Wouldn't this be funny and ironic?

[Merry]

Heres a comment Weintraub made about Elvis-which seems to show he has a great deal of respect and affection for him.


"This is the first time I've talked about Elvis at all."

"But I could only tell you that in my dealings with him, he was bright, articulate, brilliant musician, and a nice man and one of the things that attracted me so much was his camaraderie and his loyalty with his friends."

If you don't mind, in this context; I'd like to refer everyone to the other thread, with regard to the comments Elvis made with his mates and camera crew.

One also speaks, depending on who they are with, different levels, adjusting themselves to the situation.

[KPM]

[/B]


If you don't mind, in this context; I'd like to refer everyone to the other thread, with regard to the comments Elvis made with his mates and camera crew.

One also speaks, depending on who they are with, different levels, adjusting themselves to the situation.

Thats funny I just made a post on the other thread making that very point.

[utmom2008]

[/B]


If you don't mind, in this context; I'd like to refer everyone to the other thread, with regard to the comments Elvis made with his mates and camera crew.

One also speaks, depending on who they are with, different levels, adjusting themselves to the situation.

[Jumpsuit Junkie]

I really don't understand the complete and utter derision aimed at Parker, he may well have been a hard nosed business man, he may have been selfish and self centred. What Elvis and the Colonel achieved together cannot be questioned. You don't have to like Parker just accept that they were business partners and reached great heights together. I'm pretty sure Elvis wasn't the easiest artist to be managed despite what everyone might think. There are two sides to every story.

To make an honest film about Parker, they would have to make an honest film about Elvis, the fans would be up in arms because some of the negative issues around Elvis would be raised.

[KPM]

I really don't understand the complete and utter derision aimed at Parker, he may well have been a hard nosed business man, he may have been selfish and self centred. What Elvis and the Colonel achieved together cannot be questioned. You don't have to like Parker just accept that they were business partners and reached great heights together. I'm pretty sure Elvis wasn't the easiest artist to be managed despite what everyone might think. There are two sides to every story.

To make an honest film about Parker, they would have to make an honest film about Elvis, the fans would be up in arms because some of the negative issues around Elvis would be raised.

Well Matt I know for myself I am not afraid of the negative issues which might be brought up about Elvis. I mean haven't they been brought up in the last 31 years over and over again in every conceivable forum books, TV movies, specials?
Right here we have seen the negatives debated continually(ebbs and flows) for the 5 years of this great forum.
Parker on the other hand has not really had that kind of scrutiny-certainly not if you go by published scrutiny over this 31 years. I am not a Parker fan-but I see he had a good business sense and he had a place in this puzzle. He did what he did best-and he was a snowman-self proclaimed. I think that self imposed title speaks volumes. I think that one title he gave himself leads to the question-how far did the snowman go?
We should not look blindly at Elvis I agree-but I thing its fair to say that about anyone who has a place in this puzzle. Parker had a huge place in this puzzle-and a lot of it is a mystery.
He was directing the traffic for Elvis's career-the way he directed it and his methods of doing so are subject to big questions. The way he directed it and his methods had a direct cause and effect on the direction of Elvis Presley-he trusted Parker. That to me is the biggest source of my problem with Parker-that I believe Elvis fully and totally for most of their association trusted the Col. I think their is a good case to be made that this trust was at times misplaced. That Parker did not always do what was best for Elvis.
Elvis takes the heat here when he did not always do what was best or right-so should Parker.

[Miss Clawdy]

I really don't understand the complete and utter derision aimed at Parker, he may well have been a hard nosed business man, he may have been selfish and self centred. What Elvis and the Colonel achieved together cannot be questioned. You don't have to like Parker just accept that they were business partners and reached great heights together. I'm pretty sure Elvis wasn't the easiest artist to be managed despite what everyone might think. There are two sides to every story.

To make an honest film about Parker, they would have to make an honest film about Elvis, the fans would be up in arms because some of the negative issues around Elvis would be raised.

From my part it is not derision aimed at Parker, but I'm making no secret of disliking him and his greed and his recklessness towards Elvis. And yes they achieved big things together and I cannot question it because that's the way it was, but I am convinced Elvis could have achieved the same with any other manager. In my eyes Parker manipulated Elvis from the very beginning, he was earning 50% of Elvis' income, I dare to ask...for what??? For making some phone calls, selling Elvis memorabilia, having a great time in Vegas or elsewhere with gambling etc. while Elvis was putting his health at risk...sometimes three shows a day.
Yes an honest film about Parker would be great, and I sure wouldn't mind to see negative issues about Elvis, this would be a perfect chance to show the world why some things went wrong in his life!

