Black Pinwheel (aka) Black Matador Jumpsuit (1971-1972)

[Jumpsuit Junkie]

Black Pinwheel (aka) Black Matador Jumpsuit (1971-1972) this had two other similar designs, the White Pinwheel (http://www.tcb-world.com/showthread.php?t=1227&highlight=white+matador) and the Red Pinwheel (http://www.tcb-world.com/showthread.php?t=1223&highlight=matador).

Known Dates Worn:-

November 6, 1971 (2:30 pm). Cleveland, OH.
November 10, 1971 (8:30 pm). Boston, MA.
November 13, 1971 (2:30 pm). Dallas, TX.
November 14, 1971 (8:30 pm). Tuscaloosa, AL.

[kennyelvis]

November 10, 1971 (8:30 pm). Boston, MA

[buttonhead]

Black matador pics

[AKing]

here is my contribution. Nice photo taken by my Girl Cathi.
Enjoy! (y)

[Leroy]

Nice picture, thank you for sharing it with us.

[TCBinAZ]

Elvis looked great in black! :cool:

[sabbath]

with GoldAttendance Belt
1971 11 XX to 1972 02 XX

[Bona_Fide_Daddy]

:) elvis should have wore more black jumpsuits . too cool!

[nabelt24]

Did Elvis ever wear a different belt with this suit? Apparantly there was a belt made for this suit, but I've never seen a picture of him wearing it?

[Jumpsuit Junkie]

If there are any photo's I haven't seen any :hmm: to be perfectly honest there are not a great deal of photo's of Elvis in this suit as there are others!

Matt

[stefankoch]

I love this suit:clap:
Elvis looks so great in black(y) :notworthy

[Tony Trout]

I didn't know that Elvis wore the "Black Pinwheel" jumpsuit at the 8:30 p.m. show in Jacksonville, FL on April 16, 1972?!?!?!?!? Is there any photos of the evening show to prove this?

[Leroy]

He didn't. I think it's a "slip of the pen" on Matt's side. In Jacksonville Elvis wore the 1972 "White Pyramyd" during the afternoon show and the 1971 "White Fireworks" during the evening show.

[mn-designs]

Didn't Elvis had this suit also on..when he played hawaii in '72?
I saw some footage of that concert..and he wore a black suit also there..and i always believed it was this suit..i'm i correct on that one?

[Eve]

(y) ..................

[Leroy]

Didn't Elvis had this suit also on..when he played hawaii in '72?
I saw some footage of that concert..and he wore a black suit also there..and i always believed it was this suit..i'm i correct on that one?

I think you're confused because in both cases he wore a black jumpsuit with a red lined cape and a red scarf, but were talking about two totally different jumpsuits. In Hawaii he wore the "Black Conquistador" , which is a more heavy studded jumpsuit (see pictures below). Elvis owned several black jumpsuits.

[richardo316]

this was a great suit. thanks for all the pics and info

[utmom2008]

Black Matador Jumpsuit (1971-1972 (Another picture hard to find clear)

Known Dates Worn:-

November 6, 1971 (2:30 pm). Cleveland, OH.
November 10, 1971 (8:30 pm). Boston, MA.
November 13, 1971 (2:30 pm). Dallas, TX.
November 14, 1971 (8:30 pm). Tuscaloosa, AL.

(y)(y)(y)(y)(y)(y) I was there...and he was gorgeous!!!

[LORRIELOVESELVIS]

This Has Always Been A Winner For Me -- The Man Is Hot In This One!!!

[Tony Trout]

Did Elvis ever wear a different belt with this suit? Apparantly there was a belt made for this suit, but I've never seen a picture of him wearing it?


I tought I'd seen a picture somewhere of Elvis wearing the actual belt made for this costume but I may be wrong. The belt I've always ever seen around Elvis's waist while wearing this suit is the "Gold Attendance" belt that the International/Hilton hotel gave him. Leroy may correct me but I do believe there was, in fact, a belt made for this suit but Elvis never wore it.

[Jumpsuit Junkie]

From what photo's I have seen I have never seen Elvis wear the original belt with this suit :hmm:

[LianaKaralivanou]

I like this jumpsuit but to be honest with you, I prefer Elvis dressed in white...

[jean francois]

I love it thank you

[nabelt24]

Here's a wallpaper that Harry (hcvegas) put together of this suit! It's fantastic! I'm sure this took a while to do? Great work, Harry!

[Diane Lynn]

I Want Footage I Want Footage I Want A Concert

[Diane Lynn]

I Love The Black Suits

[The King's Queen]

Great suit! He looked smokin' hot too...

