How do you feel about it, generally? Well, uh, it is delight. He called me Idiot's Delight. He said all the kids was a bunch of idiots. They should all be slapped in the mouth. What I like is he says, when this day is over, an unhealthy hunk of Miami's teenage girls will have unashamedly screamed their lungs out to frank adoration of the biggest freak in modern show business history. In seven stage shows at the Olympia yesterday and today, Elvis Presley is a no-talent performer, riding the crest of a wave of mass hysteria, un-princess. Do you want, how's your feeling on that parenthesized item, no-talent performer? I don't know. I don't even want to think about it. He ain't nothing but an idiot. He wouldn't sit up and write all that stuff. He just hates to admit that he's too old to have any more fun. He's drawing an average of 2,000 kids a show, and nearly all of them are girls. We're continuing now this quotation. Elvis can't sing, can't play the guitar. Can you play the guitar? No, and I can't sing either, but somebody likes it. And can't dance? No, can't dance. I can't do nothing but read Herb Rawls' article in the newspaper, that's all I can do. Yet 2,000 idiots per show, continuing the quotation, Yelp every time he opens his mouth, plucks a guitar string, or shakes his pelvis like any striptease babe in town. Well, he should know. I guess that's where he hangs around. In over a decade of active, professional participation on the fringes of show business, we've never seen anything like it, Rawls says, nor can we understand it. A division of entrance, fresh from the front lines, never screamed Bob Hope like Miamis teenagers are screeching for Elvis Presley. Judy Garland killed him at the palace, but they never heard anything like this Olympia wing date. Nor did Al Jolson at the height of his glory, nor did Al Jolson at the height of his glory, or Frank Sinatra, or Will Rogers, or Jerry Lewis, or Bing Crosby. New paragraph. If what Elvis Presley dishes out is entertainment, then we give up. We're beyond our teens, but not so anciently. We can't appreciate what might appeal to a youngster. New paragraph. Except in regard to Presley. New paragraph. There is a quote, warm up, unquote, screen program prior to the proceedings on stage. One of the movie shorts is a rock and roll thing featuring Bill Haley and his copy. New paragraph. They yell and scream through this, too. And if it weren't for the cops and firemen on hand, they'd dance in the aisles also. The scream warm up routine is reminiscent in staging of another kind of film prior to another kind of performance in another kind of house. Hold it. Presley, talk. Sir, those kids that come here and pay their money to see this show come to have a good time. What's his name here? Probably might have had a little fun when he was young. I doubt it. Herb Rowe. Herb Rowe, whatever his name is. I'm not running Mr. Rowe down. But I just don't see that he should call those people idiots. Because they're somebody's kids. They're somebody's decent kids, probably, that was raised in a decent home. And he hasn't got any right to call those kids idiots. If they want to pay their money and come out and jump around and scream and yell, it's their business. They'll grow up someday and grow out of that. But while they're young, let them have their fun. Don't let some old man that's so old he can't get around, sit around and call them a bunch of idiots. Because they're just human beings like he is. OK. We'll go back to a quotation. They can't like Presley for his voice or his guitar playing, no matter how lousy both may be. They can't adore him for these things because they scream so loud they can't even hear him sing or strum his guitar. Do you strum your guitar? Well, I beat on it. I have for quite a number of years. I'm not an expert on it. I'll say this, and I'd like to add it to what I just got through saying about him. As a rule, most of the adults are real nice. They're understanding. I've had them come around to me with the hundreds and say, I don't personally like your kind of music. But my children like it and so on. And if they like it, well, I haven't got any kick about it. Because when I was young, I liked the Charleston. I liked the Foxtrot. I liked this and that. They are adults with a little intelligence. I mean, you know, that they don't run the people in the ground for having a nice time. OK, back to the clipping. What remains, unfortunately, are his pelvic gyrations. And that's the core of his whole appeal, quote, *** stimulation. Any answer to that? Well, I don't roll my, what do you call it, pelvic gyrations. My pelvis has nothing to do with what I do. I just, I get kind of rhythm with the music. I jump around to it because I enjoy what I'm doing. I'm not trying to be vulgar. I'm not trying to sell any ***. I'm not trying to look vulgar and nasty. I'm just, I enjoy what I'm doing. I'm trying to make the best of it. Where did you get the name Elvis the Pelvis? Somebody just like the character that's writing this article here. Do you have any idea who? No, sir, I wish I knew. I don't know. Of course, I don't like to be called Elvis the Pelvis. But I mean, it's one of the most childish expressions I've ever heard coming from an adult, Elvis the Pelvis. But if they want to call me that, I mean, there's nothing I can do about it. So I just have to accept it. It's like you got to accept the good with the bad, the bad with the good. OK. Back to the quotation. We're no prude, but we might suggest a gift. And these are 14,000 mama girls who, as if it were a fetish, are vocally and mentally genuflecting to Elvis Presley, a