The press conference just after midnight, in the Internationals Convention Hall, followed by a meet and greet mingle.
There are thousands of photos circulating of this event and I'd just like to give a big thanks and credit to the following photographers for their work and for making the time to be in the right place when it mattered. In no particular order, Terry O'Neill, Oscar Abolafia, Peter Borsari, Hank deLespinasse, and Andrew Kent. Any other names known please let us know.
Charlie Hodge can be seen seated in a suit and tie. As the only band member and member of the MM present here this was the reason his attire was different on stage tonight to the rest of the band. I'm curious to know how a couple of particular photographs came to be. It was either taken by Charlie or Sonny West or they allowed - seemingly unfazed - to let a photographer in behind where they were seated (and it seemed tight in there). I'm sure you can work out which ones!
No audio has surfaced as yet, the quality may not be brilliant if it did as there are no microphones on the desk, so it would be a reporter holding their own recorder and it will have picked up the hustle and bustle of what was going on directly around that reporter. Elvis' voice wasn't amplified like an audience recorded concert as he had no mic(s).
Rumours have circulated about film of the event, they always have and I beieve they always will. There is a photograph (it's one of the ones I referred to above) where there is a rather differrent looking camera mounted on a tripod visible. It doesn't look like it would contain film but it may have been broadcasting the event up to Kirk Kerkorians private suite, so more of a CCTV camera than a recording camera.
As far as knowing what was said the nearest we have are reporter source(s) who shorthanded the questions and replies.
I was on the understanding Elvis gave a 5 minute sort of who I am where did I come from speech, pretty much as he did in probably the concert just before, and those that followed in this engagement, then he took questions listed below from those gathered.
There's also a chapter in the book, "Elvis In his Own Words" Compiled by Mick Farren and Pearce Marchbank page 119 titled, "The Last Statemet To The Press" where they actually write "inaudible" in one of the paragraphs, so I assume they were listening to a recording to find themselves saying that.
For want of having things as complete as possible I'm going to include the segment of the book here:
'Elvis In his Own Words', compiled by Mick Farren and Pearce Marchbank wrote:I'd like to tell you a little about how I got into this business and how I got started, where and when and so forth, because it's been written up so many times that people don't really know the true story. It happened when I was just out of high school and I was driving a truck. I was studying to be an electrician and I got wired the wrong way somewhere along the line.
I went into a recording studio and I made a record for a guy named Sam Phillips. Sun Records. And he puts the record out in about a week. I went on driving a truck and just forgot about it. And when it came out they started playing it and it got real big in the south. I was still driving a truck in the daytime and working nightclubs at night, little bars and fairs. And in 1956 I met Colonel Sanders-Parker, and he arranged for me to go on television. So they put me on telelvision. I did the Ed Sullivan show four times and I did the Steve Allen show, the Jackie Gleason show . . . And they filmed me from here up, you know. "You stand still."
The first time I went to the Grand Ol' Opry it was a talent show and they turned me down. They said, "You get out of here." So I went to (inaudible). They turned me down and took Pat Boone. He had his white shoes and stuff, you know.
And then later on they sent me to Hollywood to make movies (inaudible). "That's all we can get out of him." So I made four movies. In 1958 I got drafted. I went into the army and I stayed a couple of years and it was loads of fun. They made a big deal out of it and cut my hair. then I came out and a made a picture called "G.I. Blues" where I thought I was still in the army. I made more movies, "Blue Hawaii" . . . It kind of got into a routine and a rut and I kind of wanted to come back and work live in front of p[eople again.
I hope I haven't bored you.
Ironic reference to Pat Boone as he was with his daughter in the audience that had just watched the show Elvis had just performed.
