Elvis - A Lighted Candle

[Wanda June Hill]

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.)

[Rainbow Light]

Ha! You must have been really so close to the stage then, huh?!

No wonder Elvis was able to be so natural and at ease with you with your reactions to him, to be able to talk and relate his thoughts and feelings when you were just so down to earth and unlike many of the other women around Elvis who reacted to him/the image on a purely superficial level, you knew him as a good friend and were able to talk to; tease him some when the occasion called for it and just to be able to be there for him when he needed to reveal what he TRULY felt, not what he felt he should or was expected to say - I can only imagine that was so special and precious a quality as well as your loyalty to him.

It certainly seems from all he mentioned also, that Lisa picked up his amazing hearing ability and it's kinda nice and sweet to imagine Elvis and his little girl whispering secrets and things between them!

Talking of secrets, Wanda - not sure if it's true? But have heard Elvis wasn't the greatest secret keeper? Not out of meanness, spite or anything like that, he just couldn't keep a secret to himself and couldn't resist telling everyone?! Or is that one of the 'let's make Elvis look bad' stories?!!

[Wanda June Hill]

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

[Blue Moon]

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...

I still have the original TTWII video release so I'm anxious to keep a look out for this. Do you remember which song he was perfoming when he did this? And is it not on the new DVD edition?

[Wanda June Hill]

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

[Wanda June Hill]

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 ( Super 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

[Rainbow Light]

Can understand all you said about Elvis with the secrets, Wanda - there was something dear and really quite endearing about the child in Elvis especially as regards Christmas and other holidays, Easter and so on - it must have been so special at Graceland with him there.

Have seen a picture with Elvis - think around '70 or '71, maybe where he was carrying a bag of eggs which he was going to hide for an Easter egg hunt for Lisa Marie and I guess the whole family or group, he looked like he was just about to really have fun in hiding them all around the place too!

As per the shimmy incident at the table: did wonder whether Elvis would have looked at you to gauge your reaction after he'd done this - whatever tip would have been more than worth it, I'm sure, just to see Elvis happy, smiling and about to 'bust up with glee' just after he'd caused near chaos and hysteria with the ladies all around?!!!!

[Lighthouseseeker]

could that song be "Suspicious Minds" ?

[Wanda June Hill]

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

[Barbara Lea]

WANDA IS THIS THE RIGHT LOOK, YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT?

LORD IT TAKES ALL I CAN DO TO SEE HIM DO THIS PART IN TTWII'S, I JUST ABOUT COME UNGLUED WATCHING THE DVD. I COULDN'T EVEN IMAGIN IF HE DID THAT IN PERSON, WHILE I TRIED TO WATCH. THERE IS ANOTHER SONG THAT ELVIS REALLY GOT A KICK IN DOING, AND THAT WAS "FEVER" ON THE ALOHA FROM HAWAII CONCERT. I COULD TELL BY THE LOOK ON HIS FACE HE LOVED TO GET THE GIRLS GOING.

[Blue Moon]

I love watching him do "Polk Salad Annie". On TTWII, he really get's into the song & it looks like he's having so much fun. It's so mesmerizing to watch him. And the way he did that song, he must have dropped a # of pounds. What energy he had!

[Wanda June Hill]

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

[Barbara Lea]

AFTER I HAVE DONE MY OWN SHAKING, AND DROOLING FROM THE LOOKS AND MOVES HE WOULD DO, I THEN WOULD HAVE TO LAUGH BECAUSE OF HOW TICKLED ELVIS WOULD GET AT THE REACTION OF THE GIRLS IN THE AUDIENCE. LIKE YOU SAID WANDA HE KNEW EXACTLY WANT TO DO AND WHEN!! BARB!!

[Rainbow Light]

I have to say not only was he a master showman and performer-he was also a master tease!

Wasn't he just and Barb's picture is pretty true to the mark of his teasing capabilities!!! , gorgeous photo, Barb and thanks for posting!

Sue

[Barbara Lea]

LORD SUE WHEN HE DOES THAT PART IN TTWII'S I COME COMPELELY UNGLUED! I JUST DON'T KNOW HOW WANDA REAMAINED SO CLAM AROUND HIM, I MEAN I WOULDN'T GO BLASTIC ON HIM LIKE SO MANY GIRLS DID. BUT LORD AFTER HE WASN'T IN HEAR SHOT ANYMORE I THINK I PROBALY WOULD HAVE COLLASPED, JUST TO SEE HIM IN PERSON. LORD WANDA I JUST HOPE YOU KNOW HOW TRULY LUCKY YOU WERE. BARB!!