Elvis Presley Early Years

Colonel Tom Parker became Elvis' manager March 1954. He lured his protégé with the shrewd cliché, "At the moment son you have a million dollars worth of talent, but after I'm through with you, you'll be making a million dollars" Their first official contact was signed for a 25 per cent fee. A fee which he persuaded Elvis to increase to 50% a year later. Although at first the Colonel exploited Elvis' talent to the fullest, he also made some misguided decisions, like contracting Elvis to those corny movies. But the worst crime committed by the Colonel was not allowing Elvis to tour overseas. The reason came to light, after Elvis' death, when it was discovered that the Colonel had entered the US illegally from Holland. It would have impossible for him to get a passport. Parker outlived his protégé by 10 years when he died aged 87 in Las Vegas. In 1977 Elvis’ heirs sued Parker who was still drawing a commission from his deceased client. By 1982 he was forced to relinquish all future income connected with his client. 

Ed Sullivan proclaimed he would never have Elvis on his television show. However, he had to concede after the Steve Allen Show rating convinced him to sign Elvis for a fee of $50,000. Due to a car accident Sullivan did not introduce Elvis on his first appearance when he sang Don’t Be Cruel and Love Me Tender. It was on Elvis third appearance that Sullivan insisted on filming Elvis only from the waist up. In January 1957 he changed his tune after Elvis included a gospel song Peace In The Valley. Telling the audience that Elvis was a “real decent, fine boy.” Although Steve Martin allowed Elvis his personal expression on stage it included Allen’s particular brand of humor by having Elvis came on stage wearing a tuxedo, while he sang Hound Dog to a basset hound. Later Elvis would recall this experience with hurt and resentment.  What Elvis really wanted from the start was to become a movie star like his heroes, James Dean and Marlon Brando.

 When he finally got to Hollywood and met director of Rebel Without A Cause, Nicholas Ray, Elvis got down on his knee and started reciting whole pages from the script. Obviously Elvis had seen Rebel at least a dozen times and memorized every line that Dean spoke. However, Elvis was never given the chance to rival Brando and Dean as a movie actor, but he did learn from them one critical lesson: never smile. Elvis arrived at the studio already in love with his co-star Debra Paget. In one emotional scene where he confronts his wife (Paget) about her love for his brother, becomes one of the most charged moments in the movie and Elvis executes the scene very convincingly. The success story in Loving You closely resembles Elvis own the rise to fame. His character, Deke is introduced as a delivery boy who discovers a natural talent for performing and soon reaches national attention as a singer. In contrast to Love Me Tender Elvis appears in nearly all the scenes, and it’s the only color Elvis movie from the 50’s. The soundtrack packed with songs, establishing a formula where Elvis’ music promoted his films and vice versa. There are many outstanding performances in the film, along with a number of impressive acting moments.  

Film-clip from Loving You where Elvis sings to his mother (left) His parents were extras in the audience scene Elvis was convinced that that serious, sultry and sexy look was the key to their success. Even Robert Mitchum (another favorite actor) used that down cast appearance. He was sure he could manage the same kind of sultry/sexy persona of his Hollywood idols. As a teenager, in the privacy of his bedroom Elvis spent hours in front of the mirror working on the look and used it to maximum effect on screen.  

The perfect example of this can be seen in the movie Jailhouse Rock when Elvis impulsively grabs his new manager (Judy Tyler) and kisses her until she swoons. When she objects he claims “That ain’t tactics, hone, it’s just the beast in me…” A sexually charged moment in the movie as he walks away with a sneer. These movie moments are precious slices of truth because they are so rare. The rest of the times, Elvis was prevented from showing himself. He understood what Hollywood expected from him and he played their game. Elvis received $250,000 for the film plus 50 per cent of the profits and with the another residence to replace that on 1043 Audubon Drive. The property was in Whitehaven an exclusive residential district.

The Graceland home which Dr Thomas Moore who named it after his wife’s aunt Grace Toof from whom Moore had inherited the land built the mansion before the WW11. Graceland at 3764 Highway 51 now the most famous private residence after the White House. Elvis bought the mansion March 1957 for $102,500. Money no object with a #1 hit record Heartbreak Hotel & a seven year movie contract under his belt. It was at Graceland that Elvis received his papers from the Memphis Draft Board for induction into the US Army for two years. Elvis lived at there with his family and friends for 30 years. The home was where he died on 16 August 1977