Elvis press conference in Canada 1957.
Interview with Elvis Presley
By: Elvis Australia - June 24, 2006
Source: TCB
Email this article
Printer friendly page
Here's the complete transcript of an Elvis press conference in Canada 1957.
Q: Do you have any records coming out?
EP: Yes, the theme song from my next motion picture will be out about the middle of next month.
Q: What is the picture?
EP: Jailhouse Rock.
Q: How did you find Hal Wallis as a producer/director?
EP: Very fine gentleman.
Q: But he helped you out? Who was the big help in your show LOVING YOU?
EP: Well, there’s nobody who helps you out. They have a director and a producer. As far as the acting and as far as the singing and all, you’re on the own. I mean, nobody tells you how to do that, you have to learn it yourself.
Q: How do you rate yourself as an actor?
EP: Pretty bad. I mean, that’s something you learn through experience. I think that maybe I might accomplish something at it through the years.
Q: You think it’s just the sake of acting natural? Don’t you do that? In your last two pictures, I’d say you have.
EP: In some scenes, I was pretty natural. And in others I was trying to act. And when you start trying to act, you’re dead.
Q: Would you say the Jordanaires helped you a lot in your career with your songs, backing you up?
EP: Well, the boys have done a very fine job, the Jordinares have. But actually there’s a lot of groups, you know, a lot of very fine groups that back different people up on their records.
Q: They’re under contract with Capitol, are they not?
EP: Yes.
Q: I know you’re under terrific strain after a show, how do you taper down? What relaxes the nerves after a big show like tonight?
EP: Well, uh, take for instance last night. We had a show in Vancouver. I didn’t sleep any until about ten o’clock today. I just get all keyed up, and it’s tough to relax.
Q: What do you do before a show to help defer some of the excitement or the tension?
EP: You just walk around. And swallow! Clench my fist.
Q: How much did you pay for the guitar of yours?
EP: About $500, I think.
Q: Is it specially constructed? Or just a standard?
EP: No, it’s a standard guitar. I have a leather cover over it. I had that made.
Q: Do you find that touring is much more hard on you than making movies or doing tv shows?
EP: Well, touring is the roughest part. It’s really rough. Because, I mean, you’re in a town and you do a show, you come off, you ride in a car, you go to the next town.
Q: Do you prefer it more to making movies and doing tv, or would you rather just stick to making movies?
EP: Well, I think every performer likes to work to a live audience.
Q: How has Pacific Northwest struck you? What you’ve seen of it….
EP: Oh, it’s terrific. It’s really beautiful country up here.
Q: How’s the weather down in Memphis before you left? Or where you in Memphis?
EP: Yes, I was home. It was beautiful weather.
Q: Why did you have the Great Northern Train stop two miles out of town today and you get off there? What about the fans waiting for you?
EP: Well, I have to prepare for a show that night. And therefore I have to rest -- and we have rehearsals in the afternoon. So I don’t have much time. I’m actually pressed for time. It’s not that I’m trying to avoid them, because that’s certainly not it. It’s just that I’m rushed for time and I have to make every moment count when I’m on the road.
Q: Can you make faster time in your Cadillac on the road than you can on the train?
EP: Actually, you’re trying to trap me now. I don’t know what to say. Next!
Q: Have you ever been thrown by a question? What question do you dislike the most?
EP: I don’t know. Like I said, I’ve been asked everything. If they’re too rough, I just can’t answer them.
Q: How do you feel about being asked questions about your personal life? Do you think an entertainer should be asked questions about marriage and what girls he’s going with, and so forth?
EP: Well, let’s face the facts. Anybody that’s in the public eye, their life is never private. I mean, anything you do, the public knows about it. And that’s the way it’s always been, that’s the way it’ll always be.
Q: Elvis, you’ve been on the road for a long, long time – it’s about time you got a nice rest -- because you deserve it. Where would you like to go for a holiday somewhere?
EP: Africa. No, I don’t know – there’s a lot of places that I’d like to go.
Q: Have you considered a holiday? I mean, you’ve been on the go for what, two years now? About a year and a half?
EP: ‘Bout four years, actually.
Q: Four years? This throws a different light on things all together. What happened four years ago? Did you get your start?
EP: Yes.
Q: Where?
EP: In Memphis.
Q: Is that’s when the first record came out?
EP: Yes.
Q: What was it – That's All Right Mama – or something else?
EP: Yeah, that’s the name of
Logged
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
