Elvis - A Lighted Candle

[Wanda June Hill]

It was nearly three years before I got to see Elvis again in the beautifully redecorated Imperial Suite and the change in him was dramatic. Linda Thompson was staying with him and had been for a while and Elvis was very fond of her. She was good for him, made him laugh and shared several of his interests, including those of a spiritual nature.

This time we went as a group, Jimmie, his brother-in-law Bob and Jimmie's sister Joa, their three grown kids, Karin, Jimmy Ray and Bobby and his wife Nancy, myself and Juliann and a couple other friends made up a pretty big group! Elvis knew we were coming, we were seated at a long table just behind the last row of booths that was asigned to our group. Elvis said that was the best view of the stage, level and a clean view over everyone's heads seated on the levels below us. We were treated very special, a waiter hovered nearby, serving everyone for the entire show. We didn't know until much later that the waiter was there just to serve us! Juliann sat next to the rail and once she got hold of the opera glasses from me, she watched the entire show through them-looking at "Uncle Elvis"! It was funny.

After that show we hung out in the lobby and Jimmie and Bob went to play roulette and toss some dice around. Bob had diabetes and Jimmie ended up taking him to the men's room where Bob immediately fainted and was laying on the floor. Jerry Lee Lewis came in, asked what happened, thought Bob was drunk at first, but Jimmie explained, "No, he has blood sugar problems". Jerry Lee had his body guard call for the doctor and help came immediately. Bob came around with their help and Jimmie took him up stairs. Jimmie did get to spend a little time talking with Jerry Lee and said he was very gracious, wanted to be helpful and would have taken Bob to the hospital in his car had he needed to go; poor Bob could barely recall having met Jerry Lee and he was one of his favorites!
Bob wanted to go home so Joa went along and Jimmie drove them back to Orange County; I stayed with other friends who had driven over with us and then drove them all home. Juliann went with home with her dad because we were told we couldn't get seats for the Midnight show and she was bored waiting around for us.
As luck had it we did get twp seats-in the balcony! What a great view that was! There were several celebrities in the audience, one being Judy Garland's daughter Liza "with a Z"who had a couple of booths in front for her party. What a noisy group they were. Elvis usually introduced guests if he knew they were out there but he didn't say a word about her being there; he might not have known as they were seated after the show began. He was in fine voice and cutting up quite a bit with the band and the people seated at stage level.

After the show my lady friend and I waited to try to catch my conspirator musician friend who was glad to see her, they got along well. He was charming as we went up to the Penthouse floor and joined an alaready pretty large group of people waiting for Elvis. We left for a few minutes just to run down to our rooms and on the way back up had the dubious pleasure of riding up with singer Jimmy Dean and one of his guards. Mr. Dean was drunk, tried to make passes at me and then was ogling my friend's bosom and practically drooling. He also had an awful case of the flu and coughed on both of us-five days later we both were very ill with chest congestion and high fever courtesy of Jimmy Dean, who became the "sasuage king". He is said to have stopped drinking...
I sure hope so!

When Elvis arrived he was angry, there had been some disturbance which involved another male celebrity (Robert Conrad), a friend of Elvis' who had been drinking and from what was being whispered around the room, had made comments in the dressing room downstairs that Elvis felt was disrespectful as Linda was present; he had angrily stated his feelings on the matter while his nervous men stood by. Elvis said a few brutally abrupt words to a clump of guests intimidating several of them, although he softened his voice and soothed their feelings as he relized what he had done. He spoke kindly to all saying, "Sit down-see you in a minute". He headed for the bedrooms; my friendly musician conspirator who kind of liked "bucking the tide" as he called the security guards/friends said, "Just lets sit over here and wait it out.". Elvis liked to have all the band and singers join him in his rooms for sing alongs into the wee hours of the morning-even though they'd all, including Elvis, been on stage twice and might have rehearsed during the day also; apparently "they" forgot to let my musician friend know he was included- several times and he was a bit miffied. He asked me not to mention it to Elvis, he didn't "want to make any waves within the group" since he had to work with them and travel around with them working for Elvis. He worried about Elvis, truly concerned for his well being and he didn't like most of the men "taking care of him". He thought Elvis just didn't want to start over with new people, that he preferred dealing with the problems within the group rather than change employees and have the problems that would cause on the road. He said, "Elvis is comfortable with what he knows, but he's apt to lose confidence if he doesn't know what to expect-he won't change horses in mid stream."
Suddenly Elvis came striding into the room, then abruptly headed back into his bedroom causing some people to leave in disgust. After a few minutes he came out, still in a boorish mood, but his men began joking around, trying to get him over it. One of his men, Charlie Hodge fell to his hands and knees and scooted across the floor bellowing like a bull and attacked a coat held drape like by another man. Elvis poured his drink on the crawler, the man bit him on the leg and Elvis pulled him to his feet saying, "Man, don't you know that looks sick?" Charlie playfully punched him and Elvis dodged snickering, said something dirty and then broke into giggles at his friend's response.