[easyrider]

Great photos!!!!

[noone]

Look at the windscreen on two of the pictures...and they are suposed to bee from Cleveland Ohio november 6, 1971 afternoon show (pictures taken from Paul Lichter book "From the city of brotherly love to the big apple".
But Elvis did not use windscreen in 1971 ded he??? and the pictures is not from vegas january & february 1972 i think if you look at the background.
So is this from the April tour, maybee Jacksonville evening show?? this is the only date i am not sure if the information we got from books and internet is corect.

Noone

[elvispresleytheking]

I wonder why he didn't keep wearing it in 1972.

[Leroy]

Look at the windscreen on two of the pictures...and they are suposed to bee from Cleveland Ohio november 6, 1971 afternoon show (pictures taken from Paul Lichter book "From the city of brotherly love to the big apple".
But Elvis did not use windscreen in 1971 ded he??? and the pictures is not from vegas january & february 1972 i think if you look at the background.
So is this from the April tour, maybee Jacksonville evening show?? this is the only date i am not sure if the information we got from books and internet is corect.

Noone

It is Cleveland, November 6th.... he just took a different mike for a short while... It's probably the only time in 1971 you'll see him with a windscreenduring that year. There could have been a technical problem with the mic.

[Leroy]

I wonder why he didn't keep wearing it in 1972.

It's quite possible Elvis did wear it in Vegas in Jan/Feb 1972. One of the reasons he did not keep on wearing it is because he wasn't fond of coloured jumpsuits, especially the darker ones because they were very hard to light on stage.

[noone]

Thank you :-)

[elvispresleytheking]

It's quite possible Elvis did wear it in Vegas in Jan/Feb 1972. One of the reasons he did not keep on wearing it is because he wasn't fond of coloured jumpsuits, especially the darker ones because they were very hard to light on stage.

Hmm, but he did wear the black pyramid and the black conquistador that year, and the blue nail is my favorite jumpsuit.

[elvia7]

Thank you, all for these wonderful pictures!(y)(y)(y)I thimk that ELVIS looks very good in black ...:king::D

[Leroy]

Hmm, but he did wear the black pyramid and the black conquistador that year, and the blue nail is my favorite jumpsuit.

He never wore a "Black Pyramid", simply because that suit doesn't excist. You are probably referring to the "Black Butterfly", a suit that has a resemblance to the "White Pyramid", only with tiny gold butterfly shaped nails, which go in the opposite direction....

But you are right about Elvis wearing black. He even wore more black jumpsuits like the two different versions of the "Black Spanish Flower".

One of the unique things about Elvis and his wardrobe design team is that Elvis always did put aside his personal taste, and he was always willing to try out new designs, even though he was not always as thrilled as the designers or the audiences. But if you look at his wardrobe you have to admit that the majority is white.... simply because this way Elvis was always visible on the stage.....

Personally I believe that the black jumpsuits, especially the "Black Conquistador" and both "Black Spanish Flowers" were top designs and that Elvis looked at his best in darker suits.

[Jumpsuit Junkie]

I agree that Black was a colour that flattered Elvis even if he didn't like it.

The point in case would be the Two Piece Suits front 1975, they certainly helped when Elvis was heavier.

[elvispresleytheking]

He never wore a "Black Pyramid", simply because that suit doesn't excist. You are probably referring to the "Black Butterfly", a suit that has a resemblance to the "White Pyramid", only with tiny gold butterfly shaped nails, which go in the opposite direction....

But you are right about Elvis wearing black. He even wore more black jumpsuits like the two different versions of the "Black Spanish Flower".

One of the unique things about Elvis and his wardrobe design team is that Elvis always did put aside his personal taste, and he was always willing to try out new designs, even though he was not always as thrilled as the designers or the audiences. But if you look at his wardrobe you have to admit that the majority is white.... simply because this way Elvis was always visible on the stage.....

Personally I believe that the black jumpsuits, especially the "Black Conquistador" and both "Black Spanish Flowers" were top designs and that Elvis looked at his best in darker suits.

The black pyramid was the result of contradicting thoughts in my head, but thanks for the correction. Was the black butterfly worn in 1971, as EPE states?

[Leroy]

No... as usual EPE has their facts wrong. The suit is a 1971 design (smaller bell bottoms) but it was delivered to Elvis in January 1972. The suit made its debut during the Jan/Feb 1972 season in Las Vegas and Elvis wore it a few times during that engagement using two different types of gold belts. He never wore it on a tour. There might be a possibility it was even used in Aug/Sept 1972 but that is pure speculation.....

