Tag Archives: Ann-Margaret

July 25, 2015 · 9:56 am

Ramblings of a Lifelong Elvis Fan – Part 54 – Jungle Room, Jerry Lee

I’m sure you’ve all heard of Elvis’ infamous ‘Jungle Room,’ and I’ve actually seen it a few times. But, did you know…

The area was an addition Elvis had constructed in the mid 60s as a den. He furnished it in Polynesian decor, including a waterfall of cut field stone, supposedly because his favorite spot to vacation was Hawaii. Some say it was to rile his father, Vernon, who hated the furniture. I can’t imagine Elvis, or anyone for that matter, would purposely decorate a room just to piss of his dad. 🙂 Most likely, it just so happened Vernon didn’t like the furniture. Inside the room, is one of the early ‘cell phones,’ one of those large, clunky models, which, at the time, was quite advanced technology. Taped to the front are hand-written instructions by Elvis.

Elvis simply referred to it as ‘the den’ but fans and the media dubbed it The Jungle Room after his death. (I’m thinking maybe Elvis actually invented the ‘man cave.’ :))

In 1976, it was used as a recording studio, and Elvis recorded his final two albums there, From Elvis Presley Boulevard, Memphis, Tennessee and Moody Blue. In spite of many critics claiming he was ‘washed up’ and had lost his voice, some fabulous songs resulted from those sessions, proving that Elvis still had that powerful, amazing voice. Some of my favorites: “Hurt,” “Bitter They Are, Harder They Fall,” “Danny Boy,” “The Last Farewell,” and “Love Coming Down.” Take a listen and judge for yourself if Elvis had ‘lost it.’

Have you heard the story about Jerry Lee Lewis showing up at Graceland in the middle of the night, waving a gun, then getting arrested? Here is the account that came from Harold Lloyd, Elvis’ cousin who was on duty that night.

Jerry Lee was armed, angry, and obviously inebriated — a dangerous combination for a man mere mortals call ‘Killer’, He was outta his mind, man’, recalls Loyd. ‘He was screamin’, hollerin’, and cussin’.

‘Get on the goddamn phone. I know you got an intercom system. Call up there and tell Elvis I wanna visit with him. Who the hell does he think he is? Tell him the Killer’s here to see him’.

Loyd panicked. ‘I just put my hands up in the air and said, ‘Okay, okay, Jerry, just take it easy’, Loyd retreated to the guard booth and picked up the house phone. One of ‘the boys’ answered and Loyd apprised him of the situation. Loyd was advised to call the cops, and wasted no time in doing so. He also called Elvis, who said if he came down there, he’d kill Jerry Lee, and to call the cops.

When the police arrived, Jerry Lee had the gun on his lap and his driver’s window was shattered. He refused to get out of the vehicle when ordered, and was arrested.

Below is Jerry Lee’s version. This might be closer to the truth. It seems those surrounding Elvis liked to keep him in seclusion and liked to manipulate his emotions in order to continue riding the gravy train of being employed by and/or friends with him.

What do you think? I’m afraid I will have to challenge Jerry Lee’s thinking that he could possibly compare to Elvis. I love his music, and he is definitely a legend, but he’s no Elvis Presley. But then, who is?

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EOLS Charity

Elvis was known for his giving heart and charitable work during his lifetime. Lisa Marie and Elvis Presley Enterprises have continued that tradition with their involvement in various charities. In 1984, The Elvis Charitable Foundation was formed. The EPCF created a scholarship fund for students majoring in the arts. The charity also contributes to one of Elvis’ favorite charities, Goodwill Homes, a Memphis facility that provides counseling and services for abused children and their families. The EPCF also assists numerous other charities, especially focusing on arts, education and children’s programs.

Learn more here, including how to donate:

http://www.graceland.com/epcf/

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On Elvis’ birthday this year, I released a Vintage Romance short story set in 1957, and of course, my heroine is an Elvis fan. 🙂 As a tribute to Elvis’ generosity, and in order to assist with this worthy cause, 10% of my proceeds for End of Lonely Street will go to the EPCF.

All Toby Lawson wants is to go to college to become a teacher and to be free of her alcoholic mother and some painful memories. But when her mother nearly burns the house down, Toby must put her dreams on hold and return home to care for her. The only time she isn’t lonely and miserable is when she’s listening to her heartthrob, Elvis Presley. His music takes her away and helps her escape from everything wrong in her life.

