TOO MUCH MONKEY BUSINESS: The Elvis Forum

U.S. JAYCEES 33rd TEN OUTSTANDING YOUNG MEN, Memphis Tennessee, January 16th 1971.

Holiday Inn-Rivermount
200 West Georgia Avenue, Memphis
Elvis stayed in a suite at the Holiday Inn, although he still arrived late that morning, for the Jaycee prayer breakfast held at the Holiday Inn-Rivermount. Harold Sterling the host, waited for Elvis to arrive who apparently was held up due to a lost cufflink.
Harold Sterling: "I was just not ready for someone that theatrical, he had all these diamonds on, and his hair was long. Charlie Hodge was drinking and laughing, Red and his wife were there. Priscilla had long jet black hair. He was a taskmaster, people jumped, he had ideas on what he wanted and the impression he wanted to give, but he was a benevolent tyrant, he was so good, but he was demanding too".
'His entrance into the dining room was electric, filling the most staid businessmen and society wives with teenage enthusiasm, they all stopped their conversations to watch him enter the room. Just as he and Priscilla sat down, photographers rushed to their table, graciously, Elvis allowed a couple of quick pictures, then he asked the newsmen to leave.*


Photo by Dave Darnell for The Commercial Appeal. Holiday Inn, Rivermount, Memphis, Elvis is being introduced with Priscilla beside him at the US Jaycee prayer breakfast. William N. Morris, former sheriff of Shelby County is applauding to Elvis' right, and just behind Elvis is Charlie Hodge. On the table adjacent are Red West seen to the right of Priscilla, and to her left Sonny West can be seen. Above Red West's head are Sandy Schilling and Jerry Schilling to her left. Maybe Vernon Presley is lower right?
Marty Lacker: "He (Elvis) told me to handle everything. He said "find out where I go and where all the entrances are" He was just going to fly in the night before from Vegas. He said "I don't want to stay at Graceland, I’d rather be somewhere close to the auditorium”, so I arranged for him to have the whole top floor of the Rivermount Hotel, “I’d like to do something for the other honourees"**



These two photos above are the same, with the lower one being of poorer quality, but less cropped on top of frame. William N. Morris (lower left), Marty Lacker (left) Charlie Hodge, and Red West slightly obscured. Elvis and Priscilla sat at the table talking to unknown.




A private question and answer session followed the breakfast, again without the press. The Press-Scimitar reported from sources at the press conference that Elvis spoke about religion and how its importance to his life, but in the organized sense that he called on God many times for strength, and that "God is a living presence in all of us"
"Yes I don't go along with music advocating drugs and desecration of the flag. I think an entertainer is for entertaining and to make people happy"
The future President George Bush was a speaker, as the United Nations ambassador(filling in for Vice President Agnew) Also in attendance was Marion Keisker in full uniform and Elvis introduced her to Priscilla as "The lady I told you so much about" and then said "You know she's the one who made it all possible, without her I wouldn't even be here". (Jerry Schilling tells the same story about Marion Keisker, with a reference that Elvis spoke the same words to his wife and himself)


Elvis shakes hands with the then, Texas Congressman, and United Nations ambassador George Bush. Sonny West right of frame. Mr Bush stated "You Memphis politicians had better watch out if Elvis Presley ever decides to enter politics.


























Elvis departs the Holiday Inn-Rivermount, 200 West Georgia Avenue, Memphis.


THE TEN OUTSTANDING YOUNG MEN 1970


Paul W Burcha was a Medal Of Honour winner. For the full info look here http://www.army.mil/MEDALOFHONOR/citations25.html


James B. Goetz was a radio broadcaster and Minnesota Republican politician. He served as the 38th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota from January 2, 1967 to January 4, 1971.


Mario Renato Capecchi is an Italian-born American molecular geneticist and a co-winner of the 2007 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. He is currently Distinguished Professor of Human Genetics and Biology at the University Of Utah School Of Medicine.


Ron Ziegler with Richard Nixon (left). Ron Ziegler was Richard Nixon's White House Press Secretary .


Thomas Atkins was the first Black Boston City councilman.


Wendell Cherry ttp://www.nytimes.com/1991/07/18/obitua ... eader.html



Elvis Presley was an American singer and actor. A cultural icon, he is commonly known simply as Elvis and is also sometimes referred to as The King of Rock 'n' Roll or The King! This photo was used for the Awards Ceremony invitation

George Todaro Info and photo here http://www.toconline.com/html/files/Archives/Todaro.pdf
(I have not been able to source photos/info for the other Young men at this stage)

1. Atkins, Thomas I., 31 - Municipal Affairs (1970)
2. Bucha, Paul W., 27 - Military Service (1970)
3. Capecchi, Mario R., 32 - Biological Research (1970)
4. Cherry, Harry W., 35 - Business (1970)
5. Coll, Edward T., 30 - Voluntary Service (1970)
6. Goetz, James B., 34 - State Affairs (1970)
7. Humann, Walter J., 33 - Business (1970)
8. Presley, Elvis A., 35 - Entertainment (1970)
9. Todaro, Dr. George, 33 - Medicine (1970)
10.Ziegler, Ronald L., 31 - National Affairs (1970)

