“The guards had me”; “He was very, very nice”; “But that was probably the best”: Terry Mike Jeffrey, interview with author.
According to the deal: The agreement between Parker and Shoofey is described in Guralnick, Careless Love, 354–55, and (more critically) in Nash, Colonel, 254–56.
“The Colonel was one of the best customers”: Nash, Colonel, 256.
refusing to allow him even to be photographed: Ibid., 193.
“We didn’t decide to come back”: Sharp, Elvis: Vegas ’69, 168.
Davis was so nervous: Davis, interview with author.
Chips Moman . . . thought it ruined: Guralnick, Careless Love, 358.
“That’s what a bad marriage”: Ibid., 362.
“The International came along”: Sharp, Elvis: Vegas ’69, 173.
“It is something of a test”: Variety, December 24, 1969.
“Like the Temptation”: Dalton, “Elvis Lights Up Las Vegas.”
“Before Elvis went back”: Schilling, interview with author.
“I think Elvis made it OK”: Brown, interview with author.
“I always hated the place”: Jerry Scheff, email to author.
“It was a great place”: Burton, interview with author.
“Elvis was uncultured”: Entratter Sidney, interview with author.
“Elvis looked at me”: Sardelli, interview with author.
Trini Lopez was a little insulted: Lopez, interview with author.
“OK, I don’t know who he is”: Sharp, Elvis: Vegas ’69, 183.
“Elvis didn’t go in saying”: Schilling, interview with author.
SEVEN: AFTERMATH (ELVIS FOREVER)
Elvis said he wanted to try doing: Interview with Glen D. Hardin, Elvis Australia, https://www.elvis.com.au/presley/interview-glendhardin.shtml.
packed with 1,780 people: Robert Hilburn, Los Angeles Times, February 2, 1970.
“It was a flawless demonstration”: Ibid.
the hotel let him go: Morris, interview with author.
“Joe was the first one”: Leone, interview with author.
“original Renaldis from Italy”: Weatherford, Cult Vegas, 132.
But when news of the planned telecast leaked: Guralnick, Careless Love, 375.
“Nobody could close a song”: Davis, interview with author.
“You don’t have to ask”: “Elvis Presley: The Originals,” http://davidneale.eu/elvis/originals/list9.html#S1502.
“When he captured Vegas”: Schilling, interview with author.
“Those shows in Vegas in August”: Nash, Elvis Aaron Presley, 514.
“As performances go, Elvis Presley’s”: McKay, Played Out, 100.
They would trade practical jokes: Marty Allen, Hello Dere!: An Illustrated Biography (self-published, 2014), 151–54.
Vikki Carr . . . came to see his show: Vikki Carr, interview with author.
“one of the most ill-prepared”: Guralnick. Careless Love, 504.
“It was like watching a different person”: Ibid., 544.
Barbra Streisand visited Elvis backstage: Ibid., 563–65.
“After sitting through Elvis Presley’s”: Ibid., 617.
did 636 shows: For years the number usually given was 837. But in 2015 a new, more authorative count by a Graceland archivist put the actual total at 636.
“the end of Vegas”: Judith Miller (Bill Miller’s daughter), interview with author.
His former wife . . . always had suspicions: Entratter Sidney, interview with author.
“uncool polyester dump”: Kurt Andersen, “Las Vegas U.S.A.,” Time, January 10, 1994.
“blight to spirit and soul”: Neal Karlen, New York Times, April 25, 1993.
“Gradually between 1968 and 1975”: Weatherford, Cult Vegas, 6.
“Why in hell are you playing”: Davis, interview with author.
“There are a lot of performers”: Petula Clark interview, Mark Tan Collection.
“Genuine Pa Kettles”: Molly Ivins, New York Times, November 25, 1979.
Wayne claimed he saw Elvis’s ghost: Newton, Once Before I Go, 157.
“It’s what God would’ve done”: Al, Strip, 137.
The two had met in the 1960s: The act’s history described by Siegfried Fischbacher, interview with author, and on the performers’ website, http://siegfriedandroy.com.
Twenty-eight million people visited: Statistics from Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.
“How can a large-spirited American”: Andersen, “Las Vegas U.S.A.”
Colonel Tom Parker himself: Josh Tyrangiel, “Diva Las Vegas,” Time, March 17, 2003.
“If it wasn’t for him”: Celine Dion in Elvis: Viva Las Vegas, ABC News documentary, 2007.
“more than just a great talent”: Las Vegas Sun, August 17, 1977.
“why, he was in perfect”: Ibid.
The first formal tribute: Variety, September 13, 1978.
Elvis himself reportedly went to see: “Elvis’ Star Continues to Shine in Las Vegas,” https://www.vegas.com/elvis/.
it took the Gretna Green Wedding Chapel: Graceland Wedding Chapel website, https://www.gracelandchapel.com/our-history.html.