Noah Rivers has always loved Toby, but no matter what he says, she can‘t get past the fact that her drunken mother once kissed him. He soon realizes the true problem lies in Toby’s belief she’s not good enough for him and in her fear she will be just like her mother.

What will it take to prove to her that she deserves to be happy, and that he would give anything to be the man to make her dreams come true?

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July 3, 2015 · 10:40 am

Ramblings of a Lifelong Elvis Fan – Part 51 – My First Elvis Concert – 40 Years Ago

July 8^th will mark the 40^th anniversary of my first Elvis concert in 1975. There would be two more, one in 1976, one in 1977. After the March 25, 1977 concert, as we did each year, my sisters and I anxiously awaited the announcement of Elvis’ appearance in our city the following year. We knew his tour would bring him through Oklahoma City, we just didn’t know exactly when, and we had to stay on top of it, because his tickets sold out very quickly.

However, instead of hearing the dates of his 1978 tour, five months later, we received the announcement that he had passed away. We were shocked, devastated, grief-stricken, as was most of the world.

From the July 8, 1977 Concert in Oklahoma City

I don’t know if I can really describe what it felt like to be at one of his concerts, but I’m going to try…(I had just turned 14 a week before my first Elvis concert, FYI)

In the weeks leading up to the concert, I feel like ‘THE DAY’ will never get here. It’s almost all I can think about. Then, the day comes, and I’m so excited, I feel like I’ll burst with anticipation.

We arrive at the packed Myriad Convention Center (now the Cox Convention Center) and find our seats. They are far from the stage, but it doesn’t matter. I will actually be in the same room with Elvis…it seems impossible, too good to be true. I admit, I don’t remember anything about the opening act(s). All I recall is wishing they would hurry up and finish, so Elvis would come on stage.

Finally, they do. There is an intermission that seems to last forever. Then…the lights go down. A chorus of frenzied screams rise. I scream right along with them. This music starts…

I can literally feel it moving through me, vibrating my insides. My body tingles, my heart drops into my stomach. I can barely breathe. I can’t believe that, in moments, I am going to see Elvis… The spotlight shines at the side of the stage, then Elvis appears, strides out onto stage, and the crowd goes insane. I am screaming, crying. Elvis starts singing C.C. Rider (I wish I could remember each song he sang, that I had written them all down, but I didn’t. I wasn’t thinking about it back then, about how I would want to hold onto every minor detail of the memory, I was living in the moment. :)) I am not close enough to see him that well, but I have binoculars, and I can bring him nearer… He’s beautiful. He smiles and smirks and jokes and gives scarves and kisses.

I am soooo jealous that I am not one of the lucky girls close enough to get either. But his magical voice booms through the auditorium. The crowd screams so loudly, it’s hard to hear some of the songs, but I can’t fault them, because I am screaming as well. I am crying, too. Partly out of happiness, but partly out of an odd sadness, knowing that this is all I can have of him, these few hours of watching him perform, and then, it will be over. I can’t touch him, I can’t meet him, I can’t be a part of his world. I can’t marry him… (Yes, I definitely wanted to marry him. I fantasized about it, as many, many young girls and women did.).

The air sizzles with electricity. There is nothing like the feeling of being at an Elvis concert…knowing that he is THERE, in the room, in the flesh…it’s surreal and amazing. Much too soon, it’s over. He sings “Can’t Help Falling in Love” and kisses more girls, shakes hands, and I know…he’s going to be gone in seconds. Then, he waves, strides off stage, and an intense loss fills me. I’m still happy, because I just saw Elvis live…but I’m also deeply sad. It’s over. And, I know, that nothing else that will happen can compare when I just experienced.

Article about Elvis’ performance on July 8, 1975: http://www.elvisconcerts.com/newspapers/press351.htm

A few of my favorite snippets from the article:

Elvis shows he’s a showman, manipulating the audience to the point that he can curl his lip and get a reaction.

His show contains no elements of surprise, but it needs no drama, for the audience provides the tension.

Presley has reached the point in his career – maybe the plateau – where he doesn’t ever need to sing another new song.

The fans are there, evidenced by the sellout of 15,000 – plus tickets in a single day for the Myriad concert. He can probably come here anytime he wants to – five days in a row – and fill the place. If nothing else, Elvis Presley is a phenomenon, finding fans from every walk of life and in generation after generation.

AND

Elvis doesn’t need to milk an audience for its applause. All he has to do is show up.

