Book Read Free

Elvis in Vegas : How the King of Rock 'n' Roll Reinvented the Las Vegas Show (9781501151217)

Page 31

by Zoglin, Richard


  Newton, Jerry, 95, 159, 160, 162

  Newton, Wayne, 14, 95, 140, 156, 159–63, 189, 229, 240, 243

  Newton-John, Olivia, 238

  New York Times reviews, 105–6, 203–4

  Nichopoulos, George, 212

  nightclub entertainment, 9, 10, 11, 12, 18, 19, 22, 28, 29, 30, 32, 42, 44, 54, 63, 64, 77, 92, 93, 109, 115, 219, 237

  Niven, David, 62

  Nixon, Richard M., 120, 188, 214

  nudity on stage, 16, 39–41, 42, 43–44, 108, 112, 128–29

  Nureyev, Rudolf, 190

  Nutty Professor, The (film), 99

  Ocean’s 11 (film), 10, 66–67, 69, 72, 76

  O’Connor, Donald, 10, 16, 189

  “Oh! My Papa,” 100

  “Oldest Established, The,” 85

  Oliver, Sy, 60

  “Ol’ Man River,” 149

  Olsen, Ed, 85–87

  “One I Love Belongs to Somebody Else, The,” 60

  “Only the Strong Survive,” 171

  On the Town (film), 57

  “O Sole Mio,” 81

  “Over the Rainbow,” 213

  Over the Top and Back (Jones), 164

  Ozzie and Harriet (TV show), 180

  Page, Patti, 99, 227

  Pajama Game (Broadway show), 37, 64

  Pan, Hermes, 111–12

  Paradise, Hawaiian Style (film), 165

  Paramount Pictures, 3, 81, 165

  Parker, Colonel Tom, 3, 49–50, 51, 79–80, 132, 151, 166, 168, 172, 195, 202, 205, 208–9, 217, 243

  Elvis documentary, 228

  Elvis Las Vegas comeback show (1969) and, 9, 174, 178, 179, 183, 184, 186–88, 194, 200, 201, 202

  Elvis long-term contract, 216–17, 224

  Elvis movie career, 105, 131, 166, 235

  Elvis on national tour, 218–19

  Elvis playing Vegas and, 3, 4, 5, 7, 102, 169–70

  Elvis publicity, 9, 187, 228

  Elvis’s career and, 176–77, 179

  Elvis’s decline and, 234

  Elvis’s marriage and, 132–34

  Parker, Ed, 212

  Parker, Loanne Miller, 176–77, 187

  Parton, Dolly, 18, 240

  Patterson, Floyd, 11

  Pearl, Ralph, 2, 26, 203

  Pello, Gene, 182

  “Pennies from Heaven,” 67

  “People,” 192

  Peterson, Ray, 229

  Phillips, Sam, 3, 212

  Piaf, Edith, 55

  Pickett, Wilson, 171

  Plummer, Claire Fitzpatrick, 128, 129

  Pogee, Maria, 127

  Poitier, Sidney, 80

  “Polk Salad Annie,” 227

  Polo Lounge, Beverly Hills, 143

  Pomus, Doc, 106

  Porgy and Bess (film), 64, 79

  Porter, Cole, 31, 60, 77, 152

  Powell, Jane, 28

  Prell, Milton, 28, 51, 102, 103, 132, 133, 158

  Presley, Elvis, 2–7, 18, 19, 91, 174

  Aloha from Hawaii TV special, 233

  American Sound Studio sessions, 171, 178

  Ann-Margret and, 104–6

  Beatles and, 151–52

  comeback (1969), 173–224

  cultural shift in music and, 173–74

  Davis and, 80, 104, 200

  death of, 236, 244

  decline of, 17–18, 230–44

  divorce of, 134, 231, 234

  documentary on Vegas years, 228–30

  drug use, 210, 212, 230, 231, 233–36

  early recordings, 3, 206

  earnings, 18, 170, 215, 216

  entourage of, 175, 200

  fan base, 216, 232, 236, 241

  Geller and, 131–32, 133, 175

  Graceland, 179, 236, 247

  Hill & Range publishers, 166

  hit single (1969), 218

  impact on other musicians, 213–14

  inner conflicts, 211

  Jones and, 163, 165, 189, 213

  Las Vegas and, 2, 6–8, 17, 49–50, 51, 81, 103, 130, 131, 148, 218, 222, 224, 236

  Las Vegas comeback show (July 31, 1969), 8–9, 17, 165–68, 173, 174, 178–88, 192–204

