The Sweet Inspirations Inducted into The Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame 
 

by Caroline Pratt - Elvis Presley Fans of Nashville
www.elvispresleyfansofnashville.com

 Thursday, September 4th, 2014

The Sweet Inspirations, were inducted into The Rhythm, and Blues Music Hall of Fame located in Cleveland, Ohio in an induction ceremony conducted August 24, 2014 at the Canton Palace Theater. The award was accepted posthumously by the families of Myrna Smith and Sylvia Shemwell.  

"We did not only accept in honor of the late Myrna Smith and the late Sylvia Shemwell, but gave well deserved credit to Estelle Brown and also to Portia Griffin, said Martin Smith, son of the late Sweet Inspiration Myrna Smith. As well as mentioned that all members of the group need to be individually acknowledged since they worked very hard. "
 
The Sweet Inspirations founder Emily "Cissy" Houston, was unable to attend the induction ceremony. Cissy did compose a beautiful letter that was read out loud at the ceremony, said Martin Smith, the son of the late Myrna Smith of The Sweet Inspirations. The letter merely affirmed how Cissy developed The Sweet Inspirations and expressed how very much she appreciated the acknowledgement. Cissy's late daughter Whitney Houston, was also inducted that day into the R&B Hall of Fame and Museum. 

The Sweet Inspirations were founded in the early 1960's by Emily "Cissy" Houston, mother of Whitney Houston. Original Sweet Inspirations members are Emily "Cissy" Houston, Myrna Smith, Estelle Brown, Sylvia Shemwell, Judy Clay and later Ann Williams.  
 
The Sweet Inspirations first record album "Sweet Inspirations" was released in 1967 on Atlantic Records. Cissy's last recording session with The Sweet Inspirations was in October 1969. The Sweet Inspirations spent many years creating albums, and backing up popular musical entertainers such as Van Morrison on "Brown Eyed Girl," and Jimi Hendrix and Aretha Franklin. In 1978, The Sweet Inspirations sang backing vocals on Frankie Valli's No.1 hit "Grease" from the film of the same name. The Sweet Inspirations last album "In The Right Place" was released in 2005.  
 
Albums by The Sweet Inspirations: 
1967 Sweet Inspirations - Atlantic  
1968 Songs of Faith & Inspiration - Atlantic  
1969 Sweets for my Sweet - Atlantic  
1969 What the World Needs Now is Love - Atlantic  
1970 Sweet Sweet Soul - Atlantic  
1973 The Estelle, Myrna and Sylvia - Stax  
1979 Hot Butterfly - RSO  
2005 In the Right Place - Frixion  
 
The Sweet Inspirations recorded albums and sang back up on concert tours with Elvis Presley beginning July 31st, 1969, and they continued with Elvis Presley all the way throughout to Elvis' last concert on June 26th, 1977. The exquisite voices of The Sweet Inspirations can be heard on numerous Elvis Presley albums including, "Elvis: Aloha from Hawaii" and "Elvis Recorded Live at Madison Square Garden." The Sweet Inspirations can be observed and heard on the award-winning 1972 documentary "Elvis on Tour," as well as "Elvis: That's The Way It Is."  
 
The Sweet Inspirations were hired by Elvis Presley in 1969 without an audition, due to Elvis being very familiar with The Sweet Inspirations. Elvis stated to his musical associates and entourage that he must otain The Sweet Inspirations. The Sweet Inspirations had a close, playful and well-respected friendship with Elvis Presley. Often for several hours after Elvis' Las Vegas shows The Sweet Inspirations and The Imperials would join Elvis in his Hilton Hotel suite to sing Gospel music.  

Article is COPYRIGHT (c) Caroline Pratt, all rights reserved. For noncommercial use: permission is granted with proper credit attributed to “Caroline Pratt - Elvis Presley Fans of Nashville.” 

Ginger Alden, the last girlfriend and Fiancee of Elvis Presley gave an interview September 3rd, 2014 on the NBC TODAY Show. 


After remaining silent for 30+ years Ginger Alden has finally broken her silence. Her autobiography 'Elvis & Ginger' was released nation wide September 2nd, 2014.

