Pale Blue Bird (aka) Blue Phoenix Jumpsuit (1974)

[Jumpsuit Junkie]

Pale Blue Bird (aka) Blue Phoenix Jumpsuit (1974) One of Three Similar Designs (See Black Phoenix and Silver/White Pheonix)

Know Dates Worn:-

May 13, 1974 (8:30 pm) San Bernardino, CA.
June 20, 1974 (8:30 pm) Des Moines, IA.
June 24, 1974 (8:30 pm) Niagara Falls, NY.
June 28, 1974. (8:30 pm) Milwaukee, WI.

[kennyelvis]

With a different belt, i have been told that this was the original belt :blink:
San Bernardino, May 13, 1974

[buttonhead]

more pix of this suit (y)

[Elena/The Russian EP Fan Club]

One more pic

[Leroy]

The light blue belt you see in the pictures from May is identical to the third belt of the "Blue Swirl" but only done in light blue. However this is not an original belt for the "Pale Blue Bird" although the colour is the same.

[sabbath]

1974 08 27 Ms

[memphis 77]

the belt was originally desighned for the pale blue phoenix suit back in may 75, but E.P. never wore the suit, BILL had said that ELVIS liked the navy one better and the pale blue suit was sent back to him[memphis flash 76].

[elvis fan 1976]

One of my fave suits!(y) (y)

[elvis himselvis]

I really like this jumpsuit
great pictures either(y)

[JonRomanovich]

I love this suit and love the pics of him from August with the longer hair.




These pics were new to me 16745

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[JonRomanovich]

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[JonRomanovich]

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[elvis himselvis]

that are great pictures of Elvis in a great jumpsuit!!(y)
Never seen them before;)
thanks for sharing

[CHRISTIAN M]

HI
I ts one of my favorite jumpsuit thanks for posting phototos
i m always looking for nice footage withe this blue pal phoenix jumpsuit,if someone can help me ( i have only short clips from June 24, 1974 (8:30 pm) Niagara Falls start concert ,and Vegas august 1974 )
Christian M

[elvis himselvis]

Are these short footage on your website ?

[CHRISTIAN M]

Are these short footage on your website ?

NO sorry maybe later
Christian M

[elvis himselvis]

Ok
I hope you will put it on your website someday,because this is a great jumpsuit and really looks great to Elvis

[richardo316]

thanks for all the info and pictures of this jumpsuit. :lol:

[medleyofcostumes]

While browsing the forum I found this attachment. I have never seen that belt. Does anyone have some information on the pictured 'Pale Blue Bird' belt? Leroy perhaps?

Link:
http://www.tcb-world.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=15934&d=1171677412

[daddio26]

This is definitely one of my fave jumpsuits, but then again i'm a big fan of all the phoenix jumpsuits. Great pics by the way

[Unchained Melody]

This is definitely one of my fave jumpsuits, but then again i'm a big fan of all the phoenix jumpsuits. Great pics by the way

He sure looked good in this suite during the summer months of '74(y)

[goodelvisgirl]

yep this is one of my favs but it looked good in all colours thanks for posting the pics i love the belt in the first pics posted by jumpsuit junkie this went with the suit the best

[Diane]

I do like all these Phoenix suits. I think my favorite is the dark blue...called the Silver Phoenix? Next would be the one with black, red, then light blue.

Diane

[The King's Queen]

Love this one too! I just always thought that the design on the chest area gave Elvis' chest a much broader look. He looked very regal in this suit.

[el gerry]

One of my favourite suits . Can not understand why he didnt wear it more as he looked great in it . I think he looks the best in this out of the 3 phoenix suits

[Unchained Melody]

Love this suit. Here's some more photo's of it(y)
http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/4513/64il9.jpg
http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/305/60fj5.jpg
http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/1943/61ky1.jpg

[tony70]

i really like the phoenix jumpsuits also didnt realize till last year that they had sequence on them

[tony70]

One more pic

good pic of elvis

[Unchained Melody]

i really like the phoenix jumpsuits also didnt realize till last year that they had sequence on them

I love all the versions of the Phoenix suits :D

[mrsphilly]

i love all elvis's jumpsuits.

[KPM]

i really like the phoenix jumpsuits also didnt realize till last year that they had sequence on them
That is not the "Blue Phoenix" jumpsuit with sequence its the "King of Spades"

[elvispresleytheking]

The navy blue version was better than this.

[Leroy]

That is not the "Blue Phoenix" jumpsuit with sequence its the "King of Spades"

It's not even the "King of Spades", but the 1974 "Arabian". But I think Tony didn't post this picture for this thread. It seems to be his signature picture. A little bit large tho.

And for Tony: All jumpsuits have sequences on them.

[el gerry]

This is my favourite of all the pheonix jumpsuits . A classic

[Marlena]

Beautiful jumpsuit and beautiful Elvis (y)

[easyrider]

Good jumpsuit

[molokai123]

i have always liked all of the phoenix jumpsuits,just great looking suits!!(y):king:

[Brad Stalnaker]

We now know that the ORIGINAL design was of a Zebra....and Elvis said, "funny feet on the eagle"...looking at the sketch upside down.

