charlie hodge and graceland

[presley31]

I was reading in Nancy rooks book and l was wondering if its true that charlie left graceland on his own or did priscilla tell vernon to get rid of him?? I heard that story on another forum.

[toffe]

How long did Charlie live there?

[karenC]

I heard that Vernon let him go; not sure if it was Priscilla's suggestion (likely not), but I heard that Vernon gave him his walking papers.

[presley31]

nancy rooks saying was that charlie was offered a job to watch the graves and graceland, but charlie went off and did his own thing and when vernon found out he give charlie a choice and charlie choose to go his own way, so l really don't know what is true??

[cameron]

I didn't really look into that either. Heard some stories is all.
That Charlie thought he should have a different kind of job ;and another that he just chose to leave .??

[presley31]

I didn't really look into that either. Heard some stories is all.
That Charlie thought he should have a different kind of job ;and another that he just chose to leave .??

l think charlie maybe wanted to stay with the music side of things.

[MissyM]

Graceland didn't even open to the public untill 1982. I can't imagine that Charlie lived at Graceland that long after 1977. How could Vernon afford to keep him?

[presley31]

Graceland didn't even open to the public untill 1982. I can't imagine that Charlie lived at Graceland that long after 1977. How could Vernon afford to keep him?

charlie was gone by the time vernon died.

[john carpenter]

I saw Charlie on another site,and he was so upset that Elvis died.Its the one where Joe said Elvis was found in his bed(a cover-up) Charlie really loved Elvis,you could tell by his reaction. But that was Vernon for you,he was tight with a buck.He more than likely told Charlie to leave.

[Tony Trout]

Vernon coldly (and that's putting it mildly) put Charlie out on the street without a job...he and Charlie were talking one day and acting like old buddies and then Charlie walked out to the office to pick up his check and found a pink slip inside...he basically got "shafted"....

[MissyM]

And a very good reason for Pricilla to not attend his funeral. She probably couldn't face his dear friends and family. And if you all think she wasn't behind that then, well what can I say. I have my reasons and you have your's for thinking what we do.

[Getlo]

Vernon coldly (and that's putting it mildly) put Charlie out on the street without a job...he and Charlie were talking one day and acting like old buddies and then Charlie walked out to the office to pick up his check and found a pink slip inside...he basically got "shafted"....

Let's be honest though: Charlie could have got up off his *** and moved out of Graceland himself. He had some musical talent, or could have applied for welfare or whatever, or gone into other work - which he did eventually.

Yes, it was great of Elvis to have given Charlie a home for so many years, but why should he have been able to live off the Graceland teet any longer, after Elvis had died?

And what, exactly, was Charlie being paid for between Elvis dying and his termination? What was his actual job? Whatever it was, it and he were no longer needed.

That's life, sometimes. That's reality.

Sorry, but staying in the house beyond August 1977 was inappropriate and leech-like IMO, and the firing was just the shot Charlie needed to start living his own life, something he hadn't done for 20 or so years. He did okay for himself in the end.

[MissyM]

I have no problem with Charlie having to leave. There was no way Vernon could afford to keep paying people. It is the way he did things that IMO were callous.

[Tony Trout]

Let's be honest though: Charlie could have got up off his *** and moved out of Graceland himself. He had some musical talent, or could have applied for welfare or whatever, or gone into other work - which he did eventually.

Yes, it was great of Elvis to have given Charlie a home for so many years, but why should he have been able to live off the Graceland teet any longer, after Elvis had died?

And what, exactly, was Charlie being paid for between Elvis dying and his termination? What was his actual job? Whatever it was, it and he were no longer needed.

That's life, sometimes. That's reality.

Sorry, but staying in the house beyond August 1977 was inappropriate and leech-like IMO, and the firing was just the shot Charlie needed to start living his own life, something he hadn't done for 20 or so years. He did okay for himself in the end.


