A VERY SPECIAL THANKKS TO MIKE!!
~June 9, 1972 ~ Elvis holds a press conference in the Mercury Ballroom of the New York Hilton Hotel ~
~Elvis first appears publicly at the 4 PM press conference. Although planned and short, the press conference was very interesting, to say the least. The most revealing Q & A from Elvis being: "Are you satisfied with the image you've established?" Elvis answers, "Well, sir, the image is one thing and the human being is another. It's very hard to live up to an image, I'll put it that way."
~Of all the very few 70's interviews Elvis did, this one, and the statement about the 'image' are the most revealing. I think that, although Elvis tried as hard as he could to "live up to" his 'image,' at the end he found himself in a crippling dilemma as to the bridge between Elvis "the man" and "his music." Living up to the 'image' proved to be a great "burden."
(MY personal favorite was the response Elvis gave when ask by one reporter: "Elvis, why do you think you've out lasted all the other entertainers?" Without hesitation, he responds, "I take Vitamin E!" LOL!! So funny!)
~More than ever it seems, nowadays you have to be a bit hard-hearted to survive, whereas with Elvis, he was too kind-hearted and too delicate to survive the media. All too many non-fans criticize Elvis' scarves as "gimmick" material. I think that it was really just a reflection of his good-will to others and his generous (sometimes to a fault) nature. And these non-fans should have attended one, just one, of his concerts, before they even begin to JUDGE, when they have NO CLUE what they're talking about!! Besides, most people that criticize, do so because when they're putting someone else down it makes them feel better about themselves and that's why they do it in the first place. Most already have problems and are trying NOT to face them and as long as they're "running their mouth" about someone else, they don't have to. They are SAD and PITIFUL people and are seeking attention.
~When people heavily criticize Elvis' lifestyle and early death, one MUST remember that we're talking about the 1970's, NOT the 1990's, which are TOTALLY different and do not even bare comparison. One should remember Elvis' philosophy on life: Always think of OTHERS FIRST (which these people that are criticizing Elvis certainly ARE NOT doing!) and try and help OTHER people when and where he could.
~Following the press conference - in which Elvis looked Fantastic - and he charmed the New Yorkers (which is Not easy to do, especially by a "good ol' boy from down South), he prepared for that evenings show before 20,000 fans. It was the first of four Sold-Out performances at Madison Square Garden. And this was New Yorkers ~ known for being Hard To Please and sometimes, even rude.
~Backstage, Elvis paces nervously (and nearly refused to perform) because the noisy crowd were being rude to comedian Jackie Kahane with his "usual" material. However, after a nervous start to his evening, Elvis now proves to his New York audience that he was, indeed, "Like A Prince From Another Planet." In his first show he completely won over the crowds.
~The afternoon show has Elvis concentrating on his singing more, whereas, at the evening show he appears to be concentrating more on his stage antics to please an audience expecting a wild Saturday evening show with lots of karate, etc during POLK SALAD ANNIE and faster songs as well. So, New Yorkers....well, they got it, they really DID get a DYNAMITE show from Elvis, as amateur footage proves. He was VERY physical during his performances. And on Sunday afternoon Elvis knocked 'em out once more!
~Without a doubt, Elvis' physical presence in June of 1972 was SUPERB!! He was in excellent physical shape and at the very height of his powers. And, oh yes, he was strikingly HANDSOME and just ooozed Sex Appeal!!
~{ELVIS} - Hello!. Thank you. Thank you very much. How are you? Would you like me to sit down?
~{MEDIA} - Yeah!
~{ELVIS} - First of all, I plead innocent of all charges. Okay. Alright. Okay.
~{MEDIA} - We love you, Elvis.
~{ELVIS} - Thank you dear, love you too. Thank you.
~{COLONEL TOM PARKER} - Will you gentlemen get down in front a little bit? You can get your pictures later, please?
~{ELVIS} - I think...I think it was a matter of not getting the building, the proper building. We had to wait our turn in order to get the building. Couldn't get a good building in fifteen years. No, all kidding aside, we had to wait our turn to get in...into the Garden.
~{MEDIA} - How do you feel about appearing there?
~{ELVIS} - Oh, I like it. I enjoy it. I just hope we put on a good show for everybody.
~{MEDIA} - Mr. Presley, why do you think you've outlasted every other entertainer from the fifties, and for that matter, the sixties as well?
~{ELVIS} - I take Vitamin E (laughs). I was only kidding...I don't know (laughs)...I just...embarrass myself, man. Ah, I don't know, dear, I just...I enjoy the business. I like what I'm doing.
~{MEDIA} - I hear from a lot of people in the press corps that you're really a shy, humble, wonderful human being. Would you agree with that?
