Aside from being a big Johnny Cash fan, I am also a big Elvis fan. I know that some of you are a little older than me an experienced the 60s music scene. I was wondering if you could give me a first hand account of what his popularity was really like in the 60s. I know he was always popular, but I was wondering if the hysteria was there like in the 50s. Did the Beatles really hurt him a lot, or did they have different audiences. I got to wondering after watching parts of the '68 Comeback Special yesterday where he was surrounded by a small audience. That is one of his best performances ever, and it fueled the hysteria for the 70s. But I noticed the crowd was subdued. I also read that prior to the special, in an attempt to prove to Elvis that he needed a "comeback," one of the producers took Elvis into public for a while and nobody approached him. On the other hand, I saw a tv reporter asking various people in public if they thought Elvis getting married would cause his popularity to wane. Several men said they hoped so, because Elvis was all their wives talked about. I think the hysteria was certainly back in the 70s, at least at live shows.

His movies are now often ridiculed, but were they really all that bad for the 60s?. I heard that an Elvis movie was the only bankable thing in Hollywood at the time.

More than one take on this subject is welcomed!

The movies were very bad, except "Blue Hawaii", but Elvis was stuck in a movie contract by Col. Parker and Hall Wallis, the producer.
The good thing was his TV-Come Back Special from 1968, which put him again on the music picture where he belonged.

I am a long time fan of Elvis', and saw him perform in person 3 times in the 70's. His army hitch and the movie contracts kept him away from live audiences until 1968. With the British invasion in the 60's, it didn't help him, and it is well documented that he was worried. But even with all that, he still had hit records and the movies made money.

The audience in the '68 Comeback Special, someone correct me if I'm wrong, was a somewhat small, handpicked studio crowd only. This was supposed to have been a pure Christmas Special, but Elvis changed the format. Thank goodness!

I agree with Reimer, Blue Hawaii, was his best IMHO, and it is well known that Elvis was sick of the movies. IMHO, at least you could take the whole family to his movies, unlike most films out today.

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I definitely agree with Cheryl and Reimer. I experienced being an Elvis fan in the 1950's, in the 1960's and in the 1970's. Of course, we teen girls were crazy about him in the 1950's, although our parents were not so thrilled! By the time he made his comeback in the 1968 show....and he never looked better than he did on that show IMO....we were all a little older and wiser, and perhaps more able to handle our emotions. But the excitement was still there...always was....Elvis was a one of a kind!

Elvis didnt like his movies either but had a contract to fulfil.His '68 Special shows his raw energy;and the crowd was meant to be small on purpose.
Elvis always wanted to do a SERIOUS acting role;and was considered for the movie "The Rose"but his keeper/master Col Parker wouldnt let him do it.
IMHO elvis's movies were nothing more than EXTENDED music videos to sell SOUNDTRACK albums and make The Col even more RICHER!!!
Best Wishes>>>JIM

Barbra Streisand approached him for "A Star Is Born", when Elvis passed on it, it went to Kris Kristofferson. They say Elvis knew that was probably his last chance at a decent role.

Like Herofan, I have long been a fan of both Johnny and Elvis. I was fortunate to see Elvis twice in the early 70's -- once in Phoenix and then in Las Vegas. Was also able to have a private picnic with my late husband on the beach where Blue Hawaii was filmed. All three occasions remain a wonderful memory over 30 years later. Both Elvis and Johnny were great performers and showmen with unbelievable talent. To me Elvis offered a more flashy style while Johnny was more of a down-home guy, and one with whom we would love to sit on the front porch and talk about life and everyday events while there was a little picking going on. Patsy, hope you do not mind me saying that Johnny is OUR Man, and will always be No. 1 in our heart.

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Barbra Streisand approached him for "A Star Is Born", when Elvis passed on it, it went to Kris Kristofferson. They say Elvis knew that was probably his last chance at a decent role.

I always heard that Elvis' manager would not allow him to be in the movie because Streisand's people insisted that she have top billing in the credits. I don't believe Elvis gave a damn about the billing; He just wanted to finally have a chance to do a film that he wouldn't be embarassed about.

