Elvis - A Lighted Candle

Rainbow Light · Posted: Wed May 30, 2007 5:17 am Post subject: Conversations and Memories!

This is a letter I received from Germany with an Easter card 2006. wjh

Dear Ms. Hill, My sister in law told me that Wanda June Hill was to make her book from 1979 out available on Elvis Presley in the year to date. I read part of this book when in vacation with my sister in law the year of 80 and so did enjoy so much. I want to have this year one. She tells me of seeing something of it on computer. I have no computer or know how of one if one did be here. My love is Elvis and his music go good, beautiful man and loving heart, so much for everyone.
In Germany where I am from, he was stationed in military and my mother was houskeeper for months with his wonderful kind father and grandmama there with him. Elvis was gentleman soldier boy and was easy to please my mama tells me and once Elvis invited her to bring family to party at his house where it was Christmas. Everyone so nice and Elvis so handsome and had presents for mama and family, my gift was Dresden Doll so beautiful dressed and my brother was a truck with many places for hauling and then in Christmas card with Elvis' picture on Saint Nicks lap and two American dollars of ten dollar value. Elvis kissed me on the cheek and held me on his lap to take ride in his car to get ice from ice house store. His car was two seater and he let mama drive while he held me.
My big memory other of above is hearing Elvis crying in his room when mama came to bring his clothing. She did laundry for him and he did not want cleaners as soap made his skin sore. Mama hear him and knock on door to see what it was he needed. Elvis was holding papers from America that was from fan he tell her and gave her pictures of a little boy with most bad burns on all his body. Elvis was crying to see that and was most upset because boys papa burn him in pot with big fire to punish for something. The papa kill his mama and burn son and papa had gone to safe place in another land. Elvis was wanting to kill that papa he told mama and asked mama to call to ask about the boy who was alive, then Elvis did talk to doctor or someone who knew this and Elvis was saying he wanted to help boy and did not want it told he was Elvis Presley.
Mama said Elvis received in mail many pictures of boy and of his healing but with one or two months the boy was dying of no skin on large area and not going to be well. Elvis was crying again and then punch boxer bag and break it he was so angry. Mama hugged him when he was on floor hitting it making bloody hands and she stop him. Mama said he hug her and cry his pain away. Mama say she had not know any man like Elvis, his heart so kind, his eyes so true and when he play and sing with piano and guitar his voice touch all emotions who hear him. Elvis want to go home but his mama was not there and he said he fear to go, his heart may not beat to go home and his mama not be waiting for him. He and his papa look at her pictures, talk and cry at times and Elvis always cry so hard for her.
Mama had to stop keeping him and his family when she hurt her foot in ditch on way home. Elvis came by to see mama and gave her two full months money even if she not working. He say if we need more and she not find job to sit, he would pay her to just tell someone how to do for him. Mama was not able to go on foot for long time and she tell him so he got other woman to come care for him. Elvis came by before ship to America and he hug us and cry for mama and asked we write him. Mama did for a time but know he so busy he not have time to answer. He sent birthday card to mama and with a picture of him with is pretty home and he sent American money check for her. He sent to me a card and a pretty smile picture of him that I still have and frame in my home where he sign it to me.
Please send information on how to buy your book and sign to please. You know him and love him as me and my mama who is 80 year old and not see well but I will read your book to her and use enlarge glass so she see pictures. Best to you and thank you very much. Please excuse my English not so good to write and I read better. Margo Detuchmaiins
_________________
Wanda June Hill
author of "We Remember, Elvis" & "Elvis - Face to Face"
_________________
Seeks to encourage and inspire!

Rainbow Light · Posted: Wed May 30, 2007 5:20 am Post subject: Elvis and his chimp

An old friend whom I haven't heard from in some years told me once about Elvis and his chimp. He'd have him sitting on his lap and he'd ask him questions and the chimp would "answer" with various gestures, head nods and noises. One question was: "Are you my buddy?" and the chimp would nod yes and then give Elvis a big lip smacking kiss on the face and hug him. Elvis would grin and laugh and the Chimp would reach up and mess up his hair...which was usually kept neatly combed in those days.

Elvis would say, "Awww, now you have to comb my hair-can't let me be seen this way!" And the chimp would rake his hair back in place with his fingers and then kiss him again. Elvis would give him a little hug and talk to him like he did with children and the chimp would cuddle up against him and look up at him adoringly and was content to sit there while Elvis talked or watched tv and he would let Elvis know if he had to go to the bathroom and Elvis and him went hand in hand down the hallway. The Chimp wore diapers under his pants when I saw him-as he was apt to do some pretty gross things in public at times. Of course the guys thought it was so funny when it did that in front of the girls. My friend always said it was "unsettling" to see how human the "ape" was sitting on Elvis' lap and the way he looked at Elvis, would rather look at him than anything else when Elvis was just relaxing and in a good mood. Elvis sent the chimp back as his housekeepers were tired of taking care of it and also, it was not nice when Elvis wasn't there to control it's moods. So it had a big cage at Graceland and I guess wasn't happy-it didn't last long there. Elvis thought he "broke his poor little heart" and in turn "killed" him. He "rescued him" for quite a while and the chimp had a very varied life with Elvis who spoiled him rotten...probably pretty much as he would have a young child in his care. All I remember about that chimp was how "dead" feeling it's hands were-certainly not human feeling-the skin and everything about the hand that looked almost human-sure wasn't! wjh
_________________
Seeks to encourage and inspire!

Rainbow Light · Posted: Wed May 30, 2007 5:22 am Post subject: "I got guns!"

