Rhonda Williams pictured with the necklace Elvis gave her at a concert in 1974 on display at King's Ransom Museum's Elvis Presley exhibit at the Imperial Palace.
During a night rife with oddities, selecting the weirdest moment was a challenge. But it had to be at The Kings Ransom exhibit at Imperial Palace, a new-to-Vegas display of Elvis Presley memorabilia, ranging from the mod, blue jacket he wore in Spinout to the mod, blue bottle of Mylanta plucked from one of his medication-laden medicine cabinets. I cut a corner to take a look at one of the more fascinating displays, a collection of framed photos of Elvis meeting President Nixon in December 1970.
You get lost in these photos as you observe a clearly confused, glazed-over, glassy-eyed, acutely paranoid hostage of his own success.
But Elvis, conversely, looks relatively OK.
As any Elvis fan (or Nixon fan, for that matter) knows, Elvis requested the legendary visit so he could gain status as a federal agent at-large for the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs. Buffeted by fistfuls of prescription pills each day, Presley actually sought Nixons support in his fight against drug abuse (see the National Archives account here.) A series of photos chronicles the famous session that took place in Nixons Oval Office, and as I peered through the glass, the person next to me said, Pretty ironic, huh?
Oh yeah, I said, turning to the person making the comment, who happened to be Linda Thompson. Shes Elvis beauty queen ex-girlfriend (and also ex-wife of Bruce Jenner and David Foster and mother of Brody Jenner), still gorgeous, and she was on hand for the VIP/media opening of the attraction. The display space is set just about next to the Imperial Theater, and you could even faintly hear the boys from Human Nature singing You Keep Me Hangin On and other Motown favorites during last nights tour. Bumping into a Memphis Mafia member or former confidant of the King was not too uncommon during this event. Also adding some vintage Elvis-dom to the exhibit space were Memphis Mafia insiders and longtime Presley friends Joe Esposito, Sonny West and Jimmy Velvet. Even Pete Big Elvis Vallee turned out, as did Rhonda Williams, who until this year owned a cross Elvis presented to her at the stage during a show in 1974. She sold the piece to The Kings Ransom proprietors Bud Glass and Russ Howe for the display.
Author of the authoritative Remember Elvis and Elvis Straight Up, Esposito is no longer a host at Wynn Las Vegas, but says he is traveling the world making appearances and talking about the days of Elvis. West is, too, a noteworthy Presley scribe, author of Elvis: Still Taking Care of Business.
Arranged by longtime Elvis historians Glass and Howe, The Kings Ransom showcases several items that once belonged to Presley or were used in Presley films or personal appearances. The tour runs at least through April and costs $10 a pop. Up for viewing are Presleys gold-plated .38 pistol encased in glass (which, sadly, is not the firearm he used to famously blow away a TV during an appearance by Robert Goulet on The Mike Douglas Show), a few of his karate gis, newspaper accounts of such memorable moments as the night he karate-chopped a drunken fan off the stage at the L.V. Hilton, and his red-velvet bedroom set from Graceland. Its not an overwhelming exhibit, not nearly as extensive as the attraction that filled the since-shuttered Elvis-A-Rama on Industrial Road for a few years. But it does provide an effective account of Presleys life and career.
As West noted during the walk-around, When Elvis touched you, he just grabbed you, and he never let you go.
Elvis performed at the Southern Illinois University Arena, Carbondale, Illinois.
October 27, 1976
Elvis performed at the Southern Illinois University Arena, Carbondale, Illinois. The tour brought in $1,005,000 in profits, which was still divided two-thirds/one- third with the Colonel.
Date:
27 Oct 1976
Time:
8.30pm
Venue:
Carbondale, IL. Southern Illinois
TICKETS:
10,200
Costume:
Inca gold leaf
Track list:
Also Sprach Zarathustra See See Rider I Got A Woman/Amen Love Me Fairytale You Gave Me A Mountain Jailhouse Rock Help Me All Shook Up Teddy Bear/Don't Be Cruel And I Love You So Fever America Polk Salad Annie [band introductions] Early Morning Rain What'd I Say Johnny B. Goode Love Letters School Days Hurt Hound Dog Danny Boy [S. Nielsen] Walk With Me [S. Nielsen] Heavenly Father [K. Westmoreland] Blue Christmas That's All Right Can't Help Falling In Love
Elvis on tour number 25 - october 14th 1976 Notre Dame University
CONCERT DETAILS:
Tour Ref:
On Tour number 25 - October 14th - October 27th 1976
Date:
October 20 1976
Venue:
Notre Dame University
Location:
South Bend IN
Showtime:
(8:30 pm)
Crowd:
12000
REVIEWS:
Article *:
VIDEO INFORMATION:
Release:
The Complete 1976 Films disc 3
Length:
3 mins
ELVIS ATTIRE:
Suit:
Colorful Flame suit
Belt:
Original belt
Cape:
GROUP ATTIRE:
Musicians:Blue Suit
TICKET STUBS:
SONGS - TRACKLISTINGS:
2001 Theme See See Rider I Got A Woman - segued medley with - Amen Love Me If You Love Me You Gave Me A Mountain Jailhouse Rock Help Me All Shook Up Teddy Bear - segued medley with - Dont Be Cruel And I Love You So Fever Steamroller Blues America The Beautiful Band Introductions Early Morning Rain ( featuring John Wilkinson ) Whatd I Say ( featuring James Burton ) Johnny B Goode ( featuring James Burton ) Drum Solo ( featuring Ronnie Tutt ) Bass Solo ( featuring Jerry Scheff ) Piano Solo ( featuring Tony Brown ) Electric Piano Solo ( featuring David Briggs ) Love Letters Hail! Hail! Rock N Roll Hurt ( followed by a reprise of above song ) Hound Dog Funny How Time Slips Away Little Darlin Cant Help Falling In Love Closing Vamp
CONCERT DATE: October 20 1976 (8:30 pm). South Bend IN.
