The Col. was very manipulative. I agree that Elvis wouldn't intentionally leave Red out of the wedding. From Red's recollection, there didn't seem to be any friction with he and Elvis. This was clearly the Col.'s party. I doubt he would have angered Elvis on this wedding day since it is believed that he had his reservations about getting married in the first place, but the Col. was no doubt in charge of the whole deal. I imagine that he only gave scant information on an a need to know basis.
"More people today should see him not simply as a performer, but as an artist with a great soul."
John Bakke, professor emeritus
University of Memphis
I don't know if I can agree with that. When it came to Priscilla, he had some unrelenting beliefs, and could get any other woman he wanted if that's what he was looking for. I don't think the she was pregnant, but she may have delievered early b/c she did take a pretty nasty fall off of her horse just weeks before Lisa Marie was born.Originally Posted by Tommy
"More people today should see him not simply as a performer, but as an artist with a great soul."
John Bakke, professor emeritus
University of Memphis
The Col may have been in complete charge.However he would have asked Elvis to pick out certain people to be present.Especially the best man.Red would have been the logical choce.That had to be Elvis' choice.To not even include Red period was a huge insult.The Col didnt have a pair big enough to have even suggested that IMO.
The Surprising Truth Behind Elvis' Wedding
When ELVIS PRESLEY married PRISCILLA BEAULIEU, it wasn't exactly a wedding fit for a King. ET takes you behind the scenes of the new "Elvis" mini-series.
When ELVIS PRESLEY married PRISCILLA BEAULIEU, it wasn't exactly a wedding fit for a King. It was a small, intimate affair that took place in a hotel room to avoid the press. And the event was handled, as most things in Elvis' life were, by his manager, "COLONEL" TOM PARKER.
On May 8 and 11, CBS presents "Elvis," a mini-series based on the early years of the swivel-hipped singer's life, including his marriage to Priscilla. The two met when he was stationed in Germany and she was only 14 years old. When Elvis returned to the U.S., he missed her, so he convinced her parents to let her come to live with him until she was old enough to marry.
"It was almost like he wanted to tutor her on how to be Elvis Presley's wife when she was older," says JONATHAN RHYS MEYERS, who stars as The King. "And then he met ANN-MARGRET and she was equal to Elvis in every way. She was like a female Elvis Presley. So suddenly he found in Ann-Margret his passion, but he couldn't not marry Priscilla, so, I don't think it was ever going to be a happy marriage."
Also in the cast are CAMRYN MANHEIM as Elvis' mother GLADYS, ROBERT PATRICK as his father VERNON, ROSE McGOWAN as Ann-Margret and ANTONIA BERNATH as Priscilla.
"It's quite strange having a 14-year-old girl living in your house in Memphis, TN, putting her through high school and then not marrying her," Jonathan adds. "He wanted to marry her. Elvis never even kissed her until she was 18 years old."
Also according to the mini-series, Priscilla had dreamed of a large wedding with friends and family in attendance, so she was sorely disappointed that her big day wasn't as special as she had hoped. But she quickly learned that living with Elvis wasn't easy.
"It was a bit of a snappy wedding," says Antonia, who wears an identical replica of Priscilla's wedding gown in the movie. "It happened very quickly, so there wasn't much time to organize it. And from what I've read of Priscilla's feelings, she was upset by how small it was and kind of surprised. It seems like it was kind of a pattern where she was swept along with things, and didn't ever really have much of a say."
source: http://www.etonline.com/tv/2005/04/35011/index.html
http://www.elvispresleymusic.com.au/..._beaulieu.html
This tell the same thing that while elvis was filming clambake col paker was making wedding arrangements so by the looks of it it was col behind this wedding.
I think the colonel saw it as an opportunity to create some divisions among the group.He made no secret that he wasn`t happy with all the people in Elvis` world at the time,and I think in his own manipulative way he thought this might get a few messages across without directly confronting anyone in person.I think Elvis could have made sure that all the people important to him would be there,unfortunately,as with so many times in his life,the colonel had his way in the end.
Did Elvis really fire Colonel ?!! what was the situation and the reason for it ? please explain more if you can , thanx
Elvis did, in fact, fire Colonel Parker after the September 3, 1973 show in Las Vegas, NV. Elvis basically 'tore into" Barron Hilton and the staff for firing Mario, Elvis's personal waiter. They got into a huge shouting match and Colonel demanded that Elvis pay him $2.5 million dollars to end the contract (which was bull because of the way that money was split up--Elvis didn't owe him nearly that much money). Harsh words flew back and forth and Colonel was gone---sadly, that didn't last. He took him back shortly thereafter.
Last edited by Tony Trout; 06-17-2008 at 08:35 AM.
Elvis and Priscilla were married in Las Vegas, Nev.
Parker arranged all of it, including inviting who he wanted !
Others were told there just wasn't enough room for everyone .
Elvis did NOT know until it was too late to do anything about it.
