Elvis - A Lighted Candle

[maia]

Here are my original notes on my Vegas trip in 1975. It was my last time to see Elvis in person.

Elvis Report, August, 1975

August 18th - arrived in Vegas. That night was Elvis' opening at the Hilton, but we did not have a reservation until the following night. Still, I was in hopes that Janey (Hilton photo girl and friend of Felton Jarvis, James Burton and others of Elvis' people) might get me up to Elvis' suite after the opening show. When I called her she said that James Burton had been over to her apartment with some friends the night before, and while he was fixing her TV mentioned to her that Elvis was very overweight but singing great. Janey had also talked to Red West . He was hiding out for some reason, and wanted her to buy his groceries for him. He said he would call back about the groceries, so we waited at Janey's apartment that night (since she was waiting by the phone), but he didn't call. As a result we didn't go up to Elvis' suite that night and he had come out of his bedroom.

19th - We went to the dinner show that night and the lines were impossible. Everytime we go, they get worse. Dispite a tip of $20.00 we were given a poor seat - far enough from the stage that I could not get my book to Elvis.

When Elvis came out on stage, and after the immense burst of applause filled the air, there was a slightly audible gasp from the crowd, as they stared at a very large Elvis. His abdomen up into his chest was extremely swollen. I say "swollen" as it was not fat. He was obviously on cartizone (or something of that nature) again. His arms and legs were thin, and his face only slightly puffy. He seemed embarassed, but his inner beauty and that glowing, handsome smile could not be daunted. (Janey told me that he was very heavy in March, also, and when he came out on stage he looked straight at the audience and said, "Okay, I'm fat. Now let's get on with the show.") His face was a pale, ashen color, and his breathing was labored. The lights in his eyes seemed to really bother him (probably the gloucoma). During many songs he shielded his eyes with his hands. His singing was controlled. I could tell he was trying not to sing too loud - to save himself, but sometimes he would get carried away and just burst through. It was as if the spirit of God was in him! (of course it was) As Elvis reachede his voice up into heaven on How Great Thou Art, my mother who had been praying for him, began to cry. But after such bursts of song he would almost whisper his singing. At one point he had his group sing a number and he walked off, looking very ill. He then returned a few moments later. Dispite his ill and bloated appearance the girls and women were still reaching for him and the applause was tremendous.

Janey met us after the show and around 1 AM I found myself on an elavator with her anticipating my arrival on the 30th floor. As we walked through the double doors into Elvis' Hilton suite I was astonished to learn from JAney that his room was just on the right after entering the suite. A very un-private location. Girls were sitting and guys were at the bar mixing drinks with urgent fevor. Elvis does not drink, but his employees live it up with booze at his expense. Everyone seemed very conscious that Elvis was in his bedroom.

Janey received hugs and hellos from all the guys and then Vernon came in, gave her a hug and she introduced me. He took my hand and in a voice as soothing and homey as his son's said ""You hand is cold, honey." It was -- I was freezing. Elvis liked "meatlocker" temperature. Vernon looked terrible. Had had recently had two serious heart attacks, and was pale and hollow-eyed. He retired after a few moments.

J.D. Sumner came along, apparently somewhat under the influence of his beverage, and tried some manuvers with Janey. She deftly out-manuvered his groping hands. Then he turned a foggy eye on me, and Janey nearly paniced - she may have been thinking of my mother waiting in the Hilton ladies room. However, J.D. lost his train of thought and kind of wandered off. I want to stress that nothing "elecit" was going on in the suite. It was mostly a kind of teasing game with them...at least in Elvis' suite.

Charlie Hodge breezed by with a full glass in his hand singing to himself, "Elvis loves me this I know 'cause the Colonel told me so." Then we saw a young girl come out of Elvis' bedroom. She stumbled out the three or four steps and landed on her knees. Two of Elvis' guys came over and with great excitment, she showed them a ring Elvis had just given to her. Janey then commented to me, "Oh, Elvis is giving away jewelry again." A few moments later another young girl came out of his bedroom, again in a state of extreme bliss. She ran over to Joe Esposito and showed him her gift. Janey told me that she was Joe's new girl friend (Joe was then separated from his wife).

Finally, a man came out of the bedroom and he was as excited as the girls had been. He dashed from one group of admirers to another showing off his prize ring. J.D. had previously shown us his gift from Elvis - a huge ring with diamonds covering it.

