Elvis Presley

[Deleted]

Does anyone know why no one ever changed the typo on his tombstone? It bugs the crap out of me that they spelled "Aron" wrong, but I guess his family didn't seem to mind.

[huntergrayson]

solly wins the internet.

I can't believe I've never been to Graceland, either. And I lived in TN and everything.

I know it sounds funny - an Elvis class -- but it was seriously the most difficult class I took.

Heck, I went to a school were they routinely offer classes on James Bond and The Beatles, but doing pop cultural studies well is actually really intensive and not the "Oh, wow, you get to take classes in ______? How fun!" experience everyone imagines.

I'm not too invested in Elvis, but am intrigued by the Guarlnick bios. Anyone read them?

[sugaree]

It wasn't really a typo. His parents were early proponents of kre8v spelling, and they spelled it Aron. It was put down as Aaron on his birth certificate, no doubt by people who could spell, but Elvis signed his legal documents as Elvis Aron Presley.

I remember that from the awful Albert Goldman book. When I was a kid, I read any books I could get my hands on, but my mom forbid to read her copy of Goldman's book. So I sneak-read it in short doses. If my mom took a shower or went outside to cut the grass, I'd sneak into her room, pull the book out from under the bed, open it to a random page, and read until I heard her approach.

[Deleted]

I long to take a roadtrip to Graceland. I'd like to stand by Elvis' grave and harmonize badly to "Heartbreak Hotel" ala Spinal Tap. My mom went a few years ago and said it was fabulous. The Jungle Room beckons me!

I spotted the Elvis Reese's cups in a gas station yesterday and thought that that was a pretty awesome tribute. If I ever get a memorial Reese's cup someday, I'll know I've done something right with my life. (Except I'll be dead.) Boyfriend got some from a coworker who visited Graceland this past weekend and said that they weren't half-bad, but tasted a little overly processed. I'll have to take his word on it; bananas give me the willies.

My favorite Elvis songs tend to be the later cheesier ones: "Suspicious Minds," "Kentucky Rain," "Burning Love," "In the Ghetto."

[Deleted]

sugaree said:

I remember that from the awful Albert Goldman book. When I was a kid, I read any books I could get my hands on, but my mom forbid to read her copy of Goldman's book. So I sneak-read it in short doses. If my mom took a shower or went outside to cut the grass, I'd sneak into her room, pull the book out from under the bed, open it to a random page, and read until I heard her approach.

Sugaree -- You just described exactly my first experience with the wonderful Valley of the Dolls!

I don't think I ever read the Goldman book in its entirety. But one part sticks in my mind . Something about how when Elvis was with a woman and they were preparing to have sex, he'd be extra-excited if it turned out the woman was wearing white panties. He loved white panties on a sexy woman. This stupid Goldman wrote about this like he was revealing something utterly depraved. Um... Elvis liked white panties on a woman? Shocking. I can't live in a world where such things go on.

[Deleted]

I also like "Blue Christmas", but prefer the Porky the Pig version.

[jdkwfan4ever]

Him and Ann Margret were a gorgeous couple. I love how they're having an Elvis marathon on the TCM channel.

And I totally had a blast visiting Graceland.

[Deleted]

Oh, whew! I saw his thread on the top of the list and was worried that he had died....

[sugaree]

Goldman's probably been in a coma since the Internet helped us realize how many sexual quirks there really are out there, induced from clutching his pearls too tightly. Yeah, the white panty fetish is totally quaint and charming.

At least compared to the fact that he met Priscilla when she was 14, and brought her to live with him when she was 17. That's creepier than Jerry Lee Lewis and his child cousin bride. Teen marriages were the norm in the areas where they grew up, times hadn't changed yet, but there's just this element of shopping and purchasing a bride in the Elvis and Priscilla story.

Priscilla's a Scientologist, so I don't really believe a word of what she says about their relationship. She'd be in for years before she put out her autobiography. God only knows how all that auditing twisted and distorted her memories.

[Ripley]

I remember when he died. I was 6 years old. My dad had the single "Can't Help Falling in Love," and I played it over and over on my little record player, crying my heart out. To this day, I can't tell you why. It's not like I was then (or have been since) a big Elvis fan.

I can testify that the Elvis Peanut Butter, Chocolate, and Banana cups are delicious.