  Las Vegas debut (1956), 2, 4–8, 49

  Las Vegas detractors, 221–22

  Las Vegas long-term contract, 216–19, 223, 225

  Las Vegas show, final, 235–36

  Las Vegas show, new model created by, 18, 223

  Las Vegas shows (1970–71), 226–28

  Las Vegas shows, number of, 237, 278n

  Las Vegas transformed by, 9, 17–19, 215–16, 219, 221, 223, 236–37, 240, 244

  Liberace and, 49–51, 262n

  manager (see Parker, Colonel Tom)

  marriage, 8, 103, 132–34, 142

  Memphis Mafia, 81, 170, 231, 234

  military service, 8, 51, 78, 173, 208

  movie career, 3, 8, 81, 102–5, 130–31, 133, 166, 170, 177, 235

  national touring, 218–19, 225

  peak as stage performer, 18, 225–30

  personal life, 174–75

  post-Army changes in, 81, 173

  press conference, 202–3

  Rat Pack and, 80–81

  religion and, 211

  revealing monologue by, 207–8

  rhythm-guitar playing, 206

  security for, 194, 231, 233–34

  signature hit, “Hound Dog,” 7

  signature Vegas logo, 167–68

  Sinatra and, 77–80, 173

  Sinatra TV special, 79–80

  Singer TV special, 166–68, 174, 201–2

  song repertoire, expanded, 227

  spiritual quest, 131–32

  as supportive to other performers, 222

  and TCB Band (backup band), 226

  temper of, 175–76

  twin who died at birth, 50, 51

  Vegas outfits, 50, 167, 186, 196, 199, 226, 228, 232, 238

  voice of, 205, 232–33

  women and, 51, 81, 130, 134, 213–14, 218

  Presley, Gladys, 50, 174–75

  Presley, Jesse Garon, 50, 51

  Presley, Lisa Marie, 134

  Presley, Priscilla Beaulieu, 8, 103, 105, 132–34, 142, 151, 165, 175–76, 186, 196, 201, 213, 218, 222, 234, 235

  Presley, Vernon, 175, 202, 222, 234

  Prevue Lounge, New Orleans, 119

  Prima, Louis, 15, 44–47, 72, 97, 116, 183

  production shows, 11, 16, 37–44, 95, 107–12. See also specific shows

  “Promised Land,” 233

  Proser, Monte, 42

  “Proud Mary,” 227

  Prowse, Juliet, 76, 112, 127, 194

  Pryor, Richard, 17, 157–58

  Pryor Convictions (Pryor), 158

  Pussycat A-Go-Go, 155

  “Put Your Head on My Shoulder,” 82

  Pzazz ’68 (show), 110

  Pzazz ’69 (show), 128

  “Queen of the Hop,” 156

  Rabbitt, Eddie, 171

  Rat Pack, 10, 17, 56, 62–73, 78, 79–91, 97, 98, 126, 135, 221

  Elvis’s ties to, 80–81

  “Jackpot Month” at the Sands and, 72

  nicknames, 73, 97

  the Summit at the Sands show, 67–72

  Rat Pack Confidential (Levy), 71

  Rat Pack Live at the Sands, The (album), 84–85

  Ray, Johnny, 6

  RCA Records, 3, 199, 205, 218, 227

  Reagan, Ronald, 30, 161

  Reed, Jerry, 167

  Reed, Jimmy, 205, 206

  Reed, Rex, 199

  Reese, Della, 130

  Reeves, Steve, 161

  Reid, Ed, 123

  Renaud, Line, 108

  Reprise Records, 60

  “Return to Sender,” 81, 248

  Reynolds, Debbie, 13, 16, 94, 100–101

  Rich, Buddy, 46

  Rickles, Don, 11, 16, 76–77, 94, 114, 116–17, 119, 121

  Riddle, Major A., 42

  Riddle, Nelson, 58, 60

  Righteous Brothers, 154, 222, 229

&
nbsp; Ritz Brothers, 26, 28

  Rivers, Joan, 248

  “River, Stay Away from My Door,” 60–61

  Riviera Hotel, 6, 8, 10, 41, 47, 52, 94, 95, 96, 120, 121, 125, 147, 153–54, 189, 213, 240

