Reply With QuoteHe seemed about the same, you would think "that guy is about 6 feet tall."Originally Posted by TCB4ELVIS
Please share the not so great moments too. You know that no matter what we all love and admire Elvis on here. True Stories have surfaced over the years and our love for Elvis has not diminished not one bit. Just like family members we will always love, we don't have to agree with everything they do or did.
So can you please share details of the minor not so great moments?
He seemed about the same, you would think "that guy is about 6 feet tall."
when i saw elvis that time, aug 21st, i was 13.
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i appreciate you wanting details from me, but there's not much more i will say. let me explain my hesitancy. my memories are hard to recall correctly because there are so many of them. and so much time has passed. i saw him numerous times and the moments have become muddled. i ve made mistakes telling what i thought i remembered and have been put down/ challenged because i didn't remember things exactly or got mixed up. so i keep a lot of it to myself. my apologies. when i meet fans in person, then i feel comfortable. but the internet is another thing.
i won't be crucified because i didn't keep my diaries of what he wore , what he sang, etc. and forget about a camera! i don't have my original tapes of the shows. i don't even remember all the dates. i was just a lucky kid, that's all. ya know, people did move on and have other things going on in their lives after E died. that's what happened to me. and i won't catch hell from anyone about what i don't remember, anymore. or for what i did in my life after elvis died, because i had to 'put him away' for a couple of decades.
ok, done with that soap box.
but i will share with you my experience of seeing him for the first time...
Last edited by vivalasvegas; 07-18-2009 at 11:56 AM.
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Elvis Presley on the Las Vegas Walk of Stars
A MEMORY OF ELVIS
February, Friday the 13th. I remember 39 years ago, 2/13/1970, the first time I saw Elvis. I was 12, a week away from 13 years old. I always considered Friday the 13th a lucky day after that.
I hadn't been able to see Elvis last august. My father, working at the hotel, said it was too difficult to get in. but this time, we could. Being so young, I went to the dinner show. I went with my mom and my best friend from school. My mom made me a new long formal dress. A light sky blue that was shiny in 2 different repeating patterns. Oh boy, did I feel grown up!
Dad was friends with one of the seating captains, Anthony. We got a good seat at a table next to the stage, on the far right. We were in the middle of the table. My mom tipped Tony. I couldn't believe where we were sitting.
I'd never been out to dinner like this before. The room was so beautiful, painted like a sky, and figures attached to the walls. The gold lame curtains were amazing. As you know from pictures and the movie TTWII, the seating was luxurious with those red velvet booths. We sat on blue chairs and had white tablecloths. With all the people, we were squished.
I ordered steak, but had to ask my mom how did I like it. She told me medium rare. (I didn't know what prime rib was) and this is the first time I ever ate asparagus. I liked it.
It was really cool to hold the Elvis menu, and the calendar, and the record catalog. I had bought the photo album. $5 was my allowance every 2 weeks. Oh gosh, Elvis stuff to take home! The show was $15. A lot of money to me.
It was interesting to talk with people from out of state at the table. I was pretty shy, but I did ok. These were not the nasty teasing kids I knew in school. Someone asked my girlfriend, and me what do you think you will do when Elvis comes out? Will you scream? We answered, we didn't know.
At this point, I had a few records in my collection. I had memorized memphis/vegas/memphis. I sat thru Sammy shore's comedy act, not understanding some of the jokes. But when the music started up, I knew -- ELVIS WAS COMING.
He came from the right, behind the curtain, where we were and walked past us to the other end of the stage and back to the center, where the mike was. I was amazed I was in the same room as him. I thought, THIS IS ELVIS PRESLEY!!!! My girlfriend and I started screaming and we did so till we ran out of breath.
His hair was so beautiful. Shiny and black, and soft looking. Elvis glowed under the spotlight. As he was singing, I said to myself, that's ELVIS' real voice coming thru those speakers, not my record player. I am hearing this with my own ears. I am seeing him with my own eyes. I am in the same room he is and breathing the same air!