[utmom2008]

The way he directed it and his methods had a direct cause and effect on the direction of Elvis Presley-he trusted Parker. That to me is the biggest source of my problem with Parker-that I believe Elvis fully and totally for most of their association trusted the Col. I think their is a good case to be made that this trust was at times misplaced. That Parker did not always do what was best for Elvis.
Elvis takes the heat here when he did not always do what was best or right-so should Parker.

Great post Ken!

[Jumpsuit Junkie]

Well Matt I know for myself I am not afraid of the negative issues which might be brought up about Elvis. I mean haven't they been brought up in the last 31 years over and over again in every conceivable forum books, TV movies, specials?
Right here we have seen the negatives debated continually(ebbs and flows) for the 5 years of this great forum.
Parker on the other hand has not really had that kind of scrutiny-certainly not if you go by published scrutiny over this 31 years. I am not a Parker fan-but I see he had a good business sense and he had a place in this puzzle. He did what he did best-and he was a snowman-self proclaimed. I think that self imposed title speaks volumes. I think that one title he gave himself leads to the question-how far did the snowman go?
We should not look blindly at Elvis I agree-but I thing its fair to say that about anyone who has a place in this puzzle. Parker had a huge place in this puzzle-and a lot of it is a mystery.
He was directing the traffic for Elvis's career-the way he directed it and his methods of doing so are subject to big questions. The way he directed it and his methods had a direct cause and effect on the direction of Elvis Presley-he trusted Parker. That to me is the biggest source of my problem with Parker-that I believe Elvis fully and totally for most of their association trusted the Col. I think their is a good case to be made that this trust was at times misplaced. That Parker did not always do what was best for Elvis.
Elvis takes the heat here when he did not always do what was best or right-so should Parker.

I agree Parker wasn't perfect, but he gets the heat just as does Priscilla, Ginger, The Memphis Mafia & Linda etc. It just seems to me that every man and his dog can be blamed for Elvis' downfall except Elvis

....but I am convinced Elvis could have achieved the same with any other manager. In my eyes Parker manipulated Elvis from the very beginning, he was earning 50% of Elvis' income

I seem to be playing devils advocate way to much today

I don't think for one minute any other manager could have achieved the same as Parker, some things just click and things happen. Parker didn't get 50% until 1976 (I think).

[KPM]

I agree Parker wasn't perfect, but he gets the heat just as does Priscilla, Ginger, The Memphis Mafia & Linda etc. It just seems to me that every man and his dog can be blamed for Elvis' downfall except Elvis

I think this will always fall down to a philosophical debate and I've said this before if you believe "everyman is an island" you see this in that respect.
If you believe "No man is an island" you see it the opposite.
We all have to take responsibilty for our lives no question-but others do intersect with us-those intersections do play a role in what our outcomes can be. If you are lied to, and you do not know it,-and you follow the path you think this lie leads-are you totally at fault with the consequence?
People are scammed everyday, by strangers, by friends, by family, by business associates-and when it happens the consequences can be horrid.
Literally change the direction of a life-truely believe that.
If I could carry a lie detector in my pocket-it would never happen-just can't afford one.

[Jumpsuit Junkie]

I think this will always fall down to a philosophical debate and I've said this before if you believe "everyman is an island" you see this in that respect.
If you believe "No man is an island" you see it the opposite.
We all have to take responsibilty for our lives no question-but others do intersect with us-those intersections do play a role in what our outcomes can be. If you are lied to, and you do not know it,-and you follow the path you think this lie leads-are you totally at fault with the consequence?
People are scammed everyday, by strangers, by friends, by family, by business associates-and when it happens the consequences can be horrid.
Literally change the direction of a life-truely believe that.
If I could carry a lie detector in my pocket-it would never happen-just can't afford one.

As we have debated in the past, Elvis was party to what was going on in his career, the Colonel may have been unscrupulous but Elvis had become complacent and let the Colonel run things out of convenience.

I agree this is probably something that will be viewed differently by each individual. The one question I would ask is that people try to have a bit of perspective and try to look at both sides of the story.

[KPM]

As we have debated in the past, Elvis was party to what was going on in his career, the Colonel may have been unscrupulous but Elvis had become complacent and let the Colonel run things out of convenience.I agree this is probably something that will be viewed differently by each individual. The one question I would ask is that people try to have a bit of perspective and try to look at both sides of the story.

Yes I agree Elvis should have been more aware of his business situations and should have put his foot down more often. Confrontation was a big problem as we know for Elvis-he hated it. The one time he mustered the courage to fire Parker-Parker called his bluff and Elvis backed down.