  Liberace at, 47, 48, 94, 95, 101

  Riviera Hotel (cont.)

  the mob and, 124

  Versailles Room, 189

  Riviera nightclub, Fort Lee, N.J., 28, 45

  Rizzo, Jilly, 76, 143

  “Road to Mandalay, The,” 67

  Roberts, Oral, 211

  Robin and the 7 Hoods (film), 84, 87, 90

  Rock Around the Clock (film), 7

  rock ’n’ roll, rock, and R&B, 34–35, 77–78, 81, 97, 102, 135, 142, 224

  booking acts in Las Vegas, 219–20

  cultural shift and, 148–58, 188–89

  Elvis and, 78, 168, 224

  Las Vegas shunned, 238–39

  revival in vintage, 177–78, 238

  Rodgers, Richard, 77

  Rogers, Ginger, 30, 128

  Rolling Stones, 17, 150, 201, 220

  Rooney, Mickey, 128

  Rose Marie, 25

  Rosenbaum, Ron, 13, 161

  Ross, Frank, 32–33, 34

  Royal Nevada Hotel, 51, 52

  Rufus Jones for President (film), 64

  “Runaway,” 205

  Russell, Jane, 10, 31

  Russell, Leon, 221

  Rydell, Bobby, 82

  Sahara Hotel, 10, 15, 28–29, 35–36, 45–47, 51, 93, 94, 95, 96, 113–18, 128, 149, 150, 153, 156, 163, 169

  Casbar Lounge, 45, 46, 94, 116

  Casbar Theater, 36

  Elvis staying at, 103, 104

  Garland and, 99–100

  Sammy Davis Jr./That’s All (album), 89

  Sanders, Denis, 228

  Sands, Tommy, 79

  Sands Hotel, 10, 28, 30–32, 41, 53–55, 56, 63, 93, 94, 96, 99, 103, 112–13, 119, 125, 127, 128, 138, 149, 150

  Copa Room, 55, 148

  Dean Martin and His Friends show, 88

  Entratter and, 28, 32, 53, 54–56, 99, 142, 222

  Garden Room, 76

  Hughes owns, 137–39, 141–42, 144

  the mob and, 28, 54, 137–38, 139

  Rat Pack and, 56, 67–68, 72, 84–85, 97

  Sinatra and, 10, 17, 54, 57–59, 66–67, 87, 89–90, 142, 144–48, 155, 219

  Sanicola, Hank, 76

  Sardelli, Nelson, 123–24, 222

  Sarno, Jay, 146

  Saturday Night Live (TV show), 99, 239

  Sawyer, Grant, 86

  Scheff, Jerry, 181, 185, 194, 221, 226

  Schilling, Jerry, 50, 51, 166, 175, 179, 184, 210, 221, 223, 231

  Schlatter, George, 30, 32–33, 95

  Scott, John, 164

  “Second Time Around, The,” 60

  Self-Realization Fellowship, 132

  Sennes, Frank, 39

  Sergeants 3 (film), 72, 82

  “Shall We Dance,” 68

  Sha Na Na, 178

  Shannon, Del, 205

  Shawn, Dick, 114, 149

  Shea, Scott, 46

  Shearing, George, 98

  Shindig! (TV show), 180

  Shoofey, Alex, 169, 178, 188, 216, 217

  Shore, Dinah, 30, 47, 67, 127, 189

  Shore, Mitzi, 189

  Shore, Sammy, 13, 189, 195–96, 211

  Shuman, Mort, 106

  Sidney, George, 104, 105, 222

  Siegel, Bugsy, 23, 24–25, 94, 137

  Siegfried and Roy, 19, 108, 242

  Beyond Belief (show), 242

  Silva, Henry, 69

  Silvers, Phil, 30

  Silver Slipper Casino, 76, 138

  Simon and Garfunkel, 220, 229

  “Simple Song of Freedom, A,” 157

  Sinatra, Frank, 11, 14, 17, 19, 28, 31, 44, 56–91, 114, 119, 120, 151, 188, 189, 224, 238