I agree, Getlo. Lamar recalls in "Elvis: Aaron Presley: Revelations From The Memphis Mafia" that he (Fike) was the very first one to quit after Elvis's funeral. I, too, don't understand why Charlie would hang around Graceland as long as he did. Here's what Lamar says about leaving:


When we came back from the funeral, Vernon was standing at the end of the dining room. I said, "Vernon, I'm gone. I'm sure as hell not going to tend the flame, and I'm not going to drive a motor scooter around these fourteen acres." He said, "I knew you'd be the first to quit."

Here's what Marty Lacker says 'bout Charlie leaving:


In 1978, Charlie got a little taste of his own medicine. He'd continued to live at Graceland, and I guess he thought he was going to stay forever. Because Vernon and Charlie acted like old country buddies. Vernon sold his house on Dolan and moved into the garage apartment there at Graceland. So he and Charlie used to sit around the kitchen and drink coffee and smoke in the mornings, tell all these old country stories and talk about everybody behind his back.

One Friday morning, Vernon was his same old self, patting Charlie on the back and laughing. And then Charlie went out to the office and got his paycheck and there was a pink slip in the envelope. Charlie was out on the street. He didn't know what to do.

[presley31]

Thanks l guess l will have to make my own mind about charlie.

[ksimms2]

I agree with Getlo about Charlie, how long did he think it was okay for him to hang around and live for free at Graceland? Elvis was no longer there. He picked up his paycheck and got a pink slip? What was he receiving a paycheck for? Since Elvis was dead - what was he being paid for? Anyone know?

[presley31]

I agree with Getlo about Charlie, how long did he think it was okay for him to hang around and live for free at Graceland? Elvis was no longer there. He picked up his paycheck and got a pink slip? What was he receiving a paycheck for? Since Elvis was dead - what was he being paid for? Anyone know?

I'am guessing he workd there for vernon according to the maids and it was charlie choice to move on and also charlie had some kind of music thing going too.

[utmom2008]

Let's be honest though: Charlie could have got up off his *** and moved out of Graceland himself.
Sorry, but staying in the house beyond August 1977 was inappropriate and leech-like IMO, and the firing was just the shot Charlie needed to start living his own life, something he hadn't done for 20 or so years. He did okay for himself in the end.

I have to agree with you Getlo...to continue to live there with nothing to do made Charlie look like the original bum. They had to know on Aug. 16th that there lives were about to change drastically....;)

[Diane]

As much as I liked Charlie, I would have to agree that when Elvis died it was time for him to move on and make a life for himself on his own.

Diane

[presley31]

As much as I liked Charlie, I would have to agree that when Elvis died it was time for him to move on and make a life for himself on his own.

Diane

how long was charlie at graceland after elvis dead??

[ksimms2]

how long was charlie at graceland after elvis dead??

A year or more....didn't someone else's post say 1978?

[presley31]

A year or more....didn't someone else's post say 1978?

dunno kelly, but inside graceland doesn't make it sound like he there that long, not even a month.

[presley31]

While living at Graceland Charlie resided in a converted apartment behind the main residence. While at Graceland he took care of personal business for Elvis. Charlie stayed on at Graceland for nearly six months after Elvis' death before being asked toleave by Vernon Presley. In the John Carpenter telemovie, Elvis, starring Kurt Russell, Charlie played himself. He also had bit parts in a number of Elvis films such as Clambake and Charro

yep so it was vernon who asked charlie to leave. Nancy seems to wrong.

[MissyM]

I try to think of what it must have been like. These men lived and breathed Elvis for so many years. I think he was a father, brother, friends to them all. I know Lisa was so special to many of them. Then Elvis dies. It must have turned their lives upside down in ways we can't imagine. They lost so much when Elvis died. I know from my own experience sometimes when one person dies, it can tear a whole family apart. All I am saying is that it must have been hard on them all. And while I am not a huge fan of Vernon, it had to be hard on him. He was so reliant on Elvis and he was his son. I'm glad Charlie was able to move on and make his own way. It tooks it's toll on Vernon. Well that and other things too.