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Originally posted by kewlguyjim:
Elvis didnt like his movies either but had a contract to fulfil.His '68 Special shows his raw energy;and the crowd was meant to be small on purpose.
Elvis always wanted to do a SERIOUS acting role;and was considered for the movie "The Rose"but his keeper/master Col Parker wouldnt let him do it.
IMHO elvis's movies were nothing more than EXTENDED music videos to sell SOUNDTRACK albums and make The Col even more RICHER!!!
Best Wishes>>>JIM

If only the Col. had a valid US passport and a better character, Elvis' career would have lasted and would have included the world in performances.
But since Parker was an illegal immigrant, he never had a US-passport, and Elvis never was allowed to leave the US to perform abroad, and that's a shame.

So true Reimer. Another reason for the resistance to go to Europe according to a recent book of Joe Esposito's (long time friend), was Elvis' drug dependency. They didn't know how they would handle it if it got out of control over there; the laws, etc. When Elvis wanted it, he just did whatever it took to get it; so it was safer to stay home where at least they knew the contacts.

But back to hero's original question of "what was his popularity like in the 60's, prior to 1968? Any opinions? Great, good, mediocre, low?

I'm inclined to say it was still great.

A good video documentary is ELVIS '56. It is narrated by Levon Helms (the rock drummer), the voice in The Right Stuff and who played Loretta Lynn's dad in Coal Miner's Daughter. I still watch this at least two or three times a year.

This gives one a good perspective of Elvis in the late fifties. Crowds gathered wherever he played (with the exception of Las Vegas). On the other hand, many town officials and others resented (and feared) his influence on teenagers. It was a sign of the times.

This video is an excellent strarting point on the details of Elvis' early Sun Record days and his contract signing with RCA.

I'm one of those 'old timers.' In fact my dad didn't even allow me at the time watch his live performance on Ed Sullivan. He feared I'd buy a guitar and go down the road to destruction.

While Elvis' movies were (and are) for the most part lackluster, some of his music numbers are well worth watching. His choregraphed performance of Jailhouse Rock was groundbreaking and would later infuence many of the music videos for later years.

Like Johnny Cash, Elvis' early Sun Records are treasures (especially Elvis' hard driving rockabilly songs). In fact, I just gave a CD containing several Elvis' early Sun and RCA songs (some hard to find today) to a friend. Boy did his jaw drop when he heard Shake, Rattle, and Roll. I don't know if he's heard Hard-Headed Woman?!

I stood in awe with my camera before the Man in Black. Then Johnny Cash looked down and smiled at me--freezing that moment on film and forever in my head.

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The movies were bad, but on his comeback he played some great gigs and looked fantastic.

I beleve that Elvis is the second best of the boys from sun.When he passed young it made him a myth.With Elvis you always wonder what might have been.Cash was a legend huge for decades.Do not get me wrong Elvis had the looks,the voice ect.Just bad management.

I think The Beatles (their music) literally buried Elvis, along with many musical groups. Elvis had a fantastic voice and was a tremendous entertainer. Because of Col.Parker and personal choices that Elvis made, we'll never really know Elvis on the level Johnny Cash allowed us to know him on. Elvis had some great songs during the so-called British Invasion era, but he was no longer "the" Elvis of the late 50's. The music world had changed. I didn't see any hysteria for Elvis during the 70's. He became a Las Vegas act and for me that really was a negative influence on his image. I think it turned him into almost a cartoon character. What I find very, very sad about Elvis is that he is remembered for how many records he sold and how good-looking he was. There was certainly far more to him than he personally ever got to tell or show us. All we really know about was the guy who often wore capes, big rings, gaudy suites, and was surrounded by bodyguards. We see similar garbage from the current batch of celebs. I don't believe this is the "real" Elvis. I believe there was a human being inside of all that who didn't know how to get out. Elvis needed a "June" in his life, and he also needed a "Rick Rubins." A "June" might have saved him from himself, and a "Rick Rubins" might have re-introduced us all to a very personal Elvis.

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I believe there was a human being inside of all that who didn't know how to get out. Elvis needed a "June" in his life, and he also needed a "Rick Rubins." A "June" might have saved him from himself, and a "Rick Rubins" might have re-introduced us all to a very personal Elvis.

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Larry: Thanks for your evaluation--it is perfect. Elvis ended his life as a pathetic figure, and definitely was in need of some guidance that was sadly missing.