
I can’t believe it’s been three years since I last posted Elvis Mini-Nuggets. These are always kind of fun. Someday when I retire from ElvisBlog, I might get a Facebook page and do nothing but Elvis Mini-Nuggets. Maybe a new picture every day with comments. I’ve got like a million of them in my files. Anyway, here’s an extra-long mini-nugget post to make up for not having one last weekend.
Expressions of Sympathy and Encouragement for My Wife:

After posting a short message about my wife’s lung surgery, twenty-two kind comments came in from ElvisBlog readers. In addition to the one above from Maggie in Sweden, there were also messages from France, England and Canada. My wife and I appreciate all the concern and encouragement from you readers. She is doing okay in a long, slow recovery.
International Readers of ElvisBlog:

Speaking of ElvisBlog readers from different countries, here is the Top Ten. It still freaks me out to realize that only 57% of you readers are from the U.S. If you compare the relative populations of some of these other countries versus the U.S., ElvisBlog is doing really good there.
Where’s Elvis?

If you study this picture, you will probably recognize George Jones in the photo top right. This is the room in his Franklin, Tennessee home where he got his haircuts. Look closely at the framed photo to the right of the window. It is Elvis getting his Army haircut. Here’s a bigger view of it.

Alert ElvisBlog reader Chris Iroler spotted the Elvis Army haircut picture while watching a uTube video on Jones’ house: (Click here to see). Chris told me about it in a blog Comment, and he advised to go to 5:56 on the video if I didn’t want to read the whole thing. When George Jones died five years ago, I did a post about the connection between him and Elvis. Click here to read it.
More Info on Elvis Birthday Cake Photos:

Two weeks ago, I posted six photos of Elvis eating cake. Alert ElvisBlog readers commented with more information on several of them. Like the one above where Diana from Long Island wrote:
“I enjoyed the birthday scrapbook! Re: the one with Dolores Hart- I too always thought it was a birthday cake but recently learned from an authority that it was a movie wrap party after King Creole to say goodbye to Elvis before the army, and the cake had a guitar and soldier peeling potatoes and said We Love Elvis on it.”

Sharys Wheeler wrote:
“The picture at the Sahara was of Elvis and Milton Prell, owner of the Sahara and a friend of the Colonel.”

Sandy Van Horn wrote:
“About the picture of Elvis giving Priscilla a bite of birthday cake. If the year was 1960, and it was a birthday cake, think it had to be Elvis’ Jan. 8th birthday as he left active duty at Fort Dix, New Jersey, on March 5, 1960. Believe Priscilla’s birthday is May 24th.”
So, How Did the Elvis Auction Go?
You might remember that we looked at a dozen Elvis items that failed to sell in a 1999 auction and seemingly got stuck in storage until the January 6, 2018 Auction at Graceland. I compared the expected prices then and now, and made comments on several of the items. Here’s a look at how things went.
16mm Film and Acetates of Movie Songs from Love Me Tender:

1999 estimate was $5,000-7,000; current was $1,500-2,500. It sold for $5,000. I wonder why it didn’t go the first time.
Original Screen Door from Graceland:

The 2018 estimate was $1,500 – $2,500, and I said, “Sorry, if I had that kind of money to spend on Elvis collectibles, I’d get something besides a screen door.” But my friend Troy Yeary from the eclectic blog pastimescapes.com had this comment:
“Interesting piece, Phil. Thanks! I don’t know, if I had money to blow, I would seriously consider buying something like a screen door from Graceland. Just think how many times Elvis walked through or slammed that door? He probably interacted with it more than just about any other item in the auction.
Well, lots of folks must have agreed with Troy. Elvis’ screen door had 18 bids and sold for $2,500. Good call, Troy.”
Elvis’ Massive Wooden Desk from His Home Office in Palm Springs:

1999 estimate was $40-50,000, no bidders. 2018 estimate was $10-20,000, and I said I thought they would get it. Well, not really, just $7,500.
Elvis’ Portable Sauna:

1999 estimate was $8-10,000. 2018 estimate was $3-5000. I said I thought it was weird. Bidders agreed, nobody would spring for the minimum bid of $1,500.
Elvis’ Globe-Shaped Wooden Bar from His Beverly Hills Home:

1999 estimate was $4-5,000. 2018 estimate was $1,500 to $2,500. I predicted it would sell for a good bit more than that. Good call, Phil. It had 38 bids and went for $22,500. Wow.
Elvis’ Leather Rocking Chair from the Jungle Room:

999 estimate was $20-30,000. 2018 estimate was $10-15,000. I said I didn’t think it would sell. Bad call, Phil. It went for $17,500.
Original Acetate of Elvis Singing Beatles Songs “Hey Jude” and “Something”:

1999 estimate was $650-750. 2018 estimate was $1-2,000. I predicted it would sell for that much or more. Another good call as it had 34 bids and went for $4,000.
Signed Title to Elvis’ Circle G Ranch:

1999 estimate was $13-15,000. 2018 estimate was $10-20,000. I didn’t make a prediction, but hoped it would go high. It didn’t excite folks drawing just 2 bids and a final price of $6,250.
So, I blew it on the screen door, the desk, and the Jungle Room rocking chair. I had it right on the desk, the sauna, the globe-shaped bar, and the acetate of Beatles songs. I’ll take that.
Sincere Thanks for Your Support:

This was the third year I’ve done pre-Christmas promotion of my book BIG E and the SANTA MAN. It was the best year yet, and I really thank you.
My one disappointment was that I didn’t get Part 2 ready to promote until late November. Next fall I will push it hard, just like the original. As a preview, here is a review by Memphis Music on Amazon:
“I enjoyed this book as it can be read by itself, or as the continuation of the first book. As a lifetime dog lover, I also enjoyed the addition of a good ole hound dog! Kids and adults will enjoy this tale of two beloved icons; Elvis and Santa and their group of special friends. Phil Arnold’s descriptive writing make you feel a part of this adventure where good versus evil comes alive again to save Christmas. At this great price go ahead and get the first book too!
The review gave the book five stars. Every review on both books has been five stars. I’ll be reminding of you about that again later in the year.
© 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.
ElvisBlog Mini-Nuggets # 25
Elvis Traffic Lights in Friedberg, Germany:
Here are some clips from a EuroNews video on YouTube.
Friedberg is a town about 2-1/2 miles from Bad Nauheim where Elvis served in the Army. I believe the next picture was taken in Bad Nauheim.
After I cropped this picture, the sign doesn’t appear as large as it really is. I like the way they cut Elvis’ silhouette out of the center of the sign and made a separate stand-up of him. Wonder why they used a Jailhouse Rock outfit. It seems like the uniform from G.I. Blues would be more appropriate.
Young Donald Trump Looked Like Elvis?
At a November political rally in Tupelo, MS, Donald Trump said.
“Tupelo, home of thousands of hard-working American patriots, and the proud birthplace of the king of rock n’ roll, Elvis. Elvis! We love Elvis.”
“I shouldn’t say this, you’ll say I’m very conceited, because I’m not, but other than the blonde hair, when I was growing up they said I looked like Elvis. Can you believe it? I always considered that a great compliment.”
What do you think?
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Remember When I Told You About All the Companies that Want to Advertise on ElvisBlog?
This is one of the more recent ones I’ve heard from.
They don’t just do Elvis fashions, but they have dozens of them. Here’s a few that got my attention.
This is the “Elvis Cowboy Prairie Sunset Turtleneck Sweater.” It looks pretty good… until you see the price tag of $249.
If you’re involved in the effort to restore Elvis’ Circle G Ranch, here something for you – “The Cowboy Ranch A-Line Skirt.” Just $89.
This is the art work on another item. I was intrigued with the image of four floating Elvis heads, all with his famous shades, so I saved it for my files. However, on a long-sleeved turtle neck sweater, it looks horrible. Especially at $259.
It’s better on the “Vegas Glam Fringe Satin Scarf.” $149
And finally, we have the “Groovy Afrique Pattern Midi-Dress.” $298
National Cupcake Day is this Saturday Dec 15:
I did a little surfing on Amazon and found these samples of Elvis Cupcakes.
And my favorite:
How Come Bill Clinton Didn’t Award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Elvis?
I published this list a few weeks ago. George W Bush honored two music stars, Barack Obama honored thirteen, and Donald Trump honored Elvis. Notice what name is missing? Bill Clinton. He honored lots of folks in other categories, but no musicians.
I can’t figure out why Clinton didn’t jump at the chance to pick Elvis. During the 1992 Presidential campaign, the press corps started comparing Bill Clinton to Elvis, although the candidate never did this himself. The press even made references to Clinton’s campaign plane as “Air Elvis.”
It has been said that one of the late boosts to Clinton’s campaign in 1992 was when he played “Heartbreak Hotel” on the Arsenio Hall Show.
Elvis and George H. W. Bush:
I didn’t have a good place to post this picture when President George Bush 41 passed away a few weeks ago.
Elvis met George H. W. Bush before he became President. Bush was the Ambassador to the UN when he was the Keynote Speaker at the 1970 awards dinner for the “Ten Outstanding Young Men” by the United States Junior Chamber of Commerce, or the Jaycees.
George H. W. Bush was Bill Clinton’s opposition in that 1992 campaign. He felt compelled to respond to this linking of Clinton and Elvis, by stating this in a campaign speech:
“Clinton is on all sides of every issue. He’s been spotted more places than Elvis Presley. I guess you’d say his plan really is ‘Elvis Economics’. America will be checking into Heartbreak Hotel.”
Noted Elvis author Greil Marcus contends that an Elvis reference in any politician’s campaign speech is a guaranteed sound-bite on the evening news, although there is no guarantee what the public’s response will be. This quote is said to have lost votes for former President Bush in his re-election campaign:
“I finally figured out why Clinton compares himself to Elvis. The minute he takes a stand on something, he starts wiggling.”
© 2018 Philip R Arnold, Original Elvis Blogmeister All Rights Reserved www.ElvisBlog.net
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Elvis, Elvis Presley, and Graceland are registered trademarks of Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc.
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Posted in COOL STUFF OUT THERE IN ELVISWORLD, ELVIS COMMENTARY MINI-NUGGETS, Main Page
Tagged Elvis and Bill Clinton, Elvis and George H W Bush, Elvis Cupcakes, Elvis Fashion, Elvis Traffic Lights. Elvis and Donald Trump