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Oct 13th 2013 – Frankston Arts Centre, Melbourne, Australia.
Sam Thompson, EIN's Sanja Meegin, Linda Thompson
One of the most exciting experiences for any Elvis fan, is meeting someone from his inner circle – someone who was there right by his side for the highs and lows and the joys and pain that was part of Elvis’ incredible life. It is amazing to hear recollections of memories from those who were on the "inside" and last night in Melbourne Australia, I had the privilege of meeting Linda Thompson – Elvis’ live-in girlfriend of 5 years and Sam Thompson – Elvis’ friend and Chief of Security for a time. Both Linda and Sam were just as I had expected them to be – gracious, polite, endearing, affable, lovely, lovely people. Sam was a real ‘Southern gentleman’ and Linda a very down-to-earth, kind lady. They were in Australia as guest speakers at the "Elvis Then and Now Tour" starring well known ETA Mark Andrew. A cocktail party for VIP ticket holders gave 50 lucky people a chance to chat with Linda and Sam, have items signed and take photographs before a 2 hour concert that featured them reminiscing of their time with Elvis, in between Mark Andrew performing live with his 12 piece band. Before the cocktail reception began I was lucky enough to have a quick chat with both Linda and Sam. Firstly I was pleasantly surprised to hear that Sam is a fan of EIN and reads our website quite often. He is in fairly regular contact with our occasional contributor Marty Lacker. Oh and if you are reading this Marty – Linda said to tell you "Hi Moon"!
Linda and Sam were more than happy to meet each and every person at the meet and greet and spend a few minutes with each, before it was time for the concert to begin.
Linda regaled us with many stories on the night – she told of how she was an Elvis fan way before she ever got to meet him on that hot July night back in 1972. It was a night she still laughs about now. David Stanley was the first to talk to her and her friend Jeanne Lumay at the theatre that night in Memphis. Everyone was pretty much seated and waiting for Elvis to arrive and then all of a sudden there he was – in a heavy black suit (middle of summer!) with a long black cape with bright red lining. He reminded her of Dracula! Elvis was walking around the cinema with his flashlight, shining it in each person’s face to see who was there – when he saw Linda’s face – he stopped and right away sat next to her. After Elvis tried the old yawn and stretch to put his hand around her, Linda whispered to Jeanne "we have to get out of here, he is trying to kiss me" – she was worried that Elvis was still married and she didn’t want any part of it. Finally Elvis said "Honey you know I'm not married anymore, I've been separated since last December". With that Linda said her demeanour changed and SHE was all over HIM! He invited her to come to Graceland the very next day and of course she did, and their relationship developed from there. She also shared a story about how Elvis loved to show her off when they first started dating. He took her shopping at the outrageous Suzy Creamcheese (a women’s clothing store in Vegas in the 70’s) where she bought a long white crocheted dress – that left very little to the imagination (see below)– to wear to a Tom Jones concert they were going to the following night. Elvis wanted to show off his new girlfriend. Of course the dress worked wonders, Elvis got the compliments he was fishing for from Tom Jones. Three years down the track and again it came time for Linda & Elvis to go and see Tom Jones in concert – again in Vegas. Linda said she slipped into the sexiest outfit she could find and came out to show Elvis who said "you ‘ain't wearing that Honey" and she said "but I thought you wanted me to look sexy like last time" and Elvis replied with "that was then, you are my woman now!"
Elvis & Linda 1972 on the way to Tom Jones’ concert
Linda mentioned how spiritual Elvis was and how he wished he could have gone to Church on a regular basis. She said he had the best sense of humor and they were constantly laughing all the time. Linda signed off by saying that Elvis was the most "wonderful, generous, kind, passionate and sensitive man" she has ever met in her life, and she thanked the audience for their continued support in keeping his memory alive. Sam Thompson worked for the Sheriff’s Department and left his job there to go and work for Elvis full time in 1976 – he was his head Chief of Security from that time right up until when Elvis passed away. However, he also became very good friends with Elvis from about 1972 onwards, when his sister Linda began dating Elvis. He and Elvis were very close during those years – Elvis even bought him a house in 1973 right around the corner from Graceland. Sam told a few amusing stories about his time with Elvis – one in particular about Elvis’ obsession with law enforcement badges. Elvis had a black case full of badges – police, federal agent and DEA badges – and he carried it around with him on tour. Every time Elvis came face to face with someone in law enforcement, he would say "you know, that’s a real nice badge" and of course, the officer would take it off and give it to him right away! One time in June 1977 in Wisconsin, Sam was travelling on tour in the limo with Elvis, Joe Esposito and Billy Smith. Elvis still had his jumpsuit on and a DEA Jacket over the top. Unbeknownst to the other guys in the car, Elvis had seen a brawl at a gas station and yelled out "stop the car!". He slid out of the limo, ran over to the guys and threw a karate move in the hope of breaking up the fight. Once the guys realised it was Elvis Presley, they stopped fighting, took photographs and got Elvis’ autograph. As the limo drove off – everyone in the car looked back to see the guys smiling and laughing and looking at their autographs! Sam said he was one of the few people that Elvis trusted to look after Lisa – and he was the designated bodyguard that would fly with Lisa back and forth from Priscilla’s house in Beverly Hills to Graceland. He said he would board the plane, flash his badge and say "I’m with the Sheriff’s Department and this is Elvis Presley’s daughter" – and that got them the best seats on the plane every time!
Dec 1973, Elvis’ Suite at the Las Vegas Hilton
Sam also talked a little about the TCB necklace – he had his on this particular night. Sam said that when Elvis gave you a TCB necklace or in the ladies’ case, a TLC necklace – you were "in tight" with him. He didn’t hand them out to just anyone, only the inner circle. Sam’s wife has one also. He said that when Elvis gave them out, Elvis himself would put it around your neck, and recite a little TCB oath he had written. Sam said he wears his often and would never part with it. Finally the audience was asked if any of us had ever seen Elvis live in concert? A hush fell over the auditorium, for none of us there had ever had the pleasure. Sam said there was nothing quite like the experience of the band starting the first strains of 2001 – A Space Odyssey. He said once the kettle drums started, and the house lights dimmed, the hair would stand up on the back of his neck. Then came the trumpets (which apparently were added in one day by Joe Guercio because Elvis was running late!) and finally, Sam would hold back the big curtain for Elvis to make his entrance. And on this night, he held the curtain back for Mark Andrew – which was a nice touch....
Article by Sanja Meegin. Click to comment on this article
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