From the Tiger Beat Archives, August 1969
Spending two days with the legend is a real eye-opener. If you’ve ever wondered what to believe about The King, here’s your chance to find out the truth!
Stepping onto a set where Elvis Presley is shooting a movie is a little like putting on Dorothy’s ruby slippers and walking down the Yellow Brick Road. All of a sudden, it’s as if what you been waiting for has just appeared and everything is bright and exciting!
Just before Elvis finished filming his latest motion picture “A Change of Habit” at Universal Studios, I visited the set for the final two days of shooting. The first morning I was driven out to the set by the Unit Publicist, Walter Burrell. It was a sunny warm morning, and the company would be filming outdoors all morning. The setting was a park with Negro, Mexican and White children playing together on the swings and a colorful merry-go-round. My eyes searched out Elvis, but I did not see him right away.
THERE HE WAS
Mary Tyler Moore who is Elvis leading lady and love interest in this film, was having her makeup checked. Then it happened, just like at Elvis TV Special taping, suddenly there he was. His dark black hair blowing freely in the slight breeze. He was dressed in blue jeans, the University of Memphis sweatshirt and black tennis shoes. He glided onto the merry-go-round gave Mary a big, then bigger, hug and they were ready to shoot the scene.
The action involved Elvis singing to a little Mexican girl, who in the story they believe to be deaf, and therefore cannot talk, but later realized that she just doesn’t speak because of a severe emotional problem. So, Elvis sings a happy song to try to cheer her up, the first two songs in the movie.
During the next two hours Elvis probably sang again about 10 times that happy little song. Between shoots he’d talk with Mary Tyler Moore retreat to his high set chair where he talked with his buddies, who are always there, have a swig of bottled water, which is all he drinks, or sit and puff on a mini cigar.
STRANGE SET
An Elvis Presley set is a very strange place. No one seems to approach Elvis when he’s not working-not out of fear or indifference, but I think more out of respect that his free moments should be his own. Still it’s not unusual for Elvis to approach any member of the cast or crew and sit down for a chat.
Another strange thing about an Elvis set is that everyone is so happy! Even when things don’t run as smoothly as everyone would like, there is Elvis making a joke, clowning with Mary Tyler or bursting into a song to keep a smile on everyone’s face!
Occasionally Elvis would glance over at me with a little look of curiosity on his face. No one, but no one, gets to visit Elvis set without permission from Col. Parker, and since Elvis didn’t know me I’m sure he couldn’t quite figure out my presence. Still, each time he looked over, there I’d be–my eyes staring straight into his. One time I got a huge Elvis wink, which I later found out would have to keep me satisfied since I wasn’t going to meet Elvis that day.
HALF DISAPPOINTED
I went home a little disappointed that evening and I felt guilty about being disappointed after all I had spent several hours watching Elvis work which is more than about 99% of Elvis fans get to do, and at the same time I was disappointed because I hadn’t met him yet. I had gotten the news on Friday that I could visit the set on Monday and it was quite a week trying to decide what I’d say when I met Elvis.
Would I compliment him on his incredible Special? Would I tell him how great he was in “Charro!” despite the disappointing script? Would I ask him about his plans for Vegas? Or would I ask him the questions I wanted answered most like if the rumors about his divorce are true? You probably think an experienced reporter doesn’t get nervous about meeting stars, but let me tell you, they do!
PRIVATE LIFE
Along with my friends, we decided it would be wrong to ask about his personal life. As curious as we all were, we felt it was just bad taste to ask Elvis about his private life. We finally decided that it would be best to complement him on the new directions his career is taking and asked briefly about his plans for Vegas, which would be his next big step. When I finally met Elvis, I asked him none of these things and said none of the things I’d planned! Who could?
I did meet his longtime buddies–Charlie, Joe Esposito and Richard Davis, who is also his stand-in on all of his films. Long ago, I had talked through mutual friend to try to get Richard to do a story with me about Elvis and on this day I found out why he had said “no.” Talking with Richard he told me that even though he’s been offered great amounts of money to do stories on his friend Elvis, he’s always turned them down, fearing something might be printed that both he and Elvis would not like. “I guess that’s part of why I’ve been his friend for seven and a half years,” Richard said.
