Was Elvis' a funny guy!

[GirlHappy19]

Hi

We all know that Elvis was and still is the greattes singer ever and a very good looking guy.He was the king...he photographed like no other in the world...he did everything big....he did it his way?or did he not?How many of you think that Elvis Presley was really a happy guy?

[thehillbillycat]

I think he was happy in his to a point. During the later years of his life even though he tried to show us that he was having a good time but in truth he wasn't. He was in much pain. He hated Vegas because he was performing at the same place year after year and pretty much mostly to the same crowd. Same to Lake Tahoe, year after year. He was getting tired of that. He tried his best to have a good time by putting on weird hats, glasses and so on. But I think he really wasn't having a good time. It was the drugs that he was taking that was making him have all that pain. But through it all, I think he was happy about what he was doing.

I believe if he would of got rid of Colonel Tom Parker he would be better off. He can do what he wanted to do. I think we all know that Barbra Streisand tried to get Elvis to star in A Star Is Born. He only he didn't have Parker at that time and Elvis would did that movie. He would of got in shape for that movie and maybe he would of still be alive.

[vulcandude]

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I think he was happy in his to a point. During the later years of his life even though he tried to show us that he was having a good time but in truth he wasn't. He was in much pain. He hated Vegas because he was performing at the same place year after year and pretty much mostly to the same crowd. Same to Lake Tahoe, year after year. He was getting tired of that. He tried his best to have a good time by putting on weird hats, glasses and so on. But I think he really wasn't having a good time. It was the drugs that he was taking that was making him have all that pain. But through it all, I think he was happy about what he was doing.

I believe if he would of got rid of Colonel Tom Parker he would be better off. He can do what he wanted to do. I think we all know that Barbra Streisand tried to get Elvis to star in A Star Is Born. He only he didn't have Parker at that time and Elvis would did that movie. He would of got in shape for that movie and maybe he would of still be alive.

I agree with this, but only to a point. I believe Elvis was still extremely happy to be performing for his audiences, and that includes Vegas and Lake Tahoe. No two crowds were ever exactly the same. I believe if a show went really well, it was because he was in a good mood that night. We all know moods effect everyone in different ways. He had a great sense of humor, as illustrated best by the version of "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" where he breaks up. I totally do not belive it was the meds that made him have such pain. Elvis in the last years of his life was very sick.
I do agree that Col. Parker should have been let go. "A Star Is Born" would have been a perfect showcase for Elvis' talent, but Parker refused to have Elvis listed as second billing....the rest is history. It also is the fault of the Colonel that Elvis never performed abroad as he had wished. There were so many things Elvis still had to do....but the Colonel stymied Elvis. But to play "what if" doesn't help, it doesn't bring him back.

[thehillbillycat]

I didn't mean that it was the same audience each and everytime in Las Vegas or Lake Tahoe. He could of thought that himself. It would bring to mind that you will be performing in front of the same audience each and every night. Actaully the drugs was giving him most of the pain. When you combine several drugs together they will mess up your body. That is what happen to Elvis. He said he needed them but he really didn't. Also I didn't say that he was unhappy with the audience itself. He was tired of performing at the same place all the time. Books even said that his next Vegas concerts wasn't going to be at the Hilton. He was going to be at the MGM Grand. He would of been the first big performer there. Colonel Tom Parker wanted to much money for Elvis that was another reason why Elvis didn't star in A Star Is Born. It wasn't just because of the second billing. His Vegas shows were getting old for him. One night he performed mostly on a stool because he supposely had a problem with his foot plus he seem not at 100% more like 60% to 50% because of some pills he took. Some of the audience members even walked out on him and finally he snapped out of it and the rest of the show was ok. He just had to many problems to deal with. That was his down fall. Yes, he was a walking legend but it took a proce to get to there.

[vulcandude]

I didn't mean that it was the same audience each and everytime in Las Vegas or Lake Tahoe. He could of thought that himself. It would bring to mind that you will be performing in front of the same audience each and every night. cWhen you combine several drugs together they will mess up your body. That is what happen to Elvis. He said he needed them but he really didn't. Also I didn't say that he was unhappy with the audience itself. He was tired of performing at the same place all the time. Books even said that his next Vegas concerts wasn't going to be at the Hilton. He was going to be at the MGM Grand. He would of been the first big performer there. Colonel Tom Parker wanted to much money for Elvis that was another reason why Elvis didn't star in A Star Is Born. It wasn't just because of the second billing. His Vegas shows were getting old for him. One night he performed mostly on a stool because he supposely had a problem with his foot plus he seem not at 100% more like 60% to 50% because of some pills he took. Some of the audience members even walked out on him and finally he snapped out of it and the rest of the show was ok. He just had to many problems to deal with. That was his down fall. Yes, he was a walking legend but it took a proce to get to there.

