About That Las Vegas Town-- Part 6: Taking a Risk and Sports

It's not just gamblers taking risks in Vegas.  The Strip has been a global capital of extreme sports ever since December 1967, when a little-known stunt artist named Evel Knieval tried to jump the fountains of the newly opened Caesars Palace, coming up short and crashing to the tune of several broken bones and a 29-day coma.

The city is also recognized as the undisputed home of boxing since the iconic slugfest between George Foreman and Ron Lyle at Caesars Palace in 1976.

In more recent thrills, last November the eyes of millions were fixed on the city for the inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix Formula 1's first ever after-dark race in Sin City turned the area into a high velocity street circuit with the Strip naturally taking center stage as the blistering home stretch.

Ever seductive, the Strip continues to temp visitors with its unusual indulgences:  Win a fortune on black, fall in love by the fountains of the Bellagio, get married by Elvis-- or snag a quickie divorce.

Tastes may change, but its the thrill of the ephemeral that makes Vegas Vegas.

--DaCoot

About That Las Vegas Town-- Part 4: About That Residency

Toward the end of World War II, piano sensation Liberace pioneered the concept of a residency, where venues dedicate their stages exclusively to individual superstars, often for years at a time.

In their own subsequent residencies at the Copa Room at the Sands, Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack helped establish the swanky, after-dark revelry for which Vegas has been become notorious.

Starting in the late 1960s, Elvis Presley was a Vegas fixture.  And, of course, Wayne Newton.

With round-the-clock musicians, magicians, comedians, blue men and white Bengal tigers, the Strip became the premier global destination not just for indecorous gambling, but also for family-friendly entertainment.

(In case you're wondering who the members of the Rat Pack were:  Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Lawford and Joey Bishop.)

--DaCoot

Remembering Ed Asner-- Part 2: To the Big Screen

BART JASON in "El Dorado"

Ed Asner made his big-screen debut in 1962's "Kid Galahad," one of two films he made with Elvis Presley.  Both were minor roles. 

But he made the "big league" as he called it, when he was cast in Howard Hawk's' 1966 John Wayne film "El Dorado" -- and it was, because the movie was also a critical success.  The movie featured John Wayne as a gunslinger, Robert Mitchum as a sheriff and Asmer as Wayne's rival, the wealthy landowner Bart Jason.

This established Asner for more and bigger roles.

Thanks John.  --CootNer

Twenty Crucial Elvis Cuts-- Part 3

14.  1968--  "IF I CAN DREAM"--  With its gospel fervor and quotes from Martin Luther King Jr., who had been assassinated in Memphis two months before the song was recorded.

15.  1969--  "SUSPICIOUS MINDS"--  An Elvis career comeback.

16.  "LONG BLACK LIMOUSINE"--  The irony of Elvis singing this precautionary tale about excess crystallized after his death, of course.

17.  1970--  "THE WONDER OF YOU"--  Never recorded in a studio, but it was a staple of his concerts later in his career.

18.  1972--  "BURNING LOVE"--  His last top ten, went to #2.  (OK, my 4th favorite Elvis song.)

19.  "AN AMERICAN TRILOGY"--  (I guess this could not be sung anymore for fear of offending certain groups.)

20.  1976--  "WAY DOWN"--  That's gospel legend J.D. Sumner singing "Way on down" at the end of each chorus.

That's a Twenty for You.  --Cooter

Twenty Cricial Elvis Cuts-- Part 2

8.  1957-- " JAILHOUSE ROCK"--  The opening two-chord riff and drum beat presage the rock riot to come.  Seven weeks at #1.  (Another of my top three Elvis songs.)

9.  "SANTA CLAUS IS BACK IN TOWN"--  Cruising the snow  in "a big black Cadillac."

10.  1960--  "RECONSIDER BABY"--  That's Boots Randolph on the sax.

11.  1961--  "CAN'T HELP FALLING IN LOVE"--  Based on an 18th-century French love song.  Kept from #1 by Joey Dee's "Peppermint Twist."  (My third favorite song.)

12.  1963--  "VIVA LAS VEGAS"--  The jittery Latin beat and swinging delivery captured the allure of the "bright light city."  Stalled out at #29.  (Always makes me want to gamble.)

13.  1966--  "RUN ON"--  ?--  Some more gospel.

"Wise Men Say..."  --DaCoot

Twenty Crucial Elvis Cuts-- Part 1

From the July 9, 2013, USA Today "20 musical gems in the King's crown" by Jerry Shriver.

An interesting list, some I figured would be on it, some I didn't, even a couple I don't remember ever hearing.  Shriver made comments to all of them and I have included parts of some of them.  ?= I haven't heard this song.