I don't remember his suit, only that it was white. I remember some of the songs. It was SO COOL to see his latest hits sung LIVE, and others from the radio, and to see him move to the music. Waaaaay different than the movies.
I knew after that, I would see him every chance I could get... every time he came to Vegas. I saw him a total of 25 times, including the last show he ever did in Vegas. I kept my promise.
Elvis became my 'boyfriend'. Thank God for him. He was my life and made a great impact on it. I would not have survived my teenage years without him.
Here’s to you, Elvis. My love and appreciation, forever. ~ Sue
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Elvis Presley on the Las Vegas Walk of Stars
I enjoyed your stories, but just to clarify dates...
Elvis' last show at the Hilton was on December 12, 1976.
Thank you so much Sue for sharing. What a nice detailed story. I think you're entitled to not get some details right from the later shows. The first time is the one that really counts and from the sound of it, Elvis changed your life in a positive way.
thank you so much for taking the time to share.
she was off by only one day. When I make mistakes like that, I usually just tell people,I must have been drunk. Even though they know I'm not a drinker..lol[/b]
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I enjoyed your stories, but just to clarify dates...
Elvis' last show at the Hilton was on December 12, 1976.
I just thought it was kinda funny, since she already said she was mixed up on her dates! At our age you don't have to be drunk...it just happens naturally!
Hey speak for yourself, honey. I take my Geritol...I think mentioning that drug just gave my age away...lolI just thought it was kinda funny, since she already said she was mixed up on her dates! At our age you don't have to be drunk...it just happens naturally!
I fully under stand your situation. I only saw Elvis in concert 5 times and the
memories of those concerts mesh together so much in my mind. There are
some things I remember as vividly as if it were happening right now; but, other things I really can't recall with any certainty. When I tell about seeing
Elvis I try to be vague on facts and just describe my emotions and memories
as I recall them. I, for one, cannot recall the songs he did in the order that
they were done or in just what concert; but, I can remember seeing him
moving to certain songs and I can remember funny little things that happened
while he was on stage, little quips he made to the audiences, etc. My memories are my memories. And no one else can tell me different. Don't be
afraid to tell your memories. Even folks who saw the same shows as you,
will have different memories from them. And people witness the same events
differently. It is always nice to hear as many versions of Elvis stories as we
can. It is up to us to take what we can from each story and savor that which
means something special to us. What doubters think is not so important.
You were very fortunate to experience Elvis in a way not too many have
and I appreciate your being willing to share your memories with the rest of us.
I saw Elvis a few times myself. There are things that I have forgotten or don't remember as vividly as other things. So, unless I know with a doubt, I don't tell people they're confused - I think that has a tendency to tick people off. And, if I did do that and then proven wrong I wouldn't hold it against anyone because they remembered it the way it was and I didn't.
I've got one worse than Sue. I used to share my stories of seeing Elvis too. Until I found out a certain person was sending PM's to everyone telling them my stories were not true. I really don't like being told I'm confused but I really don't like being called a liar!! Like Sue, I don't have any pix of Vegas either because I was a teenager too and my mother wouldn't let me sneak a camera in. But, just because you don't have pictures doesn't mean it didn't happen. I just met up with a few girlfriends from high school about a month ago and one of them asked me if I still had those Elvis "things" that he gave me! She didn't remember what it was but she did remember I got scarves from him. Out of the 4 times I went to Vegas, I got a kiss and/or scarf 3 out of those 4 times. Maybe Elvis somehow knew when the ones that loved him the most were in the building!