I know that I am luckier than many Elvis fans. Some never saw him in concert at all, and I feel truly blessed that I did. Thanks to my parents, who knew how much it meant to me and my sisters. I am still slightly resentful that they did not allow me or my younger sister, Ruth, to go to the first Elvis concert my two older sisters, Sheri and Janis, attended. Granted, it was in 1970, and Ruth and I were ‘almost’ 7 and 9, respectively, but still…I thought we should have been allowed to go. Don’t you?

Did you ever see Elvis live in concert? What is the most memorable concert you’ve ever been to?

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EOLS Charity

Learn more here, including how to donate:

http://www.graceland.com/epcf/

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June 26, 2015 · 7:47 am

Ramblings of a Lifelong Elvis Fan – Part 50 – 50 Things I love About Elvis

In honor of my 50^th post (yes, I’ve been posting about Elvis every week for almost a year. And, I still have things to say about him…can you believe it?), anyway, I thought I would see if I could think of 50 things I love about Elvis. In the words of Barney Stinson…Challenge accepted!

So…here goes…(This is really long, and I doubt anyone will read it all, but I wrote it anyway :))

His voice: From his early days to the last days of his life, he had a beautiful, powerful voice that you could feel clear through to your soul.
His movies: He made 31 motion pictures, and while not all of them were riveting classics, some were really great movies, and the ones that weren’t all that great were still fun and enjoyable.
He was a man’s man. He loved football, was a black belt in Karate, loved fast cars, wasn’t afraid to fight, whether it was defending himself or coming to the defense of someone else. He also insisted on doing his own stunts in Roustabout, which was pretty cool for a multi-mega-million star like him.
His generosity: Not only did he give to charities and to his friends and family, he gave to complete strangers. In his own words: “Money’s meant to be spread around. The more happiness it helps to create, the more it’s worth. It’s worthless as an old cut-up paper if it just lays in a bank and grows there without ever having been used to help a body”
His delivery: Not only did Elvis have an amazing voice, he delivered a song with so much heart, that he actually made you believe whatever he was singing.
His love for his mother.
His sense of humor.
His service in the army. As everyone knows, he was drafted at the height of the beginning of his career. He was offered an opportunity to get out of it, or to go into special services where he would only have to entertain and be a spokesperson for the military, but he chose to do his tour like any other soldier.
He was humble. He was in awe of his good fortune and his fame. He was afraid that one day he would wake up and find it had all been a dream, or that everyone would forget him.
He stayed true to his home town of Memphis, bought a house there and remained in it for the twenty years from the time he purchased it to the time he passed away.
His knack for producing music. The people who worked with him said Elvis was a genius at arranging his music, and he had an uncanny knack for getting everything exactly right in his songs.
His ability to make people happy. I can’t count the number of times I’ve heard fans say that listening to Elvis music or watching his movies helped them during some of the darkest times of their lives. I haven’t really had ‘dark’ times in my life, thank God, but when I’m down, I can listen to him or watch his movies, and I immediately feel better.
The way he connected with and worked the audience. He didn’t just perform, he engaged with the audience, giving scarfs and kisses, joking with them and making them feel a part of something truly special.
His relationship with his father. While he wasn’t as close to him as he was his mother, he loved him and treated him well all his life.
He treated his employees with respect and appreciation.
He was a great friend. If you were allowed in his circle, he treated you like family and he gave the same loyalty he expected to receive. Granted, he fired his friends from time to time when they pissed him off, but most of the time, he rehired them.
He was a badass. In 1956, he got into a fight with two guys at a gas station, one of them was nearly twice his size, and he held his own. And, in June of 1977, he noticed two guys beating up on another guy and he jumped out of his limo and stopped the fight. (I’ve told these stories before, but they are worth repeating)
He had a way of making people feel comfortable and important, even though he was a super star. I, of course, did not have the pleasure of experiencing this myself, but I’ve heard several interviews with people who said the same.
His charisma. He had a special presence, a special charisma that you could feel, even in a concert hall with tens of thousands of other people. I can only imagine what it must have been like up close and personal.
He was sexy. The way he moved, his looks, the way he expressed himself, the way he sang, sooo sexy.
His way of speaking. He had an adorable southern accent and a speaking voice that was just as sexy as his singing voice.
He was patriotic. He loved America and was proud of his country.
He shot up televisions. Many people might think this is a negative, but I think it’s funny. And, in the words of JD Sumner, of the stamps quartet, to Elvis, destroying a television would be like us tossing a 98 cent lighter when it stopped working. How many of us would like to pull out a gun and blow a hole in the television when, say, the Kardashians come on?
He gave his all in concerts. He sang, danced, joked with the audience and worked his heart out in his performances.
