"'I've been 60% happy and 40% happy, but never 100%. "It's not always easy knowing all/what to say in moments sometimes but here goes," she wrote on Facebook. Other reporters were the enemy--and they were ruthless without using bullets.. Those are the things I like to remember. As for stories that the Enquirer reporters riled reporters from other publications because they had papered the town by buying up exclusive rights to peoples stories--Calder said simply, If the sheer force of money can give you what people want to read, you give them what they want.. And going out the gates in the limo and seeing the streets lined up on both sides all the way to the cemetery. .. More than 4,500 separate floral arrangements (some shaped like guitars) were ultimately picked bare by the very fans whod sent them. There are portions of that talk that Ive never printed--and I never will.. What about the time Elvis read about this colored lady in North Memphis. She says that they were happily and excitedly discussing wedding plans on the very night he died. The singer dated Alden until his death in August 1977. On August 7th, Elvis had rented Libertyland, a local amusement park, from midnight till dawn. I ran into this guy who worked in a drugstore in Detroit. Though he wasnt technically invited to Elvis services, Murray didnt let that stop him. That is not an unusual complaint, since fans often faint outside the Presley mansion. Presley, just 42 at the time, died on August 16, 1977, at his Graceland home. Home | About | Contact | Copyright | Report Content | Privacy | Cookie Policy | Terms & Conditions | Sitemap. Alden, whom Elvis had given a diamond engagement ring and presumably planned to marry, has been described as "too polite to say." Elvis Presley, was still wearing her 11 1/2-carat diamond engagement ring as she recalled the final hours of the singer's life. Equally puzzling (and still the subject of story after story) was the Elvis phenomenon. Related Well, covering Elvis was a war, too. Who was Elvis Presleys girlfriend Ginger? Elvis Presley Grave Who is Buried at Graceland? When Priscilla and Elvis met, Priscilla was 14-years-old, and The King would have been 24-years-old. Lisa Marie Presley retains 100% sole personal ownership of Graceland Mansion itself and its over 13-acre original grounds and her fathers personal effects meaning costumes, wardrobe, awards, furniture, cars, etc.. She has made the mansion property and her fathers personal effects permanently available for tours of , Your email address will not be published. I dont know what she thinks of me, but she is the only thing left of Elvis. The hundreds of reporters fought for rental cars and hotel rooms (and rooms rented out by Memphians who took advantage of the onslaught). Priscilla Presley Disputes Invalid Amendment to Lisa Maries Trust Such visits meant fielding phone calls from fans, processing increased mail (He always got lots of teddy bears) and, of course, responding to the press. But the infamous musician was engaged to Ginger Alden before his death. It must have been very traumatic to find Elvis, she was only young and didn't deserve to see that or go through that kind of heart break. But no one was more devastated than his girlfriend, Ginger Alden. The official verdict was death by heart failure. Some Elvis associates are interviewed out, they said. Virtually every person from every beat was assigned to cover Elvis. Elvis Presley's ex-lover Ann-Margret attended the funeral proceedings and spent some time with his father, Vernon Presley. Elvis had the Presidential Suite. As for the rest of the event, reports claimed attendees could hear Vernons sorrowful cries throughout the funeral service. His father, Vernon, worked a series of odd jobs, and in 1938 was sentenced to three years in prison for forging a $4 check (he spent less than a year behind bars). Ginger Alden who was Elvis' current girlfriend at the time of his death is selling her engagement ring which Elvis gave her. When Elvis returned from Germany and was no longer in the service, our family was invited, by an uncle of Elvis', to join Elvis and a group at the local fairground. Kennedy--who everyone assumed had come to pay her familys respects--was admitted to Graceland by Elvis friend and Memphis disc jockey George Klein. He smiled grimly, pointing out that almost two years later, Rivera would do a 20/20 show about Elvis misuse of prescription drugs. Im waiting for someone to write about those., Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Travis Scott is sought by New York Police after alleged assault and criminal mischief, Review: Michael B. Jordan is the one to fly now with Creed III, Unlike Andor, Mandalorian is going all in on Star Wars lore. Of those Elvis associates who did concede to meet the press 10 years ago, some admit that they did so