Way back in the early first years (63-64) of getting to know Elvis we were discussing his popularity in 1957-58 and those "new" young guys "taking his place or trying to" while he had been in the army and I said he had not been the one I liked-of course he wanted to know who and I said, Ricky Nelson-that I'd watch the tv show every chance I could just to count the number of times Ricky blinked his eyes when he sang. He snickered and I told him about my girl friend and I working half a day on Sat. then rushing down town Tulsa wearing our spike heels on that cement! To catch the first showing of Rio Bravo and sat through 4 hours of a horrible movie two times twice that day just to see Ricky come walking on screen wearing those guns! Elvis was silent a brief moment then he quickly said in a very young sounding tone of voice, "I got guns! "Can wear 'em for you-shouldn't of left Flamin' Star- was wearin' guns in it!" I remember laughing because he sounded excited-I mean if it was wearing guns I wanted-heck, he had guns! Wore them in a film too! It was so funny and I was intrigued by how much he seemed like a teenaged kid-innocently expressing his thoughts---...HE had guns! I have to say that in all those years, Elvis never lost that ability to just blurt out something so pure and innocent and totally just him, no hype about it. I loved him for that innocence...and couldn't help babying him especially when he might be hurt, sick or feeling low and lonely. He was like my kid brother or my kid period at times. I miss that part of him the most I think. wjh

He started to collect guns early in his career-and then going into the army made him even more a lover of guns and rifles-anything that went "boom" or "rat-a-tat-tat" and his dad liked rifles. He especially liked going to the police firing range and shooting with his officer friends when he got his Deputy badge etc:... but remembering that day with the "I got guns!" was so fun-I was talking to Jimmie's little sister who came out to visit us for a week. She told me things to write for her story in Face to Face-things I didn't know about her having talked to Elvis and telling him about her and her girlfriend's antics over him etc;. She saw him at the Oral Roberts University in 76 but didn't know he had been threatened that night-she just knew there were lots of security and they couldn't get anywhere near the stage. She told him she "examined every inch" of him with bicnoculars and she said he said, "Oh no! Gawddd...I didn't shave before went on either! She said she noticed that-he said the shaver wouldn't work, someone forgot to charge it and so he just went out with stubble...and he appoliged for it to her. She told him it was just so cute...her friend loved it that he was "a little rough looking". He laughed and said to thank her, it made his day. That guy sure could toss it out to the women! I sometimes wonder if he really was throwing lines or if it was the real him just saying what he thought. Most of the time I think it was just what came to his mind and he said it. wjh

Starla reminded me of the photo Elvis sent that I had for quite a while-until our van was stolen and the box and album full of pictures w/negatives we were taking to the publisher in late 77 and all of those things were "gone like the wind" as the van was being stripped when the police found it in E. Los Angeles a few hours later in the wee hours of the morning. Nothing was left of our Elvis photos except the rolled up poster of him in the army outfit from GI Blues standing on the fake mountain top.
Great poster! Anyway he sent me an 8 x 10 publicity photo of himself with two holsters criss crossed about his hips, he was dressed as Pacer-this picture was not used that I know of as he didn't wear double holsters in the film-just a single one but was in the same outfit, tan pants etc:... he wasn't wearing a hat, his hair was perfect of course, and he was standing feet apart looking tough with a gun in his right hand having drawn down on someone apparently. On the photo he had written, "Bang-got ya!" This was a few weeks after the conversation about "I got guns!" ( scrowl back a few posts) I had two photos that I really liked-that was one of them, the other was him in a bathing suit riding a surf board on a fake wave and he had signed it in red ink. I liked that one because he walked by where I was working at MGM and layed it on my desk picture down and said not to look at it until he was gone as it was a 'dirty' picture of him. Well, he wasn't out of sight yet as I turned it over immediately and smeared the ink a bit. He looked back around the door at me with a big grin, winked then went on out. Some joke! Anyway, I lost both of those pictures in the theft along with alot of others that were not replacable because he was gone.
We learned the hard way, never take anything with you that is not something you can replace-and especially don't leave anything anywhere even if you have to carry it all with you. So things don't go far anymore. It was a very hard lesson and really hurt alot at the time.
Nothing is forever...he'd say, so love it while you can and don't get too attached to things-they disappear even people. I didn't understand that well when he spoke like that-but after that fateful day we lost him, it sure did make sense-then some precious "things" went too. Lesson learned. I am glad we can still remember most of everything-lately I've come to appreciate having the few brain cells I've got!
_________________
Seeks to encourage and inspire!

Rainbow Light

Quote:

W. I don't know about that! That body looks pretty darn good up there on stage-the face ain't bad either!
E. Yeah...thank you honey. I try to look good as I can-you know, it's not easy. Spend six hours ever day standin' in front of a-a mirror tellin' myself...(uses best Elvis voice) "Look good, boy! Look good, now!" An' it takes me so damn long to get made up, ya know. What's really hard is coverin' this...third eye-I wonder if surgery would help?
W. Third eye...
E. Yeah-in the middle of my forehead-it's huge, purple an' red' 'n got this ugly orange pupil. Man, fillin' IT with make up is a drag!
W. Oh, good grief-one of THOSE moods-huh? Silly Elvis? That's what we have to look forward to tonight?
E. (Laughs) Well, anyway-don't know why I'm lookin' as well as I do-but thank God for it! It'd be hell to be UGLY and be HIM!
W. It sure would! Thank heaven you are overbearingly handsome.
E. Now watch it kid-don't go getin' fisty, have to cut you down a peg or two... Got my hair cut an' dyed today-it's kinda short. We styled it different first, then I wanted it the same, so by the time it g rows out again, we'll be done here! (Laughs)
W. Ahhhh Priscilla won't like that...
E. I know, she likes it longer. It'll grow out some before I see her though. You know she got her orange belt last week-she's so cute in her little gi and doin' the routines. Man, could just squeeze her to death! An she loves it-just loves it too. I told her she'd enjoy it, if she'd try. It's somethin' we can do together. (Very pleased tone of voice, speakings lovingly, sincerely)
W. That's good, you spend so much time on karate...
E. Yeah-she's goin' to classes four times a week 'n trials on weekends, so she's busy. I'm glad, 'cause she doesn't spend so much time worryin' bout what I'm doin'...or not doin.... Man, that's a-a relief!
W. I'll bet. you just make sure you don't forget she's not watching you and be tempted past your limit, boy! She'll be able to really kill you now!
E. Don't I know it! (snickers) She'll clobber me! Not a chance I'll be tempted past my limit! I'm too damn scared of her! Man, she might be little but she's got a nasty temper. You know, Lisa is so cute, she stomps her foot an' shakes her finger at me...just like her momma. Man, she so cute! Love to make her angry jus' to see her do that- she's just a real little dolly. Goddd, I can't wait to see that kid! Seems like a year...'n it hasn't been but a couple weeks!
W. Do you call her Elvis?
E. Ever day-sometimes two or three times. She's a real talker-blabs ever thing. Cilla can't have a secret-if Lisa knows, she'll tell me 'n ruin her surprise! I love it-it's so funny when she does that. Cilla says she ought to let Lisa stay with me, then she'd know ever thing I did-in detail! Lisa don't miss a trick...'n the kid's got super-sonic ears! Man, she can hear a whisper in the next room! I got good hearin' too, you know, guess she inherited it or somethin'...me 'n her can talk real soft 'n Cilla can't hear what we're sayin'...bugs her! (Laughs)
W. She sounds like a really cute kid...
E. You know it-she is! Oh sh.... I got to eat somethin' so I can get ready-time flies man. See ya out there honey, sittin' close?
W. If we can...I think we'll be pretty close.
E. Okay, doin' it jus' for you all tonight, friendly faces-
like that. Gonna surprise you all...so watch out!
W. Oh-a threat....okay, we'll be watching. see ya. bye.

(This was the night he practically knelt on our table and did that upper body shimmy and got such a kick out of doing it. At least one lady squealed-not me-I laughed.)
_________________
Wanda June Hill
author of "We Remember, Elvis" & "Elvis - Face to Face"[/quote]

He was like a little kid, he wanted to keep the secret but he just couldn't at times, avoid giving it away...the most secretive thing he ever kept where I was concerned was when he was having that ring made and it was going to be late for my birthday and he so wanted to say something and almost gave it away-but he managed to avoid it by teasing about making me wait so he could "light my fire"...on the 4th of July. It was pretty easy to get him to talk---and as I said, it was the kid in him, just busting and hardly able to wait! I think he did manage to keep a birthday party or two from Cilla and usually he'd find out anything planned for him also-even sneaking around to find out what someone bought him for Christmas-the kid again. He knew the "hiding place" and was so tickled he found out! I have to say that Elvis was more of a child most of the time than he was an adult-though he could be adult when the time called for it, but mostly he went through life playing games, laughing and being as childish as possible when he could get away with it. That was such a big part of his personality too, very dear part of it. He got his feelings hurt many times because of that childish faith and trust too. And he forgave much like a child will as well. Part of that conversation sounds like another that I think I posted a while back where he's talking about Cilla and her Karate training...but he was proud and pleased and it was at that time she was getting into it alot and on his mind I guess.
As far as being close, we were lucky because one of the people we knew also knew the guy in charge of seating and we all went together and tipped big to get a front side table. Not real to the side but on the right facing the stage. They were filming that night too, and in the original release video of THWIS Elvis does that shimmy right in front of our table, and when he raised his head slightly to look at the results of his efforts, he was about to bust up with glee to have done that in front of us...It was funny, the lady who had the in with the seating, squealed and he looked at her, then at me and what a tickled look in those eyes. Another time when we were at a table but not right at the stage edge, at the far end of the table, he put one foot on the table and bent his knees and did some pelvic thrusts and just about made the ladies there attack him-he back off quickly and one had him by the long belt ties-he said off mike , "Honey, you're gonna undress me---here?" and winked at her
and I swear she practically fainted and slid under the table. It was funny and he backed up laughing. He just loved being Elvis...you bet he did!wjh

It's not on the one you gave me, and I haven't seen any thing of any new ones out in probably 24 years-I'm way behind. That dvd is the only one I have or my daughter has-we have some things taped off tv-but none of the things that have come out on dvd. Sad but true-going to remedy that soon as possible! Right now I can't recall the song! Tommorow I will find the tape and watch it again-my daughter has it somewhere, I'm sure. wjh

Hi, I posted on another place ? but will do it here since this is where it was mentioned. The shimmie that he did on the right side of the stage (facing it) in front of our table is on a bootleg (8 track) that was made by some guy (professional) who was filming things on the sly-as they were filming the scenes used for the movie, he got some very good footage since the lighting was up. My daughter told me the scene I was looking for was on it and not the original movie. So wrong again! 30 plus years is quite a long span and yet I recall that night so clearly right now-I sure hope I don't lose my last 2 brain cells- I guess though, if you can't remember, you don't know what you forgot? I hope it works that way since I have friends who are not able to remember much most of the time. Thats why I redid the book-(s) while I still do have some recall and my daughter can prompt up some other things that is still "in there" but not showing up fast enough. I never realized how much a computer IS like the human brain in so many ways! Amazing that anyone could make something work that way. wjh

Hi, I am not certain if it was that same one-but that's the one he did the shimmy thing at the end on several occasions-it might have been but I really do not remember - all I recall is that look on his face when he rasied his head a bit and looked at me with that pleased smirk on his face, then the lady squealed at about the same time-others did also, but she was right on him almost-he was just out of reach-except she grabbed the ties of his belt before he could "escape" cleanly. He stopped fast, gave her that look he could get so easily and asked her "the" question-I swear she nearly slid under the table! I was so funny...women everywhere about to crawl over all the chairs, people and tables to reach him but he managed to slip away quickly...I don't know what he said to the drummer and James but he made some comment that cracked them up too. It most likely wasn't "clean" knowing him and his sense of what was funny-wjh