His spirituality. He loved God and sang the heck out of gospel music.
His eyes. I know this falls under looks, but they were so beautiful, so special, that they deserve a number of their own. Blue, sparkling, and gorgeous.
Even though he wasn’t crazy about many of the movies he made, or the songs he sang, he told his guys that, if they were going to perform the songs, no matter how silly they were, they were going to do the best job they could.
He didn’t conform. When he was in school, his dress and hair style was a unique style that made him the butt of ridicule, but he still wore and did what he wanted, no matter what others thought. He did the same when he started his career. He took a lot of criticism, a lot of heat, but he prevailed and started a movement that rocked the world.
His love of fun. He was a kid at heart and loved to have a good time with his buddies. Once he became famous, he couldn’t go to movies or amusement parks like normal people, so he would rent them out in the wee hours and entertain all his friends.
Graceland. His home was his haven, his refuge, and he welcomed his friends and family into it. I love that, even all these years after his death, his home is a place where fans can go to see his things and feel his presence.
He shared the stage with others. I loved in his concerts when he would turn the stage over to one or the other of his background singers, when he would introduce his band, and give everyone on stage special attention. I remember in the Elvis on Tour documentary, when he had the Stamps sing “Sweet, Sweet Spirit” and the audience was cheering, and he gently shushed them so he could listen to the Stamps sing.
The ’68 Special. His first performance after 8 years of making movies and not doing concerts was a ground-breaking, masterpiece of a success.
His smile. Again, part of his looks, but it deserves its own number. He had a beautiful, engaging smile that lit up his entire face.
In that vein, his laugh. He had a great sense of humor and loved cutting up with his friends and on stage. People who knew him said he hand an infectious laugh and when you heard it, you couldn’t help but feel happy.
His love of reading and thirst for knowledge. It bothered Elvis that he hadn’t gone to college, so he read everything he could get his hands on and educated himself on as many subjects as he could.
His appreciation of his fans. He was truly grateful for the love and support of his fans. He didn’t take them for granted, he was always aware that we were the ones who put him where he was, and he showed his appreciation.
This line in Jailhouse Rock.
He was polite. He called people sir and ma’am and treated others with respect.
The way he was on movie sets. The people he worked with said he didn’t act like a superstar, like he was better than they were. He listened to their advice, he was easy to work with, and he made everyone feel comfortable.
He never forgot his beginnings. He didn’t try to hide who he was or where he came from. He was used to being poor, and he was aware his fortune could be taken away.
His rehearsals. Thanks to Sirius Elvis Radio, we have the opportunity to listen in on some of his rehearsals. Not only was he funny and loose and engaging, even when he messed up on a song, it was still fantastic.
If he liked someone and wanted to keep them around, he would just give them a job. He was responsible for tons of people making an excellent living and being able to take care of their families.
He knew what he wanted, especially when it came to his music, and he did what it took to make each song the best it could be. In 1956, he wanted the Jordanaires to sing back up, but Chet Atkins was the producer, and he refused to allow them to come to the recording session. Elvis never cared for Chet after that. And, not long after, the Jordanaires were part of his band. When he recorded Jerry Reed’s “Guitar Man,” the guitar did not sound like it did on Jerry’s version, and he wanted that sound. So, he brought Jerry Reed himself in to play on the song.
He loved movies…something he and I have in common. His favorites were Peter Sellers movies. Oddly, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Peter Sellers movie, but I plan to watch one, one of these days.
He loved football. I think it’s so cool that he loved sports, and football was his favorite. The Cleveland Browns were his favorite team. I have a feeling, had he lived, he would have enjoyed pro basketball, once the Memphis Grizzlies came to be.
He was a wonderful father. Lisa Marie was only nine years old when he died, but in the short time she had her father, he doted on her. She still holds special memories of him and is proud to be his daughter.
His concerts. I had the honor of attending three of Elvis’ concerts, and they were truly magnificent. You could literally feel the electricity in the air when he walked on stage.
His music: He was one of the most versatile singers in history. He could sing blues, country, rock, soul, pop, gospel, and even opera. He recorded nearly 800 songs, and like his movies, I didn’t love all of them, but most of them were fantastic.
Elvis Christmas. Elvis recorded several awesome Christmas songs. And, it was his favorite time of year. He had Graceland decorated beautifully each Christmas season, and they are still using the same decorations. His favorite thing about the holiday was generously giving to his friends, family, and employees.
His desire to be a serious actor. While I loved his movies, they weren’t exactly critically acclaimed. And, with the exception of King Creole, Elvis wasn’t very proud of his movies. He studied actors like Marlon Brando and James Dean and had the desire to do the kind of films they did.