There were some new faces among the men who were working with Elvis, some of whom Elvis appeared to resent when they acted as if they were in charge. When asked who they were he merely growled, "security" and turned away.

Linda appeared wearing a long lounger type outfit and looking beautiful. She tried to get Elvis to eat some dinner; he declined saying, "thank you darllin', ma guts won't let me right now." He put his forehead on her stomach as she stood between his knees in front of him, with his arms around her waist. She held his head and he kissed her naval, then looked up at her and said something. She kissed him and then went to sit down.

Don Rickles, another popular for his personalized insulting comic performances had been back stage in the dressing room before the midnight show, cracking Elvis up, hammering away at Elvis' sex appeal and saying he (Rickles) could "smell the catnip on Elvis' breath" saying "it sure wasn't poke salad " and added that "trying to get through the sea of women down stairs was like paddling a canoe with a fly swatter". He also said that Elvis "didn't have to worry about the cost of heating oil because he could just pull up a few more women any time he felt a chill" and "if Elvis was a stud horse he'd be nothin' but skin and bones..".then said..."Oh, he is just skin and bones....look at those legs---" Elvis was crying tears from laughing so much...he couldn't talk for giggling and every time he almost recovered he got slammed back with some more one liners according to those who were there. I guess that is why he was in such a good mood for the Midnight show...thank you Mr. Rickles!

Word got around that everyone thought Don Rickles would be back over to visit with Elvis after his own midnight show, but one of the guys said he had called and expressed his regrets, he wouldn't be coming. Elvis was disappointed, but he understood and said another time, then. Later, downstairs some of his body guard/firends were in the cofee shop saying that Elvis "threw a fit" over it, making it seem that he was an "out of control spoiled brat" and not the gentleman we saw earlier. I guess telling those kind of stories made them "look better" or got them attention, as if the activity in those back booths with their late night conquests wasn't attention getting enough. End

From "Elvis-Face to Face" hopefully to be out by the end of 2008!

[Rainbow Light]

Many thanks, Wanda for posting these memories from the forthcoming FACE TO FACE book for us today! I would say special thanks to you, your family and Linda for being there for Elvis and also to Mr Rickles for making our boy laugh so much!

[FairyTale]

Thanks Wanda for some more of what well be in " FACE TO FACE" I can't wait! FairyTale!

[Blue Moon]

Thanks Wanda for this advanced excerpt of Face To Face!!! How fascinating to get more of an insight into what life was like for Elvis on the road between concerts. It was also refreshing to read about the kinder side of Jerry Lee Lewis, since his temper has gotten most of the press.

[MaryInTheMorning]

Many thanks, Wanda for posting these memories from the forthcoming FACE TO FACE book for us today! I would say special thanks to you, your family and Linda for being there for Elvis and also to Mr Rickles for making our boy laugh so much!

AMEN dear Sue!!! My heartfelt thanks sweet Wanda for sharing this wonderful story with us!!! Man, I can hardly wait for FACE TO FACE to come out!! It's gonna be a good one "fer sure!!"

[Rainbow Light]

My heartfelt thanks sweet Wanda for sharing this wonderful story with us!!! Man, I can hardly wait for FACE TO FACE to come out!! It's gonna be a good one "fer sure!!"

AMEN, dear Mari!! F 2 F will be a great book and very much looking forward to it later in the year!

[Wanda June Hill]

Me too-I can't seem to stop putting things in that I feel should be- But it's getting there 187 pages so far with about 5 not actuall manuscript. I know it will look beautiful-I've seen it in my head and dreams several times now-It kind of floats down from above and the pages get ruffled slightly as it's opened, then the back is revealed-I think it's just in my head so much that I am dreaming about it-but it is kind of odd how it comes "floating down, gently opening, the pages ruffled and then the I see the back cover-weird. Oh well, I'm nuts when I sleep-I see "dead people" as the movie Sixth Sense I think was the title.

Amazon has a couple of negative reviews up for WR,E- finally they put some up--- it wouldn't be "normal" if there weren't some of those! The main point being made was there wasn't enough "real dirty Elvis in it and it was too glossed over by those writing etc; and that when it said Elvis was "making out with 15 & 16 year old girls" that did it. Also, there was nothing "new" in it and it was fabricated etc: using old info from others etc:. And it seems at least one didn't care for the religious content. I thought it was funny-reminded me of Elvis laughing at his "reviews" quite a bit. Without controversy there wouldn't be any real "light" shed on anything. I One person said they "threw it in the trash where it belongs" Well, I threw "Elvis What Happened" in the trash so it even's out. wjh

[Blue Moon]

and that when it said Elvis was "making out with 15 & 16 year old girls" that did it. Also, there was nothing "new" in it and it was fabricated etc: using old info from others etc:. And it seems at least one didn't care for the religious content.