The following has been circulated for a number of years, the order has changed around a bit and no accuracy is guaranteed:-
Reporter: "Why have you waited so long to perform Live again?" "Did you return to Live Performing because of the Phenomenal successes of Wales Singer Tom Jones and British Crooner Engelbert Humperdinck?" Elvis: (Elvis shakes his head at the suggestion)
"I think they are great",..."But My decision to return was made in 1965, and it was hard to wait",..."I don't think I could have waited any longer."... "We had to finish up the movie commitments we had before I could start on this... "I missed the Live contact with an Audience." "It was getting harder and harder to sing to a camera all day." Reporter "Can you remember first coming to Vegas?" Elvis: "Sure, I was 19 years old. Nobody knew Me.... Whe're you from...Boy?, They would ask." Reporter "How do you like being a father?" Elvis: "I like it !" Reporter "Are you and Priscilla planning on adding to your Family?" Elvis:"You'll be the first to know." he says laughing Reporter "What things do you do when you are at home at Graceland?" Elvis: "I ride horse back, swim and talk with the tourists hanging out at the gates." Reporter"How does your wife feel about you being a Sex Symbol again?" Elvis: "I don't know... you would have to ask her." Reporter "Do your Wife and Daughter accompany you?" Elvis: "Priscilla is here,... but my Daughter is in L.A. with her Nanny."..."She could not make it." Reporter "How do you Manage to stay so Young?" Elvis: "I don't know".."One of these days I'll probably fall apart." "I feel, I've just been lucky." Reporter "Are you tired of your present type of movie, have you grown tired of the movie plots?? Elvis: "Yes, I want to Change the type of Script I've been doing." Reporter "What kind of Scripts do you like?" Elvis: "Something with Meaning".... "I'm going after More Serious Material." "I couldn't dig always playing the Guy who'd get into a fight, Beat the Guy up,.., and in the Next Shot Sing to Him." Reporter "Do you think it was a mistake to do so many Movie Sound-Track Albums?" Elvis: "I think so"..... "When you do Ten songs in a movie,they can't all be good songs. Anyway",.."I got tired of Singing to Turtles." Reporter"When you met the Beatles", "No press was allowed, why was that?" Elvis: "I think because we could relax more that way and we could talk Candidly." Reporter "Do you like to wear leather-jackets, like the one you wore in your TV Special?" Elvis: "No".... "I hate wearing them, because they are too hot when your working." Reporter"Where did you get the design for your stage out-fits?" Elvis: "I got the idea by a Karate-gi,.. I once had." Reporter "What do you think of the Hollywood scene?" Elvis: "I just don't go for it....." "I have nothing against it, but I just don't enjoy it." Reporter "How long did you rehearse for these shows?" Elvis: "I practised for nearly 3 months." "Today I went through Three Complete Dress Rehersals." "This was the fourth time I did that show today." ..." I'm really Beat." Reporter "How did you choose the songs for the show?" Elvis: "I just sang My Favorite Songs." Reporter "Do you want to do more Live Shows?" Elvis: "I want to.... I would like to play all over the World."... "I chose Las Vegas to Play First, Because it is a place People come to from All Over." Reporter "Are you trying to change your image with songs like "In the Ghetto"? Elvis: "No, "Ghetto" was such a great song, I just couldn't pass it up after I heard it." "There are a lot of New Records Out Now that have the same sound I started,.. But they're Better."...."I mean, you can't compare a song like "Yesterday" with "Hound Dog",..... Can You?" Reporter "Why have you led such a secluded life all these years?" Elvis: "It's not secluded Honey.".." I'm just Sneaky." He says laughing Reporter "Is it true you dye your hair?" Elvis: "Sure, I have always done it for the movies." Reporter "Did you enjoy performing Live again?" Elvis: "Yes !... "This has been one of the Most Exciting Nights of my Life." Reporter "Did you feel nervous during the show?" Elvis: "For the First Three songs or so, I didn't feel relaxed until after "Love me Tender" before I loosened up."....."Then I Thought, What The Heck.....Get With It Man!" "Or you might be out of a Job Tomorrow". Reporter "Do you have a share in the International Hotel?" Elvis: "No, I have not." Reporter "Why did you choose a Negro backup group?: Elvis: "They help get a feeling and get to my soul." Reporter "Have you ever seen England's top singer, Cliff Richard?" Elvis: "Yes, I met him in Germany a long time ago." (Elvis was mistaken, he could have been thinking of someone else, maybe Billy Fury, However they did not meet until 62') Reporter "Mr. Presley,".. "I've been sent here by "Lord Sutch Enterprises" "To offer you One Million Pounds Sterling to make Two Apperances at the Wembley Empire Stadium in England,".... " This Price will include a Documentary that will be Filmed during and after the Shows." "It will Only Take 24 Hours." Elvis: (Elvis points to Col.Parker)"You'll have to ask him about that."
Colonel: (Parker)"Just put down the desposit." Elvis: "Elvis, how much do you get paid for these performances?"
Colonel: (Parker Speaks up)"We are pleased with the deal. I am glad He is Here." Reporter "Is it true you get paid in International-stocks?"
Colonel: (Parker Speaks up again) "Certainly not."... "The only thing we get for Free are the Crickets in the Rooms." Reporter "Do you still own about 10 cars?" Elvis: "I have never owned that many."... " Only 4 or 5 at most." Reporter "Elvis is there any Other Individual You would Rather Be?" Elvis: "Are you Kidding ???" He says laughing
$125K a week for mah boy, but I could have had $50 a head for the show he's just put on in here all for me, me, me alone! I hope it doesn't show on my face just how pissed off I am.
