Facts

Presley Family Heritage

Elvis' father Vernon Elvis Presley was born on April 10, 1916 in Fulton, Mississippi. Vernon's parents were Jessie D. McClowell Presley (1896 - 1973) and Minnie Mae Hood Presley (1893 - 1980). Jessie was a farmer and was said to have been a good looking man. Minnie Mae has been described by her family as skinny, peppy and a hard worker.

Elvis' mother Gladys Love Smith was born on April 25, 1912 in Pontotoc County, Mississippi. Gladys' parents were Robert Lee Smith and Octavia Luvenia "Doll" Mansell. Octavia was said to have received her nickname "Doll" because she was a very beautiful and fragile woman. She gave birth to nine children and was bedridden most of her life, dying at the age of 59 from tuberculosis. Gladys' father Robert was a handsome man with black hair. He was a cotton farmer and an occasional moonshiner. He would often pick up extra jobs to help support his large family. In his fifties, he died suddenly of pneumonia, leaving the then 19-year-old Gladys to find work in Tupelo as a seamstress to help support the family.

Gladys had black hair and dark eyes. As a youth she liked to play basketball. She played the position of forward and was very good at it. She also loved music and dancing. Vernon was tall and fair haired. He, too, liked music and had a good singing voice. He also enjoyed working on cars. In Tupelo, Mississippi they met and fell in love. They eloped on June 17, 1933 and were married in Ponotoc County. Their son Elvis, destined for fame, and his stillborn twin Jessie were born January 8, 1935 in their small home in Tupelo.

Various authors have researched Elvis' genealogy to varying degrees of accuracy. Although an official genealogy has not yet been completed by Graceland Archives, there is evidence that Elvis' ancestory is from several countries. His heritage includes Welsh, English, Scottish, Irish, French, Dutch, German and Cherokee ancestory.

Skates, Roller-coasters & Dodgem Cars

As a youth, Elvis often visited the Rainbow Roller Skating Rink in Memphis. It was located on Lamar Avenue and was a part of the Pieraccini family entertainment complex, which included the Eagle's Nest nightclub. It was at the Rainbow skating rink that Elvis first spent quality time with Dixie Locke, his high school sweetheart. At the start of his music career, Elvis performed at the Eagle's Nest. After his career took off and he could afford it, Elvis rented out the Rainbow after hours for parties with his friends. The guys would play skating games they had invented. They would wear elbow and knee pads to protect themselves and then divide up into teams to have a "war" or line up in a chain and play "pop the whip". The week before he was inducted into the army in March 1958, Elvis visited the Rainbow Roller Skating Rink every night to vent stress and to be with his friends before he had to leave. He rented it out again in March of 1960 when he returned home from ac!
tive service in the military.

Elvis never lost his love of thrill rides in amusement parks. In the spring of 1956, when he went to Las Vegas to perform at the New Frontier Hotel, he found an amusement park to visit. That summer, he and girlfriend June Juanico went to the park at Lake Pontchartrain Beach near New Orleans. There they rode the Nephyr roller-coaster over and over again. In August of that year, when he went to Hollywood to film his first movie "Love Me Tender", he and his cousins Gene and Junior Smith spent time on the rides at the Long Beach Amusement Park. Back home in Memphis, Elvis would rent out the Fairgrounds after hours and often invited the fans who were hanging out at the gates of Graceland to join him there with his friends and family. The Fairgrounds would charge him $30.00 per hour for the Dodgems bumper car ride that he loved so much and a $40.00 flat rate for the wooden Pippin roller-coaster. He would also be charged for all the concessions the party consumed. Typically, El!
vis would ride in his favorite car on the Pippin over and over again until he was tired of it. He would also get into his favorite Dodgem car and he and his friends would proceed to crash into each other throughout the night.

In 1975, in preparation for the 1976 U.S. bicentennial, the Fairgrounds Amusement Park was refurbished and renamed Libertyland. Elvis last visited the park one evening eight days before his death. He rented out Libertyland for daugther Lisa Marie and their friends on August 8, 1977. Today, many fans still visit the park and have their pictures taken with Elvis' favorite rides.