I think Elvis was happy to perform for whatever audience he had. He might have been tiring of the Vegas scene, but, it does not mean he still didn't have fun on stage. And I do not buy it for a minute when you say, "Actaully the drugs was giving him most of the pain.", because as we all know, (or at least those who don't deny the facts), Elvis was VERY SICK in the end. Do I need to repeat what I mentioned in another post about the cancer, liver & kidney problems, glaucoma, etc.? I think what led to Elvis' "downfall", as you put it, wasn't drugs, it was a combination of the Colonel and Elvis himself. He felt he had to keep on touring, for he had so many people working for him who counted on him. Elvis was selfless in that regard. He might be ill, but the show would go on, cause the fans loved him, he loved uis back, and those working for him needed him. You can go on all you want about the supposed usage of Elvis' meds, but I'd rather listen to his music, or watch one of his movies or TV specials. And in any of those, even in "Elvis In Concert", Elvis was happy-I saw him smile during "Unchained Melody". And that's why he is "a walking legend".

[riley]

Vulcandude,

Like you I realise Elvis was very ill. So many people still not know that and only think he messed up his life by taking drugs or misused prescribed drugs.

Over the years of being an elvisfan and meeting "people" who knew him and listening carefully to their stories I know enough.

He led us believe nothing was wrong but Elvis was in a very poor shape towards the end of his life healthwise. But he choosed to let God decide and he wouldn't have surgery because he was not 100 percent sure he would be better afterwards. Doctors could not guarantee.

Plus we must not forget Elvis was emotionally devastated.

It began with the loss of his mother, who really was his friend and who he could trust totally.

Then he found that same feeling of trust and having back a family with Priscilla and later on with the birth of his precious Lisa.

Then Pris decided to leave him and and she took Lisa with her and Elvis was never the same again.

I think it was a combination. Emotionally Pain, Lonliness and illness.
That killed him.

Was he a happy man????

I choose to believe he was "most of the time."
He loved performing.
He loved us the fans.

He became someone he perhaps never dreamt of becoming that himself ,being a young and very poor kid.

He was loved, adored.

He was good looking and lived in beautiful houses and drove beautiful cars and had beautiful girlfriends. But of course that is not THE most important values in life.

I think being healthy and having a caring family is the most important thing in the world for every one and unfortunately THAT was exactly what he missed.

I think Elvis was a beautiful person inside and outside and I think he made a lot of wrong choices too but felt to often commited to people.

Few people did know the real Elvis inside. And few seemed to be intrested in him as a human in the first place. I think his religious search was never really comprehended nor appreciated by those who lived with him.
They were there for the money and the fame and the name and that is too bad.

There were a lot of descisions he should have taken otherwise.

But it is over and done.

When I think about his life and the tragic end it often makes me very sad.

When I stood at his grave. I felt so sad for what "could have been "but never was.

I revolted. Why did he have to die being so young. I saw the horses and the pool surrounding his grave and I could easily imagine him still be there and enjoying life and as soon I fully realised he was there under that ground forever I felt devastated. It was something I never want experience again and therefore I will never go back to Graceland again neither.

I can only hope he is now happy with his family, finally I would say.

Riley

[vulcandude]

Vulcandude,

Like you I realise Elvis was very ill. So many people still not know that and only think he messed up his life by taking drugs or misused prescribed drugs.

Over the years of being an elvisfan and meeting "people" who knew him and listening carefully to their stories I know enough.

He led us believe nothing was wrong but Elvis was in a very poor shape towards the end of his life healthwise. But he choosed to let God decide and he wouldn't have surgery because he was not 100 percent sure he would be better afterwards. Doctors could not guarantee.

Plus we must not forget Elvis was emotionally devastated.

It began with the loss of his mother, who really was his friend and who he could trust totally.

Then he found that same feeling of trust and having back a family with Priscilla and later on with the birth of his precious Lisa.