There you have it, 50 things. If I put my mind to it, I might be able to come up with a few more. Is there anything I missed that you love about Elvis?

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EOLS Charity

Learn more here, including how to donate:

http://www.graceland.com/epcf/

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June 19, 2015 · 12:33 pm

Ramblings of a Lifelong Elvis Fan – Part 49 – The Movies 14-16 (1964) – Kissin’ Cousins ~ Viva Las Vegas ~ Roustabout

Kissin’ Cousins:

I hate to say it, but not only is this probably my least favorite Elvis movie, I really didn’t like it at all. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed watching it because I had the pleasure of watching and listening to Elvis, but the movie was silly, not just ‘fun’ silly like some of his movies, but really, really silly. And, the romance was a sub par. It seemed like he just decided between the two girls and chose the dark-haired one and suddenly they were a couple. I did love that there were two Elvis’, even though the hick in the blond wig just didn’t quite measure up to the ‘other’ Elvis. Critics have said that this was the beginning of the downhill spiral of low budget, bad Elvis movies, but I loved most of the ones that came after, so I beg to differ.

About: Elvis plays two roles. One of them was Josh Morgan, an army officer who is sent to the Smoky Mountains to convince a backwoods family to allow the Army to build a missile site on their land. He is chosen because he is from the area. As it turns out, the family is his kinfolk, including a lookalike cousin, Jodie Tatum, played by Elvis in a blond wig. Elvis falls for one of the hill girls and the Army gets their site, but the family also benefits. Happily Ever After, etc.

Side notes: Elvis hated wearing the strawberry blond wig.

Yvonne Craig, who was his co-star and leading lady, was also in “It Happened at the World’s Fair” although she was not his main love interest. When asked what it was like working with Elvis, she said:

“I did two movies with Elvis – “It Happened at the World’s Fair” and “Kissin’ Cousins” and both times not only was he an absolute joy but the experience itself was wonderful. He was extremely professional – always on time, knew his lines, and was very much a part of the cast, never pulling rank as the “star”. He had a great deal of self-deprecating sense of humor and was very much a “southern gentleman” as far as good manners were concerned. Because he surrounded himself with his friends from Memphis, it was for me like always having about ten playful but protective big brothers on the set.”

Favorite Song: Tender Feeling

Favorite Scene: I suppose it’s the end where Elvis is singing Kissin’ Cousins and looking adorable.

Viva Las Vegas

This was one of the most well-loved Elvis movies, and is one of my favorites. I believe a lot of it had to do with the chemistry between Ann-Margaret and Elvis. It has been rumored, and I believe it to be true, that they were deeply in love in real life. I think she would have been a perfect mate for him. They had a lot in common, and dear Lord, what a gorgeous couple they made.

About: Elvis plays Lucky Jackson, a race car driver trying to earn money to put a new engine in his race car in time for the Grand Prix. He meets and falls for Rusty, played by Ann-Margaret, who fears for his safety and wants him to give up racing for her.

Side Notes: Viva Las Vegas grossed more than the Beatles movie “Hard Day’s Night” even though they were released in the same year, when Beatle Fever was in full swing.

The tabloids released images of the Elvis and Ann-Margaret wedding scene, claiming that the two had actually gotten married.

This was Elvis’ highest grossing film.

Favorite Song: I had a few favorites in this one, among them: The lady loves me, If You Think I Don’t Need You, and C’mon Everybody.

Favorite Scene: Lots of favorite scenes, but one of my top ones is when Rusty goes on a date with the Count because she’s angry with Lucky. Lucky is their waiter for the evening, and he’s ornery and adorable while serving them.

Roustabout:

GREAT movie! Lots of fighting and hotness and emotional moments. I love in his movies, when he’s performing and troublemakers come in. Of course, a fight breaks out and Elvis says cute things and punches people. 🙂 Another plus for this movie; Elvis wore a lot of black leather and was a smarta$$, which created some sexy and funny moments. I wasn’t wild about Joan Freeman, who played his love interest, Cathy. Not sure why, maybe it was the dorky head scarfs.

