late May 2007
- "A Slick Go-Down"?
(Memphis Flyer, May 30, 2007)
We're nearing the 30th anniversary of Elvis Presley's death, but Elvis lives on in our hearts and our hankerin' for a heart-stopping peanut butter and jelly -- plus banana, plus bacon, all of it (your call) deep-fried -- sandwich. Two new books serve as reminders: Jane and Michael Stern's Roadfood Sandwiches, which includes a chapter on the "Elvis Special"; and Roy Blount Jr.'s Long Time Leaving: Dispatches From Up South (Knopf). ...
Blount recounts the time Elvis flew with some friends from Memphis to Denver for his favorite: a sandwich known as the "Fool's Gold." Blount writes: "It sounds like the kind of thing a person ought to do when a certain kind of sandwich means more to him than a certain amount of money." Then Blount estimates that the trip, including Elvis' order from Denver's Colorado Gold Mine Company restaurant, cost him $16,000. How slick is that? Not very, if your heart is set on "a slick go-down." That's Southern for what Blount in his book defines as a morsel that can be eaten easily. Morsel? The recipe for the "Fool's Gold" that Elvis & Co. flew from Memphis to Denver to eat calls for a loaf of buttered bread loaded with peanut butter, jelly, and a pound of fried bacon. The King ordered 22. [yeah, but for how many people?]
- 'Impersonator' lives up to reality TV's copycat reputation
By Stewart Tendler
(courier-journal.com, May 30, 2007)
If somebody sees Paris Hilton driving around this week, don't call the cops. It might just be her double. Seeing double could also be the case for Angelina Jolie, Jennifer Aniston, John Travolta, Roseanne Barr, Tony Soprano or President Bush, not to mention resurrections of Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra and the Marx Brothers. Any or all of them might show up on "The Next Best Thing: Who Is the Greatest Celebrity Impersonator?" at 8 tonight on ABC. ... Auditions were held in New York; Los Angeles; Orlando, Fla.; and Las Vegas, where producers were probably mobbed by counterfeit Elvises. Some of the impersonators were so awful they got hooted off the auditions immediately, but others were so good their own moms might not have recognized them in their Madonna or Johnny Depp getups and makeup. ...
- Elvis fan stole £500,000 in parking coins
By Stewart Tendler
(Times Online, May 30, 2007)
Thousands of pieces of Elvis Presley memorabilia are up for auction after their owner was jailed for funding her passion for the King through larceny. Excited fans are already studying a catalogue that could raise £500,000.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is putting the collection up for sale next month after confiscating it from Julie Wall, 46, who pleaded guilty to theft and was jailed for three years in 2005.
Working as a cashier for North Kesteven District Council in Lincolnshire, she was in charge of counting the weekly takings from the council's eight car parks. She took £10,000 in coins each month. She held back hundreds of pounds from each cash box then exchanged them for notes used in other council operations. She hid the money in her handbag and simply walked out of the offices in Sleaford. Wall is thought to have stolen £557,327 and 11 pence between January 1996 and July 2005. A confiscation order was later made for £597,000. Wall, who was said to be "in the grip of an exceptional habit", used the money to buy thousands of records, DVDs, CDs and signed mementoes.
Most of the collection was just stored in the attic of the home she shared with her parents. The items she bought include a large collection of "lobby cards" - publicity photo cards for films - magazines, film programmes, Christmas cards, and numerous records and LPs including some rare Japanese pressings. There are 668 Elvis lots, among them souvenirs such as fridge magnets, mugs and records issued from countries including Israel, Mexico, Malay-sia, Peru and Uruguay.
According to the CPS, which has had the collection valued by a leading Elvis expert, lots that will attract serious collectors include a 1964 Elvis credit card receipt from his Texaco Gas account, an autographed copy of the album A date with Elvis and a limited edition of the first Elvis Presley CD to be released. A rare Japanese EP, an extended version of the standard single vinyl record, of Love Me Tender could fetch £10,000 or more.
