Turquoise Concho jumpsuit, which '71 Vegas season?

[Raised on Rock]

Hello there, just a quick question, from which '71 Vegas season are this photos? My guess is that they are from the Jan-Feb one as the jumpsuit and belt is still very '70 like but Im not really sure, some people in the jumpsuit section state it was worn during the Aug '71, so, any facts?

One of my favorites jumpsuits by the way, and it is so unseen.

[Vegas King]

This is from January-February 1971.in my opinion

[ehollier]

He wore this jumpsuit during the Winter engagement in 1971, but had a suit made with the same design that he wore during the 1972 Summer engagement, that included a cape on the jacket.

[midnight]

I really love this suit. It really showed off a lot of his chest!(y)

[memphis69]

I really love this suit. It really showed off a lot of his chest!(y)


I AGREE!! HE HAD A BEAUTIFUL SEXY CHEST!!

[Jungleroom76]

Actually....I believe he wore the "Now" jumpsuit during the Jan./Feb. 71 Las Vegas engagement. :hmm:

TCB!
Mike

[Leroy]

This suit made its debut during the first Lake Tahoe season of 1971. But the pictures that are included in this post are from Las Vegas August 1971.

[Jungleroom76]

This suit made its debut during the first Lake Tahoe season of 1971. But the pictures that are included in this post are from Las Vegas August 1971.

I STAND CORRECTED!!! :blush: ;)

TCB!
Mike

[elvispresleytheking]

Okay- several questions.
How do you go from this to the caped pinwheels and fireworks suits in only a month?
Also, I've seen some amateur fan footage where you can see him wearing this suit and playing the 56' GIbson J-200, which I thought he had quit using by AUgust 71.
On top of that, if this brings it down to only being used in the summer of 71, then I have only seen one picture from Jan/Feb. 1971.

[Jungleroom76]

How do you go from this to the caped pinwheels and fireworks suits in only a month?

Must be Elvis decided it was time to be more flamboyant with his stagewear!!! :hmm:

TCB!
Mike

[Leroy]

It may come as a shock to you but Elvis didn't decide anything about his wardrobe.... From 1969 to the end of 1971 it was his designer Bill Belew who designed whatever he could think of. Elvis just wore it, no matter what. He was always willing to try it out on stage..... About three years ago I had the pleasure of meeting Bill and he told me he was amazed about how easy Elvis was to work with.... Bill was the one who had very extavagant ideas about how he wanted to dress Elvis.... And Elvis had total trust with everything Bill came up with.... Except one time in 1975. Elvis threathened to fire Bill because of the Navy Blue Two Pieces Bill designed. Elvis hated them..... But he was forced to use them because nothing else fitted him at the time.... There's a whole story behind those designs.....

[mubarak]

which navy blue 2 piece suits are you talking about ? any photos ? thanks
leroy :hmm:

[Raised on Rock]

This suit made its debut during the first Lake Tahoe season of 1971. But the pictures that are included in this post are from Las Vegas August 1971.

Leroy, the most trustable man around about these matters, I will take this info as fact until any other info prove these matter wrong.

[Raised on Rock]

He wore this jumpsuit during the Winter engagement in 1971, but had a suit made with the same design that he wore during the 1972 Summer engagement, that included a cape on the jacket.

Hey, thanks for posting. You got any pics about that second '72 suit with the same pattern but with cape added? Never heard of it.

[Leroy]

I have only one cape shot of that outfit and it's a small one... I also made a drawing of it (minus the cape). The blue background of the drawing is the pattern on the shirt Elvis is wearing. I also include a picture of the cape as it is on display. (far right)

[Leroy]

which navy blue 2 piece suits are you talking about ? any photos ? thanks
leroy :hmm:


Hi Mubarak,
During Elvis' March/April Las Vegas season in 1975 and during the April tour he use several navy blue outfits and a white one. These outfits were sleeveless jumpsuits with a jacket. Elvis also wore light blue, white, red, and yellow silk shirts underneath. Matching belts were made too but not used in combination with these suits.

[medleyofcostumes]

Since there is much confusion on suits worn Jan-Feb vs Tahoe vs Aug-Sep 1971, can someone (Leroy perhaps?) shed some light on which suits were worn during these three engagements?

[Leroy]

Since there is much confusion on suits worn Jan-Feb vs Tahoe vs Aug-Sep 1971, can someone (Leroy perhaps?) shed some light on which suits were worn during these three engagements?

A lot of that confusion will remain I'm afraid. Not many pictures from that period surfaced. During his Jan/Feb 1971 Las Vegas season he mostly used the line of wardobe he wore during the August/Sept. 1970 season and the two tours afterwards. Mostly combined with different colored scarves and belts. He also had a second version of the infamous "Wing Suit" with shorter tassles. Then there was the "Knot Suit" that he used in Las Vegas and in Tahoe. There was a black outfit with stars, probably one of the first "Cisco Kid" kinda suits.... There was a suit with pyramid shaped nails all over it... And in Lake Tahoe the "Cisco Kid" style was introduced... first with the two pieces and later that season the first "Cisco Kid" jumpsuits were introduced.