"Elvis, you and I know the truth and unfortunately you’re not here to set the record straight. With this book, I will try to..."  - Ginger Alden

From Amazon:
"Elvis Presley and Graceland were fixtures in the life of Ginger Alden, having been born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee. But she had no idea that she would play a part in that enduring legacy as Elvis Presley’s fiancée, and his last great love. For over three decades Ginger has held the truth of their relationship close to her heart. In her own words Ginger details their whirlwind romance—from first kiss to his stunning proposal of marriage. She details his exploration of Eastern religions, his perception of being a “legend,” his devotion to family and friends, and her attempt to know the insular group surrounding Elvis. For the very first time she talks about the devastating end of it all, and the 80,000 mourners and reporters who descended on Graceland in 1977, exposing Ginger to the reality of living in the spotlight. Above it all, Alden rescues Elvis from the hearsay, rumors, and tabloid speculations of his final year by shedding a frank yet personal light on a very public legend." 

Ginger Alden is an actress and model, known for her role on the daytime soap opera Capitol. She was also featured in a number of television shows including Hollywood Beat and Life Goes On. A spokeswoman for the Claridge Hotel and Casino, Ginger also starred in more than 100 television commercials and had a successful modeling career for such products like Clairol, Vidal Sassoon, Maybelline, Aziza, Avon, and Viriginia Slims.


source: http://www.amazon.com

Click here to order your copy of "Elvis and Ginger: Elvis Presley's Fiancee and Last Love Finally Tells Her Story" from Amazon.com! 

Legends of Sun Records Exhibit at Johnny Cash Museum in Nashville

Published: Aug 15, 2014
photos courtesy PLA Media

The Johnny Cash Museum in downtown Nashville unveiled a new exhibit, Legends of Sun Records, at an exclusive industry gathering at the museum, Wednesday afternoon (Aug. 13). The exhibit officially opens to the public today, Aug. 15, and will run for 18 months.

Legends of Sun Records features artifacts, record covers, vintage photos and other fascinating items spotlighting the artists who made the Memphis-based record label famous: Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison, Carl Perkins and drummer W.S. Holland.

Fans visiting the exhibit will also enjoy a video featuring legendary performances, including Elvis Presley singing “Don’t Be Cruel,” Jerry Lee Lewis on “Great Balls of Fire” and a hilarious segment with Johnny Cash impersonating Elvis.

Attending the sneak peek unveiling were Johnny Cash’s brother and sister Tommy Cash and Joanne Cash Yates, Sun Records’ Jerry Phillips, Roy Orbison’s son Alex and other special guests.

Johnny Cash Museum founder Bill Miller addressed the crowd, noting, “We wanted to continue to let the museum evolve. Sun Records played such an important part in the history of rock ’n’ roll.”


source: http://www.countryweekly.com

Elvis Week 2014: The World Premiere of 'Nobody,' an Elvis Presley short film by William Bryan 


by Caroline Pratt – Elvis Presley Fans of Nashville 
Wednesday, September 3rd, 2014 
www.elvispresleyfansofnashville.com 


Elvis Week 2014, is held annually in Memphis, Tennessee August 9th-17th with events celebrating and honoring the man, the music and the legend, Elvis Presley. It has been 37 years since Elvis passed away on August 16, 1977. Thousands of Elvis fans from around the world make the annual pilgrimage to commemorate the anniversary of Elvis' passing. Additionally, the 2014 year acknowledged the July 5, 1954 - 60th anniversary of Rock 'n' Roll! 

Elvis Week, additionally bore something new and different to celebrating Elvis' life, with respects to Elvis' senior year of high school, where he graduated from Humes High School in 1953. Elvis fans had the delight of attending the world premiere of the highly anticipated Elvis short film, Nobody! Prior to Nobody, a film depicting the essential core of Elvis Presley at Humes High School had never been accomplished. 

Tickets to the world premiere 5p.m. screening of Nobody sold out online in less than 24 hours! All admission ticket proceeds from the 5p.m. world premiere screening and a couple of very generous donations from various audience members, measuring well over 1,500 dollars, were donated to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. St. Jude, established in 1962 by actor Danny Thomas, is a nonprofit hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, therefore families never pay a cent for medical treatment for their children battling cancer and other catastrophic diseases. 

Nobody, is a short film by Sideburned Cinema; written, directed and produced by dedicated Elvis Presley fan and filmmaker, Mr. William "Bill" Bryan, a graduate of Columbia College Chicago. Nobody was co-produced by Mr. William Bryan, and fellow Columbia College Chicago graduate, Mr. Tom Radovich. 