(Re: THE SHIMMY SONG)

Barb, that's pretty close to it! The other thing he'd do is that look and then just barely bite his lip then grin and usually he'd wink at whoever too. He could turn it on and he always had reaction from whomever he was playing with. I loved to watch him because he had such fun, and he knew darn well what he was doing and how to elicit more from the audience. I have to say not only was he a master showman and performer-he was also a master tease! wjh

I wish I had a picture of him performing with his foot on our table! We had one taken of all us by the photo girl but he hadn't come on yet. And the bootleg tape is not ours- we aren't in it except for heads-mostly the back of our heads too! He's in it though-it's on beta of course!
All our stuff is on beta that we had when he was alive-and right after when all the bootleg stuff started coming out-this one guy had sooo much stuff he'd filmed in Vegas, Tahoe and on tour as well-he sold it of course, and we had some of it. Still do-I have to get that darn beta fixed! Starla remembers it as not being good quality but I recall seeing it-of course that was on big screen at the pizza palor where we'd all got to watch films of him and etc;...it looked pretty good on a big screen-that's also where we saw the aura's of his and the guys on stage-how they'd leap from his hand to them if he came up and touched or reached out to get a scarf. That was erie to say the least and also wonderful-it wasn't good film of anything but the aura's! We have lost touch with that guy and all those people except for a few who don't know where most of the others are now either. I think the fellow with the film has gone to his reward-so have no clue as to where or what happened to his stuff. Some of it has shown up on video and probably DVDs too. Quite of abit of the bootleg things are available that way now-including his, I guess. Wjh

Re: Posted Monday December 4th 2006:
Just for the Holiday's a little fun and insight-from interview tapes not used/WR,E. talking about trying to stop biting his nails. The time he refers to is when he was about 27years old.

"Elvis: Not really...eh...one time had enough to manicure-(Snickers) had good reason to let 'em grow that time-was worth it!
Wanda: And that was....
Elvis: (Laughing) Maybe you don't wanta know.
Wanda: One of those incidents-well, just to toss you a curve-tell me!
Elvis: Oh... eh, it's not nothin' bad-jus' funnin' with you really.
Wanda: Uh-huh...
Elvis: There was this girl...at the studio when we were makin' a film for Paramount an' she was a manicurist-it was her job to make sure we all had nice lookin' hands... You know for films, 'cause ever thin' showed up big time on screen.
Wanda: So you were letting them grow so she could do your hands-I see.
Elvis: (Laughs) Guess you could...put it that way. Sure wanted her to.....do ....me, yeah.
Wanda: Watch it bud...
Elvis: (Snickers) Would 'ove... She was a good lookin' chick man, from Portugal an' she had dark hair that shone like it was laced with gold, soft brown eyes an' a smile that lit up the room...'n then man, she was jus' fine ever where else...lordy, close ma eyes an' still can seeher an' that smile. Anyway, enough of that! I let 'em grow to get a date-she wouldn't date none of us-no body in the business you know. Not one actor for sure she said. I was doin' ever thing I couuld to get her to-to give me a chance. But she wouldn't do nothin' but make sure my hands were okay-that nothin' showed up you know, doin' Karate an' stuff I'd get marks and such an' sometimes my nails would be bruised an' all that. She was all the time gettin' on me for bein' so rough on my hands-said I had such nice hands, masculine but delicate an' sensitive an' once she said I had healin' hands and she put my hand over her heart. Liked to died man, that was a big deal with her-nobody ever had her do nothin' like that before...none of the guys, ya know...(Laughs).
Wanda: So who did you make a bet with-half the studio?
Elvis: What...no, didn't, not that time. (Laughs) But they were all waitin' to see if I had what it takes.
Wanda: And?
Elvis: Well, she was on her way to her car an' I followed her out to talk see, an' she was talkin' real nice with me an' I asked her out an' she kind of smiled and said somethin' 'bout me singin' to her. So I sang Love Me Tender...an' when I got to the part about makin' all my dreams come true, she come up real close an' put her arms around me for a hug, an' then whispered if I'd s top bitin' my nails an' she could file 'em she'd think about makin' all my dreams come true. Lord, she was...was so soft- in all the right places...lordy, lordy. So I let 'em grow out...jus told ma self ever time started to chew on 'em ...think of how it felt huggin' her-an it worked!
Wanda: Good grief, I might have known!
Elvis: We went out-well, she came over to the house, an' we had dinner an' watched a couple movies an' it was Christmas nearly an' she was goin' home for that. We sat outside an' watched the lights comin' on down in town ya know, an looked at the stars-she knew 'em all too. So we talked almost until time to go to work an' she went home. (Big sigh)
Wanda: That was it huh?
Elvis: Yeah...she got married a couple months later to some guy she met from her country-had known him for years. 17 years older'n her too- Gawd...what a difference...in ages, I mean. Looked like he was her daddy! But can't tell about love...'n she loved him she said, so can't fault her for that. I tried to change her mind but she wouldn't budge,so guess it was a good thing. Last I heard, they still were together back in Portugal. Lord! Story of my life-let'n the good ones get away..." _________________
Wanda June Hill
author of "We Remember, Elvis" & "Elvis - Face to Face

More about Elvis' nails!
He didn't chew them off so much when he was with Linda either-there were some times he actually had a bit of nail on both hands! I think as he got older he kind of got a handle on it some-though the last time I saw him, he didn't have any left but he had a bruised fingernail and a black spot on his thumb nail- one would think he had been a carpenter or something! he also had scratches in various stages of healing on both hands up to where his sleeves protected his wrists. He had been on tour of course, and just couldn't keep from reaching out to people where they could reach him. He said, sometimes he just felt that he "had to touch them". I sure have enjoyed the Aloha DVD and am going to watch the last part of the second one tonight...like now! wjh
_________________
Seeks to encourage and inspire!