Outstanding Young Men of the Nation

The United States Junior Chamber of Commerce began in 1920 to help young businessmen. In 1965, the name was changed to the United States Jaycees and the organization expanded to include individual development and community service. In the early 1980s, membership became available to women.

On January 16, 1971, Elvis received the Jaycees award for being designated One of the Ten Outstanding Young Men of the Nation for 1970. It was an honor that Elvis cherished.

The award was started in 1938 by publisher and former Jaycee President, Durward Howes, who would choose and publish a list of America's outstanding Young Men each year. In 1942 the honorees began to be chosen by a panel of
judges. In the 1980s, women became eligible and the award’s name changed to honor ten outstanding young "Americans" each year rather than only men.

The finalist judges for 1970 were: Alexander Heard, Chancellor – Vanderbilt University; Odell Horton, President - LeMoyne Owen College; Lyndon Baines Johnson - former President of the United States; Dr. Robert D. McCullough, International President - Lions International; Abe Plough, President - Plough, Inc.; and Kemmons Wilson, CEO – Holiday Inns, Inc.

Here are just a few names of other honorees over the years: Arthur Ashe, Ann E. Bancroft, Birch Bayh, Leonard Bernstein, Pat Boone, David Boren, Susan H. Butcher, Joseph A. Califano, Richard Cheney, Frank G. Clement, Lt. Col. Rhonda Cornum, Thomas Daschle, J. Howard Edmondson, Billie Sol Estes, Gerald R. Ford, Henry Ford II, Abe Fortas, Dr. George Gallup, Steven Garvey, Albert Gore Jr., Virgil Grissom, Henry Heinz, Howard Hughes, Jesse Jackson, Bruce Jenner, Rafer Johnson, Edward Kennedy, John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, Ted Kennnedy Jr., Dr. Henry Kissinger, Blanche L. Lincoln, George Cabot Lodge, Joe Louis, Archie Manning, Peyton Manning, Judge Melba D. Marsh, Bill D. Moyers, Ralph Nader, Richard Nixon, James Osmond, Merrill Osmond, Dan Quayle, Kaye Lani Rae Rafko-Wilson, Christopher Reeve, John D. Rockefeller, IV, Nelson A. Rockefeller, Theodore Roosevelt, Kyle Rote Jr., William Saroyan, Gale Sayers, Dr. Arthur Schlesinger, Jr., George Stephanopoulos, Brandon Tartikoff, Rudy Vallee, Orson Welles, C.B. "Bud" Wilkinson, Charles E. Yeager, Trischa Leanna Zorn.

Elvis' Favorite Foods

Much has been said and written about Elvis and food. Most of it has been greatly exaggerated or misrepresented. Here's some thoughtful and balanced reporting.

Elvis' environment while growing up did not expose him to gourmet cuisine. He ate simple, down-home, country cooking. As an adult he never acquired a taste for more elaborate fare. Some of his favorite foods were pork chops, meat loaf and steak. He liked his meats well done, saying he was "not ordering a pet." He liked fresh vegetables like crowder peas, creamed potatoes,
and sliced tomatoes. A favorite from his youth was a Southern delicacy he referred to as "soaks", which is cornbread in buttermilk. He also liked cheeseburgers and milkshakes. He did not care for seafood.

He had a fondness for banana pudding and another Southern delicacy - the peanut butter and banana sandwich. The recipe: It is quite simply a grilled sandwich similar to a grilled cheese in preparation. On lightly toasted bread spread peanut butter. Layer with lengthwise slices of banana. Then grill it in a skillet with butter or margarine until browned. These are best served when warm.

Elvis's Legacy of Generosity - He Gave of Himself

As the January 8th anniversary of the birth of Elvis Presley approaches, we think back on the legacy of giving he left behind. There is much documentation of his generous donations to the many charities and organizations that he helped over the years. However, what many may not know is that there are hundreds of stories of his quiet gestures of reaching out to those he saw hurting and in need, without the fanfare of the media or ever expecting more than a smile in return. We share a few of those stories here.