Nobody chronicles a detailed account of the Humes High School 1953 minstrel show, which originally occurred April 9, 1953. Elvis was reluctantly entered into the minstrel show and took the stage after being signed up by his homeroom teacher, Miss Scrivener. She recognized Elvis' enchantment for music! And, as fate would have it, the audience adored Elvis' performance. Elvis' performance took first place, and females began to take notice of him! Nobody illustrates the vital, unbreakable mother-son relationship between Elvis and his mother, Gladys Presley. While attending Humes High School, Elvis connected with his homeroom teacher, a stern woman by the name of Mildred Scrivener, a well-respected authority figure. 

Nobody is the epitome of elegance and sophistication—a flavorful, well-done film that boasts an excellent concept, an amazing script, and the best cast imaginable!

Casting auditions for Nobody were conducted during the month of August at Elvis Week 2013. Actors and Elvis fans auditioned for roles after hearing about the casting call by various online social media outlets, local Memphis newscasts, and word of mouth from fellow Elvis fans. All actors were spot-on with their physical resemblance to the people they portrayed. Mr. William Bryan could not have discovered a better group of people to cast for Nobody! The mannerisms and facial expressions of Drake Milligan are an incredible sight of similarity to the real 18-year old Elvis Presley. The physical appearance and demeanor of Natasha Rudis to Mrs. Gladys Presley is a bit mind-blowing and unbelievable! Pam Williams had a good resemblance to Mildred Scrivener and showed the stern expression and attitude that assured and dignified school teachers often hold. 

Filming for Nobody was captured on location in Memphis, Tennessee. Filming occurred in the course of a weekend in April 2014 at Humes High School and Sun Studio, formerly known as the Memphis Recording Service. The minstrel show element of Nobody was shot in the authentic Humes High School auditorium. Filming of the foyer/office area at the Memphis Recording Service was shot in the authentic Sun Studio building in the precise location of Marion Keisker's original workspace. Minstrel show vocals for Elvis Presley were recorded during the month of December 2013, on location at Sun Studio by Mr. Ted Torres Martin. Costumes and set decorations for Nobody were accurately to the point of 1953, via the amazing talents of Costume Designer Loretta Harper and Production Designer Angela Messina. Wardrobe from Lansky Brothers Clothing for Elvis Presley, was graciously provided by Hal Lansky, son of the late Bernard Lansky of Lansky Brothers Clothing. The film posters were designed by two of Elvis Presley Enterprises official licensed artists, Mr. Joe Petruccio and Ms. Betty Harper. The Estate of Elvis Presley, Elvis Presley Enterprises was extremely supportive of Bill throughout every step of the way to the complete result of Nobody. 

The world premiere of Nobody was held in Memphis, Tennessee at the Malco's Studio On The Square Theater at 5p.m. on Wednesday, August 13th, 2014. The world premiere of Nobody was screened to a sellout audience of zealous Elvis fans who were on the edge of their seats from beginning to end as Nobody graced the film screen! As excited Elvis fans entered the lobby of the Malco they were greeted by the writer and director, Mr. William Bryan! Before entering the theater, Elvis fans admired the large standing black frames showcasing each Nobody movie poster. The premiere event was hosted by Sirius Elvis Radio DJ Doc Walker. Doc Walker, was the first Elvis Radio DJ to ever interview William Bryan on air at Elvis Presley's Graceland! Event photography was provided by Kira Lynn Photography. 

At 5p.m. the world premiere screening of Nobody commenced with the Host, Mr. Doc Walker from Sirius Elvis Radio. DJ Doc Walker, vivaciously welcomed the excited audience to the premiere, and he gave a candid introductory speech regarding Mr. William Bryan. Doc Walker pointed out the complex work Bill put forth to ensure Nobody would be a professional first-class film success! As William Bryan took hold of the microphone, the audience beamed and listened very attentively as he delivered his sweet and touching speech. The audience could hear and definitely feel the emotional-charge in Bill's voice! Bill, detailed the process of writing and filming Nobody, which included his original vision and ambition to produce an Elvis Presley film to ultimately grant Elvis Presley the justice he indeed deserves. The closing speakers before the screening of Nobody were Burton Bridges, a Representative from St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and Elvis Presley Enterprises' President and CEO, Mr. Jack Soden. Burton Bridges, the Representative from St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, gave a speech of gratitude to, William Bryan and he gave his thanks to all audience members for their donations to St. Jude. Jack Soden, President and CEO of Elvis Presley Enterprises, expressed his words of appreciation to Bill and to the Bryan family who was in attendance. 

