29th September 1956, Saturday

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Graeme
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29th September 1956, Saturday

Post by Graeme » Sun Nov 29, 2015 8:13 pm

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Private Presley
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Re: 29th September 1956, Saturday

Post by Private Presley » Tue Sep 28, 2021 2:35 am

1956 Sept 29_Nick Adams.jpg
Elvis and Nick Adams went to the Memphis Fairgrounds for the Mid-South Fair on Elvis' Harley-Davidson. Elvis was in all white including a pair of official "Elvis Presley" low cut sneakers with his image and his song titles.
1956 Sept 29 Mid South Fairgrounds 01.jpg
Memphis, because of its strategic location on the Mississippi River and its intersection with the rich agricultural states of Tenn, Miss and Ark, is a prime location for an annual fair to promote the best in agricultural produce.
In 1956, the Fair was celebrating its 100th year. The most memorable moment was the surprise appearance of Elvis Presley.
1956 Sept 29_Nick Adams and fans.jpg
1956 Sept 29_Nick Adams and fans 02.jpg
1956 Sept 29_Nick Adams and fans 03.jpg
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Re: 29th September 1956, Saturday

Post by Private Presley » Tue Sep 28, 2021 2:55 am

While at the Fair, Elvis attended a show by tenor Dennis Day, who did an imitation of a Japanese wearing blue suede shoes who did an imitation of Elvis. While watching the show, Elvis went up the stage and joked briefly with Dennis Day.
1956 Sept 29 Stars Over Dixie 01.jpg
1956 Sept 29 Stars Over Dixie 02.jpg
1956 Sept 29 Dennis Day 01.jpg
1956 Sept 29 Dennis Day 02.jpg
1956 Sept 29 Dennis Day 03.jpg
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Re: 29th September 1956, Saturday

Post by Private Presley » Tue Sep 28, 2021 2:59 am

Elvis was also given a police badge on this day.
      
1956 Sept 29 Police Badge 01.jpg
1956 Sept 29 Police Badge 02.jpg
1956 Sept 29 Police Badge 03.jpg
1956 Sept 29 Police Badge 04.jpg
1956 Sept 29 Mid South Fairgrounds 02.jpg

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Re: 29th September 1956, Saturday

Post by Private Presley » Thu Sep 29, 2022 9:47 pm

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Re: 29th September 1956, Saturday

Post by Private Presley » Fri Sep 30, 2022 1:53 am

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Alan
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Re: 29th September 1956, Saturday

Post by Alan » Fri Sep 30, 2022 10:45 am

What a busy day!
      
Great caption above under one of the photos from Lamar Fike. The photo was taken by "amatuer" photographer, Robert Dye.
I don't think Robert was an amateur exactly and had taken many a photo of Elvis in 1955 as well.
      
His son, Robert Dye Jr, is now the photographic expert for the EPE archives.
      
Great collection of photos, I'd never have guessed they were all from this day. I think it might have been Nick Adams last full day with Elvis.
There's a ton of unseen photos in the Nick Adams estates archives that he took from this week, many we saw for the first time in his book, hopefully more may surface one day though he doesn't seem to have his camera with him on this day.
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Re: 29th September 1956, Saturday

Post by Alan » Tue Mar 05, 2024 12:37 pm

Oh but Nick did have his camera, the strap can be seen over his shoulder on the back of the motorbike and also over his left shoulder seen with his back to camera.
      
NICK ADAMS: It turned out that, because everyone in Memphis and all of Tennessee thought so highly of Elvis, they made him a captain in the Tennessee Highway Patrol. Captain Woodward told Elvis and me outside the fairgrounds one night that the orders had finally come through and that Elvis would be awarded his badge the next day.
      
The next day we rolled the motorcycle out of the garage. Elvis had his motorcycle hat on and I climbed on behind him and away we went. After signing autographs at his front gate, where a couple of hundred girls had gathered, we gunned the cycle down Audubon Drive toward the fairgrounds where we were supposed to meet Captain Woodward and all of the officials from the state of Tennessee. Because we were delayed by signing autographs at the gate, all the officials had left the fairgrounds and had gone to the commissioner’s house in the residential section of Memphis. Captain Woodward was standing outside the fairgrounds and, as we zoomed up to him, he said, “Where the heck have you guys been?”
      
After explaining what had happened, he told us to follow his police escort to the commissioner’s house where the badge would be given to Elvis. After quite a ride, we finally pulled up in front of a beautiful house. Inside, we met all the commissioners and police chiefs. Elvis was presented with his gold badge and this honor was the first of its kind to occur in Tenne      ssee history. Elvis was not made an honorary captain; he was made an actual captain on the Tennessee Highway Patrol.
      
NICK ADAMS: Elvis and I climbed on the motorcycle and I never did so many things in one day ever before. We started by driving up and down all the streets in Memphis. We then headed for the motorcycle shop where Elvis wanted to buy a new motorcycle.
      
He had his mind set on a beautiful motorcycle that is the best on the road. It’s called ‘King of the Highway’. The owner of the shop said that he didn’t have any in stock but would order one for Elvis, so he was a little disappointed that they didn’t have one.
      