INDEX
A note about the index: The pages referenced in this index refer to the page numbers in the print edition. Clicking on a page number will take you to the ebook location that corresponds to the beginning of that page in the print edition. For a comprehensive list of locations of any word or phrase, use your reading system’s search function.
Abbott and Costello, 25
Action Faction, 153
Adams, Don, 122
Aladdin Hotel, 132, 133, 142, 146, 154, 157, 162, 240–41
Alden, Ginger, 236
Ali, Muhammad, 11
Allen, Marty, 233
Allen, Travis, 248
Allen, Woody, 11, 115–16, 147
“All My Trials,” 232
“All Shook Up,” 3, 77, 167, 197, 227
All Shook Up (tribute show), 247, 248
Aloha from Hawaii (TV special), 233
Alton, Robert, 109
American Sound Studio, 171, 218
Andersen, Kurt, 243
Andrews, Julie, 110
Andrews Sisters, 25, 33
Angelica, Sal, 111, 112
Angélil, René, 243
Anka, Paul, 12–13, 60, 82, 96, 123, 140, 143, 148, 150, 162, 194
Ann-Margret, 104–6, 153–54, 194
Anrias, David, 196
Apcar, Frederic, 111
Arden, Donn, 38, 39, 108–11, 128
“Are You Lonesome Tonight?,” 205, 209–10, 240
Aria Resort and Casino, 247
Arlen, Harold, 77
Armstrong, Louis, 55, 98
Arnold, Eddy, 7
“Artificial Flowers,” 156, 157
Ashton, Barry, 41, 127, 128
“As Long as He Needs Me,” 89
Astaire, Fred, 110, 112, 217
Avalon, Frankie, 82, 149
“Baby What You Want Me to Do,” 205, 206
Bacall, Lauren, 59, 62
Bacharach, Burt, 97
Bailey, Anna, 37
Bailey, Pearl, 12, 93, 120–21
Baker, Josephine, 36, 38
Ball, Lucille, 67
Ballard, Lucien, 228
Balzar, Fred B., 20
Bankhead, Tallulah, 30–31, 37, 55
Barbutti, Pete, 12, 34, 119, 120, 126
Barrett, Rona, 133
Barstow, Richard, 150
Basie, Count, 89–90
“Battle Hymn of the Republic, The,” 232
Beach Boys, 221
Beatles, 88, 106–7, 135, 150, 151–52, 173, 189, 198, 201
Beck, Marty, 158, 164
Bee Gees, 206
Belafonte, Harry, 11, 36, 37, 129, 147
Belew, Bill, 167, 186, 196, 199, 202, 226
Bell, Freddie, 7, 34, 61, 153
Bell, Rex, 21
Bellagio Hotel and Casino, 241
; Bennett, Tony, 14, 96–97, 145, 147
Benny, Jack, 112, 122, 152, 160
Benson, Sally, 106
Bergen, Edgar, 27
Berle, Milton, 44, 68, 82, 93, 112, 121
Berman, Dave, 25, 27
Berman, Shelley, 11, 115
Berman, Susan, 27
Berry, Chuck, 81, 177, 198, 233
“Beyond the Sea,” 156
Binder, Steve, 166–67, 176, 201–2
“Birth of the Blues,” 89
Bishop, Joey, 10, 56, 67–72, 79, 80, 83–84, 88, 149
Bitterman, Cindy, 76
Black, Bill, 4–5, 182
“Black Pearl,” 155
Blackwood, Terry, 183, 186, 193, 201, 211
Blackwood Brothers, 183
Blood, Sweat & Tears, 219
Blossoms, 182–83
“Blow, Gabriel, Blow,” 149
“Blueberry Hill,” 226
“Blue Christmas,” 167
Blue Hawaii (film), 198
Blue Man Group, 243
“Blue Suede Shoes,” 3, 5, 196, 227
“Blue Velvet,” 201
Bogart, Humphrey, 31, 62
Bolger, Ray, 29
Bonjour Paris (show), 127
Boone, Pat, 200, 211
Borders, Myram, 200
Borge, Victor, 94
“Born Free,” 195
Bottoms Up (girlie show), 147
Bova, Joyce, 214
Bow, Clara, 21
Bowyer, Brendan, 245
Box Tops, 171
Boys in the Band (Broadway show), 189
“Break It to Me Gently,” 150
“Bridge over Troubled Waters,” 229
Britt, May, 75–76
Brooklyn Bridge (group), 153
Brooks, Mel, 114
Brown, Earl, 167
Brown, James, 154
Brown, Tony, 214, 221
