Hi everyone

Well we made it and what a milestone it is! Edition 200 of our weekly E-Alert. And to celebrate we are giving away 5 great Elvis prize (details below). We want to thank everyone who has given us feedback over the nearly 4 years the E-Alert has been published. We continue to add 3 to 4 new subscribers each week and the distribution list now exceeds 3,000 plus secondary distribution on two other email newsletter lists.

Also, watch out on the site shortly, as courtesy of Bookwise International, we will be giving away 5 copies of the Alanna Nash book, Elvis & the Memphis Mafia. This is widely recognised as one of the best books ever published about Elvis! In addition, we will shortly add a great new (two part) interview with Memphis Mafia member, Lamar Fike (see teaser below).

We've added some new information on the right and left hand columns of the site's Home page (the info also appears in the left & right hand columns of each E-Alert). Please scroll down and let us know what you think

Nigel & Piers

This week on the site: Lamar Fike talks to EIN

Later this week we will be publishing part 1 of a two-part interview with prominent Memphis Mafia member, Lamar Fike. In our fascinating interview with Lamar we find out the real reason Elvis shot out his TV set when Robert Goulet came on screen, why Anita Wood threatened to throw herself off a window ledge, Lamar's involvement with the publishing company Hill & Range, the Albert Goldman biography, Elvis and his weight gain, and how Lamar is doing following his recent bout with cancer.......plus many, many other issues.

Some of the items added to www.elvisinfonet.com this week:

Exceptional joint marketing opportunity for Hilton Hotels and EPE and CKXE which will be a success-story for all involved:

All Elvis fans (worldwide) should get 30% discount on regular hotel room rates or a “flat rate” of US$50 per night in Hilton hotels and US$75 per night in all Hilton Hotel Resorts:

Such a program is similar to the Frequent Guest program that have established  all major hotels and FT airline programs. In view of the fact that Hilton hotels have tremendously benefited from Elvis’ performances in the Las Vegas Hilton for many years and cashed in revenues that were unheard of before 1969 when the King actually sang before sold-out audiences and everyday twice!  Unequalled so far in Vegas and music industry!  The fact that Hilton has therefore put up a bronze statue of Elvis in the lobby, is not sufficient, we feel.

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‘A Lost Elvis Treasure……Blue Suede Shoes (The Elvis Ballet)’

A ballet set to the music of Elvis Aron Presley! Who are we trying to kid? But yes it did happen and it was a major hit.

On May 29, 1996 a most unusual ballet opened at Cleveland ’s State Theatre. The world premiere of Blue Suede Shoes had both critics and audiences in raptures. The Cleveland Plain Dealer printed the headline: ‘Blue Suede Shoes sizzles with perfection!’ while the opening night audience gave the performers a 15 minute standing ovation. Those that were lucky enough to see Blue Suede Shoes were mesmerised by its action and color. The brainchild of artistic director, Dennis Nahat, it featured 18 brilliant sets and 280 spectacular, glittering costumes designed by Hollywood ’s legendary, Bob Mackie. The ballet sequences were choreographed by Nahat and the Cleveland San Jose Ballet company. The ballet was presented by New Dance Ventures and the Cleveland San Jose Ballet.

What was particularly innovative about the Elvis ballet was the way it used The King’s music to tell a powerful story about innocence and the post-war American Dream. As Dennis Nahat commented: “We didn’t realise it then, but Elvis set the tone for the time. I don’t know if the current generation really understands who he was. To my generation, he’s an icon. He came on the scene and hit us between the eyes and captured our feelings with music. He freed an entire generation.”

The structure of Blue Suede Shoes was clever. Each of the 36 Elvis songs symbolised individual parts of the story (with Guitar Man used as an overture linking different scenes). For example, Arthur tries to woo Sally (I Want You, I Need You, I Love You), the local bad boy arrives (Devil In Disguise) and the Army beckons (Soldier Boy). Returning home after a lonely winter (Long Lonely Highway ) the GI’s are unrecognised (Stranger In My Own Home Town). Later a fight ensues to the strains of Trouble and the boys spend a night (One Night) behind bars (Jailhouse Rock). Other songs prominent in the ballet included Hound Dog, Shake, Rattle and Roll, Bossa Nova Baby, Starting Today, Tutti Frutti, Are You Lonesome Tonight? And Mama Liked The Roses.

