Marty Lacker talks about Elvis and The Grammys:

[Brian]

????? Questionable my friend, the courts in 1982 certainly did not find that Parker had managed Elvis fairly-he was double dipping consultant fees from RCA, Hilton, International etc....the merchandising agreement between them was even worse with Parker making more that Elvis.
Had Elvis taken the "bills from Parker" to a real blood hound show business attorney the truth of the negotiations and deals by Parker may have come out much earlier. Elvis was afraid-he and Vernon were not as smart as Parker and they took him at his word-that he would not do things unfair-they were just totally snowed.

Still It happens all the time crooked managers get paid off to leave by their clients.
Colonel Parker might've got money before it got to court or they could've settled.

The MM guys all say that they thought the 2 million dollar bill might've been bogus but none of them said anything or recommended other managers to Elvis.
So it's no wonder Elvis didn't permanently fire him then.

[KPM]

Still It happens all the time crooked managers get paid off to leave by their clients.
Colonel Parker might've got money before it got to court or they could've settled.

The MM guys all say that they thought the 2 million dollar bill might've been bogus but none of them said anything or recommended other managers to Elvis.
So it's no wonder Elvis didn't permanently fire him then.

You were interested in the deals Parker made-I ran across this first movie contract for sale-negotiated by Parker with Wallis for Elvis-I do not think Elvis was served well:
Elvis and Colonel Tom Parker Signed Movie Contract. In 1956, Colonel Tom Parker negotiated a sizeable movie contract with the Wallis and Hazen production company for budding superstar Elvis Presley. Many historians and biographers have debated over the years whether or not Parker's deal was a great one for Elvis, or merely adequate. This original contract, dated April 2, 1956, and signed by Elvis, Parker, Hal Willis, and Joseph Hazen on the last page, gives the details of the deal -- a very modest one at that. It calls for Elvis to appear in one film a year over a period of seven years, at the starting rate of $15,000, with annual raises that had him earning $100,000 in the seventh and final year of the contract, plus the right to make one film a year for another production company of his choice. Elvis' first film under the contract was 1957's Loving You, and he made a total of nine films with Wallis/Hazen, the last being Easy Come, Easy Go in 1967. The contract is in overall excellent condition, with the standard binder holes to the top of each page, with some tape residue on the upper left corners of the first and last pages. A significant document that puts to rest a long-standing debate. Accompanied by LOA from PSA/DNA.
http://entertainment.ha.com/common/v...4&Lot_No=22281

[Junebug]

Remember the 'Dancing Chickens' story?

According to Loanne Parker, Parker's wife/widow, - "there were never any "dancing chickens". This was a joke Colonel used to test the gullibility of people. It has been repeated (and believed) so many times that there is no doubt people are gullible!"

Definition of gullible: easily duped or cheated

[Brian]

You were interested in the deals Parker made-I ran across this first movie contract for sale-negotiated by Parker with Wallis for Elvis-I do not think Elvis was served well:
Elvis and Colonel Tom Parker Signed Movie Contract. In 1956, Colonel Tom Parker negotiated a sizeable movie contract with the Wallis and Hazen production company for budding superstar Elvis Presley. Many historians and biographers have debated over the years whether or not Parker's deal was a great one for Elvis, or merely adequate. This original contract, dated April 2, 1956, and signed by Elvis, Parker, Hal Willis, and Joseph Hazen on the last page, gives the details of the deal -- a very modest one at that. It calls for Elvis to appear in one film a year over a period of seven years, at the starting rate of $15,000, with annual raises that had him earning $100,000 in the seventh and final year of the contract, plus the right to make one film a year for another production company of his choice. Elvis' first film under the contract was 1957's Loving You, and he made a total of nine films with Wallis/Hazen, the last being Easy Come, Easy Go in 1967. The contract is in overall excellent condition, with the standard binder holes to the top of each page, with some tape residue on the upper left corners of the first and last pages. A significant document that puts to rest a long-standing debate. Accompanied by LOA from PSA/DNA.
http://entertainment.ha.com/common/v...4&Lot_No=22281

I'm not arguing Colonel Parker didn't make deals that were not in Elvis' favor.
I do think though that Elvis was making more on the movies than that.
Wasn't he making like $250,000 per picture in the early 60's plus 25 to 50% of the gross.

[KPM]

I'm not arguing Colonel Parker didn't make deals that were not in Elvis' favor.
I do think though that Elvis was making more on the movies than that.
Wasn't he making like $250,000 per picture in the early 60's plus 25 to 50% of the gross.

Not evidently from the Wallis pictures since I just posted the content of the original 7 picture contract.

[Brian]

Not evidently from the Wallis pictures since I just posted the content of the original 7 picture contract.