In 1960, Rusty was a five-year-old who was hospitalized and suffering from polio when he met Elvis, who, having broken his finger playing football, waited his turn to see the doctor at a Memphis clinic. In the waiting room Elvis became acquainted with Rusty's family and paid a visit to Rusty's room to cheer him up. Later, he sent a personal note to Rusty reporting on the progress of his broken finger and wishing the youngster well. Rusty died as a teenager, but his mother still cherishes the letter and the memory of the time Elvis took to spend with her son.

Tony was ten years old and receiving cancer treatments in Memphis, having to travel back and forth to his home in Florida, when Elvis heard about him. Elvis mailed him letters and pictures, but what Tony's mother remembers about the days before her son lost his battle with the disease were the phone calls he received from Elvis and how they brightened his day.

There was also the little Indian girl whose family was in a car accident on the way to Elvis's Russwood Park concert in Memphis. Elvis visited her in the hospital and gave her the encouragement she needed to get well.

There is the story of Karen, the little girl with cerebral palsy who became a fan through her nurse, Lena Canada. Karen and Elvis were pen pals until her death at the age of ten in 1963. Ms. Canada was moved to write a book about Karen and Elvis's friendship. The book inspired the 1980 movie "Touched By Love" in which actress Diane Lane played Karen and Deborah Raffin played Lena.

Two penniless girls, Elvis fans from England who were in the USA, had a family crisis when their father died unexpectedly. Elvis heard about the tragedy and quietly arranged for the funeral and transportation to England and back. Later, when they attempted to make a payment on the debt to Elvis, he was overcome with emotion saying that no one had ever tried to pay him back and refused their money, telling them the attempt was more than enough.

Today, many people from around the world from all walks of life can tell a story of how, in some way on some day of depression or pain, Elvis Presley was able to lift them up and to ease their need, whether it be through his recordings or films or seeing him in concert, from meeting him or from receiving financial assistance.

'Elvis Meets The Beatles':

Forty-five years ago AUGUST 27th 1965 - The famous night in 1965 when the Fab Four finally met the King. In 1965 The Beatles manager Brian Epstein initiated contact with Colonel Parker, and the decision was made that on the night of August 27, the Beatles would come to Elvis’ home for an informal get-together. Intensive security arrangements were worked out, and it was agreed that no press would be involved and no pictures would be taken or recordings made of whatever happened.

"So many things could have gone wrong," says Jerry Schilling, "If Colonel and Brian hadn’t gotten along, it wouldn’t have gotten past the phone-call stage. But there were no ego battles, and from the start it was approached as a pair of music greats coming together out of admiration for each other."

Marty Lacker: In 1965, Colonel knew what he was doing about the meeting. He said to Elvis, "If you'd like, you could go to their house." And Elvis said, "No, no. Let Them come over to Perugia Way." Elvis told us we could bring our wives and kids over to meet them if we wanted.

Billy Smith: Jo couldn't believe the Beatles were coming to meet us. We were all real excited. We'd say, "The Beatles, hell, they're hot! This is a big thing!" But around Elvis, we knew not to let on too much because he'd get really pissed.

Marty: Somehow, the word got out about the meeting. And it caused a problem because Perugia Way is a very small circle. Before the Beatles even got there, the entire cove was packed with people hoping to see Elvis and the Beatles. The Bel Air police had to come so the Beatles could get their limousine in the courtyard.

When they came in the house, Elvis and some of the guys waited for them in the den. He wasn't going to go to the door because he didn't want to make a big deal out of it. So they came in the den, and when they met him, it was like they were in a trance, just looking up at him and shaking his hand. On TV, they were so boisterous, and here they were real quiet. After they said, "It's such a pleasure to meet you," they didn't know what to say. So Elvis said, "Let's go sit down." He had on a red shirt and gray slacks, and he sat in his usual place on the couch in front of the TV. And the Beatles sat on chairs around the room, as did our families.

Billy: At first, they didn't know what to do. They were just sittin' around staring at Elvis. Everybody was looking at each other like "What the hell's going on here? Who's going to do something?"