with great care. Elvis Aaron Presley was born on January 8, 1935, in Tupelo, Mississippi, to Vernon Elvis and Gladys Love (ne Smith) Presley in a two-room shotgun house that his father built for the occasion. EMMY NOMINATIONS 2022: Outstanding Limited Or Anthology Series, EMMY NOMINATIONS 2022: Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series, EMMY NOMINATIONS 2022: Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series, EMMY NOMINATIONS 2022: Outstanding Lead Actress In A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie, EMMY NOMINATIONS 2022: Outstanding Lead Actor In A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie. Other Elvis sources have grown accustomed to receiving money for their memories. During an appearance on Today Wednesday morning, Priscilla Presley reflected on the day of Elvis funeral an event that sent Memphis into mourning. Like reporter William Thomas, who covered the death for the Commercial Appeal in Memphis: She used her name to get in, and then she got her story. The hospital called Vernon Presley to tell him that his son was dead. Only three people were. It was more than too late. Fans stopped their lives in order to make a pilgrimage to Memphis. This after the family decided that a flower should go to each fan who hadnt been able to view the body. After calling Elvis kinfolk in Mississippi, the reporter was asked, What kind of money are we talkin about for this interview? After explaining that she couldnt offer payment, a reporter never got a call back. "I will always remember riding in the golf cart with Lisa at her father's home, something she loved so very much and taking her to good "ole" Mcdonalds for a burger," she added. What was the age difference between Elvis and Ginger Alden? That all changed. Kleins sentiments were echoed to a reporter by a spate of Elvis associates who met/saw Kennedy at Graceland that day. . This week alone, the headlines have included: THE KING IS DEAD, LONG LIVE THE KING--The Chicago Sun-Times. Did Priscilla go to Elvis funeral? Elvis wouldve kicked my rear end if I hadnt., Elvis death brought together the members of Elvis inner circle--known as the Memphis Mafia. Said Hodge: We all just sort of assumed certain duties. The next day, hundreds of beautiful floral arrangements lined the gates of Graceland as a way to honor the late rock-n-roll star. His previous wife of six years, Priscilla Presley, and girlfriend of four years, Linda Thompson, both lived in. After returning to Graceland he went to his racquet ball court and played until about six a.m. Tuesday, August 16th. So, when he died, I guess you could say we also protected him. 6, a Modular Rev Ambulance an orange and white boxlike structure affixed to a GMC chassis turned on the siren and headed south. They quickly became inseparable, and . > have to wonder about a few things. Elvis' last week alive was Skip to content FAQS Clear Nobody wanted to delve into the seedier side., Brown--who would later work for the National Enquirer as its Elvis expert, and who these days writes about celebrities for books and newspapers (including The Times)--added: To this day, I keep thinking, If only wed all asked more questions. . On August 7th, Elvis had rented Libertyland, a local amusement park, from midnight till dawn. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2012-2023 On Secret Hunt - All Rights Reserved And the Commercial Appeals Jim Kingsley interviewed Vernon Presley, who thanked the worlds fans for their tributes. Burt Reynolds, Ann-Margaret, John Wayne and Roger Smith attended the private funeral service. Their preliminary ruling was cardiac arrhythmia and hardening of the arteries. Miss Alden, wearing the black dress she wore only hours earlier to the funeral, said she wanted to convince herself Presley was not dead. His personal doctor, George Nichopoulos, was administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation. People come around the same time and theyre all there.. The 100 Greatest TV Shows of All Time Alden was reportedly the last person to see him alive, and she still has fond memories of her short time with The King. Required fields are marked *. Three men captured in a stakeout near Elvis tomb were accused of attempting to steal Elvis body and hold it for ransom. And thats what was going on with Elvis. Today, the Presley estate is estimated to be worth between $400 million and $500 million, according to one Presley exec. Except when it came to what you hear on those records. Ginger Alden who was Elvis' current girlfriend at the time of his death is selling her engagement ring whichElvis gave her. The memorial headstone is not placed next to his father, mother, brother, and grandmother. Wed always been such Kennedy supporters, you know. Miss Alden, wearing the black dress she wore only hours earlier to the funeral, said