What Segments of Elvis' Life Interest You The Most?

[Tommy]

What parts of Elvis' life gets your curiosity going?

Do you ever wonder what happened the day Priscilla moved out of Graceland? Where was Elvis? Or who lived with him at Gaceland when his parents were both alive? What did he do when he was not working, besides ride horses, go down to the gates and sign autographs. What did he do all that time in California, when he was making movies?

How much time did he spent at Graceland compared to California? How many houses did he own at one time?

Who made the beds at Graceland and cleaned the house when his mother was alive? How many telephone did he have at Graceland?

I wonder why he wanted all those relatives living at Graceland and why he always had to have the "guys" hanging out there "MM" ? It seems he had no peace living there at Gracleand, surrounded most of the time with so many relatives and others there. How could you stand that all the time, it would drive me nuts. :lol: I remember Priscilla saying she couldn't come downstairs without being fully dressed, (not in her nightgown, or less).

Who took care of all the automobiles and motorcycles? Who washed his clothes (back in the late 50's at Graceland)? What did his mother do all day, and what did his father do?

Graceland isn't that large to get away from everybody. :lol:

You get the idea, I hope we all can get interested in this thread and a great discussion. (y)

[monk37]

apparently they had a maid in the 50's - her name was Alberta and Elvis nicknamed her Alberta V05

for me, it was the pre-parker days - of working to get - well, I don't think Elvis actually was after fame - I think he just wanted to be able to perform and make enough money to support his parents

in the early interviews, this was always the aspiration - not artistic statements

[TCB81975]

I've always wondered what truly went through his head in the 1970's when Parker had him grind out tour after tour. From what I've read, he held all Vegas attendance records till like 1991 when George Strait supposedly broke the record. So you know all of the touring had to be gruelling to him. I guess its always bothered me a little that Elvis felt like he could never leave his inner sanctum and venture out just like the rest of us. It seems as if the man lived out of his bedroom at Graceland or a hotel on the road in the 70's and had to stay confined to it in order to get any peace and quiet.

[Jungleroom76]

I've always wondered what truly went through his head in the 1970's when Parker had him grind out tour after tour. From what I've read, he held all Vegas attendance records till like 1991 when George Strait supposedly broke the record. So you know all of the touring had to be gruelling to him. I guess its always bothered me a little that Elvis felt like he could never leave his inner sanctum and venture out just like the rest of us. It seems as if the man lived out of his bedroom at Graceland or a hotel on the road in the 70's and had to stay confined to it in order to get any peace and quiet.

I was going to post something very similar to this... ;)

The 1970's always seemed like the most complex period of Elvis' career. Why exactly did Elvis feel he had to keep The Colonel?? I've always speculated that it is because of Elvis' sense of loyalty for all The Colonel had done for him in the early days to help him achieve all of his success and fame. But is there more?? For example, when Elvis "fired" The Colonel after their blow-up in Las Vegas in 1973, why did Elvis just back away from his position of firing him? Is it simply because The Colonel was demanding too much money to be freed from his contract with Elvis, or is there more? What did Elvis REALLY think of the deal that was made to sell all of his back-royalties to RCA in that horrendous deal in 1973? Again, was it something The Colonel did by convincing Elvis to go along with it...did Elvis really not understand or realize what he was giving up...what exactly happened there? Those are but a couple of the questions that I have always wondered about Elvis in the 70's.

So for me, the 1970's has always been the most complex and intriguing part of his life for me. :hmm:

TCB!
Mike

[john carpenter]

I often wondered what Gladys & Vernon did when Elvis was on tour? I know both retired at an early age. Did they just hang around Graceland? Or did ol' Vern take Glady's out shopping? I think Gladys was the type not to let other people clean her house. I heard she once had Chicken's out back?

[Jimmy1966]

For me it's the Recording Sessions
1. SUN STUDIOS
2. NASHVILLE 1966
3. AMERICAN SOUND STUDIOS 1969
4. NASHVILLE 1970
They are the parts i have total interest in for me it's always
About the music that the man made.
I Still have'nt Heard an instrument Like His VOICE.