After the conclusion of the world premiere of Nobody, a Q&A Session was hosted by Sirius Elvis Radio DJ Doc Walker. Bill, discussed the film more and at extent due to many of the questions received. Interesting and humorous behind the scenes stories while filming Nobody, were additionally revealed to the audience! The audience had several questions for the cast, and each cast member was happy to provide an answer. Following the Q&A Session, Bill and the cast gladly posed for photos, chatted with fans, and autographed Nobody movie posters and autographed Nobody film DVD's. 

Nobody grabs the viewer on a pleasant edge of your seat ride with a smile on your face as you grasp Elvis' persona at Humes High School! The viewer can certainly understand Elvis as a student and the relationship between him and his homeroom teacher, Miss Scrivener. Every Elvis fan has the knowledge of the juxtaposition of the Mother and Son bond shared between Elvis Presley and his Mother, Gladys Presley. Nobody illustrates a very endearing and understanding tribute of the adoration Elvis held for his Mother. An example of the tenderness is a scene between Elvis and Gladys, in their pure southern life, as Gladys is folding laundry. Gladys and Elvis, have a conversation that ends with a hug and the promise of Elvis granting his precious Mother a better and enhanced life if he were to become famous. Gladys Presley desired nothing more than to witness her beloved Elvis, happy and prevailing in life; living his dream if it had been singing or driving a truck! Nobody presents Elvis fans an image of the nervousness Elvis must have felt on that Spring night of April 1953 as he performed in front of his classmates. Nobody, captures the fear and uneasiness of Elvis, all the way up to the minute when Elvis decides to let go of his apprehension of rejection and take the descent to go on with his performance! Nobody, captures hand in hand the curiosity of the audience and the smiles as they were dazzled by Elvis' talent. 

The final scene in Nobody was captured in the very best way possible between Elvis and Ms. Marion Keisker, at Memphis Recording Service. Elvis, daydreams of recording a professional song at Memphis Recording Service and frequently gazes upon the Memphis Recording Service windows, but Elvis has always been nervous and reluctant to go inside. One day Elvis, finally musters up the courage to go into the Memphis Recording Service. Elvis rings the bell on the lobby desk and waits for Ms. Marion Keisker, who seems at first attentiveness to be uninterested. Marion speaks to Elvis, and Elvis inquires about recording a song on a double sided acetate for his Mother's upcoming birthday. After quickly discussing the acetate, Elvis asks if Marion knows of anyone searching for a singer. Marion, promptly asks Elvis, “What kind of a singer are you?” Elvis responds“I sing all kinds.” “Well, who do you sound like?" and Elvis contemplates Marion's question and then he replies, "I don't sound like nobody." And..... then BAM there it is, a beyond flawless and marvelous ending! 

Hollywood, could not have acquired every ounce of cultivation, contentment, tenderness and energy; obtained by William Bryan. Elvis Presley Fans of Nashville, firmly believes William Bryan, was born to write and produced Nobody. No one else other than Bill could have bestowed all the devotion and adverse work needed to write, create and produce a film that grabs a hold of you, causes you to fill overjoyed and leaves you hungering for more! Elvis Presley has absolutely without any doubt has garnered undeniable justice and everything else imaginable captured in William Bryan's, short-film, Nobody. Thank you, William Bryan for delivering Elvis Presley and his fans a fantastic, accurate and first class Elvis Presley, film! 

Throughout the process of producing Nobody, Bill and his production team had a potent standing motto. The motto is: “We carry our own sound equipment, we carry the best equipment that money can buy, we have the most expensive show on the road, but I do not care, I want the people to get the best!” The motto is a genuine quote said by Elvis Presley in 1974 regarding his concert tour. Nobody has attributed precisely that, the quintessential best!! 

Another screening of Nobody was held during Elvis Week 2014 earlier during the day before the premiere on August 13th. Elvis Presley Fan Club President's from all over the world had the pleasure of being the very first audience ever to see Nobody. The event was held nearby Elvis Presley's Graceland at the Elvis Week Main Stage Pavilion at Elvis Presley Enterprises annual Fan Club President's event. The film was very well received at the event with Elvis fan club President's giving the film a standing ovation! As Bill, came back out to the stage, everyone was smiling from ear to ear as they all longed to know more about the interesting young filmmaker, William Bryan. 

The next step for William Bryan is to enter Nobody into the short film festival circuit. There are countless film festivals and film organizations worldwide. Elvis Presley Fans of Nashville would like to wish William Bryan the best of success with Nobody and with his career in the film industry, where we know he will greatly succeed! 

Elvis fans can look forward to screenings of William Bryan's Nobody, at upcoming Elvis festivals and events. A list of screenings appears at the end of this article.  