He told me, to my great relief that all the rumors about Elvis and Priscilla getting a divorce were just not true. “He’s very happily married.” Richard emphasized. Several members of the crew emphasize this to me, also, saying that Elvis, like any proud papa was constantly talking about his daughter.
SECOND DAY
The second day on the set, Elvis was filming on an indoor stage. When I arrived early that morning, Elvis was already on the set, which was an apartment full of teenagers. He was sitting in the foreground and white slacks and boots and a navy-blue crêpe shirt. He was playing a guitar. In this scene he sings “Rubberneckin'”, a rousing song with an irresistible beat. You just can’t help moving when you hear it over the loudspeakers. For the song Elvis is backed by the Blossoms, who sang background on his TV Special but in this story they are not the Blossoms, just three girls from the neighborhood in which Elvis is the clinic doctor.
The majority of the morning hours are taken up filming this song from every angle. First the whole scene, then a profile, then a close-up, then a shot of his hands playing the guitar and so on. I must’ve heard “Rubberneckin'” about 15 times, which was gas because the song is just plain groovy.
WILD REACTION
One of Elvis costars, Jane Elliott who plays Sr. Michelle came onto the set in her street clothes–jeans, a blouse and love beads. When the music started the next time, she just couldn’t help dancing so she grabbed Walter, the publicist, and they began dancing like you’ve never seen!
Elvis only had a couple of breaks all morning. While they reset the cameras for different angles, he just stay put on the set and sing with the Blossoms–“Money, Honey,” “Johnny Be Good,” “If I Can Dream,” “Love Me” and on and on. It was like a private concert and just as fantastic as ever! His voice is just so wonderful in person!
The time was drawing near, though I didn’t know it. Elvis climbed through the jungle of cameras and lights to his set chair several feet back. He slipped into his dark suede jacket and sipped some water. For once he was alone-his friends were not near, the director didn’t come over to talk to him-all alone! Walter walked over and spoke to Elvis and the next thing I knew he was standing in front of me! The dark hair falling to the top of his eyebrows, the deep blue eyes smiling at me “Ann Moses,” Walter started, “I’d like you to meet Elvis Presley.” It was so formal and so casual at the same time. Elvis shook my hand and I think I muttered, “How do you do.” It was very strange–at that very moment all the nervousness and fear was gone.
MORE EXCITED
“That song is really great,” I said. “Did you see Walter and Jane dancing back there?”
“Yeah. Weren’t they great! I can really dig it when people react when I’m singing. I just get more excited!”
“Look at my fingers,” Elvis changed the subject as he reached out his hand to me, “They’re getting all ripped up.” He’d been playing the guitar for nearly four hours that morning and the calluses on his fingertips had tiny cuts all over them. Then he touched my shoulder and excused himself, as he was being called back for another shot. In another few minutes he was back.
“Did you have your jacket specially made?” I asked.
“You know, I found it on the rack. That happens every once in a while. I was pretty lucky,” he said.
I wanted to ask about Vegas and I was going to tell them how I’d seen him tape his TV special, so it was like I’d already seen him work live once and was looking forward to seeing him again.
I started, “I guess Vegas is next,” and he muttered “Yep.”
“I was at the taping on your TV special…” I continued and Elvis broke in, “that’s where I’ve seen you! Your face looks so familiar to me these past two days but I couldn’t figure out where I’d seen you.”
Our faces were superimposed on the screen for about three seconds while you singing ‘Can’t Help Falling in Love'” I said.
“That must be it! You just looked so familiar.”
Before he could go on, he was called back to the set. It was a great afternoon of talking and watching; and thinking back on those two days I find it’s hard to put down in words the warm feelings you have when you meet Elvis. Without a word he puts you at ease and makes you feel like you want to sit and talk for hours. I guess that’s just part of the Presley magic!
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