for the majority of his life, excluding when he was mandated to complete the "movie contracts" that went from (approximately) 1961-1968, in a time when the HIGHEST income tax bracket was 90% (which is UNHEARD of today).

Elvis always took care, monetarily, of those within his "inner circle". Elvis would, and did, give away TENS OF THOUSANDS of dollars every year to Charities in Memphis. Elvis not only paid his "inner circle" but he took care of their expenses/food/etc. If you were "in" with Elvis...you were in.

Most of the Memphis Mafia, as Elvis' "inner circle" were called, were men. However, there was one SPECIAL lady named Patty Perry who was very much in Elvis' "inner circle".

 

There is no doubt that each of these individuals (truly) cared for Elvis. There is also no doubt that, beginning in late 1971, Elvis had some health issues that needed to be addressed.

 

Many of the "inner circle" tried to provide Elvis with "good advice/options", concerning his health issues, and sometimes the advice was given "face to face" and just before Elvis died it was released in a book entitled "Elvis what happened?”

 

There is NO DOUBT that Elvis' health declined, with a few good months here and there, beginning in late 1971 but really began to deteriorate in 1976 and went FULL FORCE deterioration in 1977. No one can put themselves in his "shoes" as that man (literally) felt like he had the World to carry. He had to make money so he had to perform. He could not eat right, sleep well, go to the bathroom well/often, he had stomach issues, reactions, digestive problems, and (among other things) an enlarged heart.

 

Elvis continued on performing NOT because he necessarily wanted to (note: in fairness Elvis loved to perform but we are talking about 200 shows a year for a man over the age of 40) but he HAD to

I am NOT a "doctor" but based up all of the "insiders" books, articles, interviews, products that I have read for OVER 40 years now (and continue to read vicariously daily) I believe that Elvis was predisposed for Depression and/or "great highs" and/or "great lows".

 

Elvis was allergic to Penicillin and on one occasion he was accidently given Penicillin and had a reaction and almost died. During his time Penicillin was the NUMBER 1 drug to fight infections for most of America...except Elvis and others who had the bad reactions. Elvis had a MAJOR sleeping disorder and had to take medication to even TRY to get some sleep. Elvis' natural body was ALWAYS moving and ready to go. Elvis stayed up until the sun came up and went to bed and slept until late afternoon - sometimes Elvis would sleep for days and stay in his bedroom.

 

 

One FACT stayed with Elvis ever since he was a little boy and that was that he would not outlive his Mother's age. Elvis often talked about that during his lifetime and several times PRIOR to his Mothers passing.

 

Elvis TRULY BELIEVED, in his heart and soul, that it was inevitable. When Elvis' Mother died Elvis believed that she was 42 years old. Factually she was 46 years old and she had kept her true age from Elvis all of his life. Therefore Elvis, going into 1977, knew that the first month of 1977 (January) he would in fact turn 42 (1/8/77). We can only imagine how that REALITY played in Elvis' head and in his attitude and in his decisions.

 

Elvis was a COLLECTOR of fine/unique items: clothes, cars, jewelry, shoes, horses, furniture, buses, motorcycles, 3wheelers, etc. Elvis also owned the FIRST "cell phone" (we have a photo of it and it is encased into a wooden box but it worked). Elvis also owned the FIRST VHS player (we have a photo of it as well that we took in 1977) here in the United States. If it was "cool", cutting edge, etc. then Elvis would get it.

 

Elvis had a PHOTOGRAPHIC MEMORY. Elvis also had a great ability to put his thoughts down on paper including designing things. Elvis was a "multi-faceted" man who was multi-talented and a giving caring human being.

 

Elvis was the MOST PHOTOGRAPHED person who ever lived. Elvis was also the MOST PRODUCT FRIENDLY Entertainer of his time meaning that you could get an Elvis doll, lunchbox, shirt, hat, coat, shoes, etc. Thus there are MANY MANY Elvis Collectibles (we define as Elvis items made AFTER his death of August 16, 1977) and Elvis Memorabilia (we define as Elvis items made during his lifetime of January 8, 1935 until August 16, 1977).

 

Well, that's the end of this article but, God willing, I will share some more stories/facts with you online and during the interim "take care and may God bless you".

 

Jeff Schrembs

www.ElvisCollector.info

www.ElvisCollectorWorldwide.freeforums.org