solid slap across the mouth. He means, Rao means a slap across the mouth to these girls. Have you any comment to that? Yeah, but I don't think I should say it. OK. This isn't over the air. This is for TV guys. TV guys. I don't think I should say it, no. OK. Because I'm a singer, not a fighter. No, they also ask, where did you pick up your style? Well, sir, I don't know. I really don't know. I just started out doing what I'm doing now. Yeah, have you ever seen anybody else do it? No, sir, no. Have you got any techniques you've added since you started in show business? Or is these all of them? No, sir, I've been doing the same thing. I've only been in the business about a year and a half. And I'm doing the same thing. I started out doing it. I haven't added or taken anything away. Did your first appearances, I mean, did your first success occur in records or in personal appearances? My records started selling very well, and then I started. Your records sold before you made any success as a performer? Yes, sir. So do you think that your generations merely add to the performance you give, or do you? Do you think that the movements you make have made you famous, or your style of singing? I don't know, sir. Do you have any idea? I can't answer that. OK. I read a clipping somewhere where you were attributed as saying that the hula roller, you'd I have never used that expression. But that's another deal. See, I belong to an assembly of God church, which is a holiness church. I was raised up in a little assembly of God church. And some character called them holy rollers. Oh, I see. And that's where that got started. I always attended a church where people sang, stood up and sang in the choir, and worshiped God, you know? I have never used the expression holy roller. Do you still attend church? Every opportunity I get. I don't have as much opportunity as I used to, because I'm on the road most of the time. In the holiness church, do they have peppy music? Peppy music? They sing hymns and spirituals. They sing spiritual songs. And they sing them at a fast tempo? Yes, sir, they do sometimes. How long have you been going to that church? Ever since I was old enough to walk. About five or six, huh? Yes, sir. And do you think you transfer some of that rhythm into your singing? That's not it. That's not it at all. Some article came out where I got the jumping around from my religion. My religion has nothing to do with what I do now, because the type of stuff I do now is not religious music. And my religious background has nothing to do with the way I sing. Do you recall the first time you sang in public? Do you remember when the first time you sang in public? Yes, sir, it was back when I was about 10, 11 years old. I was in an amateur program at a fair. And did you use a lot of gyrations then? Well, I wasn't doing the type of songs I'm doing now. Nobody knew what rock and roll was back in those days. But when you hear rock and roll, it gets you on a fire? Oh, not when I just hear it on the radio. When I'm doing it on the stage, you have to put on a show for people. In other words, people can buy your records and hear you sing. And they don't have to come out to hear you sing. You have to put on a show in order to grow a crowd. If I just stood out there and sang to never move the muscle, the people would say, well, my goodness, I can stay home and listen to his records. But you have to give them a show, something to talk about. Now, in this show, we've established that it is a show that you put on. Now, how did you get the idea for the rapid amount of action? Have you ever seen anybody move around as much? No, I was around never. I just never had any old showman advise you you ought to do it? Nobody's ever told me. Where is the first time that you used the rapid action? My very first appearance after I started recording, I was on a show in Memphis where I started doing that. And I was on a show with an extra added single, a big jamboree, an outdoor theater, an outdoor auditorium. And I came out on stage, and I was scared stiff. It was my first big appearance in front of an audience. And I came out, and I was doing a fast type tune, one of my first records. And everybody was hollering. And I didn't know what they were hollering at. Everybody was screaming and everything. And then I came on stage, and my manager told me that they was hollering because I was wiggling my legs. And I was unaware. Who was your manager at that time? Bob Neal. Bob Neal, OK. And so I went back out for an encore, and I did a little more. And the more I did, the farther they went. Three a day. Three a day. Found the vitamins? I was thinking, I'll talk to you all about three a day shows. Yeah. All right. OK. Now we're down to the questions. In other words, you picked up your style when they appreciated just a little wiggle. You figured they'd appreciate more with a little more wiggle, and they did. So now you're ready to give them the works, right? That's right. OK. I'll say this, sir, before we go any further. It's back on the subject we were talking about at first. Talking about reporters, there's a rumor that has gotten out that I don't have no time for reporters. I just answer with a yes or a no. And it's very untrue. I have my first one yet to turn down. I've never turned down a reporter. I've never turned down a disc jockey. I know that I can't visit radio stations like I'd like to, but I don't have time. And I have never turned down a reporter. I have never been sassy to one. In fact, I've never been sassy to anyone. I've always stayed and talked to them as long as they want to talk. And I admire them because