[Jumpsuit Junkie]

Yes I agree Elvis should have been more aware of his business situations and should have put his foot down more often. Confrontation was a big problem as we know for Elvis-he hated it. The one time he mustered the courage to fire Parker-Parker called his bluff and Elvis backed down.

One of the things to think about here is the fact that even though the Colonel called Elvis' bluff, Elvis could have secretly sought advice through Vernon or some other intermediary, I'm sure the Colonel could have expected something like this to happen. The reason Elvis didn't follow through is twofold.

1. Apathy, the money still kept rolling in. 2. misguided loyalty?

That said, I truly believe the two although not bosom buddies, were close.

[KPM]

One of the things to think about here is the fact that even though the Colonel called Elvis' bluff, Elvis could have secretly sought advice through Vernon or some other intermediary, I'm sure the Colonel could have expected something like this to happen. The reason Elvis didn't follow through is twofold.

1. Apathy, the money still kept rolling in. 2. misguided loyalty?That said, I truly believe the two although not bosom buddies, were close.

I would add another to your list-fear. Fear of not having the Col. on the job.

[Brian]

I really don't understand the complete and utter derision aimed at Parker, he may well have been a hard nosed business man, he may have been selfish and self centred. What Elvis and the Colonel achieved together cannot be questioned. You don't have to like Parker just accept that they were business partners and reached great heights together. I'm pretty sure Elvis wasn't the easiest artist to be managed despite what everyone might think. There are two sides to every story.

To make an honest film about Parker, they would have to make an honest film about Elvis, the fans would be up in arms because some of the negative issues around Elvis would be raised.

I would agree with that

[ehollier]

I really don't understand the complete and utter derision aimed at Parker, he may well have been a hard nosed business man, he may have been selfish and self centred. What Elvis and the Colonel achieved together cannot be questioned. You don't have to like Parker just accept that they were business partners and reached great heights together. I'm pretty sure Elvis wasn't the easiest artist to be managed despite what everyone might think. There are two sides to every story.

To make an honest film about Parker, they would have to make an honest film about Elvis, the fans would be up in arms because some of the negative issues around Elvis would be raised.

I truly believe that, although Elvis is.....well ELVIS!, he would have never been ELVIS! without Col. Parker. His methods may not have been as honest and scupulous as say, Elvis' previous manager, Bob Neal; however, Col. Parker no doubt knew what it took and how to go about making Elvis the celebrity that he was. Yes, he had boatloads of talent, beauty, charisma -- the works!, but Elvis didn't have the business acumen or the wherewithall to take himself to the level of popularity and success that he acheived with Col. Parker.

And yes, there are many things that I do not like about Col. Parker - his inability to empathize with Elvis' unquenchable need to make and create music comes to mind; however, Col. Parker did what he needed to do as Elvis' manager. And he made Elvis successful; albeit maybe with a few mistakes along the way, but who here is perfect?

As far as Elvis and his input into his career, I think that some do not give Elvis enough credit for his intelligence and would rather place the blame on Col. Parker or Vernon or the MM for the way Elvis' career was managed. Elvis had a great deal of native intelligence - meaning that, although not college educuated, he did possess an uncanny ability to read people, feel them out and figure out for himself what sort of person or situation he was in. He could have easily stood up to Col. Parker; however, it appears to me and from some of the MM and Priscilla that Elvis seemed to be having too much fun not to confront Col. Parker regarding his career.

And Matt is correct. If an honest movie about Col. Parker would be made, an honest movie about Elvis would have to be made and the fans would be besides themselves when his less desirable side was revealed.

[Jumpsuit Junkie]

I would add another to your list-fear. Fear of not having the Col. on the job.

Great point, like or loath the Colonel, the money train kept rolling on in. The Colonel TCB'd. You could say that by 1972 a monkey could have managed Elvis and still made money but it appears that Elvis was a creature of habit and so the trained rolled on until the end.... And them some

[Jumpsuit Junkie]

I truly believe that, although Elvis is.....well ELVIS!, he would have never been ELVIS! without Col. Parker. His methods may not have been as honest and scupulous as say, Elvis' previous manager, Bob Neal; however, Col. Parker no doubt knew what it took and how to go about making Elvis the celebrity that he was. Yes, he had boatloads of talent, beauty, charisma -- the works!, but Elvis didn't have the business acumen or the wherewithall to take himself to the level of popularity and success that he acheived with Col. Parker.

Great post. I personally don't like Parker, why? I suppose that all the negative publicity he gets makes people inclined to feel that way, even when you didn't know the guy personally.

