The celebration of Elvis Week is going on right now in Memphis. I’ve been to four of these so far, and plan to be back next year for the 35th Anniversary. Elvis fans are quite content to refer to these yearly anniversaries without also including the qualifying phrase of the death of Elvis. Elvis Week is a certainly a celebration of Elvis’ life, but his passing was the genesis of thousands of fans making the pilgrimage to Graceland every August.
I start early each year trying to figure out a new way to blog about the anniversary of Elvis’ death. A few weeks ago, when I researched the ElvisBlog article about Elvis on the covers on the tabloid The Sun, I came across my copy of the September 20, 1977, issue of the National Enquirer. On the cover was a photo of Elvis in a car, and the tag was “Hours Before He Died.” The caption under the picture was, “The Last Photo of Elvis Alive.”
This photo, in both color and black-and-white, has been all over the internet for years. However, I have never read anything about who took it and the circumstance around the event. Then, I opened up that old National Enquirer, and there was the whole story.
On Page 57, Enquirer writer Chris Fuller had a two-column article, including a photo of the folks who took the picture.
So, in celebration of the 34th anniversary of Elvis’ passing, here is that article, edited slightly for brevity and emphasis.
Story Behind the Last Picture of Elvis Alive
Robert Call was ready with his camera when the car stopped at the front gate of Graceland in Memphis. People were shouting – “Elvis! Elvis!” Suddenly, inside the car, the King of Rock smiled and waved at Call’s four-year-old daughter Abby.
And that’s when Call took the picture…the last photograph of Elvis alive.
The time was 12:28 on the morning of August 16. Just a few hours later, Elvis would be found dead.
“We were excited when my husband took the picture,” said Call’s wife Nancy, “but we didn’t realize it would be the last one ever taken of Elvis.
“I’ll never forget the way it happened. Elvis was driving the car. There was a lady sitting in front with him and two men in the back. I had Abby in my arms almost right up against the car window.
“She was hollering – ‘Hi!” – and grinning from ear to ear. Elvis smiled really big, then he put on the brakes for a second, pointed to Abby and waived to her. That’s when my husband took the picture.
“Later that day we heard on TV that Elvis had died. We had just seen this man laughing, smiling and waving.”
The Calls, who live in Pierceton, Indiana, had gone to Memphis “because I was determined to get pictures of Abby and the other children at the Elvis home for my scrapbook,” Mrs. Call said.
Mrs. Call said little Abby…reacted to Elvis’ death with a touching remark. She said,
“I bet he’s going to be an angel.”
Maybe we should say we are celebrating the 34th annivesary of Elvis' ascendancy to Heaven.
© 2011 Philip R Arnold, Original Elvis Blogmeister All Rights Reserved www.ElvisBlog.net
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I absolutely love this picture and the story, but now I’m wondering what “wasn’t” accurate??? Please, could you let me know, thank you!!!!
Hi Ian: T love it when readers comment on old ElvisBlog articles, like this one from 2011. It means folks are digging back through the archives.
I’m confused about your question about what wasn’t accurate. I don’t see where I suggested that. I’ll try to answer your question if you could point out where it is in the article. Thanks,
Phil Arnold, Original ElvisBlogmeister
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This picture above, the artical your talking about and the family in that photo are 3 of my family members my father Robert Call, my mother Nancy Call and one of my Sisters Helen Call (three of not pictured but were there were myself, my older brother Brian Call and the youngest Julie Call) although the artical is fair accurate there were some not true parts not important but all the same, but yes my family did take this picture!
Hi Robert: If you want to write back and straighten out the inaccurate parts, I’ll be glad to incorporate them into the article.
Phil Arnold, Original ElvisBlogmeister.
Mr. Call,
I would like to ask you a few questions about your father’s picture. However, I would like to ask them through email if that is ok with you.
Hi Robert, the woman in the picture is my biological grandmother. She married my grandfather Virgil before going on to marry Robert Call. Could you please respond to this post so I can learn more about my biological grandmother? Thanks so much.
Hi Matilda: Try this
rcallii@yahoo.com
Phil Arnold, Original ElviBlogmeister