That enticing title graced the cover of the August issue of the Ladies Home Journal.  As soon as I read the first line of the subtitle, “Very Private Confessions,” I knew this was prime material for an Elvisblog article.  Unfortunately, it came at a time when Elvis Week was front and center in my consciousness, and it had to wait a month until all that had run its course.

A good many Elvisblog readers probably missed the LHJ article by leading Elvis writer Alanna Nash.  It featured seven lovely ladies associated with Elvis in a variety of ways.  June Jaunico was Elvis’ girlfriend for over a year in 1955/56.  Wanda Jackson sang in concerts on tour with Elvis (And was his girlfriend in 1955/56.  Hmmm.).  Raquel Welch had a bit part in the 1964 movie Roustabout.  Mary Ann Mobley appeared in Girl Happy and Harum Scarum.  Jo Smith was the wife of Elvis’ very close cousin Billy Smith.  Linda Thompson was Elvis’ girlfriend from 1972-76.  Kathy Westmoreland recorded and toured with Elvis in the 70s.

The subtitle “Very Private Confessions” turned out to be quite a stretch.  I looked specifically for them and have listed below my best guess at each woman’s “Confession.”

June Jaunico:                “We got so wrapped up in kissing on our very first date – nothing too sloppy, it was marvelous – a little pecking here and there, a little nibble here and there, then a serious bite.”  (This one is very nice, but wouldn’t a real confession have been about what she and Elvis did on date number five or six?)

Wanda Jackson:            “In the early part of ’56, he gave me one of his rings… We stood by his car and he asked me to be his girl… I had a crush on him, and being able to know him and know his heart made me admire him a lot.  So, I said I’d be his girl.”  (What a revelation. Can you imagine anyone saying ‘no’ to the chance to be Elvis’ girl?)

Raquel Welch:              “One of his guys came over and said, “Elvis is having a little party at the house, and if you’d like to come up…” I had a very strict upbringing, and I didn’t like the setup, so I didn’t go.”  (Big mistake.  Bet you wish you had that one to do over again, Raquel.)

Mary Ann Mobley:         “Elvis and I felt a common bond, coming from Mississippi.  He thought I understood him… This is an odd thing to say about Elvis Presley, but it was like I was working with my brother.  We never dated.”  (Sorry, but there is nothing else remotely approaching a confession in Mary Ann’s section.)

Jo Smith:                      “He loved you to talk babytalk to him, and we had to take care of him and cater to him like a small child… He liked to be put in bed and be told good night.”  (You have to assume this took place in the time after Priscilla and before Linda Thompson.  Can’t see Jo Smith tucking Elvis in bed when either of them was around.)

Linda Thompson:           “But I think it’s wonderful if you can be all things to each other.  And he and I were.  He called me ‘Mommy.’  And he was like my father at times.  And we were like brother and sister at times, and we were like lovers at times.”  (She could have confirmed or denied that persistent story about that first night they were lovers.)

Kathy Westmoreland:    “My last in-depth conversation with Elvis was just a few weeks before he died.  I remember he said, ‘Kathy, what’s it all about?’  And I said, “I think that is for you to find out for yourself.’”  (Kathy’s section in the article was very short and mostly about sad topics.  This is about the most upbeat thing she said.)

Here is a selection of other interesting quotes by some of the ladies.

By the time this article is posted on Elvisblog, it will have been a week since Charlie Hodge died at age 71.  So, it’s likely all you readers have already accessed the big Elvis websites to read about the passing of one of Elvis’ best buddies.  They have done a good job of celebrating the life of this interesting and talented man, so that won’t be duplicated here.  It’s just a sad fact that another Elvis friend has joined him in heaven, and there will be more as the years go by. 

The only thing I can add on this occasion is a personal story that relates to Charlie Hodge’s main claim to fame.  In spite of his full life and many accomplishments, Charlie will forever be remembered as the man who put scarves around Elvis’ neck during concerts, so Elvis could pull them off and give them to the ladies in the audience.  Watch any of the Elvis concert DVD’s again, and you will clearly spot Charlie doing the scarf thing.

Back in 2002, during Elvis Week in Memphis, six lovely ladies from Ontario adopted me.  We all worked as volunteer ticket takers and ushers at three concerts presented by Darwin Lamm, publisher of Elvis International magazine.  After the shows we went out on Beale Street and drank and danced and had a bunch of fun together.  The six girls also adopted a pretty singer from Japan named Kathy Osawa.  She had a singing career back home and had occasionally performed in Japan and Canada as an Elvis tribute artist.  Kathy was in Memphis to scope it out for future performance opportunities, and she hung out with our group.

The next year, Kathy and I and our six friends reconnected at the Collingwood Elvis Festival in Ontario.  Kathy was there to perform in the competition (Professional Category), and to entertain at one of the outdoor beer gardens.  I volunteered to be sort of a roadie and carry all her stuff to the venues, but Kathy had one more job for me.

Before she went on stage at the beer garden, she brought out a bundle of scarves and explained that she needed me to come on stage during her closing number and drape them over her neck one-by-one.  It was kind of fun, and the men in the audience were more that happy to come up to the stage and get a scarf from Kathy (but no kisses – she kept on singing).

Later, as I returned to our group’s table, a girl I had met at an impromptu party in our motel parking lot spoke to me.  She said, “I saw you up there doing the Charlie Hodge thing.”

Well, I’m proud I could be like Charlie Hodge for just a few minutes.  Elvisworld has lost one of its most unique members.