Article is COPYRIGHT (c) Caroline Pratt, all rights reserved. For noncommercial use: permission is granted with proper credit attributed to “Caroline Pratt - Elvis Presley Fans of Nashville.”

Long Live The King: 5 Questions with the Gatekeepers of the Elvis Brand
Posted by Paula Pou on August 29, 2014 03:58 PM

Every August, thousands of Elvis Presley fans descend upon Graceland to pay their respects to the King. Elvis Week, as the annual event has become known, is a celebration of the rock and roll icon’s life, and consists of concerts, movie screenings and candle vigils. This year’s event marked the 37th anniversary of Presley’s death, and while it wasn’t a landmark anniversary, change was in the air. 

And there’s good reason: Graceland is under new management. It’s not news that the Presley family no longer has majority control over Elvis’s intellectual property or management of Graceland itself—Lisa Marie sold that in 2005. But, in late 2013, National Entertainment Collectibles Association founder Joel Weinshanker acquired the rights to operate Graceland and its related properties in partnership with the Presley family and Authentic Brands Group (ABG). As part of that same transaction, ABG bought the Elvis intellectual property and oversees licensing and merchandising for the brand.   

The duo of brand managers have helped revive the King's brand for a new generation of fans, including the introduction of an iPad tour narrated by John Stamos, a 450-room hotel that will open next fall, and a deal with Pulse Evolution to bring The King back to life withholographic performances for live shows, films and ads.  

On the heels of this year’s Elvis Week, brandchannel chatted with Weinshanker, managing partner of Graceland, and ABG’s President and CMO Nick Woodhouse to find out what else the future holds for Elvis.

brandchannel: For the first time in 20 years, Graceland has announced new additions to the tour experience, but with two Elvis milestones in the near future (his 80th birthday in 2015, and the 40th anniversary of his death in 2017), what’s in store for Graceland and the Elvis Presley brand?

Joel Weinshanker: Elvis Presley is timeless, and Graceland is becoming not only one of the top attractions in the US, but the pop culture center of the world. Our goal is to continuously reinforce Elvis’s legacy as a true trendsetter and early adaptor, while continuing to update the visitor experience and maintaining the integrity of the mansion. 

bc: With an aging fan demographic, how are you attracting younger visitors, and what kind of experiences can they expect from their interactions with the Elvis brand? 

Weinshanker: If you visit Graceland, you will see that the average age of the guest is actually getting younger, not older. Elvis’s music, persona and legacy are being discovered by a new generation of modern, edgy fans. 

bc: Graceland just hosted its first-ever authenticated auction, which included a broad range of items, from a signed library card to a 1977 Cadillac Seville. With a collectible market that’s been thriving since 1977, why is Graceland getting involved now? 

Weinshanker: As we are all aware, many items have been offered over the years with “questionable” provenance. With over 1 million items, the Elvis Presley archive at Graceland is unrivaled by any other person’s archive, so we felt a responsibility to try and make sure that the items being offered to Elvis fans were legitimate. 

bc: ABG now owns the Elvis Presley intellectual property and manages the licensing and merch rights to the King’s image, but you’re also working closely with Joel [Weinshanker] and the Presley family to operate Graceland. How will this structure benefit the Elvis brand, and what is the collective vision you’re working towards?  

Nick Woodhouse: Just like we are focused on the Estate of Elvis Presley, Joel and the team at Graceland are tirelessly dedicated to growing the Elvis Presley brand while keeping the history of who Elvis was intact. Graceland has been a true partner in every sense of the word. The Presley family is also a partner of both properties and involved in all important decisions. We are collectively focused on reminding fans that Elvis was a true revolutionary not only in the music and entertainment industries, but in pop culture as well. 

bc: Are there any lessons you’ve learned from managing other celebrity brands like Marilyn Monroe and Muhammad Ali that are proving to be useful with the Elvis brand? Will we start seeing similar plans to refresh the other celebrity brands in your roster? 

Woodhouse: One important thing we’ve learned from working with Marilyn Monroe is that quantity doesn’t always equal quality. On the branding and merchandising side of our business, we are focused on working with blue chip partners who have a true understanding and respect for the integrity of the Elvis Presley brand. It is not about licensing every single item that comes our way. We are building on a legendary global brand. It’s a very exciting time to be in the Elvis business. 



source: http://www.brandchannel.com

September 1, 2014
by Caroline Pratt - Elvis Presley Fans of Nashville

The Mid-South Coliseum, located in Memphis, Tennessee, at the Mid-South Fairgrounds, is in consequential jeopardy of being demolished. The Mid-South Coliseum, was once known as the entertainment capitol of the Mid-South! Robert Lipscomb, director of Housing and Community Development of Memphis, is ready to move forward with his controversial $134.2 million redevelopment of the Mid-South Fairgrounds. The decision to approve the demolition is less than three weeks away! 