The Power And Magic Remain by Joe Raymond South Bend Tribune October 21, 1976
I have to admit I was impressed. So, of course, were 12000 others who filled the Athletic and Convocation Center front to back to see Elvis Presley, the rock and roll king, sing, wriggle and roll. It takes an amazing power to take an auditorium of seemingly perfectly normal women in their mid-30s and take them back to 1960 and transform them into a screaming throng begging for one of the baby-blue towels or a chance to kiss or hug this superstar. For Presley, the power has never left.
His style varies little from the early days, but the world has changed and so has Presley. He now sports a longer hair style with lengthy sideburns and a paunchy frame on his body. He also has a fantastic voice for a rock and roll singer in his 40s. But it's the look that does it all; that sheepish, devilish grin and then a wink that drives the audience to screams and sets the Instamatics flashing.
Presley is backed up by a seven-piece horn section, three vocal groups - including soul singers the Sweet Inspirations - and a fine group of musicians, featuring the talents of David Briggs, songwriter and electric pianist. Warmed up by three acts, the Stamps, comedian Jackie Kahane and the Sweet Inspirations, it wasn't until close to 10 PM before the slinky Presley wiggled onto the stage. Opening on an upbeat with a country and western tune C.C. Ryder, Elvis set the stage for a variety of music that was to come.
Singing rock tunes like Jailhouse Rock, Teddy Bear, Johnny B. Goode, All Shook Up, What'd I Say and Hound Dog Presley recalled the earthy era of the 50s and 60s. Changing pace in between, Elvis fired up the audience as hot as his fireburst outfit with country and western and blues tunes like Steamroller Baby, Fever and If You Love Me Let Me Know.
In between all this singing, Presley was handing out those baby-blue towels faster than his second, Charlie Hodges, could put them around his sweat-soaked neck. For those who got one, it was the thrill of a lifetime. Debbie Slater of Mishawaka caught one in the middle of the show, musch to the delight of her screaming girlfriends. "I'll save it forever," she swooned. "I have to keep it from my sister so she won't take it. I've watched him in his old movies, and by pushing my way up to the front, I got the towel." It's that magic feeling that makes Presley a success and the magic hasn't left. Not yet at least...
The two newest FTD releases are just out, but a new of set of three titles and some re-issues have been announced for late October. Besides the titles 'Rockin Across Texas' (CD) and 'The Jungle Room Sessions' (vinyl), fans can expect the soundboard "New Haven '76".
Both the "Blue Hawaii" and "Standing Room Only" vinyl releases will be back in stock by October 1st. for a limited period only. Both will be officially deleted once this stock is depleted.
The "Girl Happy" CD should now be in reprint and will soon be available with improved remastered audio with improved and updated graphics according to an update from EU.
New Haven '76:
Following on from his appearance in Fort Worth, Elvis rocked New Haven, Connecticut on July 30 at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Featuring photos from Steve Bariles archives, New Haven 76 is a 1-CD 5 digipack. A credible live version of Return To Sender is featured as a bonus track from Hampton Roads Coliseum on August 1, 1976.
Rockin' Across Texas
The CD-only re-issue of "Rockin'Acccros Texas" got a new cover:
The Jungle Room Sessions
FTD Vinyl next release is a limited edition 2-Disc vinyl set of The Jungle Room Sessions. It contains all of the tracks featured on the CD edition and several added outtakes from other releases. Supplied in a new gatefold sleeve featuring additional Graceland images, it will be pressed on 180-gram vinyl and DMM Copper mastered at Abbey Road Studios, London.