Then Pris decided to leave him and and she took Lisa with her and Elvis was never the same again.

I think it was a combination. Emotionally Pain, Lonliness and illness.
That killed him.

Was he a happy man????

I choose to believe he was "most of the time."
He loved performing.
He loved us the fans.

He became someone he perhaps never dreamt of becoming that himself ,being a young and very poor kid.

He was loved, adored.

He was good looking and lived in beautiful houses and drove beautiful cars and had beautiful girlfriends. But of course that is not THE most important values in life.

I think being healthy and having a caring family is the most important thing in the world for every one and unfortunately THAT was exactly what he missed.

I think Elvis was a beautiful person inside and outside and I think he made a lot of wrong choices too but felt to often commited to people.

Few people did know the real Elvis inside. And few seemed to be intrested in him as a human in the first place. I think his religious search was never really comprehended nor appreciated by those who lived with him.
They were there for the money and the fame and the name and that is too bad.

There were a lot of descisions he should have taken otherwise.

But it is over and done.

When I think about his life and the tragic end it often makes me very sad.

When I stood at his grave. I felt so sad for what "could have been "but never was.

I revolted. Why did he have to die being so young. I saw the horses and the pool surrounding his grave and I could easily imagine him still be there and enjoying life and as soon I fully realised he was there under that ground forever I felt devastated. It was something I never want experience again and therefore I will never go back to Graceland again neither.

I can only hope he is now happy with his family, finally I would say.

Riley

Riley, it is so nice to see someone who can look at the whole picture that was Elvis rather than zero in on the things like supposed drug usage. It was very sad to be standing by his grave for me too, both times I went, in 1984 and 1989, but as sad as it was....i want to go back.

[thehillbillycat]

I don't think some of you realize the drugs he was taking could gave him those problems. To took alot of them each day. Sometimes he miss days. When combine certain pills they will cause certain major problems to happen with the body and one is cancer. I should know I had a family member who die because of this same reason. I have listed all the drugs that Elvis supposely have took and doctors will tell you that these can cause problems with the body and will cause cancer, liver & kidney problems, glaucoma and so on. If you noticed, most of you said that he had more pain problems in 1977. Yes, it could of caught up with him by then. He wasn't in great health in 1977 but in 1976 he didn't have a canceled show at all. Some will say that 1976 for the most part was his worst year of his concert years but no canceled shows that I know of and he was sometimes in poor health then too. But in 1977 he had 4 shows plus the tour which never happen but I don't count that tour really. Yes, I think he was happy most of the time but he had issues to deal with.

[Donut]

I don't think some of you realize the drugs he was taking could gave him those problems. To took alot of them each day. Sometimes he miss days. When combine certain pills they will cause certain major problems to happen with the body and one is cancer. I should know I had a family member who die because of this same reason. I have listed all the drugs that Elvis supposely have took and doctors will tell you that these can cause problems with the body and will cause cancer, liver & kidney problems, glaucoma and so on. If you noticed, most of you said that he had more pain problems in 1977. Yes, it could of caught up with him by then. He wasn't in great health in 1977 but in 1976 he didn't have a canceled show at all. Some will say that 1976 for the most part was his worst year of his concert years but no canceled shows that I know of and he was sometimes in poor health then too. But in 1977 he had 4 shows plus the tour which never happen but I don't count that tour really. Yes, I think he was happy most of the time but he had issues to deal with.

I agree with you. Even vitamins taken when you don?t need them and in high doses can damage the liver and uppers taken for a long time damage the heart for sure . I don?t blame him for using them, it has to be very difficult to work in the level Elvis did and try to give the same of himself on stage as when he was 20. But I think he was happy, he had his daughter and people around him that loved him. With some of them he could share certain interests and with some of them others just like everyone of us here. If he seems depressed sometime at the end of his life I think it was because his health problems affected his state of mind not because he was lonley or missunderstood ... maybe bored of his routine.

[thehillbillycat]

Oh I think he was happy most of the time. I believe he was. He had too many problems to deal with.

[jak]

Elvis generally seemed to be a good natured person.It was part of his appeal.I diagree with pointing the finger at the Colonel though for Elvis not doing what he wanted.Elvis was the boss.He didnt tour overseas because he didnt want to put forth the effort.Many people also believe he didnt want the Streisand role because of his insecurities.Elvis was truly an unmatched performer but he rarely showed any interest in his career past the very early years.Elvis was his own worst enemy in that regard.
Jak

[diamond]

When I read the thread Was Elvis A Funny Guy, I though it meant his sense of humour?