~{ELVIS} - Oh, I don't know what makes them think that...I...you know...this gold belt and the (laughs)...naw. Okay...what are you doin' woman? Ah, no.
~{MEDIA} - I'm reminded of the Ed Sullivan Show, where they wouldn't [show you below the waist].
~{ELVIS} - So am I...that's why I'm sittin' down.
~{MEDIA} - Elvis, I don't know if you know it or not, but some people would like to know why you no longer have grease in your hair.
~{ELVIS} - No, I stopped using that greasy kid stuff too, just like everybody else did, man.
~{MEDIA} - You used to be criticized so much for your long hair and gyrations, and you seem so modest now.
~{ELVIS} - Man, I was tame compared to what they do now, are you kidding (laughs). I didn't do anything but just jiggle, you know.
~{MEDIA} - Show us the jiggle!
~{ELVIS} - No (laughs), I can't...I can't do that. I'd just as soon save it for the show.
~{MEDIA} - How do you feel about the way performers act on stage now, compared to what you did, and you were criticized for?
~{ELVIS} - Oh, I..I don't know. I really can't criticize anybody in the entertainment field. I think there's room for everybody. I hate to criticize another performer.
~{MEDIA} - Elvis, are you...are you satisfied with the image you've established?
~{MEDIA} - Ladies and
gentlemen, I have the pleasure of introducing Mr. Vernon Presley, Elvis Presley's father. Mr. Presley has a friend coming out.
~{ELVIS} - Well the image is one thing, and a human being is another, you know. So.
~{MEDIA} - How close does it come? How close does the image come to the man you really are? ~{ELVIS} - It's very hard to live up to an image. I'll put it that way.
~{MEDIA} - Elvis, you're thirty-seven now. So do you disagree that anybody over thirty is finished? Is this wrong?
~{ELVIS} - It's according to what you're talkin' about (laughs). Nah, I don't know. I'd like to think so.
~{MEDIA} - What kind of audiences do you find you attract now, Elvis?
~{ELVIS} - I beg your pardon
~{MEDIA} - What kind of audiences do you find you attract now?
~{ELVIS} - Well I found that in the audiences that we have, that it's mixed. It's older people, younger people, and the very young. And all types of people, you know, which is good.
~{MEDIA} - After a thirty-seven-year-old's record breaking tour, Elvis, what are you going to do next?
~{ELVIS} - Punt! (laughs.) Nah, I, ah...I just made a movie of...of the last tour that I did [Elvis on Tour], it's the first live concert that we ever filmed, so that's my next project that's coming out.
~{MEDIA} - Elvis, what made you finally decide to come out of seclusion and start making public appearances again?
~{ELVIS} - I just missed it. I missed the closeness of an audience...of a live audience. So just as soon as I got out of the movie contracts, I started to do live performances again.
~{MEDIA} - Will you be doing more and more of the concerts now?
~{ELVIS} - I think so
~
{MEDIA} - Are you recording....
~{ELVIS} - I'm sorry. There's so many places that I haven't been yet. Like, I've never played New York here.
~{MEDIA} - What about Britain Elvis?
~{ELVIS} - I've never been to Britain either.
~{MEDIA} - Would you like to go there?
~{ELVIS} - I'd like to, yes sir, very much. I'd like to go to Europe. I'd like to go to Japan and all those places. I've never been out of this country except in the service. [Elvis, of course, did perform and travel out of the country - to Canada in 1957].
~{MEDIA} - You were in the Army and were drafted. What is your opinion of war protesters? And would you today refuse to be drafted?
~{ELVIS} - Honey, I'd just soon to keep my own personal views about that to myself. 'Cause I'm just an entertainer and I'd rather not say. ~{MEDIA} - Do you think other entertainers should also keep their views to themselves?
~{ELVIS} - No. I can't even say that.
~{MEDIA} - Elvis, are you going to perform again here in New York?
~{ELVIS} - I beg your pardon
~{MEDIA} - Are you going to perform again here in New York?
~{ELVIS} - I might. I might. It's according ~{MEDIA} - They filmed your concert in Boston recently. Why aren't you filming in New York?
~{ELVIS} - I don't know. That's a good question. Why is that, Colonel (laughs)?
~{TOM PARKER} - I didn't hear that. What's the question?
~{ELVIS} - She said why did they film the concert in Boston and they couldn't film it here?
~{TOM PARKER} - To film it here....it could have been outlawed.
~{MEDIA} - (Laughter). Elvis, why don't you spend longer working on a film of your life or writing a biography of it?
~{ELVIS} - I just don't feel that it's time yet. Maybe I will someday, but not right now.
~{MEDIA} - Elvis, is there any chance New York knows that the firm has vacated to Phoenix?