Gary Balch, head of the CPS confiscation unit, said yesterday that the profits from the auction would be paid back to the council, which employed Wall for 30 years. Although Mr Balch was pessimistic that the auction would recoup the council's losses, Julie Mundy, who runs one of the main Elvis websites in Britain, said: "This is quite a remarkable collection. I would say that collectors will find lots of things of interest." She added: "This is causing quite a buzz. There has not been an auction like this in the UK."
Chris Gill, who runs a shop of Elvis memorablia in London and sold material to Wall, said: "It's not an extraordinary collection but it's something someone could get with unlimited funds, which she had. There are some cream pieces but a lot of it is the run of the mill. ... She probably did in nine years what most of us collectors spend a lifetime at." ...
- Planners say 30th Elvis Week could be huge
(United Press International, May 29, 2007)
Officials in Memphis are bracing for a tourist invasion as Graceland celebrates the 30th Elvis Week, a commemoration of music, magic and memories of the King. Hotel rooms are being snapped up three months in advance of the Aug. 11-19 celebration, The (Memphis) Commercial-Appeal reported Tuesday. Major events during the week already are sold out.
Five years ago, the 25th anniversary celebration broke records with an estimated 75,000 tourists, said Jack Soden, Elvis Presley Enterprises chief executive officer. He said he realized the 30th could be bigger when tickets went on sale for the anniversary concert at FedExForum. "For the 25th anniversary, we spent all summer selling tickets to the concert," Soden said. "This one sold out without even trying."
Soden said interest in this year's milestone 30th year can be attributed to aggressive marketing, including a new nationwide advertising campaign, and an inaugural worldwide Elvis Tribute Artist contest with finalists competing in an Elvis Week showdown. "Elvis is getting bigger all over the world. We say it, and I know it sounds like a company fight song, but it's true," says Soden, who helped open Graceland as a tourist attraction in 1982.
- Collectibles may be linked to mysterious death
By KRISTINA SMITH
(azcentral.com, May 28, 2007)
Police are searching for a missing collection of valuable gold and silver coins that could be linked to the killing of a former New York City firefighter who was found shot to death two weeks ago in Scottsdale. Family members say they think stolen items also include high-priced Elvis Presley memorabilia from his home, Graceland, in Memphis, Tenn., including at least one item signed by Presley. ...
- Elvis wannabes swivel into festival fun
By John Hildebrand
(Central Ohio, May 28, 2007)
Seven Elvis look-a-likes dressed in bejeweled polyester and leather belted out the King of Rock 'n' Roll's tunes in a packed tent Saturday at the Walleye Festival. But Detroit resident Fred Wolfe looked, sounded and moved most like Elvis Presley during the Elvis Extravaganza Impersonator Contest, a national competition, the judges decided.
- Freeport CEO stays focused on future
By Max Jarman
(Arizona Republic, May 27, 2007)
Richard Adkerson grew up in a landscape shared by Elvis and Oprah. He cut his teeth writing oil and gas disclosure rules for the Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington D.C. and was further schooled in Houston during the oil boom and bust of the 1970s and 1980s. Now as CEO of Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc., he's running Arizona's largest public corporation and one of the world's biggest mining concerns. ...
- War records reveal America's past
By Laura Smith-Spark
(BBC News, May 24, 2007)
Military records featuring 90 million Americans who have fought in wars from the 1600s through the American Civil War to Korea and Vietnam have been brought together online.
The huge collection of documents, which includes draft registration cards, photographs, prisoner of war records and news reels, is the work of family history website Ancestry.com. It hopes to help millions of Americans uncover their ancestors' pasts through their military records, and to shed a little light on the nation's history as it marks Memorial Day on 28 May.
About a third of the records - some 30 million names - are now visible for the first time on the internet following the collection's launch on 24 May. Others were already searchable online.