1.  1954: "THAT'S ALL RIGHT" -- By all acccounts, the song sort of fell together when Elvis and bandmates banged around the studio, but producer Sam Phillips knew thunder when he heard it.

2.  1955: "BABY, LET'S PLAY HOUSE-- ?--Elvis pants out "Baby" fifteen times in the opening chorus and when he said the "I'd rather see you dead, little girl, than to be with another man" line it was later taken by John Lennon.

3.  "MYSTERY TRAIN"  Elvis uses a slightly hiccuppy vocal affectation on part of this.

4.  1956:  "HEARTBREAK HOTEL"--    What a lineup: Guitarists Scotty Moore and Chet Atkins, drummer Bill Black, drummer D.J. Fontana and pianist Floyd Cramer.  (One of my three favorite Elvis songs.)

5.  HOUND DOG"--  Elvis was really gyrating up there.

6.  "LOVE ME TENDER"--  Based on Civil War ballad "Aura Lee."

7.  1957:  "(THERE'LL BE) PEACE IN THE VALLEY"--  As if Elvis had been singing gospel all his life.

Elvis, the King.  --Cooter

Elvis' Best Friend-- Part 6

After Joe Esposito got out of the Army, he drove from Chicago to Memphis and visited Elvis at Graceland.  After that he was with Elvis Presley all the time as his road manager and personal manager.  He became part of the Memphis Mafia, Elvis' inner circle of friends.

That was Joe you saw walking Elvis to the stage at every one of his shows.

"We used to play jokes on each other all the time.  We'd pull over on the road and hit each oher just for exercise.  I have photos after we'd beat each other up, my arms were black and red.

Joe was best man at Elvis' wedding to Priscilla and had been there in Germany when the couple first met.

For more information, go to www.onedaytwolegends.com .

A Hunka Hunka Burning Love.  --Cooter

Elvis' Best Friend-- Part 5: Meeting the King

Joe Esposito grew up in Chicago, went to Marshall High School, got drafted into the Army in 1958 and was stationed at Fort Hood, Texas. Elvis Presley was there then also, but they didn't meet until they were transferred to Germany. "I was very nervous to meet him. I was a big fan, said Joe. "He introduced himself like I didn't know who he was. He shook my hand and said, "Hi, I'm Elvis Presley.' He had an amazing charisma." Elvis invited him over to the house he was renting in Germany where they played football, their main common interest. (Did Elvis become a Bears fan?) A friendship ensued and Elvis said Joe should come and work for him after he got out of the Army. Hi, Mt Name is Cooter. Cooter

Elvis' Best Friend-- Part 4: Da Beatles Meet Da Elvis

Now that we have the date figured out, August 27, 1965, we can continue with the story.

Elvis was waiting at the door to greet them. "He shook their hands and introduced himself like they didn't know who he was. They sat on a big couch around the room for a chit-chat.

I could tell [The Beatles] were nervous. They chatted about music but after a while it was very quiet. Elvis said, 'If you guys are gonna sit here and stare at me all night I'm gonna go to bed.' They said, 'We're just nervous to meet you,' and he said, 'Don't be nervous to meet me, I'm just like you guys. I love music too.'

He was such a normal human being. He didn't want anyone to think he was special or you couldn't talk to him." That broke the silence and Elvis suggested that they play some music together, a definite common ground. (I sure wish somebody had taped that little session. Talk about a Million Dollar Quintet.)

Considering his upbringing and birthplace, he certainly wasn't born with the proverbial silver spoon. He grew up the hard way.

-- Cooter

Elvis' Best Friend-- Part 3: Wrong Again On the Date

From the article, I got the idea Elvis Presley and The Beatles met 50 years ago on August 27, 1963.

Then, I realized it had said "nearly 50 years ago."

As I said in Part 1, I then figured the date would have been August 27, 1964, with Beatlemania rampant across the United States.

Looked it up elsewhere and found that it was actually August 27, 1965.

Oh Well. --Cooter

Elvis' Best Friend-- Part 2: Terri Hemmert Would Want to Know

But, she probably already knows about it. Terri Hemmert, Beatle Fan Supreme and deejay at Chicago's WXRT, 93.1 FM, and host of "Breakfast With the Beatles" every Sunday morning from 8 to 10 AM, would definitely like to know this story. (Bit I'm sure she already does.)

Joe Esposito not only planned the meeting, but drove the Beatles to meet Elvis at his Los Angeles home. Joe described the meeting as a little awkward. "The Beatles were very excited to meet Elvis. I was nervous about meeting The Beatles, myself.

I picked them up at their house with two limos and they followed me to Elvis' house [in Bel Air]. There were 2,000 people outside the house-- the rumor had got out over the radio that they were meeting. He was at the front door waiting for them.