If that is the case well, yes I think he was a seriously amusing Guy. Listen to any of his concerts, the way he interacts with the audience that tells us a lot about his sense of humour

[thehillbillycat]

Elvis generally seemed to be a good natured person.It was part of his appeal.I diagree with pointing the finger at the Colonel though for Elvis not doing what he wanted.Elvis was the boss.He didnt tour overseas because he didnt want to put forth the effort.Many people also believe he didnt want the Streisand role because of his insecurities.Elvis was truly an unmatched performer but he rarely showed any interest in his career past the very early years.Elvis was his own worst enemy in that regard.
Jak

Umm, You are wrong on some accounts. Elvis didn't go over seas because the Colonel was illegally here. Yes, he was a illgeal alien. That is why Elvis didn't go overseas. One of Elvis' problems was Colonel Tom Parker. That was one of his downfalls. You might think Colonel Tom Parker was a good guy. But why didn't he want Elvis be in the movie A Star Is Born? Well, one Elvis would of got second billing. Next, Colonel wanted to much money for Elvis to star in that movie. He was also mad at both Barbra Streisand for going to Elvis for the film and not Colonel. The Colonel was just thinking of himself most of the time. That is why Elvis tried to fire him in 1973 because Elvis was tried of the BS that Colonel was doing.

[jak]

Umm, You are wrong on some accounts. Elvis didn't go over seas because the Colonel was illegally here. Yes, he was a illgeal alien. That is why Elvis didn't go overseas. One of Elvis' problems was Colonel Tom Parker. That was one of his downfalls. You might think Colonel Tom Parker was a good guy. But why didn't he want Elvis be in the movie A Star Is Born? Well, one Elvis would of got second billing. Next, Colonel wanted to much money for Elvis to star in that movie. He was also mad at both Barbra Streisand for going to Elvis for the film and not Colonel. The Colonel was just thinking of himself most of the time. That is why Elvis tried to fire him in 1973 because Elvis was tried of the BS that Colonel was doing.

The only guy that stopped Elvis was Elvis.It was indifference to everything.It's the same reason he sand the same songs night after night in the same cities.Parker was a paid employee,Elvis was the employer.We dont know Parker stopped the movie.Many people feel Elvis was to insecure to do it.Elvis gave up.He gave up on his concerts and his recording career.If Elvis was truly tired of the BS he would have dumped the Col.Elvis' downfall was that he became satisfied which is the kiss of death for an artist.Parker was a greedy man with limited creative thoughts.You think Elvis just stood by and cursed that old SOB while he watched Parker trash his career?The answer is Elvis didnt care.Elvis didnt even know what his albums looked like.He got involved in nothing.Blame our hero for not expanding his horizons.
Jak

[Jumpsuit Junkie]

Do I need to repeat what I mentioned in another post about the cancer.

I have heard the story about the cancer and this has been debunked, it was mentioned by one of Elvis' so called friends, it has never been officially confirmed by anyone and is just a rumour, I believe it was Joe who may have mentioned it and it was also in a book by Kathy Westmoreland. However the dependance of prescribed medication is the primary cause of Elvis' failing health in the latter 70's.

I think Elvis became a recluse during the latter part of the 70's, having said that Elvis was most happy when he was performing, I don't believe he was unhappy all of the time, perhaps there were moments of dispair at the fact he didn't achieve all that he wanted to e.g. tour abroad do more serious film roles and this lead to apathy.

I don't believe as some have said that Elvis was bi-polar, if Elvis had half of the illnesses as have been claimed he would not only have been famous for the legend we all know but for being a walking encyclopedia of illness.

I think overall Elvis enjoyed his life and his family, the fans gave him a reason to share his amazing gift and he loved to perform. Elvis was a spiritual man and loved singing gospel, I think that gave him some peace.

Matt

[thehillbillycat]

He couldn't of got rid of Parker becasue he owed him too much money. Colonel held him back on lot of things including touring overseas. About A Star Is Born, Elvis really wanted to do that movie he even brag about it to his friends. If he didn't want to do that movie why did he brag about it? Billy Smith said in a interview that Elvis came up to him and said that Colonel wouldn't let me do it. Billy said that tore Elvis' heart. That was a kind of role he was looking for that the Colonel didn't want him to do it. Read the books on the story. Here is what IMDB.com site on the trivia section.

