My Relationship with Elvis
Here goes.
As a freshman at HH Arnold, I was the only freshman called up from the junior varsity to the varsity football team. I was very fast, ran good routes and had small, but very good hands. It all had this 15 year old feeling very studly....very; so I did not lack for nerve when it came to the girls. My teen acne had vastly improved and my conversation was glib. I was seated next to Priscilla Beaulieu because my name was the next name in alphabetical order and that was the way Mr. Knoefel did things...in order. He was real nice and had a very good sense of humor. He loved the French teacher, Ms Rous....but so did all the other men...and some women.
It did not take many class days for me to determine the girl next to me had pretty legs, very nice hair, a creamy complexion, and a lilting voice. She was pretty, not stunning; but certainly far more than cute....and she had an allure, an aura. Anyway, she was a sophomore and I had seen her hangin' with Linda Plank. Linda's brother, Gary, was a friend of mine; so, I went to Gary and asked his assistance, via Linda, in getting a date with Priscilla. He laughed at me. Laughed at me. This offended my studliness. When I asked what the Hell he thought was so funny, he inquisitively responded, "You don't know, do you?" I asked what I didn't know. Still laughing, Gary said, "Man, she's Elvis Presley's girlfriend." "You're sh#t." I said. "No sh#t." he said. "She and my sister are double-dating after an early dinner this Friday night. My Mom said I could invite a friend or two. Bring Bucky." Come Friday afternoon, I told my Mom and Dad what was going on. Mom did not think twice about giving Gary's story credibility and said, "Enjoy dinner and thank Mrs. Plank. Have a good time." My Dad was very skeptical and still laughing as I walked out the door. I stopped at Bucky's for a bit, stole one of his Dad’s cigarettes, and off we went. The Plank’s apartment smelled like Heaven. It was Hungarian Goulash… made right. Mmmmmm.
Anyway, the 3 of us were playing blackjack in Gary's room when the door bell rang. We listened. Mrs. Plank said, "Oh, do come in." Then, unbelievably, like a twilight zone moment, there it was.....the Voice. "Good evenin', Miz Plank. It sure smells good in here. Mmmm." There was no mistaking the Voice. I peered around the door frame. There he was, live and in full color. While he had already separated from the Army, he was with a GI buddy who was going out with Linda. His buddy was kinda 'countrified', but had very nice manners and was talkative, but most respectful. They had picked up Priscilla at her home in town.. Mrs. Plank called us out and 9 of us managed to fit around a table for 8 with the leaf. The goulash was fantastic, Priscilla was beautiful, and Elvis seemed a very normal guy – a little humble - with a good sense of humor. There was nothing reserved or pretentious about him. My parents were absolutely floored when I brought home an Irish linen napkin that was autographed and said, “To my buddy, Buzz…..Elvis Presley.” I cherished the napkin and my Dad “hermetically” sealed it in special document container. The container was stored in my parent’s home when I entered the military. My Dad later told me it had been “confiscated” by my sister, with my Mom’s permission. I still resent it a little. After all, I am the person who spent time with Elvis, not my sister.
Two weeks after the dinner, while bagging groceries for tips at the All-Services Commissary in Wiesbaden, just adjacent to the Spielbank (casino) and across Frankfurt Strasse from the Bahnhoff (train station, later recreated for the movie GI Blues), there was suddenly a mass exodus from the commissary. People were leaving in droves....leaving their baskets right where they were. I saw both managers leaving. Cashiers were leaving their registers unattended. What the Hell was going on? Well, surrounded by the long oval drive that passed in front of the Spielbank was a very large grassy area, home to 3 large fountains. A film prep crew for GI Blues was using this grassy area to take pictures of a proposed set for a scene that involved marching and singing. The scenery would be either recreated in California or photo-shopped into the film during editing. The area was corded off and several All-Services Police were assuring security. The crowd of folks was 6 or 7 deep for about 75 yards. I weaseled my way to the cord. Elvis was lip-syncing the song as they marched, altho we could hear the music. Apparently, the director was happy with this preliminary activity and the body guards surrounded Elvis and started escorting him toward the blacked out military bus that was waiting. As he passed by, he saw me. He said, "Hey. Buzz. Good to see ya". He leaned close enough to shake my hand and whisper, "Get a reservation at the Europa for Monday night...the Europa." and off the security folks shuffled him. I could not believe he remembered my name. People all around me were impressed that I “knew” Elvis.
As soon as I left work, I went to the Europa Club. I made 7 reservations for Monday, believing that Gary, his sister and parents, and Bucky would also want to be there. I even included a reservation for my Mom, but not my Dad. They were all very excited about it, but my mother chose not to go. We arrived early and while eating dinner, a man came out and explained to people what was going to happen. They were there for still pictures and placement planning, not for a stage rehearsal. He asked that everyone stay calm and collected and just be part of the crowd. All of our dinners and drinks would be 'on the house'. Some lighting equipment started moving into place. Our table was in the first row, but to the far right of the stage side. From our table, we could see backstage. At one point, we saw Elvis standing in the wings. He smiled and gave us a thumbs up. Then, quite rudely I might add, some SOB put a Fichus bush in front of our table. We could still see, Juliet Prowse was not near as cute as Elvis deserved, but she had loads of talent and great legs. There was no filming that night. This was a night for preparation of scenes that would be recreated in a film studio in California. There were no songs, no dance numbers…just a director, a prep crew, Juliet Prowse and Elvis Presley positioning on stage. Elvis stopped by our table before leaving with the crew and thanked us for showing up, shaking everyone’s hand and giving each of the ladies a peck on the cheek. I pointed to my cheek and he laughed. “Sorry…girls only.”
That would be the end...but in 1968 the World Karate Championships were being held in Honolulu. The news guy at KKUA, a radio station where I worked part time as a DJ, told me Elvis would be there. I even got free tickets. By the way, it was the only rock station in the islands at the time, so we were always #1 in our market. I digress. I was so disappointed. Yes, Elvis was there....with entourage; but Priscilla was actually in rollers covered up with some scarf type thing....and she had zits. I could not believe she would appear in public in such a state…maybe it was during their "high stress" years. They had only been married a year or so. She left with an “escort” before the event was over. When it was over, I waited for his entourage to pass as I stood at the end of my row. As he passed, he looked at me hard. Hard. I could see him thinking about it. I pointed to my cheek and leaned over. He suddenly lit up, smiled big and said. "Girls only." as they pushed him along. He knew…. just not who or where or when; but he knew. He remembered because I pointed to my cheek. I never saw him again…
…until I saw him selling newspapers on Winslow Street in El Dorado, Arkansas in 2004. He said, "Hey, wanna buy a paper mister?" He smiled and pointed to his cheek. There was no mistaking the voice.
So, you see....Elvis and I did have a 'relationship'….. of sorts. This last little part is just a bit of humor. I know Elvis is dead.
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