Then, they flew to Palm Springs and later to Memphis.
Google it; that info is everywhere !
"I have learned never to ridicule any man's opinion, however strange it may seem."
He could still have made sure that ALL his friends were there for his wedding!......even if the colonel had gone his usual way of organising things.It would be one of the important parts of any mans wedding,having his friends there.....and the bride!! I just wish Elvis had "kept his eye on the ball" a bit more....that was all I was trying to say.....it could have saved a lot of hassle.
Yup, I still have the tendency that the Colonel orchestrated the whole wedding for his own reasons. I don't think Elvis was given much time to think in the rush.
I have doubts as to whether the wedding was hurried through because Priscilla was pregnant. The dates don't add up. May to Feb. is nine months. She may have been a little early and that happens frequently. My mother's children were two weeks early, so were mine and my sister's. Just dumb genetic luck lol.
Also Jen, you posted an interesting article but I wouldn't believe anything coming from Jonathan Rhys Meyers. There is no way that Elvis didn't kiss Priscilla until she was eighteen....that isn't humanly possibly for two people who are supposedly seeing each other and in love, never mind living together.
Diane
wouldn't believe anything that guy said either, but l do about the col taking control of the wedding. June and wanda jackson both say col got involved in there relationship so it doesn't suprize me one bit that the col would control the wedding like everything else in elvis life.
It is a bit strange, but history does tell us that Elvis didn't stand up to the Col. almost if Col. had some hypnotic hold over Elvis. Look at all of those stupid movies that Elvis did b/c the Col. was in charge. Look at the end of his life when he did all of those crazy tours without going to Europe or Asia or Australia b/c the Col. was in charge. As much as Elvis accomplished during his career, he didn't stand up to the Col, even when he got married.
"More people today should see him not simply as a performer, but as an artist with a great soul."
John Bakke, professor emeritus
University of Memphis
Doesn't it make you wonder why the col have such a hold over elvis?? If that was my marriage, i would be making up my own mind about how l wanted it and etc.
Yes, this is just another mystery surrounding the 'image' of Elvis Presley. If everything were black and white, would we all be here debating such issues of his life?? Probably not. But that supernatural hold that Col. Parker had over Elvis was quite powerful. For a man that needed to be in control of his 'guys', Elvis didn't exert enough control over the Col. It could be b/c of the way he was raised - always to respect his elders, etc., it has also been suggested that he thought of Col. Parker as some 'good luck charm' b/c the Col. had helped him obtain his first successes in the 50's, it could be that the drugs just inhibited him to the point that he didn't care, it could be his lack of education made him feel inferior to Col. Parker, or it could be that he just didn't have what it took to stand up to Col. Parker.
But, it is a mystery.
"More people today should see him not simply as a performer, but as an artist with a great soul."
John Bakke, professor emeritus
University of Memphis
Not a whole lot Jen when you look at how Elvis was brought up to respect and listen to his elders. That's the way it was in those times. Of course it affected some kids more than others but Elvis was very indoctrinated in that way. So was I so I can understand it. I let others rule my life for most of my life and it was a rude awakening to realize that some didn't have my best interest at heart after all....that it was purely selfish.
I do think the Colonel was very exceptional in his capabilities of manipulation though, more so than most people. I also believe deep down that although he gave Elvis the fantastic career that Elvis dreamed of, he was the ultimate downfall of that poor innocent kid by setting him up in that kind of lifestyle.
I keep wishing Gladys had lived as she might have been a good buffer between Elvis and the Colonel and may have been able to temper situations a little.
Diane
I kinda wish gladys let elvis fight his own battles so he would of been stronger when dealing with people like the col.
Parents didn't do much of that in those days then Jen...they wanted control but yes it would have been better for Elvis to learn how to fend better for himself.
Now kids practically have to bring themselves up...again....too far the other way.
Diane
Yes that is so true diane, its such a shame parents don`t do there job like they did years ago. My gramma was a hard lady and she always taught me and my brother, that to survive in this world you need to stand on your own two feet and stand up and never let anybody walk all over you, but in elvis case he never had to deal with the things that was said about him cause his mom and friends all hid that from him and the boys were always sticking up for elvis so he never really learned to say thats enough and stay how he really felt and stood by it.
If Elvis was so weak he couldnt even be allowed to pick his best man at his own wedding,he deserved everything Parker did to him.I cringe at the thought of Elvis being such a wuss.I dont believe it for a second.Elvis was not a child people.He was a grown man for christ's sake.He wasnt a mindless zombie.He didnt suffer from a severe head trauma that I know of.Please dont make him sound so helpless.Elvis was the "MAN"
No no Jak, that didn't make him a wuss. It was just lifelong habit and probably as you said quite a while back that there was a lot of decisions Elvis didn't want to bother with but again, because he really never had to.
I'm sure there were quite a few things that were said and done that Elvis reared up about and said "no". The wedding plans just wasn't one of them or he was too rushed to think straight.
Diane
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