they keep us in business. I mean, the newspaper columns, the reporters, the disc jockeys, we all work hand in hand. Do you recognize or do you have any idea one way or the other whether the criticism has helped or hurt your career? I don't know, sir. Would you agree with myself in the opinion that the criticism has helped skyrocket you with a defense coming to your rescue every time somebody knocked you, every knock was a boost, in other words? Well, that makes a lot of sense. Here's a new question now. What is your reaction to the NBC comment after they learned Sullivan had hired you that you were just a flash in the pan? Maybe they're right. I don't know. Nobody knows. In fact, if I knew, I would be a mastermind. I'm not. OK, that's a good answer. Next question is, what about your acting career? Do you have any plans for an acting career? Yes, I do. You have a contract now with? I have one with Paramount. How long was it? Seven years. Seven years, and how many pictures? Picture a year. Picture a year. Can you give me an approximation of the amount of that contract over the seven years for the amount of fees that you'll receive? No, sir, that's never been released. Have you ever had any experience in acting before? I've never read a line in my life. How do you figure on going about learning to become an actor? Sir, I don't think you learn to become an actor. I think you just, maybe you've got a little bit of acting talent, you develop it. I don't think you learn to be an actor. If you learn to be an actor, in other words, if you're not a real actor, you're false. In your acting, are you taking advice from anyone? I don't take advice from anybody. Well, I mean, is anyone responsible for assisting you in that? Well, the colonel is responsible for assisting me in everything. I've talked to veteran actors. I've talked to a lot of the producers and directors in Hollywood, and they always give me advice. Well, I wouldn't say that, but they told me that I had good possibilities because when I took my screen test, like I said, I had never read a line. I had never studied acting or been in any plays or anything. I just, I got out there. I knew my script. They sent it to me before I came to Hollywood. And I got out there. What kind of script was it? How many pages or lines, you know? Well, it was about 15 pages, I guess. Uh-huh. Oh, yeah. And I knew my script, and I got out there and just tried to put myself in the place of the character I was playing. And I just tried to act as naturally as I could. Uh-huh. And did you have any wheels that approved the test, that you know? You mean the movie wheels? Well, all of them saw it. Uh-huh. Let me see if it's picking up. All right. Do you look forward to your acting career, or? Yes, I do. I think I'm going to enjoy it. Do you think our venture will become your main source of income? I don't know. Wait and see. Um, are you looking for, that is the next question, are you looking for a TV show of your own? No, I'm not. I've never thought about it. If not, why not? I'm just not ready for that yet. You mean in your own experience, you're not ready yet? That's right. Next question, who are your most avid fans? What age group would you say? Well, I don't know. Most of the teenagers, I guess. Have you had many older people go real excited when you're around, that you recall? Well, not when I'm around. I'm trying to get to you. Yes, I've seen quite a few adults. Men or women? Most of the women jump up and down and scream. Do you recall seeing any gray-haired women jump up and down? Well, there was one in Tampa, Florida, yesterday. That was August the 5th. August the 5th, yeah, there was one lady. About 65-year-old or 70. She was completely gray-haired. She was clapping her hands and everything. Right along with the other people. But most of them are teenage girls. How about the boys? Well, the boys, they seem to like the music. Next question. How about tiny children? Do you have any tiny children, before we go to the next question? Quite a few of them. In fact, I guess I got more real, real tiny ones than I have adults. How do you handle autographs? What do you mean? How do you keep from, do you autograph everyone that reaches you? Everyone that gets to me, I always do. I never tie anybody down. Sometimes you go, you seem to disregard the protection given you by people in the theaters, and the ushers, and so forth. And maybe shake hands with someone who reached over the rail, or something like that. Or you open a window when you're riding in a car, when you know you shouldn't. Why do you do that? Because I hate to, in other words, if it wasn't for getting mobbed, and maybe your clothes torn off, and stuff like that, I would go right out in the middle of those people. I hate to turn anybody down, as much as I agree. I just buys pictures and wants to get them signed. How many autographs do you sign a day? I don't know. But I hate to turn anybody down. In a situation like, where most of the time, the crowd is so large that you couldn't autograph everybody. Have you noticed the girls who scream and shout the most, are many of them blondes? Have you noticed? No, that doesn't mean that. I've seen like so many of the girls that I've seen are bleached blondes. You don't notice? I haven't seen that many. I saw more in Tampa, Florida, on the same date than anywhere else. Oh, that just seems to be a local situation. Yeah, it just probably happened. Maybe it's a fad going around town. That doesn't mean, I mean, there's girls with brunettes, redheads, streaky, and everything. Yeah. Most of the boys, do most of the boys wear long sideburns? Have you