[TCB81975]

I was going to post something very similar to this... ;)

The 1970's always seemed like the most complex period of Elvis' career. Why exactly did Elvis feel he had to keep The Colonel?? I've always speculated that it is because of Elvis' sense of loyalty for all The Colonel had done for him in the early days to help him achieve all of his success and fame. But is there more?? For example, when Elvis "fired" The Colonel after their blow-up in Las Vegas in 1973, why did Elvis just back away from his position of firing him? Is it simply because The Colonel was demanding too much money to be freed from his contract with Elvis, or is there more? What did Elvis REALLY think of the deal that was made to sell all of his back-royalties to RCA in that horrendous deal in 1973? Again, was it something The Colonel did by convincing Elvis to go along with it...did Elvis really not understand or realize what he was giving up...what exactly happened there? Those are but a couple of the questions that I have always wondered about Elvis in the 70's.

So for me, the 1970's has always been the most complex and intriguing part of his life for me. :hmm:



TCB!
Mike

Yeah Mike, I'm conflicted about the Colonel too. One one hand, he kept Elvis on top for many years, but on the other he took him for 50% of the profits and ran him all over hells half acre to pay his (alleged) gambling debts in Vegas. It has always made me wonder if E would have slowed down to smell the roses and just live life, where he might have been in the late 70's as opposed to where he was at. I think he would have done alright without the Colonel. The Memphis Mafia(preparing for ritual sacrifice here) could have handled it. Jerry Schilling managed Billy Joel and the Beach Boys, Esposito was Michael Jacksons road manager for a time and Sonny West was head of security for Alabama after he left Elvis. Say what you will, but E and the boys could have kept the show on the road.

TCB,

Jon

[TCB81975]

I heard she once had Chicken's out back?

I once heard that she had hogs and a few head of cattle too. That would be interesting to know for sure. In the part of Georgia that I am from, livestock being owned by country people is common place. I'm reasonbly sure that it was in Mississippi too. I wish someone had some pic's of that era of Graceland to post.

[Jungleroom76]

Yeah Mike, I'm conflicted about the Colonel too. One one hand, he kept Elvis on top for many years, but on the other he took him for 50% of the profits and ran him all over hells half acre to pay his (alleged) gambling debts in Vegas. It has always made me wonder if E would have slowed down to smell the roses and just live life, where he might have been in the late 70's as opposed to where he was at. I think he would have done alright without the Colonel. The Memphis Mafia(preparing for ritual sacrifice here) could have handled it. Jerry Schilling managed Billy Joel and the Beach Boys, Esposito was Michael Jacksons road manager for a time and Sonny West was head of security for Alabama after he left Elvis. Say what you will, but E and the boys could have kept the show on the road.

TCB,

Jon

While I agree that Elvis would have done just fine without The Colonel, especially in the mid-to-late 60's and beyond, I don't know whether or not the Memphis Mafia would have been up to the task of managing Elvis. I really think Elvis would have been better off going with a well-known (and HONEST) manager or promoter. If Elvis HAD to choose from within the Mafia, no doubt it would have had to have been Jerry Schilling. (y)

TCB!
Mike

[TCB81975]

I really think Elvis would have been better off going with a well-known (and HONEST) manager or promoter. If Elvis HAD to choose from within the Mafia, no doubt it would have had to have been Jerry Schilling. (y)

TCB!
Mike

I see your point, but is there really a such thing as an "honest" manager? I guess I threw the MM out there just as one type of option for Elvis. Really emphasizing on the fact that he could have done that I think if he wanted to.

[KPM]

I have often wondered about the secret moments of Elvis-in other words the moments which must have happened in his life that none of us have an inkling about. (minor and major)

[Tommy]

I have often wondered about the secret moments of Elvis-in other words the moments which must have happened in his life that none of us have an inkling about. (minor and major)

Me also, my friend. Times maybe when he just sat and thought about is mother, or just what? I know Priscilla said he would go out to the barn at night around 2 a.m. just to be with the horses and it was so peaceful for him out there.

[ElvisLives]

While I agree that Elvis would have done just fine without The Colonel, especially in the mid-to-late 60's and beyond, I don't know whether or not the Memphis Mafia would have been up to the task of managing Elvis. I really think Elvis would have been better off going with a well-known (and HONEST) manager or promoter. If Elvis HAD to choose from within the Mafia, no doubt it would have had to have been Jerry Schilling. (y)

TCB!
Mike

Actually, from what I've read over the years, Dick Clark actually WANTED to manage Elvis. He saw what was happening and he wanted to change things.

