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Nrto firm-€rattnt (lltmntii ^uaiir ICibrarg The NEW BERN ’**0 WeiKLY 5ff Per VOLUME 13 NEW BERN, N. C., FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2,1970 NUMBER 29 A lot of water has gone un der the bridge since an un known singer out of Nashville made two appearances with a Grand Ole Opry group at New Bern's Shrine Auditorium. No one, of course, dreamed that this young man, who punctuated his vocal outbursts with swivel-hipped gyrations, was on his way to becoming a multi-millionaire and a world famous figure. His pelvic movements, as much as his tuneful rantlngs of Nothing But A Hound Dog and Blue Suede Shoes, set him apart from other country and western performers. For one thing, he didn't sound like he had blocked nostrils- Poking fun at Elvis Presley would avail nothing at this late date. His behavior, untainted by scandal often associated with show business, speakes well of his character. Not commonly known is the role played by a cigar-smoking pitchman named Col. Tom Parker in creating and sustain ing the favorable Presley im age. What Parker did to pro mote Hadacol earlier, he did just as sensationally with El- ' vis. It wasn't a new field for the shrewd Colonel. It was he who he who recognized exceptional possibilltes in Minnie Pearl, Eddy Arnold, Roy Acuff, and Hank Williams, and boosted them to the first rung of star dom. Parker ran across Presley in the early 50's, and carted him around the South for one-nl^t stands, such as those he play ed here in New Bern. Compar ed with what the singer makes today, the take in tank towns was trivial. At the outset, the Colonel couldn't make up his mind whether to gamble on Elvis, or another promising young sing er, Pat Boone. He finally decided that Presley had great er possibilities, and a style that the Parker touch could do the most with. It took some selling, but ttie hard driving pitchman per suaded Al Weiss, booker for Florida State Theatres, to give Elvis a chance. Weiss was skeptical, but signed the. sing er for a matinee and two eve ning shows at the old Palm in Palm Beach, for $350. Pres ley was given standing ovations at all three performances. Weiss immediately arranged bookings in Tampa, Jackson ville, Orlando, Daytona and Lakeland. From then on. Col onel Parker didn't need Weiss to market his product, but he isn't the sort to forget favors. Three years later, when Elvis was a national rage and building a quick fortune, the Colonel called Weiss and said, "I owe you something. I've got two and a half days open, and you can have Presley for $1,- 000 guarantee against apercen- tage.” Naturally, Weiss snapped it up. He booked the famed en tertainer into Miami's Olym pia, a theatre that seated 2,- 100 and the singers' take turn - ed out to be $9,000. However, Presley at the time would have filled 40,000 seats at the Orange Bowl for a concert and walked away with ten times as much money. In view of what is permlt- (Continued on page 8) NOT FOR THEM — The adage that children should be seen but not heard wasn’t meant to apply to thb cheerleaders who whoop things up for the gridders In the New Bern Recreation Department’s Midget League. Pictured In dark sweaters are the loyal boos ters of the Bears, and sharing this week’s front paoe are the equally devoted supporters of the Lions These youngsters drill hard to learn their yells, and back their heroes, come what may.—Photos by Jack Layne. '
The New Bern Mirror (New Bern, N.C.)
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Oct. 2, 1970, edition 1
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