But my question is about the time frame the suits were made.

I got a Movie Magazine on vacation (in Fla.) in 1974. On the cover and inside were the same photos that kennyelvis posted on this thread.

The NEXT time I saw this design was a YEAR later when Elvis stepped on stage at the Charleston Civic Center in W. Va. (afternoon show) and he was wearing the dark blue/silver version. At that moment I realized the design was the same as the light blue one I had in that magazine (from a year ago). Upon getting the Charleston Gazette I found that he had a RED one also worn the night before...(later in STRICTLY ELVIS saw the black version).

My question (to Leroy) is; were all the suits made in 1974 or was the light blue one made first....THEN Elvis asked for 3 more for the 1975 tours?

PS...a note about the sequins on these suits. The thing that was mesmerizing when Elvis stepped on stage was the fact that these suits SPARKLED in RAINBOW colors....I remember as the spot lights hit him and the flash bulbs went off he was a shimmer of color - green, pink, blue, red it was quite stunning....and I have never seen a photo that captured this.

[Leroy]

The "Black Phoenix", the "Red Phoenix" and the "Turqoise Phoenix" were commisioned in 1974. Only the "Turqoise Phoenix" was actually manufactured and delivered to Elvis the same year. This had to do with an argument between Gene Doucette (who actually was responsible for the design) and Bill Belew (who send the blank suits to Gene). Gene had enough of not getting the recognition he deserved after designing so many higly praised costumes, and decided to stop. Bill got all the credit, the houses, the cars, the jewelry, the champagne..... All because Elvis never knew that it was Gene who designed his wardrobe and not Bill. It was this arrangement that highly frustrated Gene. Therefor only one bird/zebra design was delivered.

I have always been under the impression that the "Black Phoenix" was the first design because originally it was to be a zebra, and those animals are black and white. But after the desicion of letting it be birds after all I guess the color didn't matter anymore.

I hope this information kinda answered your question.....

[merry77]

YEAH!!!

I managed to buy a buckle with the exact same image as the belt buckles used on Elvis' belt today.
It will come to me from my favourite belt buckle seller. I now have about a dozen belt buckles similar to the ones that were used on Elvis' belts.

It is actually a pheasant in flight.

[merry77]

does anybody have a picture of Elvis with the reserve belt? Because I've never seen a picture of Elvis with it.

[The Everlasting Gaze]

http://www.gtasourcepage.com/ElvisStuff/74tealphoenix1.jpg

[The Everlasting Gaze]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmD227t8Fh4&feature=related
http://www.gtasourcepage.com/ElvisStuff/74tealphoenix9.jpg
http://www.gtasourcepage.com/ElvisStuff/74tealphoenix3.jpg
http://www.gtasourcepage.com/ElvisStuff/74tealphoenix5.jpg

[Brad Stalnaker]

closer of what is in Memphis

[Leroy]

I really wonder about this belt. As fas as I know it has never been used on stage. At least not the occasions we know about. To me this belt seems something they have created because the original belt was given away....

[medleyofcostumes]

I really wonder about this belt. As fas as I know it has never been used on stage. At least not the occasions we know about. To me this belt seems something they have created because the original belt was given away....

Just wondering...could it be there was the intention of wearing the suit in late 76 just like its red and black counterparts and a new belt prepared, but EP never used it??

[merry77]

I made some very detailed photos of this belt. Also I managed to buy one of these buckles. That's why I am wondering if this second belt was ever worn on stage.

I also have a buckle of the pheasant, which is on the worn belt.


closer of what is in Memphis

[Jumpsuit Junkie]

closer of what is in Memphis


I really wonder about this belt. As fas as I know it has never been used on stage. At least not the occasions we know about. To me this belt seems something they have created because the original belt was given away....

Agreed, when you look at other belts they look tarnished and dull with the passing of time, this belt however looks very clean??

[merry77]

the buckles are from the 70s. So whenever this extra belt was made it was back then and not recent. But if it was never worn then it would remain clean.

[Jumpsuit Junkie]

the buckles are from the 70s. So whenever this extra belt was made it was back then and not recent. But if it was never worn then it would remain clean.

They must have chosen to polish this belt and none of the other ones then because when you look at other belts including the Mexican Sundial the metal portions are clearly dull... Belt designs aren't that difficult to replicate as B & K can attest!

You have to be suspicious of what EPE display as they are known for inaccuracies.

[merry77]

the design of the embroidery is exactly the same as the other phoenix belts. I don't think even B&K could make them the same that accurate.

Also as I mentioned the buckles are definitely from the 70s. You can't get that many original buckles any more.
Therefore my assumption is that the belt was made in the 70s with the suit, but never used. That would keep it as fresh as it is.
Makes you wonder why.

Maybe somebody could ask Gene?

The original belt didn't get lost, since it was auctioned off in 1996 or so.

[kingkelo74]

Awesome Suit.

[girl-do]

one of the best jumpsuits.

[nabelt24]

If you don't mind me asking, where did you find this?