Heart Of Gold

[Lonniebealestreet]

In some magazine that I've got packed away somewhere--it may have been from '77 or a few years after--was an article called He Had A Heart Of Gold, or something like that.

It told a story of how at a concert relatively close to the end--'76, maybe, Elvis gave a scarf away to a young girl, who then promptly had it snatched away by some crazy woman. Elvis saw this and stopped what he was doing and had one of the stage cops help the girl up to the stage. He then took the diamond-encrusted cross necklace he was wearing off his neck and put it around the little girl's. He told her that nobody would take that away from her, and asked the security people to see to that and that she (and whoever she was with) be escorted to their car at the end of the show.

Does anyone know if this story is true, and if so, at what show did this take place? I was wondering if there was a recording of this occurrence, because I don't believe I have heard it. I wonder what the cross looked like--if it was like the one that the estate still has, or a different design.

Anyone?

[NightRider]

I have heard the story too Bobby,
but i can't remember where either - i am pretty sure its a true story though.

I'll have a look and see what i can find

[Sonny]

I know about this story, LonnieB...

No other info just yet. When nobody beats me to it, I will try and look up where I read that, funny enough, it wasn't that long ago I read it, you know.

Sonny

[JohanD]

I've read the story in "Elvis,for the record"
The magazine published by Billy Smith and Marty Lacker in the late 70's.
I have a copy somwhere...but where to find it...i'll search for it..

It has the whole story and a pic of Elvis giving the cross to that little girl,very blurry pic,but nice...

And the search goes on..;

ps.Unless someone finds it sooner...

That Kurt Russel scene was inspired by that event,just the dates where not that correct.

[P.S. Annie]

Yeah, heard/read about this story too, but I don't know if it is true? Maybe I can find out, I'll let you know, but maybe someone already knows

[Stefan Kock]

This event occured in Monroe, Louisiana on March 7th (or 8th - two shows in two days in the same city) 1974.

According to the book Music, Men, Mythe the girl is the 5 years old Rhonda Boler. Early in the show Elvis notices her and because he?s affraid that she might get hurt in front of the stage he let her take place on the stage.

At the end of the evening he takes her by the hand and walks center stage with her where he sings Can?t Help Falling In Love. At the end he gives her one of his scarfs.

When Elvis is taking his bows and the girl walks back to her mother the scarf is taken away from the little girl. Elvis, just about to leave the stage, sees what happens and walks back to her, takes one of his golden chains from his neck and places it around the neck of the little gir saying to her: "This is for you honey. There ain?t no-one who can take that ever away from you" , and continueing to one of the police guards says: " Stay with her and protect her against anyone"

[Lonniebealestreet]

I had forgotten about that scene being recreated in the Kurt Russell movie. Unless I am mistaken, the article I read did predate the film. It was in one of those single edition, special Elvis magazines that came out back then. But I think the photo it featured was not a fuzzy one (which sounds like a photo of the actual event) but a close-up of Elvis with a little girl that was probably from a different show.

It seems like even in the early nineties magazines like those used to be found on the newsstand every so often. Anymore I only tend to see them on the big anniversaries.

Anyway, I do hope we can pinpoint which show it was, so if a recording exists, we can listen for it in the show. I'm pretty sure I've never heard it.

EDIT: A-ha! Thanks, Stefan! I began my post before I had seen yours. That's a great story; thanks for giving us the full details. I need to check, but I don't think I have any of those Monroe shows. There may be audience recordings of them. Anybody here have one or both?

[Scatter]

It's a great story. That's the sort of story we should be reading in the newspapers!

I wonder if Elvis made the comment off-mic? If so we probably won't get to hear any of Elvis's comments.

[Lonniebealestreet]

Excellent point. I hadn't heard that it took place as he was about to exit the stage; that being the case, I'd say chances are it would have been off-mic.

[Stefan Kock]

As Elvis usually dropped the miked at the final notes of Can?t Help Falling In Love these comments are undoubtly not audible on a audiance recording, except if the person who was recording the show sat near the stage at the point were Elvis gave his neckless to the little girl. Chances still remain <1%.

