Elvis Presley spent his 41st birthday upset with his entourage. He took his group of friends and employees to Colorado for a ski trip and spent much of their time together in a miserable mood. After a disappointing birthday celebration, he scolded his friends. One bodyguard said he behaved like a spoiled child.
Elvis Presley spent 1 birthday terrorizing his entourage
After a draining run of performances, Elvis brought his entourage to Colorado for what everyone hoped would be a relaxing vacation. Instead, the trip was incredibly stressful.
“He took us to Vail, Colorado, for what he said was going to be a dream vacation,” bodyguard Sonny West said in the book Elvis: What Happened? by Steve Dunleavy. “Well, it was a nightmare. He was heavy into pills.”
(L-r, standing) Billy Smith, former sheriff Bill Morris, Lamar Fike, Jerry Schilling, Sheriff Roy Nixon, Vernon Presley, Charlie Hodge, Sonny West, George Klein,...
Elvis Presley spent 1 birthday terrorizing his entourage
After a draining run of performances, Elvis brought his entourage to Colorado for what everyone hoped would be a relaxing vacation. Instead, the trip was incredibly stressful.
“He took us to Vail, Colorado, for what he said was going to be a dream vacation,” bodyguard Sonny West said in the book Elvis: What Happened? by Steve Dunleavy. “Well, it was a nightmare. He was heavy into pills.”
(L-r, standing) Billy Smith, former sheriff Bill Morris, Lamar Fike, Jerry Schilling, Sheriff Roy Nixon, Vernon Presley, Charlie Hodge, Sonny West, George Klein,...
- 2/1/2024
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Elvis Presley’s acting career never reached its fullest potential, but many of the people who worked with him praised his ability on screen. Eventually, though, his acting career took a downturn. Still, two of his friends said they watched him give one of his best performances in the mid-1970s. They couldn’t help but feel a bit uncomfortable as he performed it, though.
Elvis Presley gave an incredible but uncomfortable acting performance to his friends
In the 1970s, Elvis brought his friends to Denver for a ski trip. They had traveled there after a tour, and everyone was exhausted and irritable. Still, Linda Thompson, Jerry Schilling, and Myrna Smith rallied enough to celebrate Elvis’ 41st birthday with him.
Elvis had seemed glum, but he perked up when Smith said she hadn’t seen the movie Across 110th Street. It was his favorite film, and he launched into a detailed explanation of its plot.
Elvis Presley gave an incredible but uncomfortable acting performance to his friends
In the 1970s, Elvis brought his friends to Denver for a ski trip. They had traveled there after a tour, and everyone was exhausted and irritable. Still, Linda Thompson, Jerry Schilling, and Myrna Smith rallied enough to celebrate Elvis’ 41st birthday with him.
Elvis had seemed glum, but he perked up when Smith said she hadn’t seen the movie Across 110th Street. It was his favorite film, and he launched into a detailed explanation of its plot.
- 12/9/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Elvis Presley rarely went anywhere without his entourage, a group of friends and employees who catered to his needs. Elvis was generous to his entourage, but he also had a temper. Everyone in his life also knew he was incredibly insecure. Elvis once witnessed two members of his entourage talking and assumed they were speaking poorly about him. When they wouldn’t admit to it, he threatened violence.
Elvis threatened his friend when he thought he was talking about him
One night, Elvis and his entourage had women over, and Elvis flirted with two different people.
“We had all been drinking a bit, so had Elvis,” his friend and bodyguard Sonny West said, per the book Careless Love: The Unmaking of Elvis Presley by Peter Guralnick. “Tuesday [Weld] and Elvis are on the couch and I’m talking to this girl. Elvis leans over and kisses her and says, ‘You’re really cute.
Elvis threatened his friend when he thought he was talking about him
One night, Elvis and his entourage had women over, and Elvis flirted with two different people.
“We had all been drinking a bit, so had Elvis,” his friend and bodyguard Sonny West said, per the book Careless Love: The Unmaking of Elvis Presley by Peter Guralnick. “Tuesday [Weld] and Elvis are on the couch and I’m talking to this girl. Elvis leans over and kisses her and says, ‘You’re really cute.