Last edited by Rainbow Light on Sun Jun 03, 2007 3:27 pm; edited 7 times in total

Rainbow Light

I have been going through the old StarWriter machine before junking it and found a few short things-here's part of one-done with the horrible/ungainly stick on thing and I had typed it on the StarWriter from my hand written transcribed copy some years later when trying to save things from the mice that were everywhere in Winchester where we lived-he was starting to be more open/himself and not so "prim and proper" and I had asked him if I could tape the call so my grandmother could hear him-she was coming from Missouri to visit. He said sure-and said if I'm working, maybe she would like to come up?. He was such a nice guy-like she said later, once in lifetime one like him comes along. So glad it was our lifetime. I agree.]

Quote:

E. Yeah...I'll keep it clean. (Snicker)
W. When don't you?
E. Gimme time...(Snicker)
W. So...the real you hasn't shown it's self ..yet?
E. (Laughs) I'm all there is...right here baby.
W. I bet you are...so what are you doing now?
E. Talkin' to you.
W. I meant at work!
E. (Snicker) Eh...today got to have pictures took-eh-taken - stills...un...eh...that's a drag man, hate it! Gawd!
W. Don't forget to send a few to me-please.
E. Yeah-takes forever, borin' as hell...an' changing clothes all the time, make up an' all that. Need inspiration - ever thought bout how it'd be havin' to pose an' get expressions on your face for hours? Gawd!
W. It wouldn't be fun-I hate having my picture taken anyway.
E. Me TOO! Hate it man!
W. I shouldn't think that! I mean, you're so photogentic and never take a bad picture!
E. Yeah-should see the ones they toss...
W. Toss them this way!
E. So...you like how I look? (I remember him using that "personal" tone of voice on that line.)
W. Better than some-
E. What about me?
W. What about you?
E. Tha's what I said.
W. Explain the question.
E. (Snicker) Am I sexy to you?
W. No-but you are very cute.
E. Cute! Damn! What-explain it to me!
W. Oh for pete's sake!
E. I'm not Pete-what about me you don't like?
W. Your ridiculesly overblown male ego-mainly.
E. Mainly? (Laughs) Ridiculesly-is that a word?
W. I think so-it fit!\
E. You think I am-but you don't want to say it-uh-huh?
It's what you think-right now-heard you think it.
W. You must have faulty hearing.
E. Got exceptional hearing. Army said way off the normal hearin' range. I heard it!
W. You believe the army-you are naive!
E. Why you arguin' wit me? Wha'd I do?
W. Not a thing.
E. Gawd-jus' like a female! (Mumbles to himself saying "want to know damn it)
W. Since it's so important-I think you are very good looking, have stunning eyes and hair. You have a good looking body since I'm not into body builder types-and you have a great voice. Good enough?
E. And I'm sexy lookin'. (snickers)
W. A little of that too-now, are you happy?
E. (Laughs) Lord! Lord! Did it hurt?
W. No-boy are you insecure! Why is that?
E. No I'm not.
W. Yes you are-why is that?
E. No I'm not. (Sullen)
W. Okay-forget it. What else is in store for today?
E. Do I-really?
W. Are you kidding?
E. Yea-just puttin' you on, really.
W. You have to know you're handsome-just look in the mirror!
E. Do you know you're pretty?
W. Depends on what I've been doing.
E. No-answer me!
W. I'm not beautiful-just average and sometimes very unatractive-normal-all right?
E. You're very pretty-a natural beauty.
W. Bet you say that to all the women.
E. [Laughs] No-no don't, only some of 'em.
W. Yeah-right!
E. Really-don't have to-women just come on to me 'n I jus' take it. (snickers)
W. Really-heard different stories.
E. Truth is right here-wit me-no kiddin'. I think you are pretty-inside- an' outside ain't bad baby. Okay now?
W. Thank you, but I was always "okay". You are the insecure one here.
E. Yeah, am. I admit it. Don't know why tho-
W. Me either! I can't see why you feel that way-after all you are Elvis and a star. But I know that you have some doubts at times.
E. It could all be gone-tomorrow.
W. Not likely!
E. Hope not lordy, ya know...movies are- are not doin' well as before. Things dropped off 'n they want to have more guarantees n' stuff like that. Goin' to have less time for 'em, Tom said just cut the hours down an it'd even it some. An' usin' doubles for me much as can be like back scenes and so forth.
W. Well, maybe you need to do more records.
E. Think so-last one didn't get very high-charts you know.
W. Really. I think your gospels are great-maybe you could do another one of them?
E. Yeah-
W. I wouldn't worry-
E. Got chewed out man. Jus' cause the f.... eh, excuse me, sorry. Film didn't do as well as expected -they were pretty unhappy. Oh lord, why can't somethin' happen -come along that-that...to-to get-get- (hear him swallow and then a big heaving sigh)
W. You out of them? How many more?
E. Seven or so...a lifetime...
W. It'll go by fast...you know it does... (end of it) I don't remember which film was up next-but he wasn't looking forward to doing it at all. It was one of the fast made ones...a string of those were done.)