The Mid-South Coliseum, has been closed since the year 2006. The closure came about when the building failed to meet the current ADA standards. The building has been left to deteriorate and has been occasionally used for storage. The Mid-South Coliseum, is the current location for the 100-year old Memphis Grand Carousel and the Memphis Liberty Bell, among other very distinguished Memphis artifacts. 

Elvis Presley, performed at the Mid South Coliseum several times during the 1970's. Elvis' performances include March 17th, 1974, March 20th, 1974 when Elvis recorded a live on stage album, and his last concert performance in Memphis on July 5, 1976 at the Mid-South Coliseum. Elvis, was scheduled to play the Mid-South Coliseum again on his upcoming concert tour, the one Elvis and his fans would never see. The scheduled concert date was  to be August 27th, 1977. 

Demolition redevelopment already commenced in late 2009-2010 at the other Mid-South Fairground attractions. The first targets were: Libertyland Amusement Park which closed in 2005 and eventually all traces of the park were desolated by 2010, and Elvis Presley's favorite roller-coaster ride - the Zippin Pippin was dismantled and sold to a Amusement Park located in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Historic Markers, now stand near the entrance on Early Maxwell Road, for the Mid-South Fairgrounds honoring Libertyland Amusement Park and the Zippin Pippin. Redevelopment for retail space and other fruitless projects at the former Mid-South Fairgrounds have been in the works for an extended period of time. Plans have been postponed, abandoned and forgotten. Unfortunately, as mentioned above the plans for redevelopment are back on the table and the future for the Mid-South Coliseum, is  not looking too aspiring.  

Robert Lipscomb, confirmed that demolishing the Mid-South Coliseum is part of the overall redevelopment plan for the Fairgrounds. He said the facility can only be used for storage at this point, and not for sports due to non-compete clauses already in place. 

The Mid-South Coliseum, still has years of enchantment to offer Memphian's. If saved The Mid-South Coliseum, could be used for uses other than storage. The 100-year old Memphis Grand Carousel, which is stored inside tractor trailers on the arena floor of The Mid-South Coliseum could be constructed and utilized once again. There are countless visions to preserve The Mid-South Coliseum and facilitate it. Two ideas mentioned in the course of the years, incorporate: an indoor park with walking trails and rock climbing, and a multi-use athletic center with a swimming pool and ice skating rink. 

Save The Mid-South Coliseum, a Facebook Group has started a petition in attempt to save the Mid-South Coliseum, from demolition. The petition flyer, petition link and QR Code can be found below. 

A part of Memphis history & American Pop Culture~ Since 1964, known as "The Entertainment Capital of The Mid-South", the Coliseum was designed for a multi-purpose arena that seated 12000 people. It opened in 1964, and was the first desegregated public building in Shelby County. It was one of the few stops on The Beatle's final American tour. Elvis Presley performed at the Coliseum many times, as well as many famous performers. In addition to concerts, the coliseum was the home base of the United States Wrestling Association, the home of the Memphis Wings Hockey Team, University of Memphis Tiger Basketball and the home to three American Basketball Association teams. The facility was closed and moth-balled in 2006, because it failed to meet the current ADA standards. Placed on The National Register of Historic Places by The US Department of the Interior in the year 2000, this vital Memphis Icon is scheduled to fall to the wrecking ball, laid out by Robert Lipscomb, Director HCD, Memphis,TN… To be replaced with yet an unnamed 150 room Hotel, Retail strip, Apartment/Multi-Family housing segment, Parking garage, and amateur sports fields, to name a few…. Help us Save the Coliseum and share new venues in the future. Keep our public land Public and for the Public…Not Private development paid for by Tax & Bond money.

Please sign the petition and SAVE the MID-SOUTH COLISEUM! The decision to Deny or Approve its demolition is less than 3 weeks away! You can sign the petition using your smart phone, no problemo! The petition page is mobile-user-friendly and only takes a few seconds.

Lansky Bros. Clothier to the King - Julie and Hal Lansky
POSTED BY SOPHORN KUOY ON FRI, AUG 8, 2014 AT 

In 1952, Bernard Lansky notices a young man looking in the Beale Street storefront, welcomes him in, and shows him around. That young man was Elvis Presley, and before he was known as the King of Rock-n-Roll, he was a loyal customer to Lansky Brothers. As Mr. Lansky helped Elvis create his well-known and sought-after style, Bernard gained the title Clothier to the King. Together, they rose as American icons.

