Elvis in DENVER COLORADO ....

[howardrobardhughes]

Elvis related extract:

Kennedy was one of several Denver police who were befriended by Elvis
Presley, after serving as off-duty security staff for the singer on
his visits to Colorado.

In a 1976 visit, Presley bought Lincolns or Cadillacs for Kennedy and
two others - and wanted to buy some wheels for the chief, who declined
the gift.

"He liked Elvis. He welcomed Elvis to town," said Kennedy, who received a Lincoln Mark IV in Presley's '76 visit. "Art was very
cordial with Elvis, and he wanted to buy Art a car, but Art turned it
down. He said, 'No way, I'm the chief of police.' ''

Elvis was in
town for the funeral of police officer Ron Petrofeso's brother. A
friend of mine went to the church's school where the funeral took
place. He said that they all saw Elvis, dressed in a white cape and he
waived at them in the school windows. It was all over the news when he
started giving away Cadillacs and Lincolns. He even got his hair cut
by a barber who was a friend of
Petrofeso's. Elvis later donated the dark blue, silver phoenix
jumpsuit to the church and in July of 76 it was raffled off along with
the pew Elvis sat in!
When Elvis came Denver on his famous car
buying and giving away spree in 1976,he
was taken to an italian restaurant, La Travea, by his friend and Denver
policeman Ron Petrofeso.The owner said that Elvis had their large dinner
cannoli which was dough wrapped around cheese, tomato sauce, sausage,
peppers and onions. He said it served 4 but that Elvis ate it all
himself.The
owner also states that after Elvis finished he went into the kitchen and
made his own pizza. He said that Elvis was like a kid, throwing flour
and cheese at everybody with flour all over himself. He also ate a few
slices of that pizza! The owner said that he has never seen anyone eat
that much and that for all that food that Elvis really wasn't that
overweight. He said that Elvis seemed to really relax and have fun that
night.
TCB
Wade

[Lonniebealestreet]

It was actually Kennedy's brother, if I'm not mistaken, who had taken his own life.

Some neat things in that article (where's it from?) I hadn't heard before though.

Here's a pic (sorry for the low res) that was featured on the 200 Cadillacs DVD, with Kennedy and his wife. Looks like Elvis was fresh from the aforementioned trip to the barber. I'm thinking he had maybe just taken that police captain's hat off, because his hair is kind of flattened, sort of looking like it did in Change Of Habit. He looks good in this and other pics from this time.

One other thing...In the Revelations book, Lamar or Marty, probably Lamar, claimed that Elvis showed up at that funeral in the dead police officer's uniform! Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I am almost certain that was the claim. Anyway, Pietrafeso pointed out that Elvis had his suit specially made, and you can see that Elvis' and no one else's was double-breasted! (To clarify--not in this pic, but in others.)

[Albert]

What means 'double breasted' ?

[Lonniebealestreet]

Two sets of buttons on the front of the coat, which is dressier or more formal. Elvis seemed to like that look.

[carolynlm]

I always thought he went to the funeral in the police uniform so he wouldn't be recognised.

[Lonniebealestreet]

I am not necessarily disputing that--I've heard the same thing. But I think that part of it too is that he liked playing the role, and also I think it was a statement of respect for the man and his office.

[paulsweeney]

Here are a couple of photos from that day;

http://www.elvis-collectors.com/cand.../cops0176.html

[Lonniebealestreet]

Thanks, Paul. Those are great. Somehow I like yours better than the photo I took of a photo on my TV screen!

In a thread in the 70s pic forum, it was said how Elvis looked bad in the latter part of '75 and the early part of '76, which is true, but these photos are illustrative of how quickly his appearance could change; there was a time in the middle there in which he looked great...just as he did at the end of the year.