About: Elvis plays Charlie Rogers, a man with a troubled past who finds trouble wherever he goes. After being fired from a singing gig, he encounters carnival owner, Maggie (played by Barbara Stanwyck). She is with Joe, her friend and co-worker, and Joe’s daughter, Cathy. When Joe runs Elvis off the road because he’s flirting with Cathy, Maggie offers to have his motorcycle fixed and put him up at the carnival until it’s ready. Elvis sings at the carnival and brings in customers, helping them out of their financial bind. But, he and Joe butt heads and Elvis leaves, only to return to claim the girl and save the day.

Side Notes: Elvis insisted on doing his own stunts.

Raquel Welch played a college student in the opening scene:

Mae West was first offered the role of Maggie, but declined when they refused to rewrite the script to make her one of Elvis’ love interests.

Favorite Song: One Track Heart

Favorite Scenes: Actually, they are favorite lines…

College student to Elvis (Charlie): This is a real crummy joint, I’ve seen more action in a zoo.
Charlie: From which side of the cage, pal?

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After they pull Elvis off of the guy he’s fighting at the carnival:
Cathy: “What are you trying to prove? You know you can beat him.”

Charlie: “He doesn’t know it.”

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Charlie, when Madame Mijanou, played by Sue Ann Langdon, is putting the moves on him: I can only make love outdoors. The first girl I ever tried to make love to was hooked on the outdoors. I had to take the top down before she’d let me kiss her.

Madame Mijanou: Did you ever kiss her?

Charlie: Three hours later.

Madame Mijanou: It took you three hours to take the top down on a convertible?

Charlie: It wasn’t a convertible.

Thank you for joining me. Have you seen these movies? What did you think?

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EOLS Charity

Learn more here, including how to donate:

http://www.graceland.com/epcf/

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What will it take to prove to her that she deserves to be happy, and that he would give anything to be the man to make her dreams come true?

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December 12, 2014 · 7:46 am

Elvis Presley – Ramblings of a Lifelong Fan – Part 25 – Elvis’ Women:

It is a well-known fact that Elvis Presley loved females, and of course, females most definitely loved him. He had many, many women in his life over the years, but only a few long-term relationships. In the years before he went into the army, he had a handful of girlfriends, the most serious of them being Anita Wood. It is rumored that Gladys, Elvis’ mother, wanted him to marry Anita, but their relationship fizzled about the time he met Priscilla.

Elvis and Ann Margaret dated and they had a special bond. She claims he was her soul mate. Some people close to Elvis say that he truly loved her. I’m not sure what happened between them, but she loved him always and attended his funeral. I think they made a beautiful couple.

Priscilla – He met the girl who would be the only woman he ever took as a wife in Germany when she was fourteen. There has been a lot of criticism and slander toward Elvis about his interest in such a young girl, but Priscilla was very mature for her age, and Elvis was lonely in the army. (And it should be noted, he was only ten years older than her, not a huge disparity) When he met her, he felt an immediate connection. They spent hours and hours talking. They were chaperoned when they were together, and even though she eventually came to live at Graceland, from her own account, Elvis wanted to wait until they were married, and they did not have sex with her until their wedding night. (Lisa Marie was born 9 months to the day after they married) And, although Suzanne Finstad wrote a book titled ‘Child Bride – The Untold Story,’ Priscilla was actually a few weeks shy of twenty-two when they married, which is far from a child. (Ms. Finstad probably needs to brush up on her math skills.) (I haven’t read the book, and I don’t intend to. I have heard that it is filled with vile accusations and her version of the events is in direct opposition of Priscilla’s. I actually don’t read any books about Elvis, they usually just piss me off and I don’t know whether to believe anything in them. But then, that’s a topic for another blog. J) Elvis and Priscilla split in 1972 and divorced in 1973. From her account, they remained close until the day he died. My feelings about Priscilla have waffled from dislike to admiration over the years and have now settled somewhere in between. As a young girl, I was very jealous of her (well, I’m still jealous of her, if I’m being honest). I was also infuriated that she had an affair with Mike Stone, her karate instructor, while married to Elvis. Yes, I have heard that Elvis had affairs, but when you are Elvis Presley and you can have literally any woman in the world, it must be difficult to remain faithful. (I know I’m going to be lambasted for excusing his infidelity, but seriously, can you imagine what it would be like to know you could have sex with anyone in the world you wanted to? That must be a pretty powerful temptation). Anyway, I finally grew to appreciate Priscilla for what she’s done with Graceland and keeping Elvis’ memory alive and treating his legacy with respect. I understand she has said some pretty uncomplimentary things about him in the past, but now she has nothing but good to say about him.