Well, Elvis had different salaries for the different pictures he did.

[KPM]

Well, Elvis had different salaries for the different pictures he did.

Elvis must have made better money off the pictures he did separate from this Wallis/Parker first contract. I am amazed at how little Parker negotiated for this 7 picture deal. Hopefully as the profits for Wallis mounted-the other producers had to pay much more seeing the benefits of a Presley picture.

Checked a little further:


After the profits from Elvis's first pictures showed the draw Elvis was at the box office-Parker renegotiated Elvis's Wallis deal in October of 1958 and Elvis's salary went up considerably to $175,000 for GI Blues in 1960 Wallis agreed-but Parker did not ask for better scripts nor more dramatic attempts for Elvis-the only thing he asked for was more money...all else was the same as the original contract with Wallis.

[Jungleroom76]

After the profits from Elvis's first pictures showed the draw Elvis was at the box office-Parker renegotiated Elvis's Wallis deal in October of 1958 and Elvis's salary went up considerably to $175,000 for GI Blues in 1960 Wallis agreed-but Parker did not ask for better scripts nor more dramatic attempts for Elvis-the only thing he asked for was more money...all else was the same as the original contract with Wallis.

More money for Elvis meant more money for The Colonel....plain and simple!!! And of course, we all know that was all The Colonel was interested in!!!

TCB!
Mike

[Jungleroom76]

I've come to the conclusion that Elvis probably did actually owe the Colonel money because of all the deals he signed through the years.
Who knows what deals Colonel was making without Elvis' knowledge or what those business contracts between them specificially said.

I have to STRONGLY disagree with you here my friend!!!

If Elvis had Parker's dealings investigated, my guess would be that The Colonel OWED Elvis a substantial amount of money!!! You are precisely right...what deals was The Colonel making without Elvis' knowledge. How about deals like starting Boxcar Records for the HAVING FUN WITH ELVIS ON STAGE album? Although I don't recall the specifics, I do remember reading that by releasing an all-talking album on his own label, The Colonel could by-pass his contract with Elvis, thus being able to profit from the album without sharing the royalties with Elvis. Same thing applied with the budget LP's. By putting a hit like BURNING LOVE on an album with leftover movie songs, the fans would run out and purchase the album (mainly for BURNING LOVE of course) therefore selling an album most filled with songs that The Colonel had half (or more) of the publishing rights to, thus generating more profit for his half of the 50-50 deal.

And speaking of the 50-50 deal, THAT FACT ALONE should have been enough to warrant an investigation. I'm sorry but NO MANAGER is worth half of everything!!!! So when it all comes down to it, The Colonel was simply able to take advantage of Elvis' trust and his loyalty. Elvis thought that he would have been nothing with The Colonel and was grateful to The Colonel for all he had done for him throughout his career, therefore he felt a sense of loyalty to him. Sadly, it was a VERY misplaced loyalty...one that eventually ruined Elvis' creativity and ultimately his life.

TCB!
Mike

[Brian]

I have to STRONGLY disagree with you here my friend!!!

If Elvis had Parker's dealings investigated, my guess would be that The Colonel OWED Elvis a substantial amount of money!!! You are precisely right...what deals was The Colonel making without Elvis' knowledge. How about deals like starting Boxcar Records for the HAVING FUN WITH ELVIS ON STAGE album? Although I don't recall the specifics, I do remember reading that by releasing an all-talking album on his own label, The Colonel could by-pass his contract with Elvis, thus being able to profit from the album without sharing the royalties with Elvis. Same thing applied with the budget LP's. By putting a hit like BURNING LOVE on an album with leftover movie songs, the fans would run out and purchase the album (mainly for BURNING LOVE of course) therefore selling an album most filled with songs that The Colonel had half (or more) of the publishing rights to, thus generating more profit for his half of the 50-50 deal.

And speaking of the 50-50 deal, THAT FACT ALONE should have been enough to warrant an investigation. I'm sorry but NO MANAGER is worth half of everything!!!! So when it all comes down to it, The Colonel was simply able to take advantage of Elvis' trust and his loyalty. Elvis thought that he would have been nothing with The Colonel and was grateful to The Colonel for all he had done for him throughout his career, therefore he felt a sense of loyalty to him. Sadly, it was a VERY misplaced loyalty...one that eventually ruined Elvis' creativity and ultimately his life.

TCB!
Mike

I think Loanne Parker has said that the 2 million dollars was for deals he had already had set up when Elvis fired him ( Vegas engagements, touring, a recording session) and that if he was terminated he wouldn't get paid for it and it was just rightful compensation for making those deals.

Colonel Parker might've been able to make that argument.



Elvis knew about the 50/50 split in 1967