Facts from Elvis' Life

Welcome! here you'll find some interesting facts and events from Elvis' life

While shooting in Viva Las Vegas Elvis had a romance with the leading actress Ann Margaret. Once they were returning from the studio on Elvis' motorcycle. Suddenly the bike ran outta gas. They went to the nearest gas station and it turned out that none of them had money. Fortunatly the manager recognized the stars and gave tham gas for autographs.

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In the 70's Elvis learnt that one of the Memphis Mafia members nicknamed Hamburger was stealing his jewelery. Elvis got furious. Hamburger was just taking on a plane and he was supposed to leave the town, so Elvis with some Memphis Mafia members got into cars and went to the airport. There Elvis ordered to stop the flight and using his FBI badge got int the plane. There he cought Hamburger and told him his right as in a police movie.

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When Elvis was in the Army he nearly died two times. Once they covered the car and fell asleep. And they forgot to stop the engine so the tent was filled with smoke and he had to be taken to the hospital. The other time Elvis got lost on his Jeep and crossed the border. As the East Germany was under the USSR's control imagine what woul happen if a soviet soldier saw an american soldier having crossed the border

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Christmas 1958 was especially hard for Elvis. In August he had lost his beloved mother
Gladys. Now, he was stationed in Germany as a soldier in the U.S. Army, far from home and
also concerned about his music and film career being on hold.
Elvis' fellow soldiers had decorated the company Christmas tree. They had taken up a
collection and given a party for the orphans in nearby Friedberg. Elvis had visited the
area promoting the new Salk polio vaccine. On the day that some of the men were to go on holiday leave and furlough, they had to have all theirequipment cleaned and inspected and they could not have their passes before 1700 hours.
Some of the guys were humming and singing Christmas songs. One soldier asked Elvis to
show them how he did his Christmas songs. He finished polishing mirrors in the latrine and then joined the crowd. He told them to "make an instrument." Out came spoons, combs with wax paper, and makeshift drums using tent pins for drum sticks. They sang a rock version of "White
Christmas" with great fervor. It was almost 1700 hours and one soldier asked before they
went would Elvis sing "Silent Night." Elvis took the guitar and asked his sergeant to help him. Recalls Sergeant Jones, "Elvis sang as if in a trance, totally oblivious to the spoons, combs, and tent pins...Somewhere along the way the instruments fell silent and only Elvis' voice could be heard. Those going on pass didn't interrupt. They simply walked silently by Elvis, touched his shoulder and walked out the door. Not another word was spoken after the song until Elvis broke the spell. 'Merry Christmas, everyone,' he said. 'Merry Christmas Elvis!'
they replied in unison."

On Christmas day Sergeant Jones came by the barracks to look in on those not on leave. He
expected to find a somber place. Instead the barracks were jumping. Elvis too had
thought of the others with nowhere to go and had stopped by with a visiting movie actress.
He took the time to introduce her to each soldier before they were
off to see a show in Frankfurt. After he left one soldier told Jones, "'You know, Sarge,
that Elvis, he sure does know how to make people feel good." Jones replied, "Amen." And
then "Amen!" the guys in the barracks shouted back.
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Elvis was drafted into to the Army on March 24th 1958 as Army Private 53310761. He had to go on an army tour to West Germany. Hundreds of German fans where waiting to while Elvis was came in at Bremerhaven on October 1 1958.
Elvis would stay for 18 months in the little town called Bad Nauheim near his army base The Ray Barracks in Friedberg. On March 2 1960 Elvis’ army tour with the US Third Division was over. Elvis would fly back home to the United States after waving goodbye to the German fans who were waiting in the cold. Elvis would give away a special goodbye to his girlfriend Priscilla who would be his future wife.
The plane was leaving fromt Rhinemain air base and would make the first stop at Ayrshire Prestwick Airport in Scotland. Elvis would stay there for a two-hour stop at the home for the 1631 USAF unit.
The news that, Elvis would flying in that day, went very fast and in a short time local fans rushed to the airport to greet the King of Rock n’ roll. The most fans were in the terminal building where he was passing by. Without influence of Colonel Tom Parker Elvis was relaxing with fans and was signing autographs and even gave a short low-key press conference. Elvis was officially greeted by Commander Russell Fisher and Majors Ed Miller and Ben Bacchus who would lead Elvis during his time in Scotland. In those 2 hours Elvis was at Prestwick he even called Priscilla on the phone, who was still in Frankfurt Germany.
After the two hour break in Scotland Elvis was flying to Mc. Guire Air Force base near Fort Dix in New Jersey. On 07:42 Elvis landed in a snowstorm and put his first foot back on United States ground after a 18 month visit to West Germany. The promise Elvis made to return to Europe and do a tour is one he never fulfilled. After March 2 1960 Elvis would never come outside the United States again.

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Elvis loved cars. He bought them and quite often gave them away, just for fun. Elvis became famous because of his love for Cadillac’s but Elvis didn’t only had Cadillac’s he owned during the years Ferrari’s, Jeep’s, Chevrolet’s, Ford’s and The famous Stutz Blackhawk’s.

Nobody can say The Stutz Blackhawk was Elvis his favourite Car but he loved it that’s for sure. Elvis bought 5 of them between 1971 and 1974 and gave 2 away as a special present. The salesman that sold Elvis most of his Stutz was Jules Meyers He is known because of the several pictures taken of him with Elvis.

Elvis was bought the first Stutz Blackhawk that ever came out after the prototype in 1971. In first place Frank Sinatra ordered it but Elvis had a little word with the salesman and he turned him over. The car was badly damaged when a livery driver got into a bad car accident with the car in July 1971 just before washing it. Elvis partially restored the car but never used it again. The car ended up behind Graceland.

The most famous Elvis Stutz is the 230 HP 1973 Stutz Blackhawk III. Elvis bought the car in September 1974 for $20.000,-. This Stutz was very unique because it had a red leather interior with 18-karat gold-plated trim throughout. This car is also known as the last car Elvis ever drove when he came home from the dentist during the night of August 15 1977.
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to be continued...