_________________
Seeks to encourage and inspire!

Rainbow Light

This is a snippet of conversation from way back there-

Rainbow Light · Last edited by Rainbow Light on Thu Jun 07, 2007 5:43 am; edited 1 time in total

steps
Well, Lisa has it all-they as "members of the family" got little in comparison and they did "grow up" as his "brothers" even though daddy did divorce momma and apparently for good reasons, mainly money spent behing his back (daddy's) and I guess they feel cheated or that they ought to have received more for their 17 years of "devotion" and etc: but that wasn't for Elvis to decide-or else he chose not to decide-whatever, he left it to his child, his exwife (wife in his heart) and his daddy and his family. After all, that's what the man of the house would do- and his father had already given the exwife of his quite a big settlement and money every month which came from Elvis too, as his father was getting money for "working" for his son...the business of Elvis Presley, Inc. etc:. Which Elvis said was "a carnival, complete with "rides", glitter and hype". And he was the biggest "freak attraction" there." He liked that song about "all the horses are packed up in boxes and gone, all the glitter, and rides are moving along" But don't be sad, because I won't be gone long, I'm comin' back".
I can't think of the name of it but I thought of what he said the minute I heard it for the first time right after it was released. He found one that said it for him! And then he did Fairytale and that one was the story of his life, he said-one big fairytale. And really, it is, really...he said. If you have the LP or CD or cassette of him talking back when he was on the movie set, he's talking so softly, normally, and everything seems to end in really,
I love listening to that-it was so being himself, though he was trying to speak properly and be "educated sounding" as he worried that people would think he was dumb-because they did when he first began, he was ridiculed for sounding "black" for talking like a "hick" and for being "dumb"-he wasn't dumb-he was innocent, he just didn't know how to deal in the big bad world but he learned quickly and sheilded himself from as much as he could. It is so stupid when people like that one that did the playboy interview/story thing back a while said those disgusting things and that Elvis was such a sex machine-
he would have been too embarrassed to do those things-figments of her imagination for sure. I can't see him EVER being that outrageous-even privately though he might have been then-but only if he knew whomever wouldn't tell-then he'd have worried enough he would have toned it all down. Nope, not the guy I knew who would blush! At 31 years old! And as far as other stories, well, it makes good "copy" and sells. so be it. I think most people will find the Stanley book and movie to be a crock-and after all, hasn't it all been down the road several times already? It's just ironic that it's coming out now-when so many good books are being done and coming out- I hope with all of them, including mine, we can do something good for his memory for the people who will come along years to come. At least there will be something else to counter-just like when the first one came out and the that goldman crap came out about the same time. David implies that Elvis did it on purpose-overdosed-so he wouldn't have to face the truth-that's crap. He wouldn't have left his baby girl to face that kind of stuff-he was living for her, he said so.
And he wasn't a quitter-he would fight back and had cleaned himself up as far as he could, sleeping pills, etc: when I saw him in December, 76 he had not slept, he had not taken any sleeping pills, he was dead tired and he was on his way to see doctors-they didn't give him good news-and he didn't expect them to-but everyone hopes, wants to try, he was no different. He was lucid and able to converse very well, in depth, carefully and with patience, understanding for so many and he said things he normally would not-because he thought it might be his last chance- That's what I believe-he wanted me to know the truth-he had always been truthful with what he told me-unless he was protecting someone else. He never lied, not to save himself. His family said the same things, so did Charlie-it's almost like Davey waited for that-so no one would deny it-after all, Charlie was living there, he was almost always there, he would know...the others didn't live there-Please God, let some of them who were, speak up. now is the time. wjh

Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2006 1:32 am Post subject: Movie/D. Stanley

Hi, don't think it will ever be anything. He was promoting and saying whatever to get attention for it and to make it "sell". I hardly think it will be seen by many-and it may well just be a "made for tv" movie and will have to go up for sale to the stations- I doubt it gets much attention if it makes to tv. And if it goes to movie houses-practically none, most likely. Except for those who love seeing and hearing dirt, always will be those.
Elvis always said any publicity is good publicity-but it still hurt him though he'd laugh about it and try to joke it off.
David seemed to be contradicting himself quite a bit-and it's the only thing he has to sell left over from those days. There are good ones out now-Kathy's book is still available, Larry's, and all the good comments from his band members, back up singers and people he worked with on films-everyone is speaking out more now-it's funny how that happens...someone comes out with wild tales and other people step up and counter it. Thank heaven for that! I wonder how many will come out and trash my book this time-happened before-I expect it to again. And as he said, "any publicity is good..." makes people want to know more I guess. I had trouble not making him sound "too nice" because most of what I saw from him was nice-it was the guys who were the "dogs" and boy, were they ever! No wonder Elvis tried to keep them up in his suite singing- the mouth can't get you in trouble, he said, when it's busy praising the Lord!" Right on there...wjh

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Reasons to avoid her (Dee Stanley)

I probably could regret this, but she had barely moved into his house when she attempted to tempt him-saying there was enough of her for both of them- And this in the wee hours of the night, in his kitchen where he was sitting having a sandwich and she came down in a thin nighty and made the big mistake of thinking being "him" he would be interested. As she lay on the floor where he let her fall, she was told in pricise laungage I'm sure-to get lost...and if she saw him coming, to get the hell out of his sight. He didn't go home much for quite a while-he didn't tell on her, and just waited for him to figure it out on his own-which he did when he discovered her interest in a younger man-a singer with ambitions and money "dissapearing" too often. I believe that guy was around for quite a while-kind of like the impersonator that was on the scene after 8/16/77 ? ? ?
Anyway there was no "motherly love" involved and no more money coming her way ever again. The "kids" were different-they stayed on when she left-left her for him sort of and there was much heated words and hate for that "disloyalty to mother" business...but I don't know much about it-and all I ever heard was of the "tempting" routine in the kitchen. He didn't finish his sandwich or coffee either-nor did he help her up. There were several years that he was just coridual with his dad over the whole situation-he missed him but he wouldn't give in one iota. And stayed away as much as he could
except for holidays and birthdays etc: - after the ashes fell and the flames were out, he was glad to have his father back, they talked a lot and he said he had to "learn how to handle him" just as his mom had done and once he did and had it down good as he put it, they were fine and enjoyed each other's company. And that's all I can say about any of that- But what she came up with was a crock of you know what and she must of been taking too many valiums at the time she said it. Anything for a buck though...it seems that way with many of those people. wjh