  at Caesars Palace, 146, 147–48

  Cal-Neva Lodge investigation, 85–86

  career rebound (1963), 89

  career slump (1967), 142–43

  danger of bad side of, 65, 83–84

  Dorchester Productions, 66

  Elvis and, 77–80, 133, 173

  Entratter and, 55, 57, 59, 61, 74–75

  Farrow and, 74, 122–23, 142–45

  film career, 57, 58, 62, 66–67, 75, 76

  Frank Jr. kidnapping, 87–88

  gambling and, 73

  Hughes and, 142

  Kennedy and, 71–72, 82–83

  late-career numbers, 89

  the mob and, 57, 69, 83, 85–86

  “My Way” as signature song, 148

  opening, Summit at the Sands, 67–68

  personality, 74–75, 86, 142, 143–44

  Rat Pack and, 56, 62–73, 82–91, 98

  Reprise Records and, 60

  Rickles and, 76–77, 116

  as role model, 59–60, 73–74, 97

  Sands and, 10, 17, 54, 56, 57–59, 63, 66–67, 72, 87, 89–90, 155, 219

  Sands blowup, 144–47

  Vegas salary, 147–48, 170

  Sinatra, Nancy (daughter), 79, 217–18

  Sinatra, Nancy (wife), 57

  Sinatra at the Sands (album), 89–90

  Sinatra: Vegas (album), 60–61, 90

  Singer Presents Elvis (TV show), 166–68, 174, 201–2

  “Sing, Sing, Sing,” 45

  Skelton, Red, 10, 68, 93, 94, 103, 113, 152

  Sloate, Maynard, 98, 115

  Smith, Billy, 168

  Smith, Cecil, 43

  Smith, Keely, 15, 45–47, 72, 97, 116, 183

  Smith, Myrna, 186, 195

  Some Came Running (film), 62

  Songs for Young Lovers (album), 58

  Song to Remember, A (film), 48

  Sonny and Cher, 46, 169

  South Point Hotel and Casino, 245

  Spector, Phil, 155

  “Splish Splash,” 156

  Spreckels, Judy, 6

  Springfield, Dusty, 229

  Stamps Quartet, 214

  Stardust Hotel, 39–40, 41, 42, 52, 107, 138, 245

  Star Is Born, A (film), 150, 235

  Starr, Kay, 99

  Starr, Ringo, 151, 226

  St. Cyr, Lili, 40

  Steele, Alfred N., 31

  Stone, Mike, 234

  Stone, Sly, 155

  “Strangers in the Night,” 143

  Streisand, Barbra, 11, 14, 101–2, 170, 177, 190–92, 235

  “Stuck on You,” 79

  Sullivan, Ed, 31, 47

  Sumner, J. D., 214

  Sun Records, 3, 206, 212

  Supremes, 152–53

  “Susie Q,” 180

  “Suspicious Minds,” 171, 198, 199, 206, 212, 218

  “Sweet Caroline,” 227

  Sweet Charity (Broadway show), 147

  “Sweet Inspiration,” 183, 195

  Sweet Inspirations, 183, 186, 195, 206–7, 245

  Tally Ho Hotel, 146

  Tan, Mark, 232, 239

  Taylor, Elizabeth, 82, 100, 101

  Temptations, 154, 155

  “That Old Black Magic,” 45

  “That’s All Right, Mama,” 3, 206

  “That’s Life,” 89, 148, 154

  Thomas, Bob, 25

  Thomas, Danny, 28, 55, 56, 72, 94, 112–13, 152, 189, 190

  Thomas, Kevin, 54

  Thompson, Hunter, 13, 105

  Thornton, Willie Mae “Big Mama,” 7

  Through the Eyes of the Masters (Anrias), 196

  Thunderbird Hotel, 26, 36, 95, 147

