"Elvis: The Last 24 Hours" by Goldman...and Stanley?!

[NEA]

In 1991 I remember reading a magazine preview of the 'new' Goldman book "Elvis: The Last 24 Hours" by Albert Goldman. This book was another sordid attempt to re-write the facts about Elvis' final day. It was also published around the time of the tenth anniversary of Goldman's first trashy toilet-paper work "Elvis".

My question is: Is it true that David Stanley collaborated on this follow-up piece of S * * * with Goldman?...I have heard that this is true.

Plus, does anybody know how this second book fared in the best-seller's listings compared to the first?

NEA.

[cutiepie]

Hi NEA

I think it was Lamar Fike, who "collaborated" with Albert Goldman. He mentioned it all the time in the Revelations book.

Lamar admitted that fans weren't pleased with his involvement with Goldman. He rationalized that by saying that he (Lamar) needed the money. Then he couched it further and said that Elvis didn't leave any money for him in the will.

I don't know about Lamar...throughout the book, he makes it sound like Elvis copied him. Lamar mentions that Elvis got the "my boy" saying because Lamar was doing an imitation of WC Fields, and that Elvis even took the sunglasses he was wearing to make it his (Elvis') own.

Lamar doesn't really come across as a very likeable person ! I don't know why Elvis was so loyal to him!

[PaleRider]

I think Lamar was a source for the first book, while David was a source for the second book ("The Last 24 Hours"). I remember seeing an interview with Rick Stanley where he mentioned that he disagreed with his brother's theory about Elvis' death.

I received "The Last 24 Hours" as a gift from a well-meaning uncle back then. If I remember correctly, there was a diagram of the second floor of Graceland (or at least Elvis' bathroom area) that caught my interest -- until I saw that Goldman also had a caricature of Elvis' body in the diagram as well. Just shows Goldman had no class or taste. I've since gotten rid of the book, but I'm pretty sure it was the one with this diagram.

[Cherokee]

Well, David Stanley was on TV in the Netherlands a day or so ago, as he's the main guest on a traveling exhibition of Elvis' personal belongings here, and he again ver batim stated that he knew that Elvis committed suicide. Of course he rattled off the same old same old that he usually does "I didn't know what an Elvis Presley was..... He took me in his arms and welcomed me in his family..... I spent every day of my life until 1977 with Elvis..... I don't think he committed suicide, I KNOW he committed suicide, I was there......."

Sometimes you just want to slam these people......

Of course Elvis committed suicide, a very slow suicide, by living the way he did. But the way Stanley mixes truths, half truths and plain out lies so easily always makes my stomach turn.

[NEA]

Hi,

I know Goldman made contact with the likes of Lamar Fike and Sonny West for his first piece of written trash in 1981. Both of these guys stated that they didn't want to be involved with anything sensationalistic or full of half-truths and fabricated lies...I think Sonny had discreetly threatened Goldman too before the tape recorder started rolling.

I've heard that Lamar, apparently, was shocked at the way his involvement with this book had turned out and was somewhat upset at the way his stories had been twisted - but I guess the money was ok, Lamar?!

If Fike was so upset then why didn't he consider suing Goldman for his involvement?

And, 10 years on, knowing the kind of considerable amount of damage the first book had tried to do to Elvis' reputation, what the hell was Stanley thinking about by collaborating with Goldman in that way?...Surely, he wasn't that naive?...Surely, he must have heard about Goldman's bad reputation as a writer - by 1990/91 Goldman had also published another piece of trash, this time about John Lennon...Surely, Stanley was aware of these events?

I suppose the one, true answer that I'm looking for is: MONEY.

NEA.

[Jumpsuit Junkie]

It's a shame really, Elvis trusted these people when he was alive and entrusted them and invited them into his life, the majority of these people only wanted to cash in on his celebrity and wealth.

They engraciated themselves to earn a living from a man who in later years felt that he had to go on working to keep these leeches from the gutter to which they belonged.

How has Elvis been repayed by these very same people! by lowering themselves even further into the gutter to earn a living from the man they almost certainly helped to an early grave.

Over the years these people have sold their soul for the sake of money, the stories whether true or not should never have been told by so called friends who in Elvis' lifetime had been only to happy as long as the money came along to keep Elvis' trust.

I had a friend who I had known for 20 years, we have fallen out now for over 18 month's, I would never, ever betray that trust even though we no longer speak or how I feel about him. A friendship however long and even if that person has passed away is a friendship. I could not live with myself betraying a persons trust and how you could sleep is another thing altogether.

90% of the people around Elvis were charlatans, i think Elvis came to know this by the late 70's but by this time he felt it was probably better the devil you know, unfortunately I don't think that Elvis could foresee how low they could really go.

All that is left for this vile lot is retribution from a higher place.

Matt

[NEA]

On that note JJ, that has to be the final word on this topic of not only the money-making cogs in David Stanley's mind but of all of the so-called Memphis Mafia associates that claim to be 'Friends' or 'Family'.