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I?ve always loved this storry (among many others). It, once again, shows what kind of caring, loving, generous human being Elvis was.

[Captain Elwood David]

I believe this event occurred around &#39;73-&#39;74, because EP can be seen wearing the cross in many concert photos / travelling to venue shots ..... especially in 1973.

Have pics. of the cross itself. The owner wanted something in the neighborhood of &#036;35 - &#036;38,000 USD for it a number of years ago. It&#39;s a nice piece. The cross itself dates back to the 1960&#39;s; obviously a jewelry item that had some meaning / importance to EP (because he kept it for so many years before giving away).

The true monetary value in terms of the gem content is not so stratospheric. All of the value comes from it being EP-owned & the story associated with the item.

Cross is gold (FOB portion), with 11 emeralds, and 1 small diamond in the center. As is sometimes the case with EP necklaces, ........ piece is also dated on the reverse.

There are photos of EP giving the girl the cross, on-stage as well.

Story is very true, item authentic, & the piece obviously in private hands. The year of occurance was misrepresented in the the Kurt Russel (Dick Clark Production) movie (dramatic embellishment that always serves to create more myth).

Yet another example as to how EP-owned items have stories to accompany ..... and are historical artifacts in their own right. Sometimes we imagine / create images in or own minds .... that such items are bigger-than-life ----&#62; not so ----&#62; they are just ordinary things that just happened to be touched & graced by history.


- Capt. "EL."

[JohanD]

Originally posted by JohanD@Apr 20 2004, 08:00 PM
I&#39;ve read the story in "Elvis,for the record"
The magazine published by Billy Smith and Marty Lacker in the late 70&#39;s.
I have a copy somwhere...but where to find it...i&#39;ll search for it..

It has the whole story and a pic of Elvis giving the cross to that little girl,very blurry pic,but nice...

And the search goes on..;

ps.Unless someone finds it sooner...

That Kurt Russel scene was inspired by that event,just the dates where not that correct.

Altough Stefaan already det the record straight ,here&#39;s the scan of the 2 page article in that magazine with a picture.
Nice story indeed&#33;&#33;

[Lonniebealestreet]

Thanks a million for posting that article, Johan. The one I have was not written by the girl&#39;s mother, nor is it that detailed. That is a beautiful story and exemplifies part of what made Elvis so special. It would be great to see it get more press in this day and age.

[P.S. Annie]

Thanks JohanD for that article. Found it very interesting to read.

[rod]

thanks johnd thats a great peice

[Stefan Kock]

Thanx for posting that article JohanD

Did the magazine say at which one of the Monroe concerts it happend??

[Captain Elwood David]

Loved the article, my thanks.

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The cross was indeed quite "special" to EP. He would often give away special pieces ......... under similar "special" circumstances.

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As is usually the case, reality events are re-told with slight revisions or minor mistakes ................ which then go on to transform into different stories. Such is the nature & creation of myth.

Much could be avoided by authors going to the primary sources to investigate, rather than just re-printing the second-hand words of others under the assumtion that the details are correct / accurate.


- Capt. "EL."

[iamhekev]

I read about 2 years ago(news paper?) due to money problems,that she had to put the cross up for sale,but i never heard what the out come was.There was a picture of her holding a photo,with EP giving her the cross,in the artical.

I would love to no how she got on with the sale,or has she still got it?

KEV.

[Captain Elwood David]

She didn&#39;t get what she was asking for it at that time.

Doesn&#39;t mean it isn&#39;t worth that much. Something is worth not only what somebody is willing to pay for it, but also as much as the owner wants / needs to part with it.

This is just such a case. If the price isn&#39;t right (in both directions), the result is the same ---&#62; No Sale.

Some people only want to buy things at about half of their value so that they can turn around and re-sell it for a 100% or more profit.


- Capt. "EL."

[Lonniebealestreet]

It&#39;s too bad that she is in a position to have to part with it, if that is the case. Surely no one else in the world could appreciate that cross as much as she...I could make a case for myself though&#33;