Tracklisting "The Jungle Room Sessions"
Side 1
1) Moody Blue (Takes 7,5) (Mark James) 2) Bitter They Are, Harder They Fall (Takes 3, 4, 5)(Larry Gatlin) 3) She Thinks I Still Care (Takes 1, 2)Dickie Lee) 4) Pledging My Love (Take 3)(F. Washington/D. Robery 5) The Last Farewell (Take 2)(Roger Whittaker/R.A. Webster)
Side 2
6) Hurt(Take 3) (Crane/Jacobs) 7) Danny Boy (Take 8) (Frederic Weatherly) 8) Love Coming Down (Take 3) (Jerry Chesnut) 9) Never Again (Take 11) (Billy Edd Wheeler/Jerry Chesnut 10) For The Heart (Take 3) (Dennis Linde) 11) Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain (Take 2) (Fred Rose) 12) Ill Never Fall In Love Again (Take 5) (Lonnie Donegan)
Side 3
13) Way Down (Take 2) (Layng Martine Jr.) 14) Its Easy For You (Take 1) (Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice) 15) Pledging My Love (Unedited Master) (F. Washington/D. Robery 16) Hell Have To Go (Rough-Mix Master) (Joe And Audrey Allison) 17) Moody Blue (Take 6) (Mark James) 18) Solitaire (Take 3) 4:47 (Neil Sedaka/Phil Cody)
Side 4
19) Love Coming Down (Take 4) (Jerry Chesnut) 20) For The Heart (Take 1) (Dennis Linde) 21) She Thinks I Still Care (Takes 3, 4) (Dickie Lee) 22) Bitter They Are, Harder They Fall (Take 1) (Larry Gatlin) 23) Hurt (Take 5) ( Crane/Jacobs) 24) Danny Boy (Take 9) (Frederic Weatherly) 25) Fire Down Below (Instrumental) 3.44 (Jerry Scheff) 26) America (Closing Part Only) 0.21 (Tradiitonal)
Tracklisting "New Haven '76"
1) Also Sprach Zarathustra (Richard Strauss) 2) See See Rider (Arr. by Elvis Presley) 3) I Got A Woman / Amen (Ray Charles) / (Jester Hairston) 4) Love Me (Jerry Leiber/Mike Stoller) 5) If You Love Me (Let Me Know)(John Rostill) 6) You Gave Me A Mountain (Marty Robbins) 7) Help Me (Larry Gatlin) 8) All Shook Up (Otis Blackwell/Elvis Presley) 9) (Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear / Dont Be Cruel (Kal Mann/Bernie Lowe) / (Otis Blackwell/Elvis Presley) 10) And I Love You So (Don McLean) 11) America (Arr. by Elvis Presley) 12) Jailhouse Rock (Jerry Leiber/Mike Stoller) 13) Funny How Time Slips Away (Willie Nelson) 14) Introductions incomplete 15) Early Mornin Rain (Gordon Lightfoot) 16) Whatd I Say / Johnny B. Goode (Ray Charles) / (Chuck Berry) 17) Love Letters (Edward Heyman/Victor Young) 18) School Days (Chuck Berry) 19) Hurt (Jimmie Crane/Al Jacobs) 20) Hound Dog (Jerry Leiber/Mike Stoller) 21) Hawaiian Wedding Song (Charles King/Al Hoffman/Dick Manning) 22) Cant Help Falling In Love (Hugo Peretti/Luigi Creatore/George Weiss) 23) Closing vamp
Bonus song
24) Return To Sender Otis Blackwell/Winfield Scott)
Los Angeles - Elvis Presley fans keen to own a chunk of their idol now can: locks of what is claimed to be The King's hair are up for auction next week.
The large quantity of hair is one of about 200 items of Elvis memorabilia collected by the late Gary Pepper, who was the president of the Tankers Fan Club set up for Elvis fans.
Chicago-based Leslie Hindman Auctioneers said the hair, which is expected to sell for between $8 000 and $12 000 at the auction on October 18, was given to Pepper to mail to Presley fans and was believed to be from when the singer had his hair cut to join the US Army.
"In 1958, the nation's newspapers announced that Elvis Presley, having been newly recruited into the US Army, had received two haircuts trimming his famous locks and sideburns down to a greatly modified crew cut," said a statement by the auction house.
"Individual strands of Elvis Presley's shaved locks have since been treasured by his fans who wish to own a piece of The King himself."
The auction house has not had a DNA test carried out on the hair but quoted "an expert in celebrity hair authentication", John Reznikoff, saying it matched the Elvis hair he has in his collection.
Elvis died in 1977 at the age of 42.
Other items up for sale include signed photos, albums, publicity shots, souvenirs, and clothing.
Info:To get completely ready for the upcoming FTD release "The Impossible Dream" with the January 1971 material, we provide you with this picture of the week from the same engagement.