Forever Best Friends
I think you are right. I think Elvis knew when those that loved him most were
in the audience and I think he performed accordingly. I believe he gave more
to those who gave more back to him. I don't think this was a conscious
thing on his part. I just think that he was inspired more by a grateful audience
than he was by a lack- luster one.
why i always mix up that last date is something i haven't been able to figure out. thanks for the nudge.
i went every time he was here, once, except for when he canceled due to sickness. never opening night. never closing night. only friday and saturday because i had school or i had to be concerned about a parents day off. once in awhile, on a sunday. i ve used everything i can to remember.
i only went once 'cause that's all i could afford. i spent my allowance on records and his shows. i never had someone to go with or to take care of me who could tip $100 so i could sit in those magic seats. but i did alright.
i saw what happened to people caught with a camera. so i *never* dared to try. but i lugged in a cassette recorder into my big 70s carry bag. (i think we called them slouch bags?) but i don't have those tapes anymore. but, bless his heart, bud glass made me copies of shows i did remember. since then i have remembered more. so here goes.
2/13/70
8/21/70
71 feb and aug
feb 72
8/18/72 (i was in the back and i yelled, 'i love you elvis', and he said 'i love you too, honey'. wow! made my night)
73 feb and aug
feb 74
9/1/74 and how i figured this out was i read that this was day he wore the tiger suit. i also have a picture i discovered that judy palmer took. i never forgot that show. elvis WAS the tiger. he talked about karate and did a demonstration across the stage. we all went nuts!!! i look forward to meeting judy again , getting her new book, and seeing the pictures she took of that show. she was sitting really close to me because her pictures match my memory exactly.
mar 21 & 22, 75--saw 3 shows in a row. fri night was my dinner show and then 2 new friends i'd made took me to 2 shows the next day.(wow) you might know the song You're the Reason I'm Living (by Bobby Darin) that Elvis sang one night. i was at that show! my memory tells me i was in the balcony. my first time. and elvis was wearing what i call the blue epaulet suit. but i m taking a chance here. i can't verify that.
dec 75- really wish i could remember that day. i threw a captain's hat on stage. he put it on but did not see my note.my memory tells me a dark suit and the best i could come up with was white phoenix.
dec 12, 76. and i don't have any visuals. i just remember the songs. i was so happy & surprised he sang Such a Night and his version of Hurt was incredible.
when i first came on the internet and saw pictures and even video of elvis onstage in vegas i was EXHILARATED! i thought, what brave people. am i thankful for all their effort. i keep hoping to see video / pictures to help me remember my shows. it has rarely happened.
ok, that's enough out of me for now.
thanks for all the nice things ya'll said, but still, i have learned to carefully say things, or not say them at all. because of the EXPERTS out there.
-- and now that i recount all those days, it must be only 15 times i saw elvis and not 25, but heck i came up with that number for some reason a looong time ago.
if i could be hypnotized to remember the past, it would be my elvis shows!
Last edited by vivalasvegas; 07-18-2009 at 10:50 PM.
www.vivalasvegasclub.com
Let's have a swingin' time!
www.astarforelvis.com
Elvis Presley on the Las Vegas Walk of Stars
Me too...it wasn't worth it. I have posted several pics on here from August 4, 1972, but I wasn't the one taking them. A business associate of my Dad's was there that night with his teenage daughter. He tipped Emilio, but not enough to get stage side. They were at the same table as us, but 6 or 7 seats away from the stage. The daughter had a camera in her purse and wanted me to use it, I told her there was no way I was risking getting caught. So, she used it herself and got away with it. When the show was over I was VERY glad that she had the pics, but even if I had it to do over again I still wouldn't take the chance!!i saw what happened to people caught with a camera. so i *never* dared to try.
I understand those sentiments soooo well! I can't seperate my teen years from Elvis...they go hand-in-hand. I don't have a memory that he's not a part of.
OK......now I'm confused! You saw the last show he did in Vegas? Then that would mean you did see a closing night show, right?
do you remember the dates of the shows? or at least month/year and city?
I do!
ok, what where the dates and what groovy outfit did you have on? lolI do!
Well, my 1st two times to see him were 08/17/1971 and 11/13/1971. He wore the "cisco kid" and the white "spectrum" suit, and I wore "hot pants" with knee high patent leather boots. Hail to the 70's!
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