Celebrate!

2020

Happy 4th of July to our American Neighbors!

Be Safe. Stay Strong. Celebrate Responsibly.

Elvis (1990 TV series)

For your viewing enjoyment, I present the following TV series, Elvis.  Also known as Elvis – Good Rockin’ Tonight, the American drama series concentrates on the early life of Elvis Presley.  It aired on ABC from February 6th until May 19th, 1990, before being cancelled due to low ratings.  The ten episodes, along with three non-aired episodes, were edited into a four hour mini-series titled Elvis:  The Early Years.  The series stars Michael St. Gerard as Elvis Presley, with Elvis voice-impersonator Ronnie McDowell providing the singing voice for St. Gerard. Created by Ricky Husky and Priscilla Presley, the series offers a re-creation of Elvis’s time before becoming a major star and focuses on the years 1954 and 1955 as Elvis was just beginning his recording career at Sun Records. Some of you may have watched the series when it first aired, but hopefully you will enjoy it a second time. Others might be seeing it for the first time, and I hope you enjoy the docudrama as much as I did. Michael St. Gerard is a good actor, but he doesn’t sing. We all know great ETAs who can definitely sing, and some may be able to act, since they do a form of acting when they do their tribute to Elvis; so, here is my question for you: Who would you cast in the role of Elvis in a 2020 remake of the series? I hope to see you answer in your the comments on Facebook…maybe with an explanation why you think the ETA you selected is right for the part. Cheers!

Interesting facts:  Michael St. Gerard had played Elvis twice before: First in two 1989 films, Great Balls of Fire! and Heart of Dixie, and once again, in a 1993 episode of Quantum Leap.  Millie Perkins starred as the real Elvis Presley’s love interest in the 1961 film, Wild in the Country.  In the 1990 series, Millie plays Elvis’s mother, Gladys. Actors, Matt Dillon and Scott Valentine, were the first two choices for the role of Elvis. Michael St. Gerard’s audition consisted of a line read through and a performance of him lip syncing to “Baby, Let’s Play House”. He was flown to Memphis the next day to start filming.  The brown-eyed St. Gerard refused to wear blue contacts for the role.

Actors in the series: Michael St. Gerard as Elvis Presley, Millie Perkins as Gladys Presley, Billy Green Bush as Vernon Presley, Jesse Dabson as Scotty Moore, Blake Gibbons as Bill Black, Kelli Williams as Mattie Walker, Jordan Williams as Sam Phillips, Howard French as Harley “Red” Calder. (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, with edits by Carolyn MacArthur).

ELVIS: A Boy From Tupelo, MS

I also offer the following video for your viewing pleasure. It is one of the best, and most complete, documentaries I have seen about Elvis Presley. The 1987 three hour long documentary contains fascinating interviews, clips from Elvis’s movies, TV performances and newspapers, and lots of photos. It covers Elvis’s life from his humble beginning in Tupelo, Mississippi, to his rocketed rise to fame, and ends with his tragic death in 1977. I hope you enjoy watching, or re-watching, ELVIS: A Boy From Tupelo, MS, Documentary (40th Anniversary Extended Version).

Photo Album

ETAs from all parts of the USA entertain us with their wonderful tributes to American icon Elvis Presley. We thank you for your inspired performances and wish you all a very Happy 4th of July!

Aloha from Hawaii

Elvis Presley in his American eagle jumpsuit singing “American Trilogy” (1:00:30)—perfect for the 4th!

Happy Birthday, Canada!

Introduction

Finding a way to celebrate Canada’s 153rd birthday on July 1st, 2020 in an ETA fan magazine was not as difficult as it might seem since Canada was the only country outside the USA where Elvis performed. The following articles are from an Australian site, https://www.elvispresleymusic.com.au, and credit goes to them for the written portion and photos used in this post, with edits by me. Have a great holiday everyone! Be safe. Stay strong. Celebrate responsibly. Happy birthday, Canada!

Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, ON, April 2, 1957

Many fans know Elvis's gold suit from the cover of his album, “50,000,000 Elvis Fans Can't Be Wrong”.

Elvis made his first and last Canadian appearances in 1957. Having already released his first album and film in 1956, and having just purchased Graceland, Elvis arrived in Canada for the first of three appearances in April 1957.

Elvis's first Canadian performances were at the Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m, on April 2nd, 1957. Elvis wore his stunning, sparkling gold suit for this show - the last time he wore the full suit. In future performances, Elvis would only wear pieces from this suit, such as just the jacket, belt and shoes, and in some shows, just the jacket.

At this performance, Elvis accompanied himself on piano for 'Blueberry Hill,' Fats Domino's chart-topping hit. Elvis loved Fats and owned several of his albums.

Elvis performed again in Canada the next day, April 3, at 4:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. at the Ottawa Auditorium in Ottawa. Elvis wore the gold jacket and shoes, but not the gold tie and pants. The pieces allowed Elvis to shine on stage, but still maintain a more conservative look.

Elvis's career was in full swing, but he was still a bit of controversial figure. Parents and religious officials were concerned about their kids listening to rock 'n' roll and the potentially dangerous influence Elvis had on his fans (a funny notion more than 60 years later). A local girls' school, the Notre Dame Convent, forbade its students to attend the concert and suspended eight of its students who ignored the rule. Elvis was booked to perform in Montreal, too, but that show was cancelled due to civic concern and pressure from local Catholic officials.