We kept driving all over town on the cycle and Elvis pointed out the Crown Electric Company where he used to drive a truck and help them install wires into various buildings. After driving all over town and visiting a few more friends, we pulled up in front of the fairgrounds and talked to some of the policemen for a while. Just then, the helicopter that was part of the show at the fairgrounds came buzzing over and Elvis said, “I wonder what it’s like to go up in one of those things.”
      
One of the policemen said, “Why don’t you go around the back of the fairgrounds where the thing takes off from and ask them for a ride?” Elvis and I popped on the cycle and took off for the rear of the fairgrounds. The pilot was only too glad to take us up and so, after strapping us in, away we went. Elvis looked at me as we shot up toward the sky and I looked back at him with the same expression and then we both laughed.
      
“Man, this is all she wrote,” Elvis said as we flew over the fairgrounds. The man explained to us all about the helicopter and showed us how to fly it too. Elvis asked the man if he could fly over his house and so away we went, and, in just a few minutes, we were hovering over Audubon Drive and directly below us was Elvis” home.
      
There were as usual a large group of fans in front of the house and, sure enough, they recognized Elvis in the helicopter. They all started waving and yelling, and Mrs Presley came out of the front door and looked up. Elvis asked the pilot if he could land in the vacant lot next to the house and the pilot said okay. Mrs Presley came to the fence and waved to us. Elvis waved back and said, “Hi, Mamma — I'll be home for supper in just a little while. Don’t worry — this is real safe.”
      


1956_sep_29_12.jpg
1956_sep_29_16.jpg
1956_sep_29_13.jpg
1956_sep_29_14.jpg
1956_sep_29_15.jpg
Bottom two photos are of Elvis inside the helicopter.
      


CATHY ROGERS-CURTIS: In 1956, my father, James T. Hetzer, was a well-known and respected theatrical producer. Dad had originated, produced and personally-managed this one-of-a-kind helicopter act — featuring Larry Ruhl and Sandy Winters, who rehearsed over the Ohio River — and he booked other stage-acts for the grandstand show at the Mid-South State Fair. Although dad’s office was booking acts, circuses and The Ed Sullivan Show, and mother had her own television show called The Diane Duncan Show, it was this unique act that had dad’s name in headlines and established his unique showmanship.
      
Between shows, dad arranged for the helicopter to give the public $5 rides over the fair, and the Fair Board was thrilled with my dad and all the excitement this act generated. Someone tapped on my dad’s shoulder and said, “Excuse me, sir — are you Mr Hetzer?” “Yes.” “I’m Elvis Presley.” My dad replied, “My God, my daughter won’t stop playing your records! What can I do for you?” Elvis wanted a helicopter ride, hopefully not just around the fair; he wanted him and his ‘cousin’ [Nick Adams] to have a ride over to his house and land in the side-yard to surprise his mother, Gladys. This was Elvis’ first helicopter ride. Of course, dad needed to clear some safety-precaution questions such as, “Elvis, are there any clothes-lines in the side-yard?” Elvis assured him that there was plenty of room. Dad made arrangements with the pilot while also reminding him of show- time, and off and up they went.
      
Keep in mind that, in 1956, there were only four personally-owned, non-military helicopters in the country, and dad rented whichever one suited best for the booking. When Elvis’ mother looked up and saw this ‘UFO’ come down out of the sky and land in her side-yard, I understand it caused her quite a flutter. Then her son emerged and she didn’t know quite what to think. According to Elvis’ cousin, Billy Smith, who mentioned to me he had pictures of this landing, it caused quite a stir.
      
Meanwhile, my creative father developed some ‘showbiz’ thinking. “Elvis, I scratched your back — how about scratching mine?” he said. “I’ve booked Dennis Day on the bill doing a Japanese disc jockey impersonating you playing a samisen. When he goes into your music, if you could just walk out on stage and welcome him to Memphis...” Elvis thought it would be great and, because he was a fan of the tenor singer, he followed up. By the time of Day’s appearance, the rest of the acts were losing their composure and the line of girls were over-excited just finding out that Elvis was backstage.
      
Dennis went into his routine and, at the right cue, Elvis slowly walked from the back-wing unbeknown to Mr Day. Not seeing or knowing why the grandstand was in an upheaval, and probably knowing that his material was not that strong, Dennis turned to see Elvis Presley standing next to him there on stage. He reacted by saying, “This could only happen to me!” Of course, Dennis was shocked and his comedy-timing was all but broken, but Elvis was quite congenial and mentioned how he always enjoyed Mr Day’s high-quality tenor voice. Elvis then welcomed him to his hometown of Memphis, gave a wave to the audience and made a polite exit. As soon as Elvis left the stage, the entire audience in the grandstand stood up and started pushing out, leaving empty seats and no show to go on.
      
1956_sep_29_21.jpg
1956_sep_29_17.jpg
1956_sep_29_18.jpg
1956_sep_29_22.jpg
1956_sep_29_24.jpg
1956_sep_29_23.jpg
      


Man, You Are The Most

The Commercial Appeal
September 30, 1956

Elvis Presley, a young man with sideburns and a wiggle, caught the Dennis Day act yesterday at the Mid-South Fair Centennial’s Stars Over Dixie variety show and patted an arm afterward. Day, who normally sings Irish songs, imitated a jumping Japanese wearing blue suede shoes imitating our Elvis. The crowd loved it and so did Elvis.
      


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