50's Culture: Elvis
Elvis Presley played at least 2 times in Forrest City, which is just 40 miles West of Memphis. (As reported on the webiste "The Girl's Guide to Elvis" ). This bit of history is curtesy of Marianne (via Paul Gibson, her brother).
"In Forrest City he [Elvis] performed at Smith Stadium on 9/5/55 as part of the Labor Day celebration and on 11/14/55 at the Forrest City High School Auditorium to benefit the Crowleys Ridge Shrine Club."
The high school auditorium? Anyone recall it?
Bogie:
I'll have to answer for my sister, Mary Lynne. She remembers Elvis' visit--boy, does she! She and a friend climed into the back of his car when the concert was over and he asked them if they wanted to "go to Memphis"! She had to decline. We had our photo made with Elvis shortly after at his home on Audubon Drive. He was being interviewed by a couple of reporters and photographers in the front of his home. We were just out for a ride and decided to go by his home to see if he was there. He was! Our photo appeared in the Oct. issue of "Elvis Speaks" 1956--the very last picture in the magazine. I was 12, Mary Lynne was 18, and our cousins, Bill and Shirley were 14 and 15--we were in heaven!!
Bogie:
When? Summer of 1956
Where? Elvis' house on Audobon Drive, Memphis, TN
Who? Left to right--My sister, Mary Lynne Bogart, 18, cousin,
Shirley, 16, Bogie, 12, and cousin, Bill, 15.
How? Went riding one Sunday afternoon--checked to see if
Elvis was home--he was! And so were two reporters and
a photographer with The Memphis Commercial Appeal.
picture didn't make the newspaper--it was on the last
page of a magazine called "Elvis Speaks", released in
October, 1956. Ain't we sum'um'!!??
When? Summer of 1956
Where? Elvis' house on Audobon Drive, Memphis, TN
Who? Left to right--My sister, Mary Lynne Bogart, 18, cousin,
Shirley, 16, Bogie, 12, and cousin, Bill, 15.
How? Went riding one Sunday afternoon--checked to see if
Elvis was home--he was! And so were two reporters and
a photographer with The Memphis Commercial Appeal.
picture didn't make the newspaper--it was on the last
page of a magazine called "Elvis Speaks", released in
October, 1956. Ain't we sum'um'!!??
Lin: Elvis left one broken hearted teenager in his wake when he played FC. It seems that Linda Carroll kissed Elvis in front if my older brother Nick. To this day he says that the trauma of seeing Linda kiss Elvis destroyed his ability to like music for life. That is his story and he has stuck to it for fifty years.
posted by Peach Fuzz at 6:31 PM
4 Comments:
I'll have to answer for my sister, Mary Lynne. She remembers Elvis' visit--boy, does she! She and a friend climed into the back of his car when the concert was over and he asked them if they wanted to "go to Memphis"! She had to decline.
We had our photo made with Elvis shortly after at his home on Audubon Drive. He was being interviewed by a couple of reporters and photographers in the front of his home. We were just out for a ride and decided to go by his home to see if he was there. He was! Our photo appeared in the Oct. issue of "Elvis Speaks" 1956--the very last picture in the magazine. I was 12, Mary Lynne was 18, and our cousins, Bill and Shirley were 14 and 15--we were in heaven!!
Bogie
VERY COOL!! I had always heard rumors that Elvis actually played concerts in FC, but could never find anyone who could personally substantiate that...and now through the miracle of cyberspace we have CONFIRMATION! Better yet, you met him, "rode" with him, and got your picture taken with him! LRM...aren't you extremely jealous?! lol
Paul G.
I actually attended the second Elvis "concert" in FC. Unless I have lost my memory, it was held in the old gym and not the auditorium. I remember Carl Perkins was on the show as was Hank Thompson and the Brazos Valley Boys (purely country music). As Thompson played on and on, the crowd became very restless and let it be known that they had come to hear Elvis and not Hank Thompson. Elvis put on a great show.
Also, does anyone remember the "Southern Assemblies" that would come to FCHS usually on Friday afternoons? There were the usual small time entertainers, but it only cost 25 cents to attend. The only name I remember from those shows was B. J. Thomas. He was just getting started.
My mother tells the story that she had the chance to go see Elvis when he was in FC. Several of the girls were riding around, a tradition that goes back several generations, and mentioned going to the concert. My mother said, "I am NOT going to see someone named ELVIS!" And they didn't! (famous last words)
It was also rumored that Elvis dated Jean Simmons, the mother of Stephanie Simmons, for a little while.
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