I don't recall anywhere in your book Wanda where you said Elvis was making out with 15 & 16 year girls. So either the reviewer was making it up or taking what you described as a friendship (like with your daughter) and "dirtying" it up. Shows you what was on the reviewer's mind.

Then, as for the book not having anything new in it -- since the narration was written from your own perspective and experiences, how could he say that? And then the interview section was about as original as one can get. How many other books have that going for them?

[MaryInTheMorning]

......Then, as for the book not having anything new in it -- since the narration was written from your own perspective and experiences, how could he say that? And then the interview section was about as original as one can get. How many other books have that going for them?

AMEN dear Laurie!!!! Thank goodness for people like our dear Wanda, Larry, "Cholly" and Ed Parker who have taken the time to write about our guy straight from their HEARTS and NOT THEIR WALLETS!!!!

[Rainbow Light]

AMEN, dear Mari!!

Without controversy there wouldn't be any real "light" shed on anything. I One person said they "threw it in the trash where it belongs" Well, I threw "Elvis What Happened" in the trash so it even's out.

Yeah, that's true and then some! And sure, that evens things out! And as one leader of the UK said (Churchill, I believe) you can't please all of the people all of the time! But Wanda, you sure make us ladies very happy and feel very blessed to know Elvis more with your books and all you share with us!

[FairyTale]

Why do people think that Elvis was Above Everyone? They also make him into someone that Lived in a Bubble, that there just isn't any way Elvis would Lower himself by Talking to Regular Folks. I know they have had to have heard Elvis say he was Just A Regular Guy, but then again they probably haven't gotten their Face out of the Books that are nothing but Lies and Fiction. I also remember in "WE REMEMBER" what Elvis did with" Elvis What Happened" he tore the pages out and let them fly all over PALM SPRINGS! FairyTale!

[Rainbow Light]

I also remember in "WE REMEMBER" what Elvis did with" Elvis What Happened" he tore the pages out and let them fly all over PALM SPRINGS!

Exactly, Fairytale! This was a very natural and human reaction to the situation in hand and can totally understand Elvis responding in this way, good for him!

There have been many things said about Elvis, both positive and negative and what really shines through about him, rightfully, is that he'd always talk to, work with and treat EVERYONE equally, no matter where they'd come from in life; he was humble, kind, sweet and beautiful in spirit always!

[Wanda June Hill]

He said at home he was" mean tempered, demanding and apt to punch somethin' out" and that all of them were there just to be "slaves to Elvis" and then he laughed...and said, "naw...not really, 'um jus' human like every one else and sometimes ...I have trouble not gettin' mad and bein' more human than what some expect of me." He said he did the best he could with what he'd been given to do with...an' sometimes' it ain' much- meaning that he wasn't really a role model type of man, it was all fantasy and wishful thinking on the part of fans and some other people... I always wanted to say, what other people would that be? but never had the chance. Getting a word in edge wise sometimes was impossible as he would just not even hear what was said, other times maybe way down the line of his conversation he'd answer what ever I had asked etc:...he was very focused in thought processing...especially if he was making a point of some kind...explaining so much in detail it was at times hard to follow-that was why I was so happy to have some of it on tape- because he said so much at times... when he was in a mood to talk. Or wanted to get something across that he'd been reading or thinking about.
Not too long ago I heard from a friend who used to go to the concerts and lay in line etc: and had also got to meet Elvis through friends of her husbands employer, said that Elvis spent about 45 minutes talking about and demonstrating Karate after one of his shows...people were there to meet him, including some celebrities and he was so busy doing that he didn't actually communicate with anyone other than about Karate-they were all (his people) trying to get him to "knock it off" in a gentle way she said, even to taking his "dummy's" away but Elvis would enlist someone else- and keep on with his "lessons". He was in a dojo and some of them were there-one of them was a guy who'd won some award for "kick boxing or something like that. anyway, Elvis was really into it and his guys and his dad were all trying to ease him off it-but it didn't work. He even continued upstairs-though she didn't get up there her boss and his wife did-they were involved in the recording business some way or other and knew someone etc:... Anyway, Elvis was sometimes hard to get to change tracks, and sometimes he either got his feelings hurt or he became angry at whomeever was pushing him the other way. I don't think he was ever as "nutty" as some say, but he might have had a temper fit sometime or other with his people when no one was around.
But I guess anyone would react that same way if they were in his shoes. Like he said, "Until you walk in that man's shoes..." wjh

[FairyTale]

Well Shoot anyway Elvis didn't have anyone at Home to talk about his Interest's so I can see when he finally did get with someone he could talk to about what interested him he couldn't stop talking about it, and I would get Mad to if I had a Bunch of Bratty so Called Men Around Me that thought they Deserved all of Elvis's Attention all of the Time! FairyTale!

[Rainbow Light]

Thanks to both Wanda and Fairytale for your feedback! Always great to get other's perspectives, thoughts and comments!