"Barbra Streisand insisted that she wanted Elvis presley for the part of John Norman Howard. She even went to Las Vegas to see Elvis Presley after one of his performances in 1975 and talked to him directly to convince him to play the part. Elvis wanted to do it but the Colonel Tom Parker, his manager, was angry that Streisand did not come to him first. He told the producers that if they wanted Elvis, Elvis's name had to be at the top of the movie poster, above Streisand's name. Moreover, it was told that he asked them a very large sum of money while Elvis hadn't been in a movie since 1969 and nobody knew what he could do at the box-office. Because of all that, Elvis Presley didn't make the movie although he had been Streisand's first choice since the beginning of the project."

That is what several books about Elvis have said. The Memphis Mafia didn't like Colonel for doing that to Elvis. They said that in a interview a few years back. Yes, the Colonel did great things for Elvis' career but in 1973 Elvis needed to expand to new areas of entertainment. He wanted world tours, he wanted great movie roles instead of those stupid one he did, and much more. As a actor he wasn't really that great. Yes, I like his movies but they were basically the same movie over and over. He even sang to a bull in Stay Away Joe. Come on, a good actor would do that. His image was changing when he made Live A Little Love A Little to Change of Habit. They wasn't like the other films. Which I will place Speedway with those movies because that wasn't like the other movie he did either.

Colonel was ok for Elvis but he wasn't the best for him either.

[vulcandude]

I disagree wholheartedly with jak and Jumpsuit Junkie. Rather than get into another long standing feud regarding his health issues, which I believe is slowly becoming the topic here, rather than "Was Elvis A Funny Guy", I will stand by my sources of what Elvis was dealing with health wise and leave it at that. Howver jak, I do belive, in your post, you more or less slammed Elvis, and as fans that is not what we do. Just my opinion.

[vulcandude]

I have heard the story about the cancer and this has been debunked, it was mentioned by one of Elvis' so called friends, it has never been officially confirmed by anyone and is just a rumour, I believe it was Joe who may have mentioned it and it was also in a book by Kathy Westmoreland. However the dependance of prescribed medication is the primary cause of Elvis' failing health in the latter 70's.

I think Elvis became a recluse during the latter part of the 70's, having said that Elvis was most happy when he was performing, I don't believe he was unhappy all of the time, perhaps there were moments of dispair at the fact he didn't achieve all that he wanted to e.g. tour abroad do more serious film roles and this lead to apathy.

I don't believe as some have said that Elvis was bi-polar, if Elvis had half of the illnesses as have been claimed he would not only have been famous for the legend we all know but for being a walking encyclopedia of illness.

I think overall Elvis enjoyed his life and his family, the fans gave him a reason to share his amazing gift and he loved to perform. Elvis was a spiritual man and loved singing gospel, I think that gave him some peace.

Matt

If it was Joe Esposito and Kathy Westmoreland who talked about Elvis in their books, what reason would you have not to believe them? Both were part of his inner circle...especially Joe.

[vulcandude]

When I read the thread Was Elvis A Funny Guy, I though it meant his sense of humour?

If that is the case well, yes I think he was a seriously amusing Guy. Listen to any of his concerts, the way he interacts with the audience that tells us a lot about his sense of humour

I agree with diamond...this is what the topic was in the first place....

[Jumpsuit Junkie]

I disagree wholheartedly with jak and Jumpsuit Junkie. Rather than get into another long standing feud regarding his health issues, which I believe is slowly becoming the topic here, rather than "Was Elvis A Funny Guy", I will stand by my sources of what Elvis was dealing with health wise and leave it at that. Howver jak, I do belive, in your post, you more or less slammed Elvis, and as fans that is not what we do. Just my opinion.

I truly don't understand why, when challenged about the content of your post(s) that you don't reveal the sources or the reasoning behind your comments? coming out with comments like "I disagree wholeheartedly" without substantiating or expanding on the reasons you do so, does not add to the debate, further, how can you shed any light if you use the tone of someone who has thrown the dolly out of the pram because someone disagrees with your comments? Give me concrete facts or evidence and I will shut my mouth and let you continue unabaited.