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Re: Vernon

Hi, Elvis loved his father. He gave him his respect and he was understanding of where his dad came from-poverty more severe than Elvis experienced as a kid and that was bad enough. I have heard that Vernon had a temper that came out if he had been drinking- many people drink when they have problems-and too, he had injured his back doing as Elvis said, "work way to hard for him" and alcohol can deaden pain and other things as well. His dad quit drinking and as Elvis said, things were better then. Too, his dad served time in jail for forging a check by a few dollars when he felt he had been cheated and probably was, by the man he worked for and who ended up owning the house Vernon had built for him and Gladys-there was still money owed on it I guess when he went to jail. Anyway, Elvis loved him, but he was closer to his mother and didn't have that same kind of closness with his dad. His dad was strict-so was his mom and young Elvis learned that he must respect and obey them early. He never had anything bad to say about his father-just the opposite and of course his mother was an angel, living one at that...in his memory that was all that counted. Elvis said that he was "just like any young boy, onery and sneaking out when he could to do things he knew he'd get in trouble for-and he said "I did- often enough to know better and quit ...gettin' caught!" He did say that he had more "whippings" from his dad than he did his mother... she would put him in the closet and make him sit in there in the dark-that was enough he said, to make him "toe the line" most of the time. Elvis had his lower lip split and his front upper teeth-or one of them-chipped and I think it was due to "punishment" for "talking back" to his father or his mother- I think it was his dad that did it-but I'm not swearing to that as factual. Whatever, he had them capped when he became "popular"-I think it was Sam Phillips or someone involved with Sun Records that had Elvis' teeth capped so he'd look good smiling.
Who ever, a big hug to him-them as that smile was something!
I think Elvis meant that he had to learn more about his dad and how to get along with him since he was looking after Elvis' money instead of his mom doing it. Vernon was always there for Elvis afterward-except during the time he was married to Dee - that caused some discord but Elvis was always one to leave the scene rather than "fuss over it". He wanted peace and quiet and understanding above all in the family.
I met Vernon in Vegas, he was very nice, laughed and asked questions kind of like Elvis did-about our family, what kind of work, how often we had come to Vegas and he laughed over a comment I made about Elvis but in a round about way. We did not talk to Vernon about Elvis or ask him anything and I think he appreciated it. He had breakfast with us-coffee and toast anyway-it was 1969 and then we talked with him in 1970 briefly and he didn't remember us-I could tell that. He did not ave his son's memory for things-that was certain. By then he was wearing nicer clothes, a mustache and had his nails manicured and polished-his wife Dee was getting her hair done and he was playing the dollar slots just as he always did when in Vegas. He'd win, then try another one and usually won there too. Not big money, but he was putting in lots of silver dollars! He didn't like the hours his son kept and tried to sleep nights. His comment was about "not much for keeping owl hours."
Thank God Vernon didn't die before Elvis-I don't think Elvis could have handled losing his father-it scared him very much when his dad was ill and it was his heart. I think Elvis must have stayed awake for more than a week over that-and then was sick himself worrying over his father. wjh

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Re: Grandma Dodger
Yeah, he told a few things about his grandma- in the interview he said she told him "to stop mooning over something that was out of reach" when he was blue over the fact Pris was in Germany, he was in the US and he was depressed because he couldn't see her and she was so young. He said she (grandma) "clipped" him with her cane when she was wanting to "make a point".
And he'd snap back into reality pretty quickly then. He also must have told her about me and my family because one Christmas when we got a present from him there were hand crocheted little squares about 4 by 4 inches with different colored pansy flowers on them-they were like little potholders but way to pretty for that! And she had made them, gave them to him to give to us! I was surprised and sent her a thank you card and got back a little note-typed-that thanked ME for loving her grandson enough to "put up with him"... I haven't thought about that in years! I have the little potholders still and never used them other than I used to have a big kitchen and they were displayed on a wall with other framed flower pictures. When he first brought Priscilla as a young teenager, to meet her, and after Pris was gone back home to Germany-she was visiting- his grandmother told him not to marry her, she "would break my heart". And he told me this after they married and expecting the baby and he was the happiest he'd ever been and laughed about that dire warning. He said his grandma was something of a "witch" and could do "things" and told things-foretold things-that sometimes happened. He said she could read cards and made "predictions" that often came true-or true enough, he added, to make a person think she could foresee the future. He joked about it-but I think he probably thought of it often later when his heart was broken. I'm glad she outlived him also-that would have broken his "shield" pretty good too.
he said he carried a "big shield to protect me from the slings and arrows" that were thrown at him by the"world and all it's many rock throwers". He didn't often talk about his relatives who lived with him-and if he did, it was either funny, sad or unusual. His Aunt Delta was a real card-apparently- and he had to go down there and get her because he didn't want her living alone-and she had a dog that he didn't like much because it wasn't housebroken too well and liked to chew things...and it didn't like anyone but her and Lisa according to something I read somewhere. Elvis liked to jump at it and make it bark at him, or so the article said. I think it was some movie magazine-so that probably was fabrication-who knows. He didn't tell me he did that-but knowing him, he probably would have if the dog reacted that way. His grandma didn't like the bird that talked-screamed and carried on and knew some "choice words and phrases" that I'll just bet Elvis taught it to say! wjh

More on Grandma!:

Hi, it was a real surprise to me when we got the gift and card too. It had to be that she knew about Elvis' friends and the only way would have been had he told her something about it. That's the only time that I can say for sure any one knew-and it really freaked us out after his death to think he didn't say anything-or if he did, no one was going to say so for whatever their reasons were. Just haven't any way to know now, and besides that, it didn't really matter to us-but it was nice of her to want to send something. I used to know when her birthday was and sent her a card for several years after Elvis left us. I guess she got them-never heard another word from there. Except for the one time I tried speaking with Vernon-I wanted to send him something from his son, but he was so worried about money and legal issues he wasn't himself, it seemed. So I just sent him a copy of our book and after several months, we got the letter from him and that was all the communication I ever had with anyone from there. Except for a letter from lawyers who let me know Elvis' voice was "owned" and couldn't be "used" without
paying big money... and by how many seconds... not even minutes! wjh.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Graceland Inc .
Yeah, sometimes it seems that money is the root of all evil--- I hope too, they don't mess with Graceland! I heard today, that the Ambassador of China came and went through Graceland-with his bunch of security etc; and that he did the tour of the house-but I don't know about the rest- I remember something about that man saying something about he wanted to go some time back when he was being interviewed on the news. So he finally did it. Pretty nifty considering they wouldn't allow any Elvis records in their country for the duration of his career- and now! I sent 2 or 3 WR.E's into that area but had to have a way around postal address to get it to the people-but from China, they ordered! And they risked alot just going to the country where they could get one and then had to smuggle it back! Amazing. Also sent 2 to Russian people and I think one went into another country that I can't recall also one that did not allow his music etc: into it. Arabia-that was it-how could I forget that! I have Arabian horses! Oh well, slept since then! As far as lawyers, they don't really do anything but scare tactics although I fully understand about the tapes-if it were me, and I didn't know what the person was like or what they had, I would want to know before I allowed use of anything. In this case, I did send them to him, what he did with them, I have no clue-but until they show up or whatever, I will keep my word and they will not be released by anyone but his family.
I can live with that... So far the written word has not been claimed and I don't think it can be...that probably is why nothing was done or will be done this time-the courts rulled the written word is public and only if there are slanderous etc: and evil intent is it possible to do something through the courts- But it's a hassal and very expensive to do, I guess. I could have sued some people when the first one came out, my lawyer was willing to go the distance but it wasn't worth it to me-people have the right to think and say what they think and it didn't hurt me, cost me anythng or even make me angry- since I expected it-I wasn't surprised or upset-just felt sorry for them actually. Maybe I learned that from Elvis- to look with understanding and sympathy on other people when in their iggnorence they offend, critize and vilify what they don't know or understand. that's not his exact wording but most of it is- I wouldn't have even considered "vilify" but he used it! He liked new words- and would throw them in now and then- sometimes I had to hunt to find them in the dictionary. wjh

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
_________________
Seeks to encourage and inspire!

Rainbow Light · Posted: Thu May 31, 2007 8:15 am Post subject: Choices

Elvis chose his path when he began to study, search and look for answers to the many questions he had and felt a need to know. He didn't find the answers to all his questions, he didn't fully understand the "why me" aspect of his quest, but he did understand that God had touched him, given him special gifts and talents and that he had to share this with the world. He had to. And he got great satisfaction and personal joy from performing his task, sharing his gifts and the money that came from using them. He gave more than half of everything he earned away, and that's only what we think we know he gave away. There was so much more that no one knows about-other than Elvis and he'd give and then move on to give to some one else...and never bragged and often didn't even mention his good deeds..in fact he swore people to secrecy and begged the press when they might have found out, don't tell please and most of the press people who knew him, respected his wishes...it was only later, when things began to turn nasty and mean in the media and there was a hunger for such in the public domain as well, did Elvis feel that his 'feet were bein' held to the fire' at times and he didn't understand why they said those things about him. That he was "grossly fat in 73"!!!! He was not a "rail" but he certainly was not the least fat much less grossly so! He looked good in that light blue suit, he looked great in Aloha but the meda said he was "fat" and "drugged" and "drunk" as well! Where were they sitting? Perhaps their own big noses and heavy jowls blocked their view?

The gist to my story is that we have to choose our path, our spiritual path and then follow it, it's okay to have a few pauses and be off a few steps to check other things out because usually when we do, we feel greater spiritual connections to God and our fellow human beings when we come back to that path with new knowledge and forthought. We have free choice, God gave us that when he made Adam and Eve and provided them the "tree of knowledge"-they could be children all their lives or they could choose "free will" -we all know they chose to be free willed and therefore, free to love God, worship in the way they needed to and follow the path of righteousness and understanding of all. wjh

Well put Laurie, I agree that's the way things have become since the "Garden of Eden"...instead of choosing to allow God to give us those gifts and abilities, "we" chose to "do it ourselves for gain and glory". As for Elvis choosing to hook up with the Col. he had so many telling him to do it, so many things happening with his career, it was so out of hand, out of his realm of reasoning, he didn't have a choice right then and he needed help so he took the hand that was held out to him. His mother might have sensed the outcome, but loving him as she did, she signed and let her baby go to make him happy.
She worried, she sent his cousin to look after him, and Elvis called her so she could "sleep" etc: and when she died, he said he "killed her" because he "didn't see, didn't understand", was too full of his own selfworth and had such a "big head going, so stuck on" himself as he put it, that he failed to take care of her, so busy getting things, wants he failed to provide the needs and care she needed emotionally. She worried her self to death over him; he never got over thinking that way...it bothered him, deep inside he felt so guilty and said he was not a good son, he should have known, should have listened and seen that she was worrying herself to death. I think she sensed his future, saw what they were doing to her little boy, burning him up, inside out and then he was taken away, even further going overseas and she would not be able to see him, take care of him and she feared he would be killed or hurt over there. To her that was like another planet-it was bad enough he was in Hollywood but he brought her with him then, she was there to look after him but the army, she would never be able to do anything-they owned him. I think he was right that she worried herself to death, but I do not think it was that he was indifferent-I think she was good at hiding it from him. Like a loving mother would. wjh
_________________
Seeks to encourage and inspire!

Rainbow Light · Posted: Thu May 31, 2007 8:25 am Post subject: Rainbows, why?

Elvis was coping with being "shut in" because it had been raining in Memphis for several days and nights-he was holded up in his room watching television and at our house there was a rainbow (California). He asked if I knew why we have rainbows, not the scientific reason but the Holy reason. When I said no, he said this: