Blue Egyptian Bird Jumpsuit (aka) Blue Prehistoric or Blue Bicentennial 1976

[Brad Stalnaker]

from my Memphis Trip in October 2008

[Brad Stalnaker]

P.S.
I was at the LAKELAND Fla. Evening show on Sept. 4 1976.

A lot of lists have these afternoon & evening shows switched.
Elvis wore the BLUE Prehistoric Bird at the afternoon show.
&
the WHITE at the Evening show...I remember being a bit disappointed that it was the same suit he wore in Charleston (EVE) when I saw him earlier in the summer.

Somewhere in the mid 80's I orders some 8mm film of "Elvis in Lakeland, Evening show." Turns out it was footage {I assume} from the afternoon show....because Elvis is in blue.

From that day on....80% of jumpsuit lists I come across (and I always check) have these 2 shows reversed.

It's been a pet peave of mine....thanks for letting me vent.

[el gerry]

Im sorry but Elvis didnt look good in any of the jumpsuits in 76 & 77 . They were really unflattering to him , drawing attention to his weight . He should have wore two piece outfits or something loose after 75 .

[molokai123]

not one of my fav's!

[merry77]

Thanks for the info. I've updated my records.

P.S.
I was at the LAKELAND Fla. Evening show on Sept. 4 1976.

A lot of lists have these afternoon & evening shows switched.
Elvis wore the BLUE Prehistoric Bird at the afternoon show.
&
the WHITE at the Evening show...I remember being a bit disappointed that it was the same suit he wore in Charleston (EVE) when I saw him earlier in the summer.

It's been a pet peave of mine....thanks for letting me vent.

[The Everlasting Gaze]

[The Everlasting Gaze]

[The Everlasting Gaze]

[merry77]

can somebody tell me what these white bands are that are on the suit?

I recall seeing it on some other suits as well.
I think I can even see the right white band on the last photo Everlasting gaze posted while Elvis is wearing the suit!

[piretos]

[peter]

can somebody tell me what these white bands are that are on the suit?

I recall seeing it on some other suits as well.
I think I can even see the right white band on the last photo Everlasting gaze posted while Elvis is wearing the suit!

My guess would be to hold the belt? I thought how belts can be hold on exhibited suits? This gets answer.

[nabelt24]

can somebody tell me what these white bands are that are on the suit?

I recall seeing it on some other suits as well.
I think I can even see the right white band on the last photo Everlasting gaze posted while Elvis is wearing the suit!

This looks like velcro with a hook to me... only purpose to assume would be it helped hold up the belt.

[thejumpsuitman]

I agree. That would be necessary to hold up the belt while on display. The mannequins have very small waistlines, usually around 30 inches.

[noone]

The velcro and hooks was not added by Graceland, they was there when Elvis wore this and othe outfits 1976 and 1977as well.

[merry77]

correct. I've seen live photos of Elvis with white patches at the position of the hooks.

The velcro and hooks was not added by Graceland, they was there when Elvis wore this and othe outfits 1976 and 1977as well.

[beaustewart44]

I dont mined the suit so much its the beltm that seams week to me.

TCB

[1100ccRider]

The Velcro strip thing is interesting, indeed. I don't have any insight regarding that, but on the topic in this forum devoted to the other version of this suit Brad Stalnaker suggested that there's an embroidered design missing from the upper thigh area of that suit on the left side, a design that's present on the opposite thigh/hip area. He's right, and he's right that it's unusual that such an asymmetry might exist on a stage suit.

I replied that maybe someone just plain forgot to add it and that somehow the oversight got missed, but then I took a look at pictures of the blue suit and the same is true. It seems obvious that the asymmetry is intentional. Why it might so is a bit perplexing. I just hope that people don't start saying that Jesus or God, or whoever, told the suit designers to incorporate this design into the suit to foretell Elvis' death. And, yeah, please excuse the editorializing at the bottom of this graphic; I think these suits are saved from being the least attractive of Elvis' stagewear only by the existence of that V-neck thing he wore in late '75 and early '76...

[merry77]

The missing embroidery is definitely intentional. I have a theory on why this would be.
But more interestingly I would rather like to see the inside of the original belt (possession Larry Moss). Anybody know how to contact him?

[Brad Stalnaker]

Where is Leroy? We need him to weigh in on this. It would be fun to see the original sketches (actually, I think I've seen the blue version sketch some where???)
Since Elvis wore the White one in December 1975...I wonder if both were made at the same time or the Blue one came later in the spring of 76. Did Elvis actually tell Bill or Gene, "I like this one...make 2 - blue and white."?

[hounddog]

another of ths suit