Elvis' Mother

[buttonhead]

Could be....

but how can you protect a man from himself ? like once Hebler said.

Elvis is a grown up man, but if Gladys still alive , she would have say something or do something to keep him away from drugs ......and Priscilla

[Jumpsuit Junkie]

Gladys was just as much a victim of Elvis' success as Elvis was himself, neither of them were prepared.

[buttonhead]

Yup... I agree with you Matt. as grown up poor as his mom was Elvis was famous too fast too soon.

[ehollier]

Gladys was just as much a victim of Elvis' success as Elvis was himself, neither of them were prepared.

This in addition to maybe a lack of education which led to a feeling of inferiority. Although Gladys was not educated, I think had a great deal of common sense; however, when Elvis became famous so fast, she didn't knew who to turn to or trust. I felt she always had a look of fear or inferiority in her eyes.

[utmom2008]

Although Gladys was not educated, I think had a great deal of common sense; however, when Elvis became famous so fast, she didn't knew who to turn to or trust. I felt she always had a look of fear or inferiority in her eyes.

I bet that she had alot of common sense as well. She was the one who was leary of Col. Parker after all. I always see a look of fear about her, and the more famous Elvis became the sadder she looked. I understand where she was coming from in a way. I have a 22 year old son..if he overnight became the sensation that Elvis did, it would worry me to death I think.

[KPM]

Gladys was just as much a victim of Elvis' success as Elvis was himself, neither of them were prepared.

At least Elvis had youth, looks, and health on his side at the time of the success. Gladys must have felt she was not at all what a huge singing/actings stars mother should look like. The glamour and glitz of it all-she had to feel she was letting down Elvis by not being those things. The truth was IMO Elvis could have cared less that she was not those things.

[utmom2008]

Gladys must have felt she was not at all what a huge singing/actings stars mother should look like. The glamour and glitz of it all-she had to feel she was letting down Elvis by not being those things. The truth was IMO Elvis could have cared less that she was not those things.

I think you are right about that. I think she didn't want Elvis to be ashamed of her and how she looked. If she weighed 400 lbs. it would not have mattered to Elvis.

[Unchained Melody]

Gladys was just as much a victim of Elvis' success as Elvis was himself, neither of them were prepared.

And that I think is where some of the fault is.

Elvis was thrown into this world of fame and fortune & all that goes along with it so fast they didn't have anything to prepare them for what lied ahead in their lives...no one really to blame, just a matter of fate.

[Jumpsuit Junkie]

And that I think is where some of the fault is.

Elvis was thrown into this world of fame and fortune & all that goes along with it so fast they didn't have anything to prepare them for what lied ahead in their lives...no one really to blame, just a matter of fate.

Looking at the fate of other stars big and small, fame is a strong aphrodisiac that is a cruel mistress/master. Few come away unscathed.

[Unchained Melody]

Looking at the fate of other stars big and small, fame is a strong aphrodisiac that is a cruel mistress/master. Few come away unscathed.

Agreed Matt...sad it happens to so many good-hearted people...

[Diane]

Unfortunately that's part of the fame game. Not many come away without a few scars and quite a few lose their lives at a young age. Elvis more than many was ill equipped emotionally to handle it.

Diane

[Unchained Melody]

Unfortunately that's part of the fame game. Not many come away without a few scars and quite a few lose their lives at a young age. Elvis more than many was ill equipped emotionally to handle it.

Diane

I think he could have handled it i think it was more the fact that he simply gave up in many ways.

[Getlo]

The basis on which I made this statement is the simple fact that he had stopped taking these drugs on more than one occasion when he faced the challenges of returning to the public with a challenge. The Aloha concert was just one example of this.

Elvis was never completely free of drugs from the moment he took them in the army. So, he got clean (well, relatively straight anyway) for Aloha ... He was addicted to the stuff, plain and simple. No two ways about it.

He denied it, and you can continue to deny it. Doesn't change the fact that it is true.

Elvis was thrown into this world of fame

Partially, yes. But it was Elvis' choice to be a music star, actor etc.

[ehollier]

Elvis was never completely free of drugs from the moment he took them in the army. So, he got clean (well, relatively straight anyway) for Aloha ... He was addicted to the stuff, plain and simple. No two ways about it.

He denied it, and you can continue to deny it. Doesn't change the fact that it is true.

Getlo, I am not denying that Elvis was addicted to drugs. Quite the contrary. All I suggested is that Elvis was much smarter than many give him credit. He didn't take these drugs without the realization that he was doing serious damage to his personal and professional life. Linda Thompson says that he admited that he was self-destructive. He was quite aware of the damage he was doing to himself and his body, his family and career. Also, he, by many accounts, appeared to be a man with an unusually strong constitution who was capable of getting off drugs when the appropriate challenge was presented to him.

[Getlo]

He didn't take these drugs without the realization that he was doing serious damage to his personal and professional life.

Words genuinely fail me ...

[Donut]

I´m with you on this one ehollier. I think he was well aware of what he was doing to himself, at least in the last years of his life and that he simply denied it to those around him because admitting it meant he had to do something about it. Maybe he felt he wasn´t able of cleaning his act.

[presley31]

Getlo, I am not denying that Elvis was addicted to drugs. Quite the contrary. All I suggested is that Elvis was much smarter than many give him credit. He didn't take these drugs without the realization that he was doing serious damage to his personal and professional life. Linda Thompson says that he admited that he was self-destructive. He was quite aware of the damage he was doing to himself and his body, his family and career. Also, he, by many accounts, appeared to be a man with an unusually strong constitution who was capable of getting off drugs when the appropriate challenge was presented to him.

good points and l agree too

[MissyM]

Gladys did have people to turn to but what could they do? Don't forget, she had plenty to contend with other than Elvis's fame. Vernon, not an easy man to be married to. Her plate was full.

[Jumpsuit Junkie]

We seem to have gravitated to the Elvis drugs scenario rather than the original question!

Looking at the results in the poll (Is Elvis' Loss Of Mother Fundamental To His Death, 37 yes - 26 No) it suggests the fact that Elvis died because he couldn't get over the death of his mother or something other.... Am I getting this wrong?

Can someone please explain why the majority of people feel this way because I just don't understand that reasoning??!!

[presley31]

We seem to have gravitated to the Elvis drugs scenario rather than the original question!

Looking at the results in the poll (Is Elvis' Loss Of Mother Fundamental To His Death, 37 yes - 26 No) it suggests the fact that Elvis died because he couldn't get over the death of his mother or something other.... Am I getting this wrong?

Can someone please explain why the majority of people feel this way because I just don't understand that reasoning??!!

agree JJ I really can't understand why some feel that way too If elvis take care of himself in the first place he would he today and that has nothing to do with the death of his mother.