  Thus Spoke Zarathustra (Strauss), 227–28, 239

  “Tiger Man,” 198

  “Till There Was You,” 107

  Tiny Tim, 147

  Tom Jones (album), 164–65

  Tommy Scott and the Senators, 163

  “Tonight,” 101

  Tormé, Mel, 26, 99

  Tosches, Nick, 14, 64

  Treasure Island Hotel, 241, 242

  Trenier, Claude and Cliff, 34, 35


  Trenier, Skip, 35

  Treniers (singing group), 34, 155

  “The Suitcase Song,” 35

  Tropicana, 42–44, 51–52, 95, 100–101, 104, 107, 115, 120, 233

  Blue Room lounge show, 98

  “Tryin’ to Get to You,” 167, 233

  Tucker, Sophie, 23, 72, 150

  Turner, Ike and Tina, 154

  Tutt, Ronnie, 181–82, 184, 185, 198, 226

  2001 (film), 228

  Vallee, Pete, 245–46

  Vampira, 6

  Van, Garwood, 22

  Van Heusen, Jimmy, 62, 76

  Variety

  Battle of the Bosoms, 41

  Elvis reviews, 4, 188, 203

  entertainer salaries, 95

  on Hughes in Vegas, 141

  on Las Vegas, 29, 30, 37, 52, 138, 152, 153, 220

  on lounge shows, 98

  reviews, 4, 31, 40, 75, 99–100, 115, 118, 150, 154, 157, 164, 191

  Sands Hotel opening, 28

  on Sinatra at the Sands, 57–58

  Vaughan, Sarah, 11, 34, 98, 147

  Vegas (Dunne), 13–14

  “Venus,” 149

  “Via Veneto,” 85

  Victorson, Dave, 147, 220

  Villanueva, Benito and Miriam, 247

  Villa Venice, Chicago, 84

  Viñas, José Luis, 108

  Vinton, Bobby, 201

  Viola, Al, 60

  “Viva Las Vegas,” 106, 248

  Viva Las Vegas (film), 8, 104–6, 130–31, 153, 222

  Vive Les Girls (show), 111, 126, 129, 247–48

  “Volare,” 64, 85

  Wakely, Jimmy, 23

  Walker, Ron, 111

  Walters, Barbara, 42

  Walters, Lou, 42, 43

  Warner Bros., 66, 87

  Warwick, Dionne, 171, 194

  Watt, James, 161

  Watusi Stampede (dance show), 153

  Way Down (Scheff), 181

  Way You Wear Your Hat, The (Zehme), 90

  Weatherford, Mike, 34, 153, 219, 239

  Webb, Del, 28, 119

  Weisman, Fred, 143

  West, Mae, 29, 110

  West, Red, 133–34, 194

  West, Sonny, 194, 200, 215

  “What’d I Say,” 106, 198, 224

  What Falls Away (Farrow), 74

  “What Is This Thing Called Love?,” 67

  “What Kind of Fool Am I?,” 89, 160

  “What Now My Love?,” 234

  Wheeler, Bert, 22–23

  “When They Begin to Twist the Beguine,” 149

  White, Tony Joe, 227

  “Who’s Sorry Now?,” 149

  Wild in the Country (film), 102

  Wilkerson, Billy, 24, 26

  Wilkinson, John, 180–81, 194, 197, 226

  Willard, Bill, 4, 27, 118, 220

  Williams, Andy, 99, 147, 190, 226

  Williams, Esther, 30

  Williams, John, 97

  Willis, Ellen, 204

  Will Mastin Trio, 64

  Wills, Maury, 11

  Wilson, Earl, 73, 187

  Wilson, Mary, 153

  Wilson, Nancy, 155

  Winters, David, 153–54

  “Witchcraft,” 79, 80

  “Without a Song,” 60

  “With These Hands,” 165

 

‹ Prev