Linda Thompson – I have decided that Linda is my favorite of all of Elvis’ women. I believe that she truly, deeply loved him. They were together for about four years, and I think Elvis loved her very much and that he counted on her for moral support. Linda took good care of Elvis and she herself has said she feels somewhat guilty because if she had stayed, Elvis might still be alive. She said Elvis was the love of her life, but he was unfaithful, and also, she couldn’t live the vampire lifestyle any longer. Her brother was one of Elvis’ bodyguards, and after Elvis and Linda broke up, he asked her if it would bother her if he stayed in Elvis’ employ. She said no, it would make her feel better to know he was there looking out for him. Eight months after Linda left, Elvis passed away. Linda learned of Elvis’ death from Lisa Marie, who was only 9. She called Linda and told her that her daddy was dead. Linda asked if she was sure he wasn’t just sick, that he didn’t just go to the hospital. Lisa said no, he’s dead. Linda was devastated. Something I only recently learned was that Linda was a song writer. She co-wrote ‘I Have Nothing’ by Whitney Houston, which is probably my favorite Whitney song. I wonder why she never wrote a song for Elvis? She didn’t start writing until much later, but I assume she always had the talent and desire. I also recently learned that she is Brody Jenner’s mother. I had forgotten about her being married to Bruce Jenner. So strange to think that the Kardashians have a link, even a remote one, to Elvis.

How many of you remember her on Hee Haw? 🙂 I thought it an odd setting for a former girlfriend of Elvis.

Ginger Alden – I am not sure what to think about Ginger. I have heard some less than favorable things about her. She was the one to find Elvis the morning he died and, from what I heard, instead of calling for an ambulance, she dressed and put on make-up, because she knew she’d be seen by the press. Then she called downstairs. There are different stories of who came upstairs and called for an ambulance, Joe Esposito claims he was the one who did, but regardless, by then it was too late. Ginger only recently came out with her own book. On one hand, I have to respect that she waited all this time to cash in on Elvis’ name, but on the other, from what I understand, some of the things she said were self-serving and untrue. Her family sued the Presley estate after Elvis’ death, because she claimed that Elvis promised to pay off her mother’s house, but he died before he could. She wanted the house paid off and money from the estate. The Aldens lost the case.

Almost unanimously, the women who worked with Elvis, knew him, or dated him say that he was very kind and respectful. I sometimes wonder how Elvis’ choices regarding his relationships would have affected the course of his life. If he’d gotten with Ann Margaret instead of Priscilla, would his acting career have been different? Would he have lived longer? Of course, he wouldn’t have had Lisa, but perhaps other children? What do you think?

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(Coming January 8, 2015, now available for pre-order through Amazon, End of Lonely Street – A Vintage Romance short story from The Wild Rose Press – Pre-Order ebook for Kindle: http://amzn.com/B00QQO3BK0)

Blurb:

What will it take to prove to her that she deserves to be happy, and that he would give anything to be the man to make her dreams come true?

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Tagged as Alicia Dean, Amazon, Ann-Margaret, Beale Street, Brody Jenner, Bruce Jenner, Elvis fan, Elvis Presley, Ginger Alden, Graceland, Hee Haw, I Have Nothing, Kindle, Linda Thompson, Memphis, Priscilla Presley, Rock and Roll, Sirius XM Elvis Radio, Whitney Houston

July 4, 2014 · 11:07 am

Elvis Presley – Ramblings of a Lifelong Fan, Part 2 – The Movies

While Elvis’s movies are often regarded as silly and pointless, many people, including myself, find them highly enjoyable. Admittedly, they are not classic, Oscar-worthy films, and Elvis himself wasn’t pleased with the roles he played. He wanted to be a serious actor and admired other actors like James Dean and Marlon Brando. The only movie he was really proud of was King Creole, which was a wonderful film where Elvis was allowed to excercise his acting chops, and he did a fantastic job. After he returned from the army, his movies became no more than a vehicle for his singing. However, I thought they were fun and entertaining. I admit, I’m slightly biased, but even many non-Elvis fans enjoyed his movies. Some of my favorites….

Jailhouse Rock – I recently re-watched this and fell in love with it all over again. Another serious role where Elvis put on a great performance. And, there were some awesome songs in this movie, such as Don’t Leave Me Now, Treat Me Nice, Young and Beautiful, and of course, Jailhouse Rock. Sadly, Judy Tyler, who co-starred with Elvis in Jailhouse Rock, was driving home from Los Angeles to Manhattan with her husband, when they were in an auto accident, and she was killed instantly, at twenty-four years old, before the movie was released. Her husband died in the hospital the following day. People close to Elvis said he took her death hard, and was never able to watch the movie.