The chances of finding a relative are reasonable - with every American male between the ages of 18 and 45 required to register for the draft during World War I, details were collected on some 24 million people. The site's World War II records feature a further 15 million names.
Ancestry has also digitally uploaded enlistment, prisoner of war and pension records from 1860 to 1865 featuring the names of some 18 million men who served in the Civil War.
Celebrity hunt
Among the many names are some that are more familiar than others - today's rich, famous and notorious, or their ancestors. Diligent online celebrity hunters may come across the WWI draft registration card of Thomas Cruise Mapother, great-grandfather of actor Tom Cruise, who shares the same full name. The description on his card - short, stout and bald - gives little clue that three generations down the line a Hollywood heart throb would be born.
Gangster Al Capone can also be found, listing "paper cutter" as his occupation on his WWI draft registration card, filed in 1918 in Brooklyn.
Baseball legend Babe Ruth registered for the draft in both World War I and World War II, by which time he was 47, giving "baseball player" as his occupation.
One of America's most famous magicians also registered for the draft in 1918, filling out his full name on the card as Harry Handcuff Houdini.
Hero or deserter?
Going further back in history, records reveal that Elvis Presley's great-great-grandfather, Dunnan Presley Jr deserted from the Confederate Army not just once but twice - having picked up a $300 enlistment payment each time. ...
Elvis's great-great-grandfather deserted from the army - twice
- Election soundtrack: Theme-song ideas for candidates
By Little Steven Van Zandt
(Yahoo! News / Reuters/Billboard, May 24, 2007)
All right, look, we've got a year and a half to the election, right? So let's cut to the chase, forget about the issues these clowns are going to be avoiding anyway, and get down to what really matters: the campaign song.
So far we've got Chris Dodd with "Get Ready" (the Temptations);
John Edwards with "Our Country" (John Mellencamp) and Dennis Kucinich with "America the Beautiful."
Wesley Clark isn't in the race yet, but, more important, he has a song anyway: Johnny Cash's version of Tom Petty's "I Won't Back Down."
Hillary Clinton's doing a contest on her Web site, but she's partial to U2's "Beautiful Day" (Oh, yeah? Where?). And Barack Obama (news, bio, voting record) wanted to make a statement that songs are a distraction from the issues so intentionally doesn't have one, and now all people are talking about is his lack of a song.
Of course we all remember blasts from past campaigns (more than we do their speeches) such as John Kerry's "No Surrender" (Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band), Howard Dean's "A Little Less Conversation" (Elvis Presley) and my personal favorite, Bob Dole's "Dole Man" (sung to the tune of Sam & Dave's "Soul Man").
As good as those are, let's face it -- they're not particularly appropriate given the state of our country's ecology, homelessness, infrastructure, schools, poverty, etc. So I'd like to suggest a few titles that paint a more accurate picture for those guys jumping in late and needing a tune. ...
- Judge says city can seize property for Municipal parking lot
(ktbs.com, May 24, 2007)
A Caddo District Court judge ruled this afternoon that the city of Shreveport can seize a run-down former auto dealership, demolish it and make a parking lot for Municipal Auditorium. Judge Jeanette Garrett said a public need exists for the old Hanna Ford property on Elvis Presley Boulevard. A trial will be held later to determine how much the city pays the owners for it. ...
- First-Ever 'Elvis Cruise' Scheduled to Set Sail August 30, 2007 on Carnival Cruise Lines' Celebration
Source: Carnival Cruise Lines; Jazz Cruises, LLC
(Yahoo! Finance / PRNewswire, May 24, 2007)
Four-Day, Full Ship Charter to Feature Variety of Elvis-Inspired Activities and Events, Including an Elvis Tribute Contest with $10,000 in Prize Money
Carnival Cruise Lines and St. Louis, Mo.-based Jazz Cruises, LLC, a provider of full-ship charter music cruises, have partnered to offer "The Elvis Cruise," the first authentic, fully licensed specialty cruise that celebrates the music and life of the legendary Elvis Presley. The four-day cruise is scheduled to depart from Jacksonville, Fla., on August 30, 2007, and will feature visits to Freeport and Nassau, The Bahamas.
