Following Elvis. Rechey Davidson
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I carried them with me all the time and just managed to happen to pull them out at the gate. When a newcomer was hanging around the gate, he would always ask when Elvis’ next tour would be. So, naturally, I had to pull out my tickets and nonchalantly flaunt them like I really had connections. And I always laid it on thick, like, “Well, he’s not planning a tour here till sometime next year, but the closest thing around here is --- umm --- let’s see --- ah --- here it is; Jackson, Mississippi, Sunday before Labor Day. I usually go to the concerts that are close. These tickets are “way back” on the fourteenth row, but I don’t like to get too close. The stage is usually so high you can’t see everything unless you’re back away. I like to see it all.” Real cool, huh? I just don’t tell them I would love to see everything from the stage!
After a few days the thrill of showing off the tickets slacks off and I start worrying about not getting to see Elvis come out like he used to. Last year I saw him all the time. This year, especially the last few months, he just stopped coming out so much. He just tours then stays inside Graceland then tours again.
Before we knew it, it was time for Elvis to leave for San Antonio. I usually hated knowing he was gone on tour because everything around here becomes so dull. When he’s in town, there’s a certain magic in the air. You feel different just knowing he’s in the same town. Just knowing you mightsee him.
This time it was different. I hated his being gone, but I was glad, too. Ten days into this tour and I’d see him for sure!
Linda and I, and even James, were getting excited about Elvis leaving. We were going to see him this time. He had to come out. Tomorrow is the first day of his tour and we were going to be right there to see him get on the plane.
Friday afternoon the 27th I was getting ready to go by the airport. Linda came by to go with us. James came in, cleaned up, and we were ready to go. We jumped in the truck and headed for Memphis International. I was all giggly and goose-bumpy. Boy, we were going to be there early and get a good spot to see Elvis get on-board. I even brought my binoculars.
Linda and I were giggling about how great he’s going to look and even a naughty remark once in a while about what we’d really like to do if we ever got the chance. James just laughed at us and shook his head. I was dying to jump up and down on the seat; I could hardly sit still. We passed Interstate 240 going south on Airways. In a second, we would see the Lisa Marie waiting on the field.
Suddenly, I panicked! The Lisa Marie was gone! My heart stopped and my mouth was frozen half open. Linda panicked, too. We started scanning the skies, but no luck. Elvis was gone. Missed him again! Talk about coming down fast. I just sunk back in the seat. “Damn!” was all I could say. “How can he do this? It’s too early for him to leave.”
We continued on to the airport and looked it over good in case they had just moved the Lisa Marie. We passed a workman and asked if Elvis had left. He said he had left an hour ago. That ruined the day for me, and the weekend. There’s just no figuring this guy out. It was ten days now before I could see him again. I lost my appetite, everything. I didn’t even want to go by Graceland. It would remind me I missed him. Sadly, I said, “Take me home, James.”
Ready to start a great show, Memphis, July 5, 1976
A very serious look during "Trilogy". Memphis, July 5, 1976
Fort Worth, TX July 3, 1976
Elvis studies Jill's gift. Fort Worth, TX, July 3, 1976
Brenda Kissed Elvis Then Goes To Jail!
That weekend was slow, dull, boring, disgusting, everything bad. No Elvis. No excitement. But, after a couple of days, I started getting excited again. Sunday, I’d see Elvis. I knew I would. I had the tickets. He couldn’t get away this time. Only a couple more days to go!
Then I got a letter from Brenda. She, Rechey, Dearl, and about seven of her fan club members had gone to see the San Antonio and Houston concerts together. I was really excited when I first started reading her letter.
“Dear, Betty,
“I DID IT!! I DID IT!! I GOT MY FIRST KISS FROM ELVIS!! WOW! And then got carried off to jail for unnecessary noise in a public place! No joke!
“Ten of us drove to San Antonio and then Houston for the August 28th concert. I had 7th row seats and managed to get on a 6th row aisle seat. Two girls I had met from Houston bought our tickets and let me share a seat with them. They had a large 24 inch by 24 inch drawing of Elvis to give to him, but they chickened out at the last minute.
“Well, I knew they could give it to Elvis if they’d just try (When Brenda says you can do it, you can do it!). So brave Brenda grabbed the picture in one hand and one of the girls’ arms in the other and took off for the stage, right after Elvis threw the guitar to Charlie. No problems, no questions, we just went right to the stage. I handed the picture back to her and told her to give it to Elvis. She held the picture up in the spotlight in front of Elvis.
“Naturally, he looked over at it and said, ‘What cha got, Babe?’ (That’s about the time you have heart failure). She handed the picture up and I shoved her up on the edge of the stage and he gave her a kiss! Of course, everyone screamed and yelled.
“Then the other girl gave Elvis some flowers and a necklace. And she started climbing the stage and got a kiss.
“And when Elvis just stayed there kneeling down, I knew this was my chance. Man, I started scrambling to get up on that stage, but the other two girls were already floating back to their seats. I was halfway on stage, just hanging there. I couldn’t get a foot-hold. I just yelled for someone to help me, but no one was there. I looked at Elvis, just a foot away from me, laughing. I grabbed his arm and yelled, ‘I ain’t letting you go till I get a kiss!’
“He had the microphone down close to me and I screamed because I couldn’t make it. ‘OH! OH! ELVIS, ELVIS, ELVIS’ came over all the speakers loud and clear. Elvis just smiled and said, ‘Come on, Honey, you can do it.’ And I just screamed again.
“I was about to panic. Oh, the agony. A couple of hours later (it seemed) I finally got my foot on something and pushed myself up enough to kiss him. I had hold of his left arm with one hand and slung the other hand around his neck into that mass of black hair and LAID ONE ON HIM! I just rolled around those big, thick lips and kissed him a long time. M-M-M-M- MMMMMMM!! I slid off the stage, shocked that I finally made it. I floated back to my seat, took a deep breath and sighed.
“I turned and looked at Rechey and he had the saddest look on his face. I knew he had missed getting a picture. I think we got it on movie film though. Sherry was sitting next to him and he told her to try taking the movie film while he reloaded his camera. We haven’t got the film back yet, so I don’t know for sure. But I’ve got witnesses! All the others saw me and were shouting that’s Brenda! And they heard me.
“When I got back to my seat, I looked down and I had knocked the buttons off my blouse on the corner of the stage when I was trying to climb up. My front was open down to my belly button! No wonder Elvis just kept watching, waiting and smiling. Both of them just hanging right out there! (Bet he won’t forget me. Well, I’ve always said if you want to get Elvis’ attention, just hold something BIG up in front of him!)
“After I recovered from THAT kiss, I went back to the stage a time or two more (who can stay away?). Who knows, maybe now I can start over with another scarf?
“Anyway,