This shot shows Elvis’ disdain for the pants of the famous Gold Lamé Suit. He is clowning around in them (and the gold shoes) on a prop dolly backstage at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto on April 2, 1957.
Look how baggy and stiff they are. No wonder Elvis didn’t like them.
This is Elvis and his cousin Junior Smith at an arcade in 1956. He had an entourage of one back in the early days. In the later years, this room couldn’t have held all the guys hanging around Elvis.
This is Elvis with Diana Goodman in the back of his limo on July 19, 1975. We can’t see any of the rings he surely was wearing, but check out the gold bracelet and the gold chain around his neck. That is some serious weight of gold. On the downside, it was time for Elvis to give this coat away to Charlie Hodge, or one of the other guys. He had definitely outgrown it.
This is a jumpsuit Elvis wore only one time. His jumpsuits all had cool names like Black Butterfly, Inca Gold, or King of Spades. This one is simply referred to as ”the Long White Fringe Suit.” Elvis wouldn’t wear it again after the fringe got all tangled up when he danced.
I think the whole thing is pretty ugly, and I’m surprised Elvis even put it on. Anyway, the Long White Fringe Suit joined the baggy gold pants in the Elvis wardrobe rejects hall of fame.
All you good fans recognize this as Charlie Hodge on stage with Elvis. At first glance, they seem to be dancing together.
This is Elvis during his best interpretation of Bo Diddley.
If you are too young to know about Bo Diddley, look him up. There’s a lot more to the Bo Diddley story than that square guitar.
Here’s Elvis with Gene Vincent. I loved all three of his hits, and wish he had made more. Gene Vincent is another early rocker with an interesting story. Look him up, too.
A few weeks ago, I wrote about the main three outfits Elvis wore in the ’68 Comeback Special. Here is a fourth one. It’s not up to the brilliance of the white (If I Can Dream) suit, the black leather outfit, and the burgundy gospel suit.
This is an interesting photo of young Lisa and Elton John. Compare it to one many years later.
This is from Stay Away Joe, and there’s a lot of girls in that car with Elvis.
But this is from real life.
How about that look on his face? Elvis, you lucky dog.
© 2018 Philip R Arnold, Original Elvis Blogmeister All Rights Reserved www.ElvisBlog.net
Elvis, Elvis Presley, and Graceland are registered trademarks of Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc.
When the record “Be Bop A Lula” first hit the radio back in 1956, Scotty Moore and Bill Black thought it was Elvis recording with another band. Story goes that Elvis had to convince them that it wasn’t him.
Hi Paul: Good comment. I seem to remember that story, too.
Phil Arnold
This blog I really enjoyed as I usually do all of them. I’ loved the close part. I never realized before just how stiff those gold pants were. I guess I wouldn’t like them either, but for that white fringe suit, I always loved him in that. I never gave it a thought about him getting tangled up in the fringe. I could just see him now what a sight that would be! Thank you! I never said this before!
Hi Collette: I’m glad you enjoyed this blog. Good comments, too.
Phil Arnold
Hi Phil,
These are again interesting photos of Elvis in real life. I am sure that your 2019 blog will be even more exciting and I look forward to it.
I wish you and yours a very happy new year.
Regards
Billy F. Martin
Longview, Tex.
Thank you, Billy. And a very happy new year to you, too.
Phil