noticed? No. There's a lot of them that wear them, but I guess it's more of a crew cut than anything else. How did you happen to adopt long sideburns? I just always wanted to when I was growing up. I always wanted to grow them because they make you feel like a bigger man, or older. It makes you look a little older, and I just always liked them. Did you ride motorcycles when you were a kid? No, I ride one now. Generally, you think of a motorcycle rider as being long sideburns, that's why you had them. That's right. How's show time? We doing all right? Yeah, we got a few more minutes in. Next question, do you have any opinion why you are such a big hit? Now, this is a question a lot of people want to know, so. Why I am? Think about it, yeah. Well, it's a pretty stiff question, too. I don't know how to answer you. Well. It's all happened so fast, I mean, so I don't know what it is. Well, now, when you're performing, and the screams, you realize that every movement will bring a surge of screams from the crowd. Do you enjoy making a movement that will make the crowd scream? Yes, sir. And do you sort of play the audience? I mean, see which side of the auditorium you make scream, or do you try to work the audience in any way? Just try to work the audience. Half the time, I can't even see the audience. Half the time. And in most theaters and auditoriums, the lights keep you from seeing it in any way. Sometimes, occasionally, I notice you throw your head back and laugh. Is it because you enjoy making a surge of noise come out? No, I get tickled. I get tickled sometimes, maybe some little girl. Some individual. A little girl, an individual on the front row will do something real funny, like *** her hair, or something like that. What's the funniest thing that you recall seeing happen on the front row that made you laugh? Have you ever gotten broken up on your show by something happening in front of you? A whole band has, every time. Where was the last time that you? I don't remember exactly where, but a couple of times, I had to walk off stage, I guess, or something. Was it because of the rough house, or because you got tickled? Because I got tickled. Can you remember that incident, when you had to walk off stage? I remember what was happening. This girl, this blonde girl in Atlanta, Georgia, had come to three different shows. And she sat on the front row and screamed all through all of them. And then the night we closed, she decided to come up on the stage. So she made it up on the stage, and had got almost up there and about five policemen ***bed her. And she was fighting him just like some man would. Oh, darn. And everything in the audience, we just broke the audience up. She was screaming, let me at him, and stuff like that. And I got so tickled, so I had to walk off stage. Well, did you leave for her protection, or just because you were tickled? Because I was tickled. And then did you come back out? Yes. And by that time, what had happened to the girl? They had killed her. I don't know. You don't know what happened? I didn't see her anymore. I must have taken her outside. It asks another question, which I've already asked you, I think. But I'll ask it again. How do you feel about having to calm down for the Steve Allen show? You say you didn't have to calm down. No, I didn't have to. Nobody asked you? Your manager? Yeah, yes. People asked me, but I didn't steal them after. That's what I'd wanted. I didn't want to make anybody mad, so I did. Yeah. Let me ask you a question or two about Tom Parker. That's the Colonel Tom Parker of Madison, Tennessee, who managed Hank Snow, Eddie Arnold, and some of the others. How did you first meet Tom Parker? Well, when I was with Bob Neal, Bob Neal was my manager. The colonel used to take shows out on the road. He'd hire me for an extra edit single. He undoubtedly liked the performance that we did, so he decided to start working together. Him as my manager. Well, did Bob Neal turn you over to Tom? Yes, well, his contract was up. His contract was up. Yes, I had been with him a year. And when did you pick Parker, or did Parker come for you? We more or less picked each other. It was like this. The colonel, if you want me as your manager, I'll do the best I can. And I told him, if you'd like to manage me, I'll work with you. It was a deal like that, you know? What date did Tom Parker take over? It was March the 15th. What year? This year? Yes, sir. 1956. This is August. He's just been with you for three months. March, April, May, June, July, August. He's been with me about six months. Has that been the period of your biggest rise in popularity? Yes, definitely. Do you ascribe any of that rise in popularity to his operation? Most of it, yes, sir. A while ago, I asked you a question about do you have any opinion as to why you are such a big hit? Do you think that the promotion, which Parker handled, has anything to do with that you becoming a solid hit? Or do you think you would have been a hit anyway? That's kind of a tricky question, but how are you doing? Well, the colonel is a very, well, I was doing, I was making quite a bit of money, but I wasn't as nationally known as I am now. The colonel has a lot of friends in the entertainment business. He has a lot of connections. He knows lots of people that are important wheels in the business. Do you recall any publicity gimmick or promotion gimmick that he used that amused you particularly that worked out? He's a very amusing guy. He plans stuff that nobody else would even think of. I could tell you lots of things, but I don't have the time right now. OK. Uh, get in the boat. OK, well, thank you.