I stood and looked around and saw scores of fans I recognized from all over. I patted my leg. I looked at my watch. James just laughed at me. Time was going so fast until we got here, now it stopped. My palms started sweating. This was murder! Won’t they ever start this show? This was starting to get ridiculous.
The lights flickered and the announcer came on. “Everyone please take your seats. We will begin the show in just a few minutes. Please take your seats.”
Several cheers went up. Everyone was ready. Shortly, the lights dimmed. “Ladies and Gentlemen: I’d like you to welcome J.D. Sumner and the Stamps Quartet.”
Everyone applauded, but I could still hear a few muffled boos. I know how they felt. J.D. and the Stamps are good, but I came to see Elvis.
The Stamps sang, then Jackie Kahane came out and told some of the same jokes I’d heard in Atlanta and Memphis, then the Sweet Inspirations. Then that terrible, horrible time --- Intermission! The aws and boos went up with the lights. More “Sooper Souvenir” sales; people stretching, going for drinks or to the bathroom. I knew I should go, but there was such a line I knew I’d have to pass. I wouldn’t take a chance on missing out on even a second of Elvis’ show.
I waved to a few fans I recognized. I leaned over and told James to go up there and tell them to start the concert; I was ready.
Charlie Hodge, James Burton and all the others came out and started getting tuned up and ready. Charlie knelt down on the stage and signed autographs. My foot started tapping the floor and I could feel that nervousness all through me. I couldn’t sit still. “Damn! I wish they wouldn’t take so long!” I told James. The closer it gets, the worse it gets. I wish they would….
“Ladies and Gentlemen, if you’ll please take your seats, we will continue with the second portion of our program.”
Yells, cheers and cat calls flooded the auditorium. Everyone soon sat down. I checked my camera, adjusted my lens, stood up and sat on my foot for more height as I strained to see over everyone’s head. I was 30 feet from the stage. A good seat but not close enough for me. I looked through my camera to make sure it was ready. I took a deep breath. The lights began flicking off section by section. The applause and cries grew louder and louder. I looked at James and grinned, “Here he comes!”
All the lights were out except a few small lights on the stage for the band’s sheet music. I strained to see. I looked everywhere for Elvis. The big kettle drums rumbled low then louder and louder as the horns blew higher and higher climaxing in that thunderous dah-dah-h-h! I shivered all over! Any second now! The music rumbled again even louder. I was going up and down with the music. Then the stage lit up as the music changed to a rapid beat. Fans squealed and yelled.
“Where is he? Where is he?” I yelled. Seconds seemed like hours. The right side of the stage burst into ear-shattering screams along with thousands of flashes. Then the whole auditorium joined in as that good-looking guy with the jet black hair and cock-eyed grin emerged between John Wilkerson and Kathy Westmoreland. He looked perfect! In great spirits and ready to put on an even greater show!
Elvis sauntered to the corner of the stage, shook J.D.’s hand, then looped his thumbs through the chains on his belt and just stood there a second. He shook his head slightly and chuckled to himself. Then he curled his lip. Elvis raised his hands, pointing with one finger on each hand then turned and walked across the stage eyeing the crowd and pointing to someone now and then. I could not sit still! I forgot I even had a camera for a minute, then grabbed it and started shooting film. My heart was beating ninety-to-nothing! The whole auditorium was filled with exploding flashbulbs. My film will probably be terribly overexposed from so many flashes going off at the same time, I thought, but I kept shooting.
Elvis took the guitar from Charlie, walked to center stage, leaned the microphone stand back then looked to one side and laughed. Elvis turned to the microphone again, wet his lips back and forth as his eyes slowly looked around the room. Talk about a tease! He snarled up his face and belted out, “Oh, See --- See See Rider!” And complete hysteria broke out again. Lightning flashed through the auditorium. All I could think was Brenda must have been pulling a good joke on me for teasing her on the phone about the Houston concert. There’s no way this guy could have been that sick a week ago. He was just great! And in such great spirits. A minute later I was out of film. Two minutes after that he was singing “Can’t Help Falling in Love” and waving good-bye. Where did the time go?
I can’t remember anything in between except all sorts of screaming and applauding and me doing a lot of jumping up and down and hitting on James. I couldn’t believe it was over so fast. I couldn’t believe he had actually stood on that stage singing for an hour and fifteen minutes either, but that’s what they said. I do seem to remember him doing Blue Christmas again though.
It was all over. The lights were up. The clean-up crew was taking down the equipment and the auditorium was already half empty. A few girls at the front were still hugging their scarves and laughing or crying. Just all at once, all the fervor and excitement was gone. It was like he had never been here except for that wonderful feeling I had. I still felt a little excited about the show, but I just couldn’t remember any of it. It was just too quick.
We sat talking a few minutes bragging about the show while we waited for the crowds to thin out. There were just too many people to try to get out in a hurry.
We figured Elvis was already long gone, so we would have no luck trying to find him. He had probably flown on to his next stop anyway.
Since it was already 11:30 p.m., we knew we had to leave right away. James had to work tomorrow and we had a long way to go. We finally made it home around 4:00 a.m. James lay down for a short nap then it was time for work.
I was depressed already. All that waiting to see Elvis then it was over in minutes. He still had a few days left to go on this tour so I still had to wait even longer to see him at the gate again. It seems all I do anymore is wait on that man. One thing I know for sure, I’m going to have to get Brenda for worrying me like that. He was great! I don’t think he could have been better.
We went to the gate the next night. I don’t know why, we knew Elvis wasn’t home from his tour yet, but when you live in Memphis; that just seems to be something you have to do. Your day is just not complete until you go by and at least look at Graceland. Even if it’s just for a minute. You know, just in case, he might come home early. So, we made our traditional trek by the gate and stopped across the street at the Hickory Log. There were hardly any cars around so I figure this was as good a time as any to give Brenda a call.
The phone rang several times but no answer. Well, she’ll get hers yet. She’s a good kid, but I can’t let her get away with teasing me like that. Worrying me that he was sick! I called again. Still no answer.
We went over to the guardhouse and just stood around talking to some of the new people that were always stopping by.
The next tour had already been announced and posted in the guardhouse, so I was able to impress these new people by bragging about his last show and how he was going to be up north in Illinois for his October tour.
Everyone that comes to Graceland is always all ears and when you tell someone you live in Memphis, they are totally amazed. I think they would believe anything I told them.
Harold was on duty that night and as always was telling the fans about how some girl is always trying to climb over the fence or anything else they could do to try and get to the house. He told about how one night this girl walked through the gate with some other people and waited around while not saying anything to anybody. She just kept watching the house. Then Harold happened to notice she was gone. He looked toward the house and there she was, calmly walking toward the house. Harold called out for her to hold up, but she kept walking like she didn’t hear. Harold started after her, calling for her to stop. She started walking faster up the drive, never taking her eyes off the house. Harold got louder and more insistent. Then she broke into a run for the house. And the chase was on. Harold was thirty feet behind her and hot-footed it after her. A few minutes