For anyone who might not know about the legendary Fool's Gold Loaf, which is relative to the topic at hand (from The Life and Cuisine of Elvis Presley, by David Adler):

The evening of February 1, 1976, found Elvis home at Graceland entertaining
two favored guests in the jungle room. Capt. Jerry Kennedy was a member
of the Denver police force, and Ron Pietrafeso was in charge of Colorado's
Strike Force Against Crime. Elvis had met both men several years earlier
during his period of extreme interest in law enforcement, which culminated
in his surprice drop-in visit to President Nixon, who named Elvis a "special
agent". Tonight, as Elvis sat on his Kon Tiki throne chair in front of the
jungle room's babbling waterfall, the discussion centered on law enforcement
in Colorado. Elvis however, was reminded of something else. Colorado was
the home of the absolutely delicious sandwich, the best Elvis had ever eaten:
the Fool's Gold.

Elvis had sampled the sandwich only once, when after a concert he was
invited to a restaurant called the Colorado Cold Mine Company in the Denver
suburbs of Glendale. He ordered the house specialty, which was named Fool's
Gold because of it's outrageous price -$49.95. The first bite alone was
enough to make a lasting impression on Elvis.

Now, months later, Elvis was reminded of those sandwiches. Both of his
guests from Colorado were very curious about this extravagant treat. The King's
policy when enteraining in his rock and roll palace was to grant his guests' every
desire - your wish was literally the King's command, be it a game of racquetball
at four in the morning or a down-home Southern breakfast at midnight. However,
the "Fool's Gold Loaf", since it came from a restaurant in Denver, would stretch
the limits of even Elvis' notion of hospitality.

Elvis gazed across at his guests, who were comfortably ensconced on the Hawaiian
armchairs, cushioned by the rabbit's fur throw pillows. The conversation continued
to revolve around the sandwiches. One of the guys impulsively remarked, "Boy,
I wish I had me one of them now!" Elvis knew what he and his guests wanted and
the thousand-mile-journey to the Fool's Fold Loaf would not deter him. Elvis looked
at his friends and shouted, "Let's go get 'em!"

Before the lawmen knew what was happening they were seated inside Elvis'
stretch Mercedes along with another couple of Elvis' buddies, and whisked to
the Memphis airport. Elvis' personal jet, the Lisa Marie, was waiting for them on
the tarmac. As the four jet engines roared for takeoff, the excitement inside the
plane revved even higher as Elvis and his guests were about to be flown the two
hours to Denver for Elvis' favorite sandwich, the most mouthwatering sandwich
known to the King.

Once aloft, Elvis, the lawmen, and the test of the gang gathered in the plane's
dining room, around its leather topped table sith surrounding bucket seats
upholstered in aquamarine plush. Though Elvis often snacked on the Lisa Marie,
in anticipation of the filling treat to come his only indulgence was a bottle of his
vine de table - regular Pepsi.

At the Colorado Gold Mine Company, the scene was frenzied. The call had come
in from Memphis at midnight. The cooks had less than two hours to prepare the
"takeout" order of their lifetime. The massive griddle was scrubbed clean in order
to fry up the huge quantitites of bacon required. The loaves of bread were quickly
hollowed out and then briefly browned. The other ingredients were always ready.
Miraculously, the staff completed its creation in the nick of time. The restauranteur,
his wife, and a waiter speed of off for the Denver airport with twenty-two loaves.
As requested, a case of Perrier and a case of champagne accompanied the
sandwiches, along with a chest of cracked ice.

Elvis' plane touched down at 1:40 am at Stapleton Airport and taxied to a private
hangar. The owner of the restaurant personally brought Elvis and his party the
order on silver trays. For two hours in the Denver night, the feasting went on.
It was typical of Elvis' generosity that he insisted that the plane's pilots, Milo
High and Elwood David, join the fun. Elvis, as usual, avoided the alcohol,
instead washing down the sandwiches with the Perrier. It was yet another
night of dining Elvis style on food fit for the King.

And just what is "Fool's Gold Loaf"? Far be it from Elvis to settle fon an ordinary
peanut butter an jelly sndwich. Fool's Gold Loaf is a p.b.j realized on such a
heroic scale as to become truly Olympian.

An entire loaf of bread is warmed and then hollowed out. The sandwich is
generously spread with peanut butter and an equally thick layer of jelly.
Finally, lean bacon has to be cooked, at least a pound fried to crispness,
to fill the reamining belly of the loaf. The massive loaf is then downed
while the bacon is still hot. The serving size? One loaf per person.