Reply With QuoteDoubtful. Pusser died on August 21, 1974 in Memphis ... and Elvis was playing Vegas at the time.
I've never heard or read anything to suggest Elvis left Vegas at all during this engagement.
Here's an interesting quote from an article I found about former McNairy county, TN sheriff, the late Buford Pusser's, funeral and it's attendees...did Elvis actually attend Buford's funeral? I know he was a big fan of Buford's but...I still find it hard to believe...
Here's what I found:
It took nine guestbooks to contain the names of those who turned ou for Pusser's funeral. Actor Joe Don Baker, who portrayed the big sheriff in Walking Tall, was there and even a brooding Elvis Presley lurked somberly in one of the children's bedrooms throughhout the service.
Here's where the info came from: Sheriff Buford Pusser: He Walked Tall
Doubtful. Pusser died on August 21, 1974 in Memphis ... and Elvis was playing Vegas at the time.
I've never heard or read anything to suggest Elvis left Vegas at all during this engagement.
Last edited by srj1967; 02-01-2007 at 10:16 AM.
There Rumor That Elvis Buy house And Vette For Buford Pusser.
Tom
Take a look at you and me,,Are we too blind to see, Do we Simply turn our heads and look the other way.....(Line From "in The Ghetto")
I have no idea if it's true; however, Elvis was a tough guy who liked other tough guys. You must know, EP said several times that if he weren't a singer, he'd have liked to have been a cop (I think third choice was karate instructor). I can easily imagine he showed up at the funeral incognito (with Red, Sonny, et al, unhappy about the security risks).
At one time I wasin contact with Buford's daughter.I think she told me Elvis was at the funeral.She said they were good friends.She went on to say that Buford had spent the night at Graceland on some occassions and Elvis had visited his home.Im a little doubtfull but Im not sure.
Jak
Have to disagree here. Elvis wanted to be a tough guy, but really wasn't. I'm not saying he wasn't masculine or was a wuss or anything, but he was more "cool" than tough.Originally Posted by jadedragon61
No, I think you're wrong there. Have you read Al Tracy's article on how EP got his black belt ranking? He could have been easily promoted by Ed Parker, but EP didn't want people just saying Parker "gave" it to him, so he went and took a six week training/evaluation with Hank Slomansky - one of the toughest karateka in the US at that time (he was killed during active duty in Vietnam).
Anyway, Slomanksy said to Parker, "The kid ain't pretty (in technique), but he's tough and he's (qualified) to be a black belt."
To get that guy's recommend - I think it says something.
It's not an isolated instance.
Faced with a serious gang brawl, I feel I could depend on EP to hold up his side of the fight - and what more can you ask of any man?
If the funeral was during the day and Vegas was 3 hours behind...Elvis was very famous for flying home for couple hours and then flying back to Vegas to do a show that night. So its not impossible. Elvis was Elvis and if he wanted something to happen he would.
Love to all,
Tim Dudley "A Tribute To Elvis Show"
http://www.geocities.com/dudcowboy_1/
That's not what I meant.
Elvis' martial arts abilities were not a sign of toughness.
As a black belt myself for over 20 years now, I can tell you toughness has nothing to do with physical strength or abilities, it's more about attitude. It's hard to explain what I mean, but I guess we have differing definitions of toughness...
For example, I'd consider Steve McQueen, James Coburn, and Robert Mitchum as tough guys. Even if Elvis could have taken them in a fight.
Elvis' demeanour was more approachable, and people were usually never scared to come up to him to say hi. Tough guys have a "Don't **** with me" aura about them, and Elvis just never had that. And this is not a criticism of Elvis, by the way.
And, at the risk of prompting ire from some on this site, the last couple of "degrees" Elvis attained in karate were essentially ceremonial. Virtually worthless. Towards the end, he simply didn't have the physical skills and abilities to deserve those rankings. The footage from '74 in This Is Elvis with him doing those moves with Red West et al ... ridiculous rubbish, and not real martial arts at all. If you can, try to seek out comments from martial arts legend Bill "Superfoot" Wallace about Elvis so you know what I'm on about.
But from the army years to about '72 or so, Elvis certainly deserved whatever degrees he obtained.
However, I digress. As for toughness, again I say EP was more "cool" than actually "tough".
Last edited by srj1967; 02-01-2007 at 11:20 AM.
In any event, you are right about those last series of promotions: I do not think that EP, at his best, was any better than sandan. And that footage of when Kang Rhee "promoted" EP to hachidan is just silly. BTW, many years back, at a seminar, I asked Superfoot what he thought of EP as a blackbelt, and he said that EP was a "good enough fighter and blackbelt".
About tough and cool, however, we seem to be missing each other somewhere.
Perhaps "srj1967" is trying to suggest the "impression" that Elvis left with people. His "presence" was more of a cool guy rather than intimidating as a tough guy.
At least that is the "impression" I get from him.
Exactly. If I saw Elvis on the street, I'd feel okay to go up to him.
Then, of course, we have that ***** Russell Crowe, who only pretends to be tough! But that's a whole other thread ... don't get me started! LOL.
The boxing trainer who trained many stars for boxing movies from the 40s to the 60s was a guy named Mushy Callahan. If a boxing movie was made during those years he was the guy who helped the actors look like boxers. After he trained Elvis for Kid Galahad he stated of all the actors he had trained Elvis was best, tough quick hands, fast feet, not afraid to get hit.
I'd never heard that comment from Mushy before. Thanks.
Khang Rhee has often talked about Elvis' mental discipline as well. I don't think anyone could argue that point at all.
Mental discipline? EP had that in spades, IMHO. Am just watching TTWII ... and if that's not a disciplined artist, then I don't know what is!
Last edited by srj1967; 02-01-2007 at 10:59 PM.
Does anyone know of or seen any pictures of Elvis and Buford together? I have heard the rumors for years of their friendship but have never heard a lot of stories or seen pictures of them together.
I also thank you for that info, I had never come across it. I don't think Mushy was the type of guy to talk trash, so it means something.
The only photo I know of is the one that was taken at his funeral. Elvis can be seen in the picture. It was posted on my site but I didn't have a chance to save it. Maybe it will appear on here or on my site again.
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