- 12/1/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Elvis Presley’s entourage worked for him, but each of them was also a friend. He’d met some of them as children, meaning they had close relationships. He spent nearly all his time with his entourage and gave them presents whenever possible. Once, Elvis even gave his longtime friend, Jerry Schilling, a home.
Elvis Presley gave his longtime friend a house
Elvis met Schilling, a key member of his entourage, when they were children. He remained close to Elvis for years, even moving into his Beverly Hills home after his divorce. When Schilling began dating Myrna Smith, one of Elvis’ backup singers, he offered to move into an apartment. He worried about the way Elvis would react to the interracial relationship, but the musician insisted that he stay in the house. Schilling did, but he wanted a home of his own.
Jerry Schilling | George Rose/Getty Images
Eventually, Schilling...
Elvis Presley gave his longtime friend a house
Elvis met Schilling, a key member of his entourage, when they were children. He remained close to Elvis for years, even moving into his Beverly Hills home after his divorce. When Schilling began dating Myrna Smith, one of Elvis’ backup singers, he offered to move into an apartment. He worried about the way Elvis would react to the interracial relationship, but the musician insisted that he stay in the house. Schilling did, but he wanted a home of his own.
Jerry Schilling | George Rose/Getty Images
Eventually, Schilling...
- 11/3/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
In the 1970s, Elvis Presley’s backup singers understood that he frequently made off-the-cuff comments during performances. It became a problem when he started making pointed and, eventually, outright rude comments about them. His remarks were so bad during one concert that many of his backup singers walked off the stage.
Elvis Presley’s backup singers walked offstage after a comment he made about them
During concerts in the mid-1970s, Elvis made a number of derogatory comments about one of his backup singers, Kathy Westmoreland. During one show, he took shots at all his backup singers. Per the book Careless Love: The Unmaking of Elvis Presley by Peter Guralnick, Elvis told the audience he “smelled green peppers and onions and that his backup singers, the Sweet Inspirations, had probably been eating catfish.”
Given the comments Elvis had already been making about Westmoreland, the Sweet Inspirations worried his words would grow more insulting.
Elvis Presley’s backup singers walked offstage after a comment he made about them
During concerts in the mid-1970s, Elvis made a number of derogatory comments about one of his backup singers, Kathy Westmoreland. During one show, he took shots at all his backup singers. Per the book Careless Love: The Unmaking of Elvis Presley by Peter Guralnick, Elvis told the audience he “smelled green peppers and onions and that his backup singers, the Sweet Inspirations, had probably been eating catfish.”
Given the comments Elvis had already been making about Westmoreland, the Sweet Inspirations worried his words would grow more insulting.
- 9/13/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
After thousands of live performances and years of stage appearances, Elvis Presley had his stage banter down pat. However, he once broke into uncontrollable laughter during a 1969 performance of one of his most tender love songs. This blunder has become a favorite live recording of fans of the king of rock and roll. But what caused Elvis Presley to break down on stage?
Elvis Presley laughing at a Las Vegas press conference in 1969 | Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images Elvis Presley cracked himself up during a performance of ‘Are You Lonesome Tonight’
Elvis Presley changed the lyrics to one of his most famous songs to switch things up during a live performance at the International Hotel in Las Vegas in August 1969. “Are You Lonesome Tonight” was a hit for the king of rock and roll in 1960.
Presley recorded the love song at the end of an all-night session at RCA’s...
Elvis Presley laughing at a Las Vegas press conference in 1969 | Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images Elvis Presley cracked himself up during a performance of ‘Are You Lonesome Tonight’
Elvis Presley changed the lyrics to one of his most famous songs to switch things up during a live performance at the International Hotel in Las Vegas in August 1969. “Are You Lonesome Tonight” was a hit for the king of rock and roll in 1960.
Presley recorded the love song at the end of an all-night session at RCA’s...
- 5/15/2023
- by Lucille Barilla
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
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