There's even a chance that the suit has two different versions. As you look at some of the pictures where Elvis is posing in the "Black Butterfly" you can see that the lining of the cape and the lining of the kick pleats are yellow. The version that is on display at Graceland has gold linings.

[elvispresleytheking]

No... as usual EPE has their facts wrong. The suit is a 1971 design (smaller bell bottoms) but it was delivered to Elvis in January 1972. The suit made its debut during the Jan/Feb 1972 season in Las Vegas and Elvis wore it a few times during that engagement using two different types of gold belts. He never wore it on a tour. There might be a possibility it was even used in Aug/Sept 1972 but that is pure speculation.....

There's even a chance that the suit has two different versions. As you look at some of the pictures where Elvis is posing in the "Black Butterfly" you can see that the lining of the cape and the lining of the kick pleats are yellow. The version that is on display at Graceland has gold linings.

Thanks again for your help. I know EPE also said the Spanish Flower suits were ONLY used in 1971, and I know that's not true.

[Tigerman1975]

That black pinwheel is really cool. I wish that he would have wore more black than he did. I read somewhere that Elvis didnt think that the people in the back of the arenas could see him as good when he wore black.

[peter]

http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/228713_2005709188493_1416548436_32328644_752032_n. jpg

Detail from Prague exhibition :)

[peter]

http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/224710_2005715148642_1416548436_32328663_4864454_n .jpg

Second detail....

[merry77]

unfortunately the items at the Prague exhibition are not the real ones. None of them.

[Garyelvisstuart]

My issue is why are they trying to pass this off as Elvis' Owned and Worn Black Matador/Black Pinwheel jumpsuit. And for G-D's sake, why would they just dump the jumpsuit all crumpled up like that. Even if it was or wasn't Elvis', to treat such a garment in this fashion,like yesterdays old newspaper, is just a tragedy. I think who ever did such a thing should be taken out back and hit with a switch. TERRIBLE TERRIBLE TERRIBLE!!!!!

[Tommy]

http://www.tcb-world.com/gallery/data//13/1971BlackPinwheel15.jpg

[Tommy]

http://www.tcb-world.com/gallery/data//29/boston_msnovember_10_1971.jpg

[Tony Trout]

There's ONE question that has been bothering me recently:


When did the designs for the bell-bottoms start to become larger like actual bell-bottoms? You'll notice in the suits from 1970-1972, the kick pleats are small-ish (except for the kick pleats on the "White Pyramid" suit) and I'm just wondering when the legs for the suits started having more of a classic bell-bottom design?

[drumzz70]

No... as usual EPE has their facts wrong. The suit is a 1971 design (smaller bell bottoms) but it was delivered to Elvis in January 1972. The suit made its debut during the Jan/Feb 1972 season in Las Vegas and Elvis wore it a few times during that engagement using two different types of gold belts. He never wore it on a tour. There might be a possibility it was even used in Aug/Sept 1972 but that is pure speculation.....

There's even a chance that the suit has two different versions. As you look at some of the pictures where Elvis is posing in the "Black Butterfly" you can see that the lining of the cape and the lining of the kick pleats are yellow. The version that is on display at Graceland has gold linings.

There is a picture of the second version butterfly next to the tv show aloha suit and the size difference is way too different to be elvis's suit. the legs of the suit are so long they are bundled at the shoes. My opinion is the second version is a b&k repro, and the suit fits butches height from b&K, he is probably 6'4 or 6'5 in height and elvis was 6 feet the max. even with shoes the second suit was way too big for elvis.

[drumzz70]

flickr.com once on the site search american eagle aloha from hawaii , there are 2 pictures of this black butterfly with gold, next to the tv show aloha suit.

[drumzz70]

There's ONE question that has been bothering me recently:


When did the designs for the bell-bottoms start to become larger like actual bell-bottoms? You'll notice in the suits from 1970-1972, the kick pleats are small-ish (except for the kick pleats on the "White Pyramid" suit) and I'm just wondering when the legs for the suits started having more of a classic bell-bottom design?

From looking at elvis in concert photos, the white pyramid was the first with longer kickpleats and bells. It was in jacksonville FL 1972 ( the on tour footage ) just before the NY shows he started with the bigger pleats then the , comet/ adonis suit, porthole suit, blue grass suit..ect. i think the aloha suit bells were even a little wider then all because it was for tv but, it could be just how the tv showed it to appear.