The one-of-a-kind voyage will be hosted by Jerry Schilling, longtime friend and confidant of the late Elvis Presley, and author of the book, Me and a Guy Named Elvis. Entertainment during the cruise will include live shows from artists who performed with Elvis and have been recognized for continuing his musical legacy, including the TCB Band, the Jordanaires, the Imperials, the Dempseys, Ronnie McDowell, Terry Mike Jeffrey & Band, Ruby Wilson and others.
"The Elvis Cruise" will celebrate the various phases of Elvis' musical life and career and include tributes to Elvis' performances in Memphis, Hawaii and Vegas, his dedication to Gospel and his gold hits. A number of themed events also will be featured, including an Elvis tribute contest, open to all guests, which will award $10,000 in prize money. Other activities will range from autograph and Q&A sessions with the musicians and hosts, to the Elvis Cruise T-Shirt Party, Elvis-themed bingo and more.
"This cruise provides a one-of-a-kind opportunity for Elvis fans to come together and enjoy the exceptional music and memories of one of the most celebrated performing artists of all time, combined with a truly outstanding vacation experience," said Bob Dickinson, Carnival president and CEO.
"Jazz Cruises is thrilled to partner with Carnival Cruise Lines for this exciting celebration of Elvis' life," said Michael Lazaroff, executive director of Jazz Cruises, LLC. "We are excited to provide individuals who are passionate about Elvis with the exclusive opportunity to interact with fellow enthusiasts and revered performers in a spectacular and festive cruise setting."
Carnival's "Fun Ship" Celebration features a diverse selection of lounges, bars and nightspots, along with a health and fitness center, Wi-Fi Internet access, cellular phone service, and three pools, one of which features the line's signature "Twister Waterslide."
The 1,486-passenger vessel also houses three restaurants, including two elegant main dining rooms with extensive menus and wine lists, and a poolside eatery offering a wide variety of cuisine, in addition to 24-hour pizza and self-serve ice cream/frozen yogurt. A sushi bar and complimentary 24-hour stateroom service are also available.
Jazz Cruises is currently accepting reservations for the upcoming "Elvis Cruise" aboard Carnival's Celebration. Prices begin at $750 per person based on double occupancy and include all "Elvis Cruise" activities.
For additional information or to book, call Jazz Cruises, LLC at 1-800- 704-3034 or visit www.theelviscruise.com.
- Renaissance Man, Ben Saunders isn't your everyday English professor - just ask his students
By Talia Schmidt
(Oregon Daily Emerald, May 24, 2007)
There's more to associate professor English Benjamin Saunders than his eccentric taste in fashion (which includes the occasional black top hat) and his admiration for the late Elvis Presley. With a love literature and a witty approach to learning, Saunders makes for a unique character around campus. ...
- Warner, Paramount mark Elvis anniversary with DVDs
(Yahoo! News / Hollywood Reporter, May 24, 2007)
A massive DVD promotion will commemorate the 30th anniversary of Elvis Presley's death on August 16. Warner Home Video and Paramount Home Entertainment are teaming up for the August 7 released of 24 of the rock icon's films. Among the releases will be "Elvis: The Hollywood Connection," a six-pack that has never before been available on DVD: "Charro!," "Girl Happy," "Kissin' Cousins," "Live a Little, Love a Little," "Stay Away, Joe" and "Tickle Me." Also new to DVD is "This Is Elvis," a posthumous documentary directed by Andrew Solt and Malcolm Leo.
- American idol judges have too much power?
By John Weeks
(sgvtribune.com, May 24, 2007)
Since "American Idol" seems to be the juggernaut force in pop music these days, and since there are only three "American Idol" judges, a question arises. Actually, three questions arise.