Imagine what would have happened to Elvis if that had happened....

[CLAY]

The early days at SUN STUDIOS interest me the most,becouse it was Elvis in the beginning,creating his unique sound and style.I just love those SUN recordings and how they made it sound so ultra cool.To this day those recordings sound so fresh and have withstood the test of time,imo.

[CLAY]

Actually, from what I've read over the years, Dick Clark actually WANTED to manage Elvis. He saw what was happening and he wanted to change things.

Imagine what would have happened to Elvis if that had happened....I have never heard that befour,that would have been interesting.

[Jungleroom76]

I see your point, but is there really a such thing as an "honest" manager? I guess I threw the MM out there just as one type of option for Elvis. Really emphasizing on the fact that he could have done that I think if he wanted to.

Well I don't know if there is such a thing as a strictly honest manager, but there CERTAINLY had to be managers out there that wouldn't have taken 50% of everything his client made, not to mention making all kinds of backroom deals to get as much additional money as they possibly could, without their client knowing. :angry:

I truly think if Elvis had sat down and gone through a list of managerial candidates, he could have found someone that would have done much more work on behalf of him instead of The Colonel who was only interested in one person - THE COLONEL!!! :mad:

TCB!
Mike

[Jungleroom76]

Actually, from what I've read over the years, Dick Clark actually WANTED to manage Elvis. He saw what was happening and he wanted to change things.

Imagine what would have happened to Elvis if that had happened....

REALLY???? :supriced:

I have never heard that either, but THAT certainly would have been a relationship that could have had infinite possibilities... :hmm:

TCB!
Mike

[TCB81975]

Well I don't know if there is such a thing as a strictly honest manager, but there CERTAINLY had to be managers out there that wouldn't have taken 50% of everything his client made, not to mention making all kinds of backroom deals to get as much additional money as they possibly could, without their client knowing. :angry:

I truly think if Elvis had sat down and gone through a list of managerial candidates, he could have found someone that would have done much more work on behalf of him instead of The Colonel who was only interested in one person - THE COLONEL!!! :mad:

TCB!
Mike

That is true Mike. The Colonel was a snake in the grass, thats for sure.He got his in the end too. I heard the ole boy died just about broke.

[Elizasong]

I would love to sit in on any of his recording sessions at Sun, RCA or Stax preferably up through the late 60's. That would be awesome to watch some of that. Of course I wish I could have seen him in concert. Thank God for DVD. :-)

[Lisarose]

Yeah, I've wondered.

What did Gladys do at the grocery store while she pushed her cart up & down the aisles. She was a very kind and friendly soul.
did she carry photos of Elvis in her purse and pull them out to show her friends?
Where did they shop for Chicken feed?
And at first, Elvis loved wheeling about town, visiting with friends at the bank and at the 5 & Dime, there's the wonderful anecdote of
him meeting up with a school friend, who didn't acknowledge him and he hollered at her "Are you to good to speak to me now?" did he
go to friends homes for bar-b-ques? did it stop completely or just slow down or just become clandestine? I don't think it stopped, I think
there are a lot of his friends who to this day have simply honored his request at privacy.

[TCB81975]

Yeah, I've wondered.

What did Gladys do at the grocery store while she pushed her cart up & down the aisles. She was a very kind and friendly soul.
did she carry photos of Elvis in her purse and pull them out to show her friends?
Where did they shop for Chicken feed?
And at first, Elvis loved wheeling about town, visiting with friends at the bank and at the 5 & Dime, there's the wonderful anecdote of
him meeting up with a school friend, who didn't acknowledge him and he hollered at her "Are you to good to speak to me now?" did he
go to friends homes for bar-b-ques? did it stop completely or just slow down or just become clandestine? I don't think it stopped, I think
there are a lot of his friends who to this day have simply honored his request at privacy.


That does make one think. It would be nice if there was more known about Gladys than the general info that we all have. From what I can tell, she had a tough time towards the end of her life. I've always hated that for her because I know that Elvis would have never let her want for anything. I guess I just feel that she didnt really get a chance to enjoy it.

[Silenz]

from 68-77

[Joe Car]

Geeze, tough question as I find Elvis' whole life fascinating! I guess if I had to make a choice, it would be the 68 comeback special, from the rehearsals and dressing room performances, to the actual shows itself. To see the greatest rock & roll ever performed, would have been amazing!