Today, Bernard’s son and granddaughter and Lanksy Brothers current owners Hal and Julie Lansky stand in the very building on 126 Beale Street where it all started, recounting that story of when the clothier met the King.

“Come on in and let me show you around!” Hal echoes his father’s first words to Elvis. Words also imprinted on the interior entry glass as you walk from the newly located Hard Rock Café to this fifth Lansky Bros. store: Clothier to the King, paying homage to Elvis and more importantly to the clothier himself.

Hal and Julie pointed to the framed black and white photographs of Bernard and young Elvis hanging above the racks of 1950s Elvis-inspired sport shirts and jackets. These photographs and other artifacts documented the friendship between the two. Bernard outfitted Elvis for his earth-shattering first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, floating the cost of the suit. As Elvis gained his stardom, he continued to buy his clothes from Lansky Bros. crediting them any chance he could, helping the Memphis establishment gain international attention.

“We’d like to think [Lansky’s] helped influence his style.” Julie says. For example, Bernard was the one that suggested Elvis flip up his collar and introduced him to the Pink and Black combination that soon defined the ‘50s.

Elvis enthusiasts will applaud - they did not forget the blue suede shoes. In laced and loafer versions, the iconic shoe is made exclusively by Hush Puppies. And for fun, they created the Jungle Room printed loafer (shown in slideshow).

Lansky Bros. Clothier to the King is largely dedicated to the vintage-inspired men’s clothing line of the same name but also caters to any modern man with a rock-n-roll edge. Not forgetting the original strong customer base of musicians, Lansky’s has kept a large stock of patterned shirts and jackets with their own stage presence. Some well-known customers and musicians past and present include Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison, B.B. King, Isaac Hayes, Bobby Blue Bland, and Robert Plant. Other items offered in this location are custom women’s wear made from recycled Elvis T-shirts, jeans, Memphis T-shirts, Elvis socks and even a fragrance inspired by the King.

See more of what they have to offer in the slideshow below or shop online at www.lanskybros.com.

The other four shops - Lansky at the Peabody, Lansky 126, Lansky Lucky Duck, and Lansky Essentials - are located and will remain within the Peabody Hotel. The new store is just a quick walk south from the Peabody Hotel on Second Street - returning to its music-inspired roots near Beale Street.

This shop location is open 11am -7pm Sunday to Wednesday and 9am-9pm Thursday to Saturday.



source: http://www.memphisflyer.com

Elvis is always in the building at Georgia woman's home
by Ed Grisamore, The Telegraph
August 15, 2014


GRAY, Ga. (AP) - Elaine Greene visits the E.R. several times a day.

It is the first door on the left as you walk down her hallway. In the house on a hill overlooking Gray Highway, Elvis is always in the building.

The E.R. is the Elvis Room, where a king can live forever. The decor is All Things Presley. Elvis leaps across the floor, up the walls and over the top.

Elaine Greene is no ordinary Elvis fan. She is an Elvis fan with capital letters and exclamation points. Passionate is a keyword in her thesaurus. Even the diehards don't all have a room fit for a king.

Whatever you do, don't step on her Greene-suede shoes.

There are moments forever frozen in our memories. For Elaine, one of them is Aug. 16, 1977. The baby sitter called. Had she heard the news?

Elvis is dead.

She cried.

In the Elvis Room, she has been keeping him on life support.

Elaine has hundreds of Elvis books, post cards, soda bottles, 29-cent stamps, posters, pillows, coffee mugs, a blanket and a Monopoly board game.

On one side of the room is a bust of Elvis. It was left on her doorstep one night by a friend. Across the room is an Elvis slot machine. Drop in a coin and, if three Elvis heads pop up, it starts playing an Elvis song.

Among her favorite items is a red cap covered with 53 Elvis pins.

"It weighs a ton on my head," she said. "I can only wear it for 15 minutes."

She has a school desk from Humes High School in Memphis, where Presley graduated in 1953. She and her friend, Beth Davidson, an Elvis fan on equal footing, talked the janitor into letting them have three. (To show their appreciation, they made a donation to the library.)

There is no proof Elvis actually sat in any of the desks. His initials aren't carved in the wood grain. But at least the desk was in the company of a king. And that is enough.

Elaine taught school for 32 years. At Tattnall Square Academy, she was a seventh-grade English teacher. She included "Elvis" on the syllabus as a teaching tool. She once gave her students Reese's Cups (with Elvis on the wrapper) on the first day of school.

In her classroom at Tattnall, she kept an Elvis cut-out, album covers, a jigsaw puzzle and Christmas ornaments. When she retired in 2009, her husband, Wayne, helped move her Elvis collection to a spare bedroom. He has become a permanent house guest.

Elvis has run a thread through her life. Her crush began when she was 9 years old. She sat in front of a black-and-white TV and watched Presley on "The Ed Sullivan Show." Known as "Elvis the Pelvis" for his hip gyrations, the TV cameras showed him only from the waist up.

In high school, she accepted Elvis records instead of baby-sitting money. She saw Elvis three times in concert -- twice in Macon and once in Atlanta. She kept the ticket stubs. (One cost $7.50.)

"Can't Help Falling in Love" was sung at her wedding at Hillsboro Baptist Church in 1970. She has requested that two songs from an Elvis gospel tape -- "Take My Hand Precious Lord" and "Just a Closer Walk With Thee" -- be played at her funeral.

Elaine regrets not being in Memphis for "Elvis Week," which runs through Sunday. She and Beth Davidson have been attending since 1997, missing only four times in 17 years. "It's like going to a big family reunion," Elaine said.

They have made many trips to Graceland, the second-most visited home in America (next to the White House).

"You just feel the presence of Elvis there, and tell yourself that this is where he was," she said.

She and Beth have broken bread at Marlowe's Ribs, where Elvis fans from all over the world gather to swap stories. They once came home with Elvis tattoos, not letting on to family members that the tattoos were temporary.

Two years ago, they got to see Priscilla Presley. They once "stalked" Lisa Marie, when she was dating Nicolas Cage. A security guard let them watch Presley's daughter as she exited the theater after the first "Elvis Virtual Concert" at Mud Island.

They met Jerry Schilling, who was one of Elvis' bodyguards. He shared great stories and still lives in the house Presley gave him. They once invited an Italian man, dressed in a royal blue jump suit, to join them for pizza. He had earned a trip to "Elvis Week" by being named the Italian Elvis Entertainment Artist. He didn't speak a word of English but knew the words to every Elvis song. They later saw him weeping in the Meditation Garden at Graceland.

They introduced themselves to Sandi Miller, the "girl at the gate," who was part of the Presley entourage and had more than 30 scrapbooks of photographs.

"Sandi Miller's last conversation with Elvis was right before he died," said Elaine. "He asked her to come to Palm Springs for the weekend. She could not, and he said 'Maybe next time.' There never was a next time."

Even when Elaine is not at Elvis Week, the king is never far away. He is in the E.R. She goes there to write, listen to Elvis music or watch an Elvis movie.

When she sees one of her former students, she is reminded of those lasting impressions.

"Mrs. Greene," they will tell her, "every time I hear an Elvis song, I think of you."


source: http://mdjonline.com

Elvis Was Our Shabbos Goy

Some people lean on neighbors for a cup of sugar. The Fruchters, of Memphis, Tennessee, needed theirs to help them keep the Sabbath.

By Vox Tablet|August 25,  2014

We’ve all got our go-to story about brushes with fame, but Harold Fruchter’s is truly a conversation stopper. Fruchter, a singer and guitarist in a Jewish wedding band, and the son of a rabbi, was born in 1952. When he was a baby, and up to the age of 2, his family lived in the upstairs apartment of a two-story flat in Memphis. Their downstairs neighbors were the Presleys. The two families formed a friendship, and the future King of Rock, just a teenager then, learned to pick up the cues when the Fruchters needed someone to turn on a light or unlock a door on Shabbos. The Fruchters, for their part, helped Elvis out materially (if not spiritually) on occasion. 

Here’s the story of that friendship, told by Harold Fruchter. The piece was produced by Rob Sachs, with help from Bob Carlson, and first aired on KCRW’s UnFictional.

source: http://www.tabletmag.com

Elvis Presley 1956 Lincoln Continental up close and personal
by David B L Johnstone

• Paperback: 20 pages
• Publisher: Blurb (2014)
• ISBN-10: 1320100848
• ISBN-13: 978-1320100847
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 7.1 x 0.2 inches

Previously unpublished private photos of the 1956 Lincoln Continental once owned by Elvis Presley. Some photos were taken prior to this iconic vehicle being fully restored and are up close and in never before seen detail.

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