she wanted to convince herself Presley was not dead. Some had scoops fall into their laps. Crosby and Jones were brought upstairs, where Presley was lying on the floor of his bathroom. Then suddenly, he wasnt., So West opted not to talk. She lives in Los Angeles with her mother, Elvis former wife, Priscilla Beaulieu. Im going to the bathroom to read. Those were the words Elvis Presley said to his fiancee, Ginger Alden, early in the morning of August 16, 1977, at his Memphis mansion, Graceland. This meant the hospital had to postpone announcement of the death for at least 30 minutes. Elvis Presley's family banned girlfriend Ginger from Graceland after The King's death ELVIS PRESLEY'S family stopped his fiancee at the gates of Graceland after his death. He was, friends said, extremely overweight and though he had seen Elvis What Happened?, written by three of his former bodyguards, he did not seem overly bothered by anything. According to sources within the Enquirer--as well as members of Elvis entourage--it was a cousin of Elvis who, armed with a $300 Minox (given him by an Enquirer reporter), snapped that last portrait. Something made me want to go, he revealed. The tentative ruling was heart failure, but the autopsy was expected to continue for at least a week. Admission to Elvis grave is now part of the Graceland tour. When she missed her deadline, she sold her story to Rolling Stone. Maybe, with the fans and everyone behind him, Elvis could have gotten some help. By that time, we knew people would have read a lot about Elvis. Did Ginger Alden attend Elvis funeral? ), Ginger Alden didnt want to move to Graceland. It was my way of trying to help him, but, I dont know--if Elvis had lived--if it (the book) would have made any difference. That look is not far away from her father's now. The fee for this exploit was--depending on who one talks to--somewhere between $35,000 and $75,000. 6. Who was Elvis's favorite female singer? . The book promises a whole new take on the public's general . Ginger Alden's first book, Elvis and Ginger: Elvis Presley's Fiance and Last Love Finally Tells Her Story , was published in 2015. But Ginger Alden was Presleys fiance at the time of his untimely death in 1977, when he was just 42 years old. Did Ginger Alden attend Elvis funeral? The bell rang, and I opened the door and said, Caroline, come on in. She never let on that she was free-lance writing for Rolling Stone., Added Klein, That was a cheap-shot way to get a story.. Thousands of fans who loved Elvis and who have expressed their sympathy. He told me a story of how the two met one day on the way to the studio in the mid-60s. Calder is insistent: It was a terrific news photo at the time. Why is it that everyone wants to know the ugly? Everybody had their jobs to do. I had the Penthouse. Public viewing of Elvis body. "'She has the same look in her eyes as me,' he said. Talking about his wife, Ginger Alden is 5 feet 9 inches (1.75 m) tall and has a body weight of around 71 Kg (156 lbs).7. Because of his longtime tenure with Elvis, and because Esposito was initially credited with finding the body (reports would later clarify that it was fiancee Ginger Alden who first made the discovery), he had dozens of requests for interviews. The day before he was to go on tour, the week that the controversial book Elvis What Happened?, which purported to detail his private life, appeared the month that he again had a record on the charts, Elvis dropped dead in his Graceland mansion and instantly passed from elusive legend to myth. The police were called in. I was dumbfounded., Elliott bolted to the emergency room (I didnt wait for an elevator--I took the stairs). She recalled the little moments she had shared with a young Lisa Marie, who had been around 8-9 years old at the time, following the couple's engagement. But when Elliott and Esposito walked into the hospitals administrative library, set aside for the press, Esposito, said Elliott, choked up and said, I cant do it. He was just sitting there, outside the gates, with a days worth of beard, and this strange look on his face. Elvis Presleys funeral, held on the 18th, was a modest affair, though attended by stars such as his Viva Las Vegas co-star Ann-Margret, James Brown, and actor George Hamilton. Blue Hawaii: Ginger Alden, here with Elvis on their last holiday together to Hawaii, woke up on the day he died at Graceland and Elvis was not in bed.She got dressed, put on her makeup and. It was Dr. George Nichopoulos who broke the news to Elvis friends. On learning of Elvis death, the woman had dressed her house in mourning and spent the night on her knees in prayer. 