Update: February 3rd, 2022
A note from Butch Polston, owner of B&K Enterprises Costume Company Inc.
Butch Polston of B&K Enterprises Costume Company Inc. Photo credit: Butch Polston via FB.
Dear Customers,
Gene Doucette has informed us that he will retire at the end of this year 2022. The time to order one from the master who designed Elvis’s costumes is now. Starting next year Gene’s assistant and Kim Polston will take over the embroidery work. Gene has been a wonderful teacher to Kim and his assistant so you will still receive the best quality on the market—all proudly made in America the same way Gene made Elvis’s costumes. Call Kim or Robin at 812-256-2687 to assist you in your needs. Thank you all for your support! And to be clear, even after this year when Gene retires, he will still oversee the embroidery work. We will continue to make embroidery costumes. Just because Gene is retiring doesn’t mean that we will not continue his work.
Edits by Carolyn MacArthur. For a great interview with Butch Polston please click here.
B&K Enterprises at the Niagara Falls Elvis Festival 2019 in photos by Carolyn MacArthur.
Update: April 2nd, 2018
I am extremely pleased and honoured to share with you the following letter that I received today from Gene Doucette, embroidery designer for Elvis Presley’s costumes, in response to my request for information about the Zodiac jumpsuit designs. I wish to thank Kim Poulston of B&K Enterprises for forwarding the letter to me from Mr. Doucette. In case you missed it the first time around, the original article about the Zodiac inspired jumpsuits that was part of an International Astrology Day post follows the letter. Two interesting horoscopes are included: January 8th, for Elvis Presley, and August 23rd for ETA Matt Cage.
GENE DOUCETTE
Costume Designer * Embroidery Specialist
Dear Carolyn,
Please forgive me for not answering your note in time for your Astrology Day event. I’ve been under much work pressure since the beginning of the year but wanted you to know that I didn’t dismiss your request. The basic story concerning all of the Astrological suits I’ve been working on with B&K Enterprises began by accident.
While designing the Elvis suits I was hit with a hard deadline for five new suits. I had to design them overnight and was quite the zombie by dawn which is when I finally did the last sketch which was the Sagittarius suit. At the time I didn’t even know if Elvis was a Sagittarius. The design just popped out as being something new and interesting. Elvis obviously never selected that particular design.
Since then fans have requested suits in the design of their particular sign so B&K and I came up with the idea of doing the Zodiac signs as each is asked for. So far we’ve created the Leo and the Scorpion. We’re hoping that eventually we’ll have competed all of the signs.
Again, I’m sorry for missing your deadline with this information. Thank you for your kind interest in the history of the suits.
Respectfully,
Gene Doucette
In celebration of the spring equinox, March 20th, 2018, which is also International Astrology Day, I thought SIDEBURNS Magazine followers might enjoy the photo of ETA Oliver Steinhoff wearing a Leo jumpsuit designed by Gene Doucette. I cannot comment on whether Oliver is a Leo, but he looks great wearing the lion inspired jumpsuit...royal and proud (traits of a Leo). Leos can often be found on stage or screen: Madonna, Mick Jagger, Laurence Fishburne, Daniel Radcliffe, Steve Carell, Sandra Bullock, Jennifer Lopez, and ETAs Dean Z, Matthew Boyce, and Connor Russo, to name a few. I hope you enjoy this slightly different post. Cheers! C.M.
Photos from the 2019 Flaming Star Elvis Festival. Photos credited to Carolyn MacArthur.
Happy International Astrology Day & Spring Equinox*
International Astrology Day occurs every year in the sign of Aries. The date varies, and can be either March 20th or 21st, but always coincides with the spring equinox. It represents one of the most important days for astrologers and astronomers, and is observed by astrology enthusiasts worldwide. Initiated by the Association of Astrological Networking in 1993, it represents the first day of the Zodiac year.[1]
Whether a serious follower of astrology for guidance, a dabbler for entertainment purposes, or even one who thinks astrology is hogwash, chances are you know your Zodiac sign and some of the innate qualities assigned to your day of birth. When provided with your day, year, time and place of birth, a qualified astrologer can create a detailed chart that may reveal some interesting information surrounding your birth, family dynamics, and potential career paths. Based on the alignment of certain planets, astrologers can provide future indications. They do not, however, predict. But if you find your computer is acting up, or your car has broken down, they will point out that glitches with technology and travel happen when Mercury is retrograde. *In 2022, Spring Equinox starts on March 20th.
Written in the Stars
Since SIDEBURNS is an ETA magazine, I thought it might be fun to take a look at how a highly successful ETA’s birthday horoscope corresponds with what we see in his personality and performance. Even without a time, year, or place of birth, ETA Matt Cage’s horoscope closely describes what fans and friends say about their favourite ETA...
ETA Matt Cage, August 23rd, Virgo/Leo cusp. ETA Brent Freeman, July 30th, Leo.
"Your mind is sharp and you love to talk. You may grow into this quality, beginning life as a quiet child. Over the years you discover your voice. An interesting conversationalist, you are appreciated for both your sense of humor and sense of fun. Your creativity is strong. You believe in your dreams, and you are more than willing to put effort into materializing them. You have a mercurial, kinetic charm that brings you great affection. Your graceful bearing combines with a light touch of sophistication. You are a guileless, nice individual. Everyone wants to be friends with you. Your friendly, energetic manner is so likable it's difficult to resist you. Thoughtful and kind, you have a hands-on approach to friendship. You make people feel special about themselves…this is your gift. You are graceful and honest…maybe too honest, but still well-liked by people. Your friends and family usually say you are a very attractive person. You have a charm and wit that is magnetic."
If Elvis had worn a Zodiac sign jumpsuit, it would have had a goat somewhere in the design, since Elvis was born under the sign of Capricorn. Here is what astrology has to say about someone born on January 8th…
Elvis Presley, born on January 8th, was a Capricorn. Photo Credit: Modern Screen, June 1958.
”If your birthday is January 8th, you are gifted! You spoil your friends and family with extravagant spending. You are one hard working individual. According to your birthday personality, your connections with your family are powerful. It is where you feel emotionally safe, but sometimes they are inclined to have more influence than they should when it comes to important decisions in your life. When it comes to lasting friendships, you have few outside family members. This is mostly due to trust issues. You love to eat. You do not spend much time on evaluating the health benefits, or lack thereof, of the foods you consume. There could be an underlying cause for you need to eat certain foods.
You have a sense of purpose that most people do not receive until later in life. In that aspect, you are fortunate. With this ability, you can see both sides of a situation. You are sensitive to others. You are emotional, and your mood swings can be frustrating. Your temper tends to alter the reputation you work so hard to develop. Prepare for dramatic changes, as you will have to make adjustments according to those changes that occur. Some unexpected turn of events takes your life out of order making it difficult for things to turn out as you planned.”
B&K Enterprises announced that some of Gene Doucette's original sketches are available for purchase, including the Sagittarius design from the Zodiac series. The asking price is $5000 USD, which includes a letter of authenticity from Gene, agent fees, and shipping. A copy of the sketch for Leo jumpsuit design is available for $40.
[1] Reference: www.cute-calendar.com article: International Astrology Day 2018
[2] Reference: www.sugnsigns.org