This is my favorite scene in any Elvis movie, ever. (Ignore the foreign subtitles and enjoy…)

Fast forward to his final movie in 1969, Change of Habit, where he played Dr. John Carpenter and Mary Tyler-Moore co-starred with him. Yep, still sexy…

Another movie I loved was Live a Little, Love a Little, for many reasons, but a big one is that he said my name in the movie…and hearing Elvis say my name was a thrill! 🙂 A few of my other favorites were Tickle Me and Girl Happy. But, I could go on and on, of course. Because, well, I’m a huge Elvis fan, if you haven’t already guessed. Not only was it fun to watch Elvis in the roles, what made his movies even better was that he starred with a lot of well-known actors, such as Charles Bronson, Nancy Sinatra, Ann-Margaret, Richard Egan, Angela Lansbury, and Bill Bixby.

I remember when we were young, my sisters and I going to the movies at the Chieftan in Oklahoma City and watching Elvis on the big screen. Heavenly!

Listening to Elvis radio now, I hear a lot of interviews with his co-stars and all of them have great things to say about him, about what a nice guy he was, how easy he was to work with, how he didn’t act like a star, and the women say he was a great kisser. I can only imagine. 🙂

As I stated previously, I mention Elvis in almost all of the books I write. So, of course I’m going to mention him a lot in a story set in 1957. Below is a snippet from my upcoming short story, End of Lonely Street, releasing with The Wild Rose Press on January 7, 2015.

Blurb:

What will it take to prove to her that she deserves to be happy, and that he would give anything to be the man to make her dreams come true?

Excerpt:

Noah glanced around the diner. Toby followed his gaze. The counter was lined with customers. A jukebox sat in the corner. Patsy Cline’s “Walkin’ After Midnight” now belted from its speakers. “What happened to college? I thought you were getting your teaching degree.”

She shrugged and took the dish cloth from her apron pocket. “That was the plan.” She wouldn’t go into how she’d had to put off her schooling to come home and see after her mother. Surely he’d heard the story about Constance falling asleep with a lit cigarette and almost burning down the house—with her inside it—from the town gossip mill. “I finished my three years at University. Now I have to complete my Post-Graduate Certificate of Education. I had to put that on hold for a while, so in the meantime, I’m doing this.”

“Great. That means I’ll see you often. Maybe we can get together for a movie or something? Jailhouse Rock is showing at the Bijou.”

Elvis and Noah at the same time? Her heart wouldn’t take it.

Before the break-up, she’d gone to the drive-in to see Rebel Without a Cause with him. James Dean had died less than a month earlier, and she cried throughout the entire movie. Noah had held her, comforted her. Let her cry on his shoulder. That was their last movie together. The night remained a sad memory for more than one reason.

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Did you like watching Elvis movies when you were younger? Or, even now? What ‘guilty pleasure’ movies have you enjoyed over the years?

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Tagged as Alicia Dean, Amazon, and Bill Bixby, Angela Lansbury, Ann-Margaret, Beale Street, Change of Habit, Charles Bronson, Don’t Leave me Now, Elvis fan, Elvis movies, Elvis Presley, End of Lonely Street, Girl Happy, Graceland, Hollywood, Jailhouse Rock, Judy Tyler, Kindle, Live a Little Love a Little, Memphis, Nancy Sinatra, Ramblings Movies, Richard Egan, Rock and Roll, Sirius XM Elvis Radio, Treat me Nice, Vintage Historical Romance, Wild Rose Press

Tag Archives: Ann-Margaret

Ramblings of a Lifelong Elvis Fan – Part 54 – Jungle Room, Jerry Lee

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Ramblings of a Lifelong Elvis Fan – Part 51 – My First Elvis Concert – 40 Years Ago

However, instead of hearing the dates of his 1978 tour, five months later, we received the announcement that he had passed away. We were shocked, devastated, grief-stricken, as was most of the world.

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Ramblings of a Lifelong Elvis Fan – Part 50 – 50 Things I love About Elvis

In honor of my 50^th post (yes, I’ve been posting about Elvis every week for almost a year. And, I still have things to say about him…can you believe it?), anyway, I thought I would see if I could think of 50 things I love about Elvis. In the words of Barney Stinson…Challenge accepted!

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