20 2019, Updated 1:42 p.m. Elvis Presleys grandson Benjamin Keough buried in Graceland alongside King of Rock and Roll. Phillips, who produced Elvis first records (this after a search to find a black sound inside a white boy), received so many calls that you couldnt begin to count em. They came from all over the world--including England, Australia and Japan. TimesMojo is a social question-and-answer website where you can get all the answers to your questions. His death left promoters with a financial dilemma: How could they reimburse fans for tickets worth more than $600,000 if the fans refused to return the tickets (which became collectors items)? The procession headed to Forest Hill Cemetery, where Elvis beloved mother Gladys who died a premature death when the singer was a young man was interred. That was one of the things about the dude. Miss Alden, wearing the black dress she wore only hours earlier to the funeral, said she wanted to convince herself Presley was not dead. She recalled the little moments she had shared with a young Lisa Marie, who had been around 8-9. How many houses did Elvis Presley have? (The Memphis Commercial Appeals editorial on his passing noted that if he kept late hours, he also kept the peace.) After nightfall, he took one of his Stutz-Bearcats out for a drive through Memphis. Your email address will not be published. Her autobiography mentions an uncomfortable moment during her engagement to Elvis. There is an odd footnote to the legend of the coffin photo: After it was run, the photo disappeared from the Enquirer offices. You know what Im saying? This means their age difference is 10 years, though because of their birth dates it is more like 10 years and four months. Ronald Leyser was a director of commercials and was married to Ginger Alden from 1991 until his death. Not that the book was taken that seriously. I didnt want to think he was dead. The men were later released, and charged only with trespassing, after police determined the scheme may have been a hoax. Alden did not discuss the day Elvis died, but did say that contrary to what has been written about his final days . Ginger only dated the superstar from November 1976 until his untimely death on August 16, 1977. The photo also so angered Elvis entourage that a private detective was hired to unmask the culprit--now said to be a black sheep.. Ginger Alden, his fiance at the time, found him on his bathroom floor where he had been for hours. Explained Joe Esposito, Wed always protected Elvis--OK? Can you imagine what all went on? We took uppers to stay awake and sleeping pills to get to sleep. Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Half an hour later, on the steps of Graceland a grief stricken Vernon announced to the world:My son, Elvis is dead, Memphis Press Scimitar announced: LONELY LIFE ENDS ON ELVIS PRESLEY BOULEVARD The French headlines read: LADIEU A ELVIS! She had just turned twenty, while Elvis was twenty-one years her senior. I was still shocked. Letters Of Note, Shaun Usher's compilation of fascinating letters, postcards, telegrams, faxes, and memos is brilliant. It is impossible for Elvis to ever look bad! Ginger Alden was born in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1956. Why Do Cross Country Runners Have Skinny Legs? Meanwhile, miles away in Las Vegas, Elvis' ex-girlfriend, Ann-Margret, knew something terrible had happened to the Blue Suede Shoes singer. But as everyone knows, Elvis did everything in excess. The city came to resemble a gypsy camp as tens of thousands of followers dropped whatever they were doing wherever they were and made their way to where they knew they had to be. Due to the ferocious nature of the attorneys representing Elvis Presley Enterprises, the originating story of these photos cannot be told, but these photographs match in every detail the written descriptions of Graceland's upstairs rooms, as found in books authored by Ginger Alden, Joe Esposito, David Stanley, Red West and Priscilla herself. (The Enquirer was then published biweekly.) On January 3, 1977 Elvis and Ginger along with a 15 man entourage attended the funeral of Ginger's Grandfather. GInger described how, after only a few months, Elvis proposed: "He said: 'Ginger, I've been searching for love so long, and never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I would find it in my own backyard. Linda and Elvis broke up in late 1976 because she wanted a more normal life, but the two remained friends until he died less than a year later. But Presley had many other loves in his life, including Ginger Alden, the beauty pageant queen to whom he was engaged at the time of his death in 1977. In a drugstore in did ginger alden attend elvis funeral the things about the dude is insistent: it was director! Least a week to sleep upstairs, where Presley was lying on the siren and headed south before death... Postpone announcement of the arteries explaining that she couldnt offer payment, a reporter by spate. 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