It certainly throws a whole new perspective on promotional advertisement that plug an Elvis Fan Club/Business event which states the following:

"....featuring Special Guest, David Stanley", "....featuring Special Guest Sonny West", "...featuring Special Guest Donna Presley Early" and so on and so forth.

It makes me think twice and clearly state to myself: "Who are these people anyway?...can I now live without going to the event and meeting them?..."

The answer now is yes.

If any non-fan was to ask me if I have ever met anyone 'close' to Elvis, then my answer these days would be "Well, yes...but so what."

Elvis was THE One Shining Star who gave each and every one of them a life to talk about.

Sad...very, very Sad...

Cheers,

NEA.

[Jungleroom76]

ALL I CAN RECOMMEND TO ELVIS FANS IS TO STAY AWAY FROM GOLDMAN'S BOOKS!!!

TCB!
Mike

[Redroo]

Hi NEA

I think it was Lamar Fike, who "collaborated" with Albert Goldman. He mentioned it all the time in the Revelations book.

Lamar admitted that fans weren't pleased with his involvement with Goldman. He rationalized that by saying that he (Lamar) needed the money. Then he couched it further and said that Elvis didn't leave any money for him in the will.

I don't know about Lamar...throughout the book, he makes it sound like Elvis copied him. Lamar mentions that Elvis got the "my boy" saying because Lamar was doing an imitation of WC Fields, and that Elvis even took the sunglasses he was wearing to make it his (Elvis') own.

Lamar doesn't really come across as a very likeable person ! I don't know why Elvis was so loyal to him!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yeh Fat Fike E's garbage can...here we go again, more $ so these drongos don't have to pull an unemployment check, why don't they all just give up and leave the poor bloody bastard alone..."Last Train To memphis" is all i need to read, past that and the rest is hangin 5...

[0349054]

I'd read a bit more than just that book if I were you. Guarnlick was writing it for EPE, and judging by the glaring ommisions in Careless Love, it is not an unbiased account. Besides, while I really like the work he has done, at the end of the day he wasnt there, although you'd wonder if some of the Mafia Members were in the same group when you read the drastic different accounts of situations!

[Scottishthistle]

I had a dvd called Elvis the last 24 hours my brother bought me it.
watched 5 minutes of it and put it in the dustbin with all the rest of the trash.

[cutiepie]

I had a dvd called Elvis the last 24 hours my brother bought me it.
watched 5 minutes of it and put it in the dustbin with all the rest of the trash.

I was most tempted to get that DVD, not knowing that it was supposed to be. So...was it a documentary, re-enactment?? I'm curious!

Thanks!

[nabelt24]

I met Lamar while I was living in Nashville. He wanted to manage my career! The production company I was working with at the time didn't want anything to do with him. Good thing, I guess.

[Cherokee]

What it all boils down to is that apparently most people that surrounded Elvis were too spineless to stand up to him while he was still alive, at times when they felt he did them wrong. So now, when the man is dead and buried and can't defend himself (he never would do that publicly anyway) all their frustrations come out, magnified. I find remarks about his lack of personal hygiene, table manners or what have you not only in poor taste, but also more telling about the person who shares such "facts", than about Elvis himself.
The mere fact that that they, almost 30 years after his passing, still only have any significance to people BECAUSE of the fact that their lives brushed Elvis' at some point, says it all.

[0349054]

It's an interesting point you raise, about them not being able to stand up to him.

I presume thats to do with things he did, that they disagreed with. As far as his health, I don't think it was anyone else's responsibility except Elvis'.

But as for things he did or said, or if he did something they didn't agree with, I think Elvis created an unhealthy atmosphere by having them on a payroll. Most of them had wives and kids, although they didn't act as they did - yet they did and they had to support them. Elvis didn't pay well, but he threw in perks like cars and houses. He fed them, and the vast majority were not qualified to do anything except be around Elvis. So when he died a huge void was left. Most of thm realised how much trouble they were. Writing Elvis books, and doing Elvis related things remains one source of income for them, and I'm glad that through it we get to see into Elvis' life. I'm not saying that we should see it with Rose tinted glasses, because thats just plain misguided, but neither should it be a character assasination, or a thing of fiction - like David Stanleys imagination.

The Stanley's keep spewing out things so comical regarding Elvis, that it's wonder half of them are printed. Dee claimed Elvis slept with Gladys, David claimes he killed himself. David answered the door to John Lennon! Rick has taken a holier than thou stance, while his brother drives a race car with something like - The Hound Dog, or something similar written across it, telling anyone who'll listen he was Elvis' step-brother.

[KPM]

Elvis was a human being. He had faults, he had strengths. No person could have their life on display 24 hours a day and not have some bad moments that they would not want brought to light. Add that you are one of a few people known by your first name worldwide and feel the pressure of that . Feel the pressure of having to be near perfect every moment, knowing if you slip up someone is ready to call the press and make some money on your shortcomings. I would not want my life to be put in a book if everything I've ever done would come out.

(hes had hundreds of books, tens of thousands of articles etc. and everyone of them wants to sell copies.)