[The meaning of this question is unclear, and the response provides no clues].
~{ELVIS} - Who's talking, the camera? Oh, I'm sorry. What'd you say?
~{MEDIA} - Do you think that your return signals the start of the return of some of....
~{ELVIS} - I don't know. I didn't know they ever stopped. Did they? No, they didn't. Talkin' under the table, that guy.
>
~{MEDIA} - Are you thinking of doing something different...like running for public office?
~{ELVIS} - No sir, I don't have any other aspirations in politics or anything of that nature.
~{MEDIA} - How about in acting?
~{ELVIS} - Oh yeah, I'd like to do something in the way of a movie script, If I can find the right kind of a property. Like, we're looking for it now. You're talking about a nonsinging type thing. Yeah, I'd like to do that.
~{MEDIA} - Elvis, why have you gone away from the hard rock and roll that you did two, three years ago? You really don't do that hard rock anymore, like Heartbreak Hotel.
~{ELVIS} - It's very difficult to find that type of song. It's hard to find good material nowadays, for everybody...for all of us
~{MEDIA} - You were the forerunner of rock and roll, you really...you don't record hard rock anymore. Why?
~{ELVIS} - It's very difficult to find any good hard rock songs, really. If I could find them I would do them.
~{MEDIA} - Mr. Presley, who do you find sexy? Who are the people that
you think are sexy (laughs)?
~{ELVIS} - I don't know. There's a lot of people...that I like. I got out of that one, didn't I?
~{MEDIA} - What with increased political activity on the part of any number of entertainers, do you plan to, or are you now campaigning for, or helping to raise campaign funds for any particular political presidential candidate?
~{ELVIS} - No sir, I'm not. I'm not involved in that at all. I'm just an entertainer. Okay.
{MEDIA} - Elvis, what do you miss most about the passing of the fifties?
~{ELVIS} - I don't really miss that much about it. I enjoy it just as much now or more than I did then. I would like to think that we've improved ourselves over the past fifteen years.
~{MEDIA} - How about musically?
~{ELVIS} - That's what I mean. I mean musically and vocally and everything. I'd like to think that I've improved over the past fifteen years.
~{MEDIA} - Elvis, I'm going back to when you said you'd like to tour and perform in Europe. What do you think about a Far East tour?
~{ELVIS} - Yeah, I'd love to go there. Yeah. ~{MEDIA} - Do you ever tire of people recognizing you and asking for autographs?
~{ELVIS} - No, I got used to it. I would kind of miss it if it didn't happen. If nobody saw me or if nobody recognized me or whatever, or asked for an autograph I...to me it's just part of the business, and I accept it. I think I would miss it.
~{MEDIA} - Elvis, will there be a recording made of this concert?
~{ELVIS} - It's possible. I don't know. They have RCA Victor's officials here, so I don't know.
~{MEDIA} - Elvis, of all the records you've recorded, which is your favorite song?
~{ELVIS} - "It's Now or Never", "O Solo Mio".
~{MEDIA} - (Applause). Which is your best selling record?
~{ELVIS} - That one. "O Solo Mio" was the largest selling. And then the next one too was "Don't Be Cruel", I think, then "Hound Dog"..."Heartburn Motel", whatever.
~{MEDIA} - When did you arrive in New York? ~{ELVIS} - I came in last night very late and I had to go to bed, because we're having a rehearsal now and I go back to rehearsal after this press conference...unless you've got something better in mind (laughs).
~{MEDIA} - Go baby!. Is your wife you...with you in town?
~{ELVIS} - No she's not
~{MEDIA} - (Laughter). You mentioned earlier, Elvis, the shortage of recording material. There's just been a suit filed in Nashville, Tennessee, by Nashville songwriters against the major recording companies, saying that they're not given a fair chance. In...in your estimation and in your knowledge, are the songwriters - independent songwriters - given a fair chance with major recording companies?
~{ELVIS} - I don't think so. I think that there's so many companies, everybody becomes independent once they have one hit record, they form their own company. And there's so many. And also the people who write them are starting to record their own songs. And that's why I say it's very difficult to get good material.
~{MEDIA} - From independent songwriters?
~{ELVIS} - Yeah
~{MEDIA} - You own publishing houses yourself, do you?
~{ELVIS} - Yes, I'm in a publishing firm, but I'll take songs from anywhere or from anybody if they're good. It doesn't have to be at my company. It could be just completely an unknown person or just anybody that writes a song, if they can get it to me. If it's good, I'll do it.
~{MEDIA} - To your knowledge though, have recording companies favored the songwriters that work for the subsidiary publishing houses that they may own? Do they favor those songwriters?