Do these three individuals have too much power?
Are these the best three people to have this much power?
Are there any three people who should have this much power?
Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell not only render their own decisions, but influence the decisions of millions of TV viewers who cast their votes for this or that contestant. In fact, Jackson, Abdul and Cowell, more than any other three individuals in America, are shaping the future of American pop music. Is this a good idea?
It makes us wonder what it might have been like, in the past, if these three had been the sole judges when singers like Elvis and Dylan and Springsteen were looking for a break. Here's how Elvis Presley's audition might have turned out ...
Jackson: "Check it out! Dawg! That was a little pitchy, but you've got a big voice, man. Don't overdo it, though. Keep it real. That's all I'm saying."
Abdul: "You're really, really fun to watch. Do you know you're fun to watch?"
Cowell: "You were shouting at us. You sounded like a bad wedding singer straining to be heard over the crowd. And what was all that bumping and grinding? I didn't know if you were dancing or having a seizure. I thought you were absolutely dreadful." ...
- Chapel of celebrity is built for Marilyn, the goddess of Pop Art
By Ben Hoyle
(The Times, May 24, 2007)
The birth of modern society¹s obsession with celebrity will be explored by the [London] National Portrait Gallery at a key show this year. Pop Art Portraits will include important works by leading figures including Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Jasper Johns, Sir Peter Blake and David Hockney.
The exhibition will show how Pop artists used images of Elvis Presley, Mick Jagger and John F. Kennedy, among others, to invent a new way of seeing the world and comment on the emerging consumer society of the 1950s and 1960s. However, its dominant subject will be Marilyn Monroe, chronicling her dizzy ascent to stardom via Playboy magazine, and the price she paid for her celebrity.
Paul Moorhouse, the gallery's 20th-century curator, said: "In Pop Art we see the beginnings of the fascination with the phenomenon of fame. The Pop artists were ahead of the game. They could see that this was going to be one of the great preoccupations of society, how an ordinary woman like Norma Jean Baker could become this iconic individual: Marilyn Monroe.
"People could now become famous overnight, but equally they could be plucked from obscurity and lose their identity. These are issues that we are still working through today, with Big Brother and the Kate Moss at Topshop phenomenon; everybody's obsessed with fame." Early works will show Marilyn as an emerging star, depicted as a pin-up alongside Gina Lollobrigida and Kim Novak on Blake's Girlie Door and in Ray Johnson's collage Hand Marilyn Monroe.
Later in the exhibition visitors will go into a "secular chapel" to Marilyn, with works made after her death in 1962. The room will reunite five works from Homage to Marilyn Monroe, the tribute show held in 1967 at the Sydney Janis Gallery in New York. They include ten screen-printed portraits of the actress by Andy Warhol, taken from a publicity still for Niagara; Richard Hamilton's My Marilyn, based on a contact sheet from a photo session on a beach; and Claes Oldenburg's haunting sculpture Ghost Wardrobe for Marilyn Monroe.
Mr Moorhouse said: "She is a thread running through the show . . . She is revered, and then, like Princess Diana, her death sanctifies her and she becomes a secular goddess. It seems to be symptomatic of the mechanisms of fame that in the process it destroyed her. That's what these paintings are essentially about: the tragedy of fame. The message of these works is that it chews you up and spits you out."
Warhol still looms large over the movement. Last week his 1963 painting Green Car Crash (Green Burning Car I) sold at auction in New York for $71.7 million (£36.3 million); another Marilyn image, Lemon Marilyn, sold for $28 million. There are five Warhols in this show, including the Marilyns: two self-portraits, the Double Elvisimage of a revolver-toting Presley and the silent film Screen Test, featuring Salvador DalÍ and prominent figures on the New York Arts scene. Other highlights include works by Robert Rauschenberg, Ray Johnson and Jim Dine.
The show will run from October 11 to January 20.
|