[Jungleroom76]

WOW!!!! :supriced:

Thanks for all the info. Leroy!!! That shatters the stories that many have told that Elvis gave Bill the ideas for the DRAGON and PEACOCK suits, among others. :hmm:

TCB!
Mike

[ehollier]

A lot of that confusion will remain I'm afraid. Not many pictures from that period surfaced. During his Jan/Feb 1971 Las Vegas season he mostly used the line of wardobe he wore during the August/Sept. 1970 season and the two tours afterwards. Mostly combined with different colored scarves and belts. He also had a second version of the infamous "Wing Suit" with shorter tassles. Then there was the "Knot Suit" that he used in Las Vegas and in Tahoe. There was a black outfit with stars, probably one of the first "Cisco Kid" kinda suits.... There was a suit with pyramid shaped nails all over it... And in Lake Tahoe the "Cisco Kid" style was introduced... first with the two pieces and later that season the first "Cisco Kid" jumpsuits were introduced.

Is there some reason that so few pictures exist of this particular time???? I realize he didn't have any tours until later that year, but certainly with his time in Vegas (twice) and then Tahoe, there would be pictures of the performances. Certainly, those who attended the shows wouldn't think he wasn't worth photographing.....

[Leroy]

WOW!!!! :supriced:

Thanks for all the info. Leroy!!! That shatters the stories that many have told that Elvis gave Bill the ideas for the DRAGON and PEACOCK suits, among others. :hmm:

TCB!
Mike


I got some more shattering in this case Mike, Bill didn't even design for Elvis after late 1971, apart from the 1975 "Navy Blye Two-pieces". All Bill did was receiving the orders, handing empty suits to Gene Doucette and his staff, collect the suits after they were finished and deliver them to Elvis. Gene Doucette designed all the great patterns.

[Leroy]

Is there some reason that so few pictures exist of this particular time???? I realize he didn't have any tours until later that year, but certainly with his time in Vegas (twice) and then Tahoe, there would be pictures of the performances. Certainly, those who attended the shows wouldn't think he wasn't worth photographing.....


The main reason was the hotel policy. I think fear of competition from other hotels could be the reason for it. We have a lot of pictures from the first three seasons in Las Vegas (Aug 1969 - Aug 1970) and from then on less and less. Although I have to admit that especially 1971 was a bad year photo wise. And did you notice that it's especially the winter seasons ?

[ehollier]

The main reason was the hotel policy. I think fear of competition from other hotels could be the reason for it. We have a lot of pictures from the first three seasons in Las Vegas (Aug 1969 - Aug 1970) and from then on less and less. Although I have to admit that especially 1971 was a bad year photo wise. And did you notice that it's especially the winter seasons ?

I've noticed that the Winter Engagements, overall, have fewer photos. But to go from so many photos those first 3 engagements to almost none at all is particularly frustrating.

[Leroy]

I've noticed that the Winter Engagements, overall, have fewer photos. But to go from so many photos those first 3 engagements to almost none at all is particularly frustrating.

I know. And I can only agree with you... on the other hand... I think a lot of people are sitting on a pile of pictures they took without even beginning to realize the value of it..... I remember a few years back only a handful of pictures were known of the December 1976 season... and then all of a sudden somebody lifted a lid and look now....

And.... how many picture are we familiar with without knowing the right date.. and all of a sudden it proves to be a Vegas picture..

I believe patience is the best medicine here.....

[ehollier]

I know. And I can only agree with you... on the other hand... I think a lot of people are sitting on a pile of pictures they took without even beginning to realize the value of it..... I remember a few years back only a handful of pictures were known of the December 1976 season... and then all of a sudden somebody lifted a lid and look now....

And.... how many picture are we familiar with without knowing the right date.. and all of a sudden it proves to be a Vegas picture..

I believe patience is the best medicine here.....


Today I saw a picture of the White Cisco Suit taken in Winter, 1971. I had never seen this suit, much less knew it existed. It is absolutely stunning!!!! Too bad there are more photos of this one too.

[medleyofcostumes]

Thanks Leroy for the useful information

[Raised on Rock]

Thanks so much to Leroy, and to all the people that posted in these thread for this information.

[8mmlowa]

Is there some reason that so few pictures exist of this particular time???? I realize he didn't have any tours until later that year, but certainly with his time in Vegas (twice) and then Tahoe, there would be pictures of the performances. Certainly, those who attended the shows wouldn't think he wasn't worth photographing.....

pictures - there are even footage of that suit on two dvd´s