Bruce, Lenny, 70, 116, 118, 157
Brynner, Yul, 217
Budd, Julie, 227
Burnett, Carol, 113
Burns, George, 10, 94, 112, 152, 153, 156
Burton, James, 180–81, 185, 194, 205, 207, 221, 225, 226, 230
Burton, Richard, 100, 101
Burton and Kaye act, 22
Bushkin, Henry, 122
Butera, Sam, 46
Butler, Jerry, 171
Buttons, Red, 30
Bye Bye Birdie (film), 104, 105
Cabaret (musical), 112
Caesars Palace, 11, 17, 96, 100, 101, 115–16, 121, 146–48, 155, 169, 189, 213, 219, 240, 243
Circus Maximus, 146, 219
Nero’s Nook, 147
Cahn, Sammy, 60, 67, 76, 79
Caird, John, 242
“Call Me Irresponsible,” 85
Cal-Neva Lodge, Lake Tahoe, 85–86
Campbell, Glen, 180, 189
Campbell, Judith, 83
“Can’t Help Falling in Love,” 198, 243, 246
Capitol Records, 47, 58, 60, 63
Carey, Mariah, 243
Carlin, George, 17, 158
Carr, Vikki, 233
Carson, Johnny, 88, 93, 113–14, 122, 162
Carter, Benny, 36, 37
Carter, Jack, 16, 114
Cash, Johnny, 221, 238
Casino de Paris (show), 11, 107–8, 111, 247
Castaways Hotel, 138
Cathcart, Jack, 125
“C. C. Rider,” 229
Champlin, Charles, 110, 148, 191, 192
Change of Habit (film), 170, 178
Channing, Carol, 11, 44, 194, 200–201
Charisse, Cyd, 12, 31, 67
Charles, Ray, 106, 197, 198
Charles, Sonny, 155, 221
Chase, Bill, 126
Checker, Chubby, 149
Checkmates, 155, 221
Cher, 18, 240
Chevalier, Maurice, 11, 38
Chez Paree, Chicago, 44, 92
Childers, Buddy, 125–26
Ciro’s, Los Angeles, 44
Cirque du Soleil, 19, 242, 243, 247
Clambake (film), 132–33
Clark, Dave, 213
Clark, Dick, 157
Clark, Petula, 152, 166, 213, 239
Clark, Wilbur, 26, 27
Clooney, Rosemary, 30, 224
Cochran, Wayne, 154
Cohen, Carl, 74, 145
Cohen, Myron, 10, 115
Cole, Jack, 111
Cole, Nat King, 11, 14, 26, 30, 55, 85, 94, 149
Coling, Steven and Karen, 247
Colonna, Jerry, 11
comedy in Vegas, 11, 15, 16, 30, 32, 70, 94, 112–22, 157–58, 195–96
See also specific comics
“Come On, Everybody,” 106
Como, Perry, 224, 229
Connery, Sean, 249
Connolly, Ray, 204, 217
Conte, Richard “Nick,” 76
Continentals (music group), 30
Copacabana, NYC, 28, 44, 54, 57, 67, 73, 164
Corliss, Richard, 49
Cornero, Frank and Louis, 21
Cosby, Bill, 227
Costello, Frank, 54, 124
Coward, Noël, 31
Crawford, Joan, 31
Creedence Clearwater, 227
Crosby, Bing, 7–8, 57, 83, 110
Crudup, Arthur, 3
Cugat, Xavier, 25
Cult Vegas (Weatherford), 34, 153, 239
Curtis, Tony, 66, 72, 80
Dahl, Arlene, 31
Dailey, Dan, 31
Dalitz, Moe, 26, 38, 109, 137, 139
Dalton, David, 204, 220
Damone, Vic, 15, 30, 59–60, 97, 124–25, 155–56, 213
dancers, 11, 38, 110–11, 112, 124, 127
“Danke Schoen,” 159
“Danny Boy,” 160, 164
Darin, Bobby, 14, 16, 60, 82, 94, 156–57, 159
Darro, Joe, 35
Dave Clark Five, 213
Davis, Mac, 171, 172, 175, 198, 201, 217–18, 229, 239
Davis, Sammy, Jr., 10, 11–12, 16, 35, 37, 64–77, 79, 84–89, 120–21, 127, 129, 147, 172, 194, 238, 249
Elvis and, 80, 104, 200
Rat Pack and, 56, 66–73, 84–85
Sinatra and, 64–65, 76, 77, 79, 86–87
Decar, Ron, 246
Defiant Ones, The (film), 80
Demaris, Ovid, 123
Demeter, Martha, 22
Desert Inn, 26–27, 31, 38, 39, 41, 47, 57, 94, 101, 109, 110, 139, 149
Hughes and, 136–37, 140, 237
Devor, Les, 39–40, 67, 68
Diamond, Neil, 171, 227, 241
Diamonds Are Forever (film), 249
Dickinson, Angie, 61