Elvis was such a huge brand name back in the 60's & 70's, this just doesn't happen without someone working in the shadows very hard to make this a reality. Yes Elvis had the talent, the Colonel knew how to turn that talent into a desirable product. No he didn't always get it right! He did enough, he brought Elvis to a world stage where he still has a place today. EPE is more guilty of selling Elvis out than the Colonel ever did.

We all put our lives in the hands of others over the course of our lives, we let people guide us in career/life decisions and that does shape us to a degree. We do however have a responsibility to ensure that the advice we are given is in our interest, we should not let apathy be the reason why we continue down the same path.

It seems to me that everyone surrounding Elvis gets a kicking, there are few colleagues, family or associates who get positive feedback. If everyone was so horrible it begs the question, 'Why did Elvis surround himself with these people?'

Is it the truth that the single most destructive force in Elvis' life was the drugs? If Elvis hadn't become addicted to prescribed medication we simply wouldn't give a hoot about the Colonel

[KPM]

I truly believe that, although Elvis is.....well ELVIS!, he would have never been ELVIS! without Col. Parker. His methods may not have been as honest and scupulous as say, Elvis' previous manager, Bob Neal; however, Col. Parker no doubt knew what it took and how to go about making Elvis the celebrity that he was. Yes, he had boatloads of talent, beauty, charisma -- the works!, but Elvis didn't have the business acumen or the wherewithall to take himself to the level of popularity and success that he acheived with Col. Parker.

And yes, there are many things that I do not like about Col. Parker - his inability to empathize with Elvis' unquenchable need to make and create music comes to mind; however, Col. Parker did what he needed to do as Elvis' manager. And he made Elvis successful; albeit maybe with a few mistakes along the way, but who here is perfect?

As far as Elvis and his input into his career, I think that some do not give Elvis enough credit for his intelligence and would rather place the blame on Col. Parker or Vernon or the MM for the way Elvis' career was managed. Elvis had a great deal of native intelligence - meaning that, although not college educuated, he did possess an uncanny ability to read people, feel them out and figure out for himself what sort of person or situation he was in. He could have easily stood up to Col. Parker; however, it appears to me and from some of the MM and Priscilla that Elvis seemed to be having too much fun not to confront Col. Parker regarding his career.

And Matt is correct. If an honest movie about Col. Parker would be made, an honest movie about Elvis would have to be made and the fans would be besides themselves when his less desirable side was revealed.

Since we not long ago had a thread which explored where Elvis could have gone with or without Parker I will not dwell on this-other than to say I think any competent manager with some connections who could have got Elvis on TV would have had the same chance Parker did. Elvis sold Elvis with the talent and controversy which began to start before Parker took over.
IMO Parker getting Elvis on the Sullivan and Steve Allen show and the performances he gave and the controversy which followed is what really lit the fire to his success IMO
I have to believe that there were other competent people who could have got him on National TV.
I pointed out Crosby and Sinatra careers followed the same path in essence-the got on records, onto national radio, and from that into movies. I do not know the names of their managers-but since Crosby was huge, Sinatra was huge-its a similar road that these managers pioneered.Parker just did what is logical. Of course I do not take anything from the Col. on his masterful exploitation-but controversy is easy to exploit.
Elvis had the added extra-besides talent and charisma he had the controversy about his movements and his new music rock and roll. That is my respectful and heartfelt opinion.

[Miss Clawdy]

He did enough, he brought Elvis to a world stage where he still has a place today.

I think that without Parker he could still be on that stage in person and alive today.

It seems to me that everyone surrounding Elvis gets a kicking, there are few colleagues, family or associates who get positive feedback. If everyone was so horrible it begs the question, 'Why did Elvis surround himself with these people?'

I don't think Elvis surrounded himself with horrible people, he had a wonderful family and the guys were his friends. They chose each other. It may not always have been heaven on earth but it isn't for nobody.

If Elvis hadn't become addicted to prescribed medication we simply wouldn't give a hoot about the Colonel

I would say if Elvis was alive today then we probably wouldn't give a hoot about the Colonel .

[Jumpsuit Junkie]

I think that without Parker he could still be on that stage in person and alive today.

So you are seriously saying the Colonel is to blame for Elvis' death

I don't think Elvis surrounded himself with horrible people, he had a wonderful family and the guys were his friends. They chose each other. It may not always have been heaven on earth but it isn't for nobody.

Agreed, that was my point, yet there are a number of people who will find fault will almost everyone Elvis had around him.

I would say if Elvis was alive today then we probably wouldn't give a hoot about the Colonel .

Exactly, we have an element of fans that will find the route of all Elvis' woes at the path of those who had any connection to him. Whilst there are people whom we see as the "Enablers" the Colonel seems to get an inordinate amount of negative press (Just like Priscilla) without a reasoned argument to back up their claims.