[ksimms2]

I try to think of what it must have been like. These men lived and breathed Elvis for so many years. I think he was a father, brother, friends to them all. I know Lisa was so special to many of them. Then Elvis dies. It must have turned their lives upside down in ways we can't imagine. They lost so much when Elvis died. I know from my own experience sometimes when one person dies, it can tear a whole family apart. All I am saying is that it must have been hard on them all. And while I am not a huge fan of Vernon, it had to be hard on him. He was so reliant on Elvis and he was his son. I'm glad Charlie was able to move on and make his own way. It tooks it's toll on Vernon. Well that and other things too.

I agree Missy....they all lived and breathed Elvis for most of their lives....it had to be hard on all of them to have their main source of work - not to mention their special friend die......I'm not arguing that point at all......you are right.

[utmom2008]

As much as I liked Charlie, I would have to agree that when Elvis died it was time for him to move on and make a life for himself on his own.

Diane
I agree Diane. I met Charlie several times in Vegas, and you couldn't ask for a nicer guy. Really really sweet. I don't think he had a clue as to what to do after Elvis was gone...I would imagine he was somewhat like a lost child.

[ksimms2]

I agree Diane. I met Charlie several times in Vegas, and you couldn't ask for a nicer guy. Really really sweet. I don't think he had a clue as to what to do after Elvis was gone...I would imagine he was somewhat like a lost child.

I've heard from another friend who was friends with Charlie until he died....she said he was the nicest guy you'd ever want to meet....I bet he was lost without Elvis....it is sad really.

[utmom2008]

she said he was the nicest guy you'd ever want to meet....I bet he was lost without Elvis....it is sad really.

He was very kind and soft spoken. I have his autograph on one of my Hilton menu's.....

[Diane]

've never doubted that Charlie was a nice man and cared a lot for Elvis nor that the rest of the MM that were left felt at a total loss and sadness when Elvis died but I do feel that they all should have seriously gone out and found something else to make a living at and some did. I do not feel it's right for any of them to ride his coattails forever.

Diane

[n-gageboy]

Well.. youre right in a way.. but in my opinion Elvis wanted Charlie to live in Graceland and wanted to give his best friend a home. I think Elvis would have wanted Charlie to live on there. Just my opinion tho..

Greetings

[utmom2008]

but I do feel that they all should have seriously gone out and found something else to make a living at and some did. I do not feel it's right for any of them to ride his coattails forever.

Diane

I totally agree with you on this Diane. Any man with any character would have gotten and out and gotten going. No one should have been left to just lay around and become "Freddy the Freeloader."

[Getlo]

I totally agree with you on this Diane. Any man with any character would have gotten and out and gotten going. No one should have been left to just lay around and become "Freddy the Freeloader."

Which is why Lamar should be given every credit for leaving as soon as he could. I imagine Red and Sonny would have done the same thing had they still been around.

[LORRIELOVESELVIS]

Let's be honest though: Charlie could have got up off his *** and moved out of Graceland himself. He had some musical talent, or could have applied for welfare or whatever, or gone into other work - which he did eventually.

Yes, it was great of Elvis to have given Charlie a home for so many years, but why should he have been able to live off the Graceland teet any longer, after Elvis had died?

And what, exactly, was Charlie being paid for between Elvis dying and his termination? What was his actual job? Whatever it was, it and he were no longer needed.

That's life, sometimes. That's reality.

Sorry, but staying in the house beyond August 1977 was inappropriate and leech-like IMO, and the firing was just the shot Charlie needed to start living his own life, something he hadn't done for 20 or so years. He did okay for himself in the end.
AMEN!!!-- I LOVE CHARLIE BUT IT WAS TIME TO GO!!! AND START TO MAKE YOUR OWN WAY!