Soon Dr. Nick went into Elvis bedroom and stayed there for the remainder of our time in the suite. Elvis did not come out that night. Janey told me that Elvis has another doctor who gives Elvis whatever it takes to keep him on his feet, even if it is slowly killing him. Elvis is against "drugs", but like many people, he does not consider medicine perscribed by doctors as "drugs". Both doctors are dripping with jewels, cars and homes bestowed on them by a generous Elvis.

Janey told me that Elvis' current "girlfriends" are mostly girls he has never seen before or will again. He takes them into his bedroom and reads to them for hours. The material is mostly highly intellectual and spiritual. He tries to discuss it with them. The girls think it is silly (of course it is way over their heads), but they humor him. He usually falls asleep reading and only rarely does a girl get her night's reward for listening to him. Of course she often gets a ring to compensate her.

20th - This night we went to the midnight show. Janey told the Mater'D to seat us by the stage and she would join us before the show started. He apparently did not understand, and seated us in the back. I called Janey and she was furious. Finally, he sat us closer, but still too far away to hand him my book.

That night Elvis' face was even grayer. Every few moments Charlie was behind him with a chair, making him sit down. Finally Elvis exclaimed, "I told them I wanted two chairs - one at each end of the stage." Charlie shook his head "no". Elvis responded, "The Hilton can't afford to give me two chairs?" Again, a negative from Charlie. Elvis then muttered under his breath, "Well, Son of a Bitch." That was all. He didn't mention the chair again.

Elvis spoke of his documentary of five years ago (TTWII) and some man from the audience yelled, "You were alot younger then, Elvis!" Elvis looked over in the man's direction and in a tone of voice as if he had known this person all his life said, "Aw, shut up. You were alot younger then too, you damn fool!" He was scolding, but not angry.

Then he startede kissing the beggin girls by the stage. He gave them what he called "baby kisses" - "like I give my daughter, Lisa".

Elvis was on the stage for a very short time. After the show, Janey and I talked with James Burton and Glen Hardin. It was James' birthday, and Glen was trying to get James to go home, as friends were giving him a surprize party.

Elvis' "other" doctor was walking around wearing Elvis' horseshoe ring, which he had given him. I felt at that moement as if the good doctor was a shark in fancy clothing, having devoured his patient whole, leaving only the gleaming ring as evidence.

20th - Elvis canceled the remainder of his engagement and was flown to the Baptist hospital in Memphis.

[Wanda June Hill]

Hi, Maia, that was very good observation. Yes, Elvis liked that room-it had another exit that they closed, locked and made it impossible for him to "Escape" unnoticed as he was apt to try to do at rare times. Once he made it down to the the 24th floor to visit friends and back before they had called in the police to look for him. He said he told them he went to the bathroom, what the hell! He had his own, so that pretty much told them to shut their mouth. I know he was really sick the last time we saw him there also-his colon was blocked, he refused surgery (he was scared) and they didn't give him any real assurance having it would help him very much so I can't blame him for fearing something like that when it would be useless in the end. He shouldn't have been up there but he had no choice-he flat said so. I only wish someone could have changed his mind-those doctors were I think doing what they were told-and Elvis just was trying to keep his word and do the job. Starla has one of his horseshoe rings-he had given it away, the lady who had it was dying and because of our book and because she had no family, no children she left the ring to Starla, her attorney sent it to Starla with a letter explaining the gift. It is white gold, it was his first horseshoe ring that he wore in the early days; it had weakened from wear, he had a "wooden fence with a horse head hanging over it added to it to strengthen the band and on the sides are eagles which were added to the band to restore it's roundness as he had warped it by wearing it so much. She of course treasures it and has only worn it well taped on a couple of times when she was performing with her band. She never sang any of his songs on stage-but she wrote songs that he would have enjoyed doing himself. Thank you for telling us about your last visit and getting upstairs. I think he gave away his jewlery because he wanted so to reach the people he met, to do something, to see them happy and have them remember him and in that state of mind and physically shot to hell as he put it, he couldn't do anything else-he was just too sick and he was grateful someone "cared" enough to come anyway. Who knows, he wasn't himself and there wasn't much he could do about coming back. The best thing I can think of when I go "there" is most of those people who were responsible for torturing him and I mean those who were so high and mighty and had control (not his people)
the mafia linked ones, have all come to bad ends since Elvis left us. They have been shot, died of severe medical problems, mysteriously ened up dead at their dinner tables after eating or drinking something and they died of old age. I'm sure they are receiving their just deserts-if not-they will in time. Again, thanks, though I know it was painful for you to do this. Wjh