In the afternoon, at 5.00pm Elvis hosted a cocktail reception at Graceland for the honourees and members of the Jaycees.
Marty Lacker: We had Graceland done real sharp, and we decided that one of the guys would meet each honouree at the door with his wife and take them on a personal tour.
Dinner was then arranged and hosted by Elvis at the Four Flames Restaurant. Bouquets of fresh flowers and candelabras, with place cards signed by Elvis with the TCB logo were present on each table. Music was provided by a violinist, and dinner was served by white gloved waiters.
Marty Lacker: Elvis was real happy except one thing, In the middle of the dinner, the side door opened and in walked 'Al Capp' the cartoonist, well nobody had invited him, and the Sheriff's deputy at the door said 'I'm sorry sir-this is a private party, you can't come in" Capp said in a loud voice "I'm part of the ceremony, and I should be there, It turned out that Capp was going to be one of the speakers at the awards, but we didn't know that, and Capp was drunk, and he started yelling, in a raspy, obnoxious voice "I don't know why I wasn't invited, I’m Al Capp". Finally one of the big-shot Jaycees told him he was going to have to leave. Capp yelled all the way out the door, and he didn't even go to the ceremony. Elvis said "Who gives a shit?" but it hurt him and it put a damper on his evening.**

The Four Flames Restaurant was at 1085 Popular Avenue, Memphis, and is now the Child Advocacy center.


(Left to right upper) Marty Lacker, Sonny West, (at table, lower) Vernon Presley with back to camera, to his left Dee Presley, Priscilla and Elvis stood with Charlie Hodge on the right of Elvis. With Sheriff Bill Morris clapping sat next to Elvis.
(Picture Below) Priscilla, Elvis and Sheriff Bill Morris, wearing his TCB.

Frank Taylor, Memphis organiser for the Jaycees convention: "It was almost like the weekend was away from reality, he (Elvis) had never been exposed to the professional part of life. It was a new world for him, for once he shared the spotlight with others"*





Elvis and Ron Ziegler
Ron Ziegler: I think he (Elvis) was very pleased to receive the award, and it was an honour to him, and he so indicated, he was expressing a little discomfort of how he was going to react and to relate to the other people who were there, so we talked about that a little bit. It appeared to me at that time that he wanted to reach out and talk to someone different to that what he could find in his entourage. I didn't get the impression that he was limited or dull witted, I found him to be somewhat articulate and poised individual, I did sense however an individual who was withdrawn and an individual who was somewhat shy. I think all of us were moved by Elvis. He was a natural nice man, I liked him.***



Taken from film footage










Ellis Auditorium


Priscilla and Elvis arrive for the evening awards around 8.00pm
Priscilla "He stayed up writing on this little sketch pad, and he would show me what he had written and ask me what I thought. He was so nervous about making that speech. He was going to be in front of millionaires, and he wanted to be explicit and intelligent to them, so he would read it to me and I was amazed. I couldn't believe that this came out of him, he shocked me with the eloquence of his speech. I would have thought he took it from something - I wouldn't have put it past him to do that, clever as he was, but I witnessed it. I mean it was just beautiful".

Full version of speech http://www.keithflynn.com/video/jayceesawardspeech.wmv


"When I was a child, ladies and Gentlemen, I was a dreamer. I read comic books, and I was the hero in the comic book. I saw movies, and I was the hero in the movie. So every dream that I ever dreamed has come true a hundred times. These gentlemen over here, these type people who care, are dedicated. You realize if it's not possible that they might be building the kingdom, it's not far-fetched from reality. I'd like to say that I learned very early in life that:

Without a song the day would never end
Without a song a man ain't got a friend
Without a song the road would never bend
Without a song.. So I keep singing a song.
Goodnight. Thank you







[/img]http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/5323/image16990467l.jpg[/img]
Thomas Atkins with Elvis

*
Elvis and Priscilla


The music was written by Vincent Youmans, the lyrics by Billy Rose and Edward Eliscu. The song was published in 1929.
The complete lyrics to "Without A Song" which part of the Jaycees speech was based on.

Without a song, the day would never end.
Without a song the road would never bend.
When things go wrong, a man ain't got a friend
Without a song.

That field of corn would never see a plow.
That field of corn would be deserted now.
A man is born, but he's no good no-how
Without a song.

I got my troubles and woe,
But sure as I know that Jordan will roll
I'll get along as long as a song is strong in my soul

I'll never know what makes the rain to fall
I'll never know what makes the grass so tall
I only know there ain't no love at all
Without a song


Elvis may have heard the song from Roy Hamilton's 1955 recording or maybe the Perry Como version the original being on January 11, 1951 and the second time in June, 1970 at a live performance at the International Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada.



The colour images of Elvis leaving the Holiday Inn are screen grabs from film footage.
*Memphis Elvis-Style By Cindy Hazen, Mike Freeman
**Elvis and the Memphis Mafia by Alanna Nash
***Cut me and I bleed documentary



Elvis and the Ellis Auditorium http://www.scottymoore.net/ellis.html
http://www.memphismemories.org/Topics/B ... lisAud.php

I'm bumping this thread up to the top because today is the anniversary of the Jaycee Awards.

The YouTube video at the end is no longer current.

Thanks a lot for puttin' this post together, Davide!

Splendid work! Keep 'em coming!

Another stunning post. I just wanted to comment on this quote from the speech:


I always heard it, and believed it to be "you realise that it's not impossible that they might be building the kingdom of Heaven. It's not too far fetch from reality".

Just a small change but it makes more sense.

That's what he meant to say, no doubt. A bit like, "That's one small step for (a) man, one giant leap for mankind", though the latter may be just a hiccup in the audio.

Steve Morse