Critics also noted how Blue Suede Shoes incorporated contemporary social themes - for instance, In The Ghetto was used to symbolise the effect of drugs. And initially, more traditional patrons of the ballet form were quite dismissive. Dennis Nahat commented: “We had some people say, “How can you use Elvis in this classical art form?’, but I just said, ‘Elvis is classic.’ “

The spectacle of the ballet involved seven scenes: High School (see pic at left) Hot Dog Drive-In (see pic at right) In the Army Highways & Lonely Streets Saturday Night Jailhouse Rockin’ Golden Oldies

At the end of the day Blue Suede Shoes displayed artistic integrity and was notable for introducing new patrons to the art form that is ballet. Described at the time as being as easy to watch as a movie Blue Suede Shoes brought new ideas to the fine arts medium. It seems Elvis’s ability to continually transcend musical, social and cultural genres is limitless!

At a time when the fine arts in the US were in trouble, facing government funding cuts and falling patronage, Blue Suede Shoes enjoyed immense success with 63,000 people attending its opening season. Buoyed by its success, the producers developed plans to tour the production nationally and internationally. Sadly the plans to stage the ballet outside of the US were never realised, apparently due to financial and logistical considerations. As a result overseas fans missed out being captivated by its fresh and energetic approach to the Elvis story.

The soundtrack to Blue Suede Shoes was issued by RCA (#67458-2) in 1997 as a double CD set with attractive slipcase and a 16 page full-color booklet.

One performance of Blue Suede Shoes was telecast on the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) in America and if you ever get a chance to see it...DO NOT MISS IT!

The ballet was resurrected in 2002 and performed by Ballet San Jose Silicon Valley.

Verdict: Blue Suede Shoes was a brave, socially aware and sparkling undertaking that richly deserved the success it received.

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Contact EIN 

piers@elvisinfonet.com ...........or........... nigel@elvisinfonet.com

   

Quote:

"Elvis Presley is the supreme socio-cultural icon in the history of pop culture"

(Dr. Gary Enders)

Quote:

" Elvis is the 'glue' which holds our society together....which subconciously gives our world meaning"

(Anonymous)

Quote:

"Eventually everybody has to die, except Elvis"

(humorist Dave Barry)

Quote:

"He is the "Big Bang", and the universe he detonated is still expanding, the pieces are still flying"

(Greil Marcus, "Dead Elvis")

Quote:

"I think Elvis Presley will never be solved"

(Nick Tosches)

Quote:

"He was the most popular man that ever walked on this planet since Christ himself was here"

(Carl Perkins)

Quote:

"When I first heard Elvis' voice I just knew I wasn't going to work for anybody...hearing him for the first time was like busting out of jail"

(Bob Dylan)

Quote:

"When we were kids growing up in Liverpool, all we ever wanted was to be Elvis Presley"

(Sir Paul McCartney)

Quote:

"You can't say enough good things about Elvis. He was one of a kind"

(Johnny Cash)

Quote:

"It isn't enough to say that Elvis is kind to his parents, sends money home, and is the same unspoiled kid he was before all the commotion began. That still isn't a free ticket to behave like a sex maniac in public"

(Eddie Condon, Cosmopolitan)

Elvis records reaching #2 & #3 on the Cashbox Pop Singles chart:

#2: A Fool Such As I (1959)

#2: A Big Hunk Of Love (1959)

#3: Hard Headed Woman (1958)

#3: One Night (1958)

#3: (You're The Devil) In Disguise (1963)

Elvis Facts:

Tickets for Elvis' show on March 29, 1957 in St. Louis cost $2.00 to $2.50

While in Germany Elvis was hospitalised with tonsillitis in October 1959

Despite being an illegal immigrant, photographic evidence shows Colonel Tom Parker traveled to Canada with Elvis in 1957

Elvis strongly believed there weren't enough good songs in King Creole to justify releasing a soundtrack album. RCA initially agreed, releasing two very successful EPs from the movie. A soundtrack LP eventually followed

During the 1960s Elvis had his own football team, Elvis Presley Enterprises, which played in the Menphis touch football league. In the 1962 final, EPE narrowlt lost to Delta Automatic Transmission. 6-13.

In Clambake, (Elvis) Scott Hayward's driving licence shows February 23, 1940...taking 5 years off Elvis' real age

In the 1970s Elvis was ofered $5m to stage a concert in front of the Pyramids in Egypt. When the Colonel declined the offer, Saudi billionaires raised the offer to $10m