" Hi, I'm Not Elvis. --DaCoot

Elvis' Best Friend-- Part 1: "Hi, I'm Elvis Presley"

From the July 4-July 10, 2013, Lake County (Il.) Journal "Elvis' best friend in town" by Jesse Carpender. 

Had you ever been fortunate enough to meet Elvis Presley, here's what would have happened:

"He'd walk right up to you, shake your hand and say, 'Hi, I'm Elvis Presley,' like you'd never heard of him. That's just how he was," according to Joe Esposito who was his best friend and road manager for 17 years. Joe Esposito was in the Chicagoland area to do interviews for a documentary "One Day, Two Legends" about the day the Beatles met Elvis.

The documentary will be released August 27, the day they met, 50 years ago. (OK, here I made a mistake. I originally read it as being 50 years ago, but got to thinking why would Elvis have been interested in meeting the Beatles in 1963, before they got famous?

I misread the article which said they met nearly 50 years ago, which would have put it at the more plausible 1964.) According to Joe, Elvis "was a kind-hearted person who wanted to be good to everyone, and didn't want anyone to think he was somehow special."

I'll be keeping my entries even shorter than usual until I hopefully get all this Blogspot mess cleared up.

Hi, I'm RoadDog. --Cooter

Gotta Have That Morbid Elvis Stuff

You've been anxiously awaiting for the opportunity, well, some folks maybe. But, now is your chance to acquire some real morbid Elvis Presley stuff, items used for preparing him for his burial.

From the July 22nd Chicago Tribune.

The former senior embalmer at the Memphis Funeral Home is going to auction off tolls used to embalm the King in 1977.

The items are estimated to bring in $8,000 and will include the "John Doe" tag, rubber gloves, forceps, lip brushes, comb, eyeliner, needle injectors and aneurysm hooks used during the embalming. Preparations for Elvis' funeral involved embalming his body, dressing him in a suit, applying makeup and dying his graying hair.

Also for sale is the coffin shipping invoice, the hangar to Elvis' suit, his preparation room case report and case sheet.

Chicago-based Leslie Hindman Auctioneers will be hosting the event.

In the past, clumps of Elvis' hair have gone for $18,000 and a syringe used on Abraham Lincoln on his death bed brought in $10,000.

My Advice to You Is Go out and Buy, Buy, Buy!! --Cooter

World War II Dog Tags Returned-- Part 2

Lt. Ray received his Medal of Honor posthumously in December 1945. A Merchant Marine ship and later an Army barracks in Germany were named in his honor.

In February, collector Stefan Sayorski was exploring the battlefield with a metal detector and found the tag under three feet of earth along with a crucifix and a coat button.

Lt. Ray was evidently buried on the battlefield, dug up and reinterred in a German cemetery and later again reburied at the National Cemetery in Pine Lawn. Sayorski typed Ray's name into an internet search engine and found a web page. His search drew the attention of John Chiarella, 55, of Dix Hills who began a search of his own for relatives.

He was having no success until the chance meeting with DiLeo at the cemetery. It turns out that Ray's sister Grace Gustafson is his last living relatives and lives in Delray Beach, Florida.

I found nothing about the button or crucifix or if they might have belonged to Ray. I also don't know how the dog tag got from Germany to the US.

Of interest, when Elvis Presley had his stint as a soldier in Germany, he was supposed to stay at the Ray Barracks, but because he had money was able to live off base.

This is One Really Interesting Story. The Greatest Generation. --Cooter

And Speaking of Elvis

This past January 8th was the 74th anniversary of the King's birth. The Jan. 8, 2009, Chicago Tribune ran a "Do You Know" list of interesting Elvis facts. I like Elvis, but he was too far ahead of me. My group was the Beatles.

## Elvis was a huge Monty Python fan and could do sketches from memory. His favorite one was "Nudge, nudge." Me too, Know waht I mean?

## When he bought Graceland, it was already named Graceland, for former owner daughter, Grace Toof.

## Actor Kurt Russell has had a long association with Presley in the movies, appearing with him in 1963's "It Happened at the World's Fair." played Presley in "Elvis: The Movie" and was Elvis' voice in "Forrest Gump."

## He dyed his hair which was naturally a dirty blond.

## When he met Priscilla Beaulieu, his future wife, he was 24 and she was 14.

## He was an insomniac most of his life.

## His movies weren't all that great. more of a vehicle for his music. But he did have good taste in what he liked to watch: "Rebel Without a Cause," "Dr. Strangelove," "The French Connection," and most favorite, "Patton."

## His three, late-in-the-career Grammys were all for gospel songs and two for "How Great Thou Art."

You'd have thought he would have won more Grammys, but, then, if Jethro Tull won one for Heavy Metal, anything can happen.

Da Elvis Da Pelvis. --Cooter