Marty: Finally, Elvis looked at one of them, and he said, "Hey, I didn't mean for this to be like the subjects coming to the king." And then he said, "Quite frankly, if you guys are going to stare at me all night, I'm going to bed. I thought we'd talk a while and maybe jam a little." And when he said that, they went nuts.

They all went to the piano, and Elvis handed out a couple of guitars. And they just started singing—Elvis songs, Beatles songs, Chuck Berry songs. Elvis played Paul's bass part on "I Feel Fine," and Paul said something like "You're coming along quite promising on the bass there, Elvis." I remember thinking later, "Man, if we'd only had a tape recorder."

Billy: We tried to join in the fun as casually as we could, without paying too much attention to 'em. Ringo wanted to shoot some pool, so we did that. Alveena, this heavy maid, brought some drinks and little hors d'oeuvres, and she stepped on Ringo's foot. He screwed up his face like he was in all kinds of pain, and he said, "I think she's broke my bloody toe."

He was funny. He'd get up there with Elvis and impersonate him with a cue stick for a guitar. Then he'd shoot the ball. It turned into a real good night. Seemed like everybody had fun.

Marty: In a little while, Colonel Parker walked in. Which meant it was casino time. Because we had this coffee table that could be converted into a gambling table. You reversed it and turned it into a roulette wheel. So Joe and Alan and Colonel opened up the casino in what we called the "round den" because it used to be an outside courtyard. Alan said Colonel was throwing money around like crazy. And I remember Colonel and Joe bragging that they took Brian Epstein to the cleaners, that he owed 'em about two or three thousand dollars.
They didn't leave until about two o'clock in the morning. Colonel used to have a thing about covered wagons. He used one as a kind of logo for his company—he had one on his stationery, I remember. And as souvenirs, he gave the Beatles these little covered wagons that lit up on the inside.

Billy: Jo was pregnant with our second child, and, of course, she was wearing maternity clothes, and her stomach was sticking out. We were all standing outside when the Beatles were leaving in their limousine, and somebody took a picture of Jo, and Patsy Lacker, and Jo Fortas, and Joanie Esposito. And it turned up in some magazine, with the headline THE NIGHT ELVIS SHARED HIS WOMEN WITH THE BEATLES! Jo laughed like crazy, man. She saved that magazine for a long, long time.

Marty: As they were saying goodbye, John and Paul said, "We're staying at this house on Mulholland Drive, and we'd like to invite you all to come up tomorrow." And Paul looked at Elvis and said, "I hope you'll be able to come." And then he looked at us and said, "But if he can't come, you fellows are welcome."
When they left, Elvis said, "I'm not going up there." He said, "I did my duty. I met them, and that's it."

The next afternoon, Jerry Schilling, and Richard Davis, and Billy, and I went up to where they were staying. And they were overjoyed to see us. They really were. John pulled me over by the picture window, and he said, "Last night was the greatest night of my life."

In subsequent years, the guys visited the Beatles three or four times when they came over here. Of course, Elvis never went. In the summer of '66, we saw Brian Epstein lying out on the chaise lounge by the pool. He was zonked out of his brain. And Paul and the other guys were sitting by the pool, and there were people all over the place—girls running around naked, people dropping acid.

About twenty minutes later, the Mamas and the Papas showed up. All four of them—Mama Cass, John, Denny, and Michelle—came marching in a row, like soldiers. And John and George immediately got up and went into the house with them. I was talking with this guy, Mal Evans, who was the Beatles' road manager and bodyguard. Big guy. And I said, "Where are they going? Are they talking business?" He said, "No, no, they're just going to get blown out of their skulls." It was party time.

Just before we left during one of those visits—I can't remember if it was '66 or '67—I went in this side room, where Paul was singing songs and playing piano. He looked up at me and he said, "Do you think Elvis would ever cut one of my songs?" The Beatles were the biggest thing in the universe right then. But that goes to show you, they still thought Elvis was bigger.

Presley Family Heritage

Skates, Roller-coasters & Dodgem Cars

Elvis' New Year's Eve

Outstanding Young Men of the Nation

Elvis' Favorite Foods

Elvis's Legacy of Generosity - He Gave of Himself

1977 NewsPapers