~ Elvis in Wichita, KS 1956 ~
JHNJB
I noticed someone posted a question about anyone being at Elvis' last concert
and thought I might give this show a shot as well.
I know this is a very loooonnnggg shot but was wondering if there is anyone on
this board that was at this show or that knows anything about this show?
I have a bit of a story about this show I thought I might share...
My mother attended this show when she was only thirteen. The exact date of the
show was Friday, May 18th, 1956. Anyway, she was a member of the Wichita Elvis
fanclub and there was rumors going around that morning that the show was
actually canceled for Elvis had been killed in a plane wreck. As a matter of
fact, there had been a plane crash not to far from Wichita that morning but of
course had nothing to do with Elvis.
That evening at the show my Mom and her friends from the fanclub were lucky
enough to get to go backstage at meet Elvis in between the two shows. She says
that Elvis stood there and talked with them (the group of about 9 girls) for
about 20 minutes. He signed pieces of paper for them and whatever else and at
the end of the meeting...ducked inside his dressing room and came out with a
pair of his blue suede shoes that he had worn on stage that night. He gave the
shoes to the girls and as the story goes, they took them to school and put them
in the school trophy case for all to enjoy. Well, years later all the girls
graduated and no one thought to claim the shoes. Unbelievable but true.
The next day the girls got there picture in the Wichita Beacon newspaper and
the photo indeed shows the girls talking with Elvis (my Mom is right next to
him) and he is shown presenting the girls the shoes.
My Mom has since lost the autographs she got and had lost the newspaper
clipping until about 10 years ago. I went back to Wichita and researched it.
Thank goodness for microfilm for I was able to find the picture, print it out
and now have a copy sitting next to my computer as I type.
Just a story I thought I would pass on for anyone interested....
Oh, to track down the photographer or just to know if there were any more
pictures of that night would be incredible.
JC
Birmingham, AL
suave harv
> I know this is a very loooonnnggg shot but was wondering if there is
anyone on
> this board that was at this show or that knows anything about this show?
> I have a bit of a story about this show I thought I might share...
(snip)
That was an interesting post. The plane crash rumour and the giving away of
the shoes is mentioned in several books. I've had a quick scan and I've
found . .
1) There were two shows on the 18th, 7pm & 9.30 (the latter was added only
the day before)
2) Tickets for the shows were $1.50 or $2.50
each, depending on seating.
3) Elvis stayed at the Lassen Hotel. He had a shock when he found his room
occupied - the manager quickly gave him another room.
4) He gave the shoes to a Marilyn Shirkey - does your Mum remember her?
5) The Fan Club was known as the 'Robinson Intermediate' Fan Club (is this
correct?)
6) He was also interviewed by local radio jock Darryl Klassen on this day. I
don't beleive the interview has seen light of day.
He is supposed to have said "I just want to clarify that rumour 'bout me
being dead" whilst on stage.
The only pic I could find from 18th May is of Elvis backstage with two young
men looking at a magazine or programme. It's a very poor picture. It's In
Brian Peterson's 'The Atomic Powered Singer' book.
Any AEKers out there with some of the real early Ger Rijff books (Luuk?).
They featured many rare press clippings from this era. We may yet find
another picture. I'll keep looking.
Good luck with your searching JC. These are great memories!
JHNJB
Oh yes! She was the head of the fan club. As a matter of fact, I believe
Marilyn is on the other side of Elvis in this picture from the Wichita Beacon.
I'll double check with my mom next time I talk with her.
Thanks so much for looking up info on that show for me. Now, exactly which
book is this from? It would be worth the cost just for that bit on that show.
Wow!
Thanks again,
JC
Luuk
"suave harv" <hatn...@unitedarabemirates.com> schreef in bericht
news:amifv3$2oh$1...@helle.btinternet.com...
>
> The only pic I could find from 18th May is of Elvis backstage with two
young
> men looking at a magazine or programme. It's a very poor picture. It's In
> Brian Peterson's 'The Atomic Powered Singer' book.
> Any AEKers out there with some of the real early Ger Rijff books (Luuk?).
> They featured many rare press clippings from this era. We may yet find
> another picture. I'll keep looking.
>
> Good luck with your searching JC. These are great memories!
>
I do not really collect Elvis-photo books.
In the good old days I used to talk with Ger Rijff at Elvis conventions.
First met him (and his brother Lodewijk) in 1969 at the De Montfort Hall
(Leicester?). Last met him some 10 years ago when I visited him briefly as
the guy was very very busy.
Great show by Dave Kaye and the Dykons. Whatever happened to Dave and his
band?
suave harv
> Thanks so much for looking up info on that show for me. Now, exactly
which
> book is this from? It would be worth the cost just for that bit on that
show.
> Wow!
> Thanks again,
> JC
The book that goes into the most depth about this show is Lee Cotton's 'Did
Elvis Sing In Your Hometown' published by High Sierra books. There is a
whole page devoted to it (p156). Lee Cotton researched many early shows for
this book. I particularly love the fifties Elvis, so this book is one of my
favourites. There's an Amazon link but they say it's out of print . . I
would try the UK dealer 'Records By Mail' - they may have a copy and they
are happy to ship abroad. email elvis...@tiscali.co.uk or phone UK 01603
488744. Perhaps others here can offer a stockist in the US?
Lee Cotton is a real enthusiast - it may be worth hunting him down?
The other book that mentions the show is Brian Peterson's 'The Atomic
Powered Singer' - published in '94 now out of print. God knows where you
would pick up a copy of this great book. It deals exclusively with 1956.
There's a paragraph about the show and the faded picture I spoke about.
Interestingly, Peter Guralnick's 'Last Train To Memphis' doesn't even
mention the show, although other dates on the tour are listed. Odd, because
this book is often considered the most detailed fifties biography.
I have asked Anne Nixon - a knowledgeable English Elvis author, to check her
records for May 18th 1956. And I would be interested to hear if anyone on
this group has a copy of Gerr Rijff's 'Long Lonely Highway' - this book is
packed with 50's press cuttings and may well feature the 18th May show. I
don't have a copy (damn!).
JHNJB
records for May 18th 1956. >>
"Wow" is all I can say.
I really appreciate the help you have passed along. It sounds like I have my
work cut out for me now. Time to get busy.
Once again a sincere "Thank you" for passing along the info - books, authors,
etc, and of course your help.
I'll let you know if I find anything more...
JC
JHNJB
I had a chance to sit down with my mom today and ask her more and more
questions on the show. She had a hard time remembering alot of the details,
but said that Marilyns mother actually drove them to the show and she was the
one that lined up the meeting backstage.
She said that when they got to the show, someone came out and got them and
simply took them back there. She said it was not real crowded backstage or
anything and that Elvis was just standing there in this hall talking to a
couple of other people. She said that Elvis just stood there and talked with
all of them for about 20 minutes. She said that the whole time Elvis was
standing there that he had his arm around HER and no one else. LOL!
My mom said that one thing she did remember was looking at Elvis' hand around
her shoulder and noticing either a wart or a mole on his left hand. LOL!
Anyway, she said that she does remember the newspaper photographer taking some
pictures (one is the one I have of course) and that someone else was as well -
like one big group shot.
Now...I have to figure out who that someone else is. She said that she just
saw Marilyn last year at a class reunion back in Wichita. So I might have to
call her myself to do a bit more research.
Thanks again,
JC