~{ELVIS} - Well, probably so. In being honest, I would have to say yeah.
{MEDIA} - In terms of the suit that's been filed...
{ELVIS} - Honey, I'm really not aware of this particular suit that you're talkin' about, so I can't answer you accurately. I don't even know the details about it. I went to Hawaii to get a tan for New York (laughs), so I'm not aware of it, really.
~{MEDIA} - Would you say that the songwriters that belong to those publishing houses.....
~{ELVIS} - I don't think so, if they're not heard. If they got good material, if they're good songwriters, I think they should be heard. Yes, definitely
~{MEDIA} - Elvis, can I have a kiss and a scarf?
~{ELVIS} - I really can't sittin' down (laughs). Naw, naw, I can't do that. I'd just as soon save it for the show. I'm a....(laughs). Thank you. ~{MEDIA} - Gotta watch it, fella (laughs).
~{ELVIS} - Well, you know, (laughs)...watch it is right. No, I...on social comments like that. Dear, I'd just as soon not to make a comment. ~{TOM PARKER} - Wouldn't it be a nice gesture if some of you people that had all these pictures...it'd be nice to step aside and let these other people take a few pictures. Please, please, step aside, please.
~{MEDIA} - (Applause).
~{TOM PARKER} - Come on up with your cameras. ~{MEDIA} - Elvis, what is that belt that you're wearing?
~{ELVIS} - The belt...the belt is an award from...
~{TOM PARKER} - Come up here. C'mon, give these guys a place, step aside will you, please. All of ya, ya'll had plenty of pictures. C'mon, bring your cameras over here. Why dont'cha give these other fellas a chance. C'mon through here.
~{ELVIS} - Let's let the Colonel get through talkin' and I'll finish.
~{TOM PARKER} - Come up here
~{ELVIS} - The belt is an award from the International [Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada] for the attendance record...championship attendance record.
~{MEDIA} - Come on, baby, get 'em hot
~{ELVIS} - It's like a trophy but I wear it around. It's just to show off.
~{MEDIA} - May we talk to you father?
~{ELVIS} - Will I talk to my father? I have to (laughs), he handles all my personal affairs.
~{MEDIA} - No, could we ask your father a question or two?
~{ELVIS} - Oh, sure.
~{MEDIA} - Ah, the other Mr. Presley, at...at what point did you realize that your son was more than your son and now a very, very famous person?
~{VERNON PRESLEY} - Well, it's kinda hard to say. You know, it happened so fast it's hard to keep up with it. It just 'boom' overnight and there it was. So I'd say maybe...probably 1956, and the first television show.
~{MEDIA} - Do you have any regrets?
~{ELVIS} - I tried to tell him sooner, but he wouldn't listen.
~{VERNON PRESLEY} - No, I have no regrets of it. I have enjoyed it, really.
~{ELVIS} - All kidding aside, it happened very fast to all of us, my mother and my father and all of us. And everything happened overnight, and so we had to adjust to a lot of things very quickly...a lot of good things.
~{MEDIA} - Mr. Presley Senior, after Elvis got famous did he change in any way at all, or...? ~{VERNON PRESLEY} - No, he...no, not really. I can't tell any changes.
~{ELVIS} - I sweat more
~{MEDIA} - Elvis, do you find it harder to perform yourself the old songs, while still mixing in some newer tunes, like "Bridge Over Troubled Water" and some of the newer songs. Is that conscious?
~{ELVIS} - No, it's a conscious thing...I like to mix 'em up. In other words, I like to do a song like "Bridge Over Troubled Water" or "[An] American Trilogy", or something. Then mix it up and do some rock and roll, some of the hard rock stuff.
~{MEDIA} - Are you tired of the old songs?
{ELVIS} - No, I'm not the least bit ashamed of "Hound Dog" or "Heartbreak Hotel", or whatever those things were.
~{MEDIA} - Can you see yourself retiring at all?
~{ELVIS} - Not really.
~{MEDIA} - No?
~{ELVIS} - I've got too much energy. I don't think so. Not as long as I can [continue].
~{MEDIA} - Will you have another tv special?
~{ELVIS} - I think they're planning one now. They're talkin' about one now.
~{MEDIA} - Elvis, are there any new groups that you like particularly?
~{ELVIS} - Any what, sir?
~{MEDIA} - Any new groups that you like particularly?
~{ELVIS} - There's a lot of 'em. I can't think of any right off hand.
~{MEDIA} - Elvis....
~{TOM PARKER} - I'd like to live up to my reputation of bein' a nice guy, this is it, folks.
~{MEDIA} - Beautiful baby, beautiful.
~{ELVIS} - I've got to go back to rehearsal, folks, thank you very much.