Diddley, Bo, 224
Dietrich, Marlene, 11, 29, 31, 43–44, 97
Diller, Phyllis, 115
Dion, Céline, 18, 223, 229, 243–44
Dior, Christian, 48
Diskin, Tom, 177
“Dixie,” 232
Domino, Fats, 130, 177, 203, 226
“Don’t Be Cruel,” 3, 77, 197
“Don’t Cry Daddy,” 172, 227
“Don’t Rain on My Parade,” 192
D’Orsay, Fifi, 22
Dorsey, Tommy, 3, 11, 57, 125
Douglas, Kirk, 217
Douglas, Mike, 238
“Downtown,” 152
Dragone, Franco, 243
“Dreams of the Everyday Housewife,” 160
du Bief, Jacqueline, 39
Dunes Hotel, 16, 40, 41, 42, 51, 59, 95, 96, 169
shows, 40, 42, 107–8, 111, 126, 129
Dunne, John Gregory, 13–14
Durante, Jimmy, 2, 25, 28, 34, 94, 98, 149, 150
Dwyer, Robert J., 41
Dylan, Bob, 204, 220
Eckstine, Billy, 98
Ed Sullivan Show, The (TV show), 3, 67, 106
Edwards, Donny, 245
Edward VIII of England, 120
El Rancho Vegas, 1, 22, 24, 25–26, 40, 41, 42, 45, 59, 92, 96, 99, 114, 127
Elvis: That’s the Way It Is
(documentary), 228–30
Elvis: What Happened? (West et al.), 134
Elvis Has Left the Building (Jones), 18, 206
Entratter, Corinne Cole, 53, 54, 56, 67, 74, 146, 221–22, 238
Entratter, Jack, 28, 32, 41–42, 53–57, 63, 67, 95, 68, 99, 94, 142, 145, 162, 164, 169, 222, 238
Sinatra and, 55, 57, 59, 61, 74–75, 142, 145
Epstein, Brian, 151
Esposito, Joe, 81, 130, 131, 133, 177, 194, 202
“Evening in Roma, An,” 85
Everly Brothers, 177, 226
“Everybody Loves Somebody Sometime,” 88, 226
Excalibur Hotel and Casino, 241
“Fame and Fortune,” 79
Farrow, Mia, 74, 122–23, 142–45
Fay, Frank, 22
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (Thompson), 13
Feliciano, José, 16, 148
Fiddler on the Roof (Broadway show), 147
Field, Ron, 112
Fields, Totie, 115, 119, 162
5th Dimension, 148
Fike, Lamar, 170, 193, 210, 232, 234
Fisher, Eddie, 13, 66, 72, 82, 94, 100–101
Fitzgerald, Ella, 10, 26, 34, 93–94
Flamingo, 10, 12, 24–26, 59–60, 93–94, 98, 99, 104, 114, 154, 156, 160–61, 164, 165, 169, 189, 213, 222
design strategy, as prototype, 24
Driftwood Room, 98
the mob and, 24–25, 27, 94, 123
Flaming Star (film), 102
Flower Drum Song (Broadway show), 95
Folies Bergere (show), 11, 16, 42–43, 95, 107, 108, 111, 112, 240, 246
Folies-Bergère theater, Paris, 38, 42
Fontainebleau Hotel, Miami, 72, 79
Fontana, Carl, 125
Fontana, D. J., 4, 167, 179, 245
“For Once in My Life,” 156
Fosse, Bob, 111
Four Aces, 6, 130
Four Tops, 155
Foxx, Redd, 158
Francis, Connie, 149
Franklin, Aretha, 183
Franklin, George, 137
Franklin, Murray, 76
Frank Sinatra’s Welcome Home Party for Elvis Presley (TV special), 79–80
Fraser-Thomson, Ian, 193
Freddie Bell and the Bellboys, 7, 34
Freeman, Al, 28, 56, 67
Fremont Hotel, 14, 51, 95, 159
Friedman, Jake, 28
Friedwald, Will, 89
From Here to Eternity (film), 58
From Memphis to Vegas / From Vegas to Memphis (album), 218
Frontier Hotel (also New Frontier, Last Frontier), 1, 2, 22–25, 30, 33, 36, 48, 65, 95, 97, 119–20, 147, 148, 158, 160–61, 189, 242
Elvis debut, 2, 4–8, 49
Hughes acquires, 138
lounge show innovation and, 32–34
Frost, Richie, 181
Fun in Acapulco (film), 104
Funny Girl (Broadway show), 102, 190
Gable, Clark, 22
Gable, Ria, 21–22
Gabor, Zsa Zsa, 67
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