Editor’s Update: April 24, 2024

Yesterday, my friend and Elvis and ETA fan (of Matt Cage in particular), Audrey Manasterski sent the following comment after reading the article I wrote about another fan, Gloria Joyce, and the ticket she had for Elvis’s concert in August, 1977, which she was not able to use due to Elvis’s passing days before. In Gloria’s article, I included information about Elvis’s only performances outside the USA, in Canada. With Audrey’s permission, I am pleased to share her story…

“This was taken in a back yard on Shaftesbury Avenue (1950s), where Summerhill subway station is.” Photo Credit: Audrey Manasterski

This is so exciting to hear about this.

My dad was at those concerts at Maple Leaf Gardens, he was an usher during Elvis’s performance.

During intermission, Dad had a chance to speak with Elvis. They both drove trucks, played guitar, played piano & sang.

I was too young to attend. When I asked Dad what was he like, Dad said he was a very nice boy, very polite.

That’s all I got out of him. He didn’t even get me an autograph, because he was busy working. Go figure.

Thank you for sharing your story, Audrey. I am in awe knowing someone who knew someone who actually spoke to the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, and so casually…just two fellows with similar interests having a conversation—priceless! C.M.

Empire Stadium, Vancouver, B.C., August 31, 1957

Elvis, Bruno Cimmoll, Mark Raines, RCA Rep. Ernie Henn, Tom Diskin and Norm Pringle of CDKA Radio at the Press conference in the Stadium locker room.

On August 31, 1957, Elvis, Scotty Moore, Bill Black, D.J. Fontana, and the Jordanaires went to Vancouver by train to perform at Empire Stadium. It was the second stop of a tour of the Northwest that had started the day before in Spokane. By this time Elvis had recorded eight No. 1 singles in two years, had made three movies and was about to release “Jailhouse Rock” as his latest single. Having performed in Toronto and Ottawa in April, this was only the third time they ever performed outside of the U.S., and for Elvis it would be the last.

Vancouver's first rock-and-roll show had taken place barely a year before, when Bill Haley and the Comets drew 6,000 people to the Kerrisdale Arena. Now, at the Vancouver show, Elvis had drawn a crowd over four times larger.

Red Robinson, Elvis and Bruno Cimmoll of CKNW.

The 26,500 fans in attendance went wild for the King of Rock 'n' Roll. The stage was set up on the empty football field, but fans wanted to be closer. Thousands bypassed security to find a place in front of the stage on the field. The show had to be stopped twice for safety concerns.  Elvis’s manager, Col. Tom Parker, suggested to Elvis that he tone down his show; but being a rock 'n' roll rebel, Elvis didn't listen to him. He did shorten the set, though; and for safety reasons, he fooled the audience: He gave his gold jacket to a crew member to wear while getting into a car, so fans would think it was Elvis leaving. The fans followed the man in the gold jacket, and Elvis was allowed to calmly leave the stadium unharmed.

Norm Pringle of CDKA Radio, Elvis, and Elsie Pringle.

Twenty year old Red Robinson, a DeeJay for CKWX who had emceed the Bill Haley show and now emceed Elvis's show said, “That was the first time there was ever a performer in front of 26,000 people in a rented stadium. Sinatra, Crosby, no one ever rented stadiums before him.” According to records given to Red by the promoter, Hugh Pickett, shortly before he died, there were 25,898 paid admissions and at ticket prices of $1.50, $2.50 and $3.50, the gross receipts came to $61,099.86 of which Elvis probably earned $21,936.32.

Red Robinson said, “With the press conference over, the reporters were ushered out. As emcee of the show, I remained with Elvis. Let me tell you about an incident that happened while we killed the hour or so remaining until show time. It taught me that, while Elvis was always polite, he also had a wild streak of fun in him. After we’d been chatting for some time, Elvis opened the dressing room door at the stadium and invited one of the policemen outside to come in. He asked to borrow the cop’s handcuffs… then casually handcuffed me to a shower rod. Then he hid the key and laughed wildly at the joke.”

George Corrie (chauffeur) drives Elvis and fan club contest winner around Empire Stadium prior to start of the show.

The crowd was seated in the stadium's stands on either side of the football field, and the stage was set up in the north end zone. It was constructed on the back of two flatbed trucks with a fence put up around it and between the stage and the audience was nearly 100 yards of empty football field with air cadets and police lined up as security. The opening band played for about 45 minutes before Elvis and the band went on. When the music began, more or less drowned out by the screams of the crowd, the crowd surged past the security onto the field and sat down in front of the stage. Scotty said, “We must have looked like ants to them back where they were sitting. All they wanted to do was to get closer. They didn't care if they had seats or not”.

Scotty, Elvis, and the Jordanaires on stage at Empire Stadium, Aug. 31, 1957.

Stadium officials stopped the show and told the crowd it would not continue until they got back off the field. D.J. Fontana remembers how defiant the crowd was. Stadium officials couldn't budge them. D.J. said, “They tried and they tried, and they wouldn't move; so we finally started the show.”

The concert had lasted all of 22 minutes. Frightened by the surging fans, Parker told Elvis to cut the show short. When Elvis abruptly left the stage Scotty and the others were left onstage to face the fans alone. Unknown to the audience, Elvis had gone into an alcove aside the stairs behind the curtain, gave his gold jacket to one of his entourage (possibly Gene Smith) who then ran to the car to be whisked away pursued by the fans. Vancouver Sun photographer, Ralph Bower, said, “They knocked the fence over and chased him, and that's when he got away. They came like a herd of cattle. I was standing there and they run right over the top of me!” Elvis walked across the field to the dressing rooms unnoticed in his black shirt.

Scotty and Elvis onstage at Empire Stadium, Aug. 31, 1957.

D.J. said, “The kids all ran up there and the platform kind of tilted to one side.” By the time they got their instruments loaded into their car, they were surrounded by fans