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Hope you enjoy this rare image from 1986..
tcb
Wade (HRH)
The Cisko Kid suits were designed in early 1971. The first versions were the 2 piece. These suits were primarily worn in the first Vegas season in 1971, and partly in Tahoe. In 1974, Elvis had more of the suits made, with his new measurments. These suits were only worn of stage. According to photos it would seem only the powder blue version, and the black version with white leather were used.
All of the suits consisted of a vest style jacket, pants with flower design, and a shirt combo of Elvis likes at the time. The vests came in two designs. First design had no flower pattern on the reverse, while the 2nd versions did. There is no real reason as to the change. All the cisko kid suits had the same length pants, or leg portion of the jumpsuit.
They were all cut to Elvis desired on stage height of 6'2. Of couse Elvis true height was only 5'11 3/4. The reason for the height difference, was the fact that Elvis wore lifts in his shoes, plus the normal heel of the boot, which was 1 1/2 inches on average. All suits were made of a heavier Italian wool gaberdine material. This was of course the norm in the early 70's.
The 2 piece suits came in the following color combos:
Black with red leather upper,black shirt, or red shirt
White with black leather upper, black shirt, or white shirt
Powder blue with dark blue upper, white shirt
Black with light blue leather upper, black shirt
All leather on both the one piece and 2 pieces were made out of pigskin. They were actually hand painted not dyed.
One piece color combos:
Black with red leather upper
Black with Green leather upper
Black with light blue leather upper
White with black leather upper
Black with white leather upper
The 2-piece red leather and the one-piece green cisko are in hands of private collectors, and the rest are at Graceland.
TCB
Wade (HRH)
Hope you enjoy this rare image from 1986..
tcb
Wade (HRH)
pigskin ??....are you sure it was pigskin wade ? a person as rich as elvis cant afford a better leather than a pigskin ????
It is a common misconception that this suit was made of leather..
However,in the 1970's ..pigskin was a lighter,easier to work with alternative,and it held it's shape better in everyday use.
...whereas today's pigskin, due to the pigs' less nutritious diets and the diminished ozone layer, is far tougher.Only kidding--I know what you meant. Hadn't heard it was pigskin either, but it always surprised me that a leather suit like that one would hold up that well for him, so what you're saying makes sense.
I thought the original Cisco Kid suits were one-piece. I haven't seen that many pics from that period in early '71, but I would swear that the ones I've seen of him in one of those suits are one-piece. The off-stage suits he wore in '74 that I've seen are definitely two-piece.
Only 5'11 3/4"? I happen to think that's a good height to be.
...you won't forget me when I go.
Actually it was only 5'11 11/12"Originally Posted by Lonniebealestreet
Only 5'11 3/4"? I happen to think that's a good height to be.
Didn't Elvis wear that pigskin 2-piece painted suit only inn 1974?
Great and informative post though
"A year from now, you'll wish you had started today"
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Yes..in all my research,I've found no evidence that he wore the pigskin 2 piece in any other year than 1974..strangely enough..most jumpsuit scholars refer to this as the emperor suit,however, it should be called the "mermaid",since mermaids are part of the painted design.
***In addition,only the Cisco Kid suits were designed in early 1971. The first versions were the 2 piece. These suits were primarily worn in the first Vegas season in 1971, and partly in Tahoe. In 1974, Elvis had more of the suits made, with his new measurments.
Wade, have you seen any pics of a 2-piece suit in '71? As I said, the 1-piece is all I've seen from that time. Just curious.
Thanks for all the information.
...you won't forget me when I go.
Bobby, there's even footage of him wearing the 2 piece versions, and removing the jacket part way throught the show - in one instance, pretending to throw it into the audience before actually swinging it all the way behind him and dropping it on the floor.
'What, honey ? ..... one scarf for the balcony ?! ........... OK ........... gimme a baseball ! ............ there's no way unless you put a rock in it'.
(Las Vegas - 7th December 1975)
here's the two piece CISCO...2/23/1971
Thanks, spinout. Sounds like TV worth watching.
Guess there just isn't much photographic evidence of this. Wade, not trying to give you a hard time here, but the obviously 2-piece suits you've posted there--those are considered Cisco Kid? And are they all stage suits? And is pic #2 not from 1970, before you said the suits were made? And then the last picture doesn't appear to be 2-piece to my eyes.
But regardless, I'll take your word for it...and a copy of your video, spinout.
...you won't forget me when I go.
Cisco Kid 2 piece example (from the cover of the import CD The Cisco Kid Strikes Again)
'What, honey ? ..... one scarf for the balcony ?! ........... OK ........... gimme a baseball ! ............ there's no way unless you put a rock in it'.
(Las Vegas - 7th December 1975)
More photos can be found in the TCB-World Jumpsuit archive .................
http://www.tcb-world.com/showthread.php?t=1224
'What, honey ? ..... one scarf for the balcony ?! ........... OK ........... gimme a baseball ! ............ there's no way unless you put a rock in it'.
(Las Vegas - 7th December 1975)
I'm sold! Thanks, Mark. Great pic.
...you won't forget me when I go.
Well, color me embarrassed. I actually did a quick scan through there before I posted before...it escaped my attention.Forgive me, JJ.
...you won't forget me when I go.
Apology accepted BobbyWell, color me embarrassed. I actually did a quick scan through there before I posted before...it escaped my attention.
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