After the formal press conference was over those there were able to meet and greet Elvis on a more informal one to one basis and he tried to talk to as many people as he could.
I'll try and name as many faces as I can, some I've no idea so would be great if anyone wants to post the names. Cheers!
With showgirl Pat Gill
With showgirl Pat Gill
With showgirl Pat Gill
With Pat Gill
With Alex and Joan Shoofey
With Alex and Joan Shoofey
With Joan Shoofey
With Joan Shoofey
1969_aug_01_545.jpg (7.92 KiB) Viewed 9964 times
With Joan Shoofey and Rodney Dangerfield
Parker, Rodeney Dangerfield
Ann Moses and her husband
With Ann Moses
With Ann Moses
Same as B&W photo above but other head brushed out
Published in tomorrows London Evening Standard, Ray Connolly wrote the following after attending this show (not the Opening Show the article possibly may lead one to understand)..
Ray Connolly of the London Evening Standard wrote:London Evening Standard
August 2, 1969
By Ray Connolly
Elvis Presley came back from celluloid wilderness of Hollywood over the weekend to make his first public appearance in nine years. For a reputed fee of £225,000 the god of rock and roll returned to the stage in a blaze of advertising at the brand new International Hotel in this hot and lunatic town of Las Vegas. I’ve already seen the show three times and I can tell you he is sensational – better than any of us could ever have imagined.
Twice nightly for 28 days he will be appearing for the rich and their womenfolk. “It is,” Elvis says, “the most exciting thing I’ve done in years”. But it was the first appearance on the first night that had all the drama. He was out of this world, better by far than I – always the greatest Presley fan in world – could possibly have hoped for, and a lesson in himself to the entertainment media of our generation.
For a full hour he worked and sweated, gyrated and shuddered, warbled and sang, and grunted and groaned his way through 20 songs. It was a sensational comeback. Looking as slim as a ramrod, and not a day over 23 (he’s actually 34 now), he ambled back on to the stage after a nine year absence like a sheepish young lad going to meet his girlfriend’s parents for the first time.
Hardly daring to look or acknowledge the audience, which was composed mainly of over-thirties, since young people could never normally afford the price, he went straight into Blue Suede Shoes and had completed I Got A Woman and That’s All Right, Mama before finding it necessary to begin any chatting.
For over an hour he flogged himself to near exhaustion moving wildly and sexily around the stage all the time, and now and again reaching for a handkerchief or a glove from the ecstatic and many-splendoured ladies in the front row. Although his early fans are grown up and mothers themselves now, Elvis has remained the boy from the South – awkward, shy, full of evil promise and a dynamic performer.
As backing, a group of girl singers, the Sweet Inspirations, joined with the Imperials to add strength to an outstanding six-man group on electric piano, drums, bass and three guitars.
The balancing of combo was perfect, and there was little need for the full 30-piece orchestra which helped out occasionally on some of the ballads like Love Me Tender and Can’t Help Falling In Love (With You) and Yesterday.
It is difficult to describe the exact appeal of the man. True he is a great and rhythmic singer, but there’s something more. His perfect looks and style add a charisma that is magnetic. Having seen his show it is easier now to understand how he became the legend that he is in pop music.
Surprisingly the biggest applause of the night, and it was generous always, came of a brand-new song called Suspicious Minds – his next record and almost certainly 51st million seller.
While his act is concentrated mainly on a selection of his own many hits he also found time to include some great versions of Ray Charles’s I Can’t Stop Loving You and Chuck Berry’s Johnny B. Goode.
It was indeed a memorable night. The night when Elvis Presley, the founder of much of modern day pop music, discovered that he is still one of greatest performers and went back to doing what he always did best.
These were some of the photographs taken by Ann Moses and her then husband.
They are dated August 1st 1969, but I'm not 100% whether they are from the DS or the MS.
I'd always imagined him in black in those first 1969 Vegas shows...
For the most part I think they must have been black / dark.
The invoice raised for the stage costumes on 15th August 1969 mention no white stagewear at all.
However, the white costume used in the pics above are with breat pockets on the jacket. The belt is one Elvis had had for a while and was worn at home with photos of him wearing it.
That appears not to be stage wear but off stage wear with lost of pics of Elvis wearing that top taken by fans getting autographs and having their photo taken with Elvis.
Why Elvis chose to wear that is anyones guess.
But, he had worn two outfits already as he'd changed into another for the press conference. That attire was also stage wear that he wore during this engagement.
So was he just trying to be "different" by not wanting to be photographed again wearing a dark outfit?
The photos above were originally dated Aug 26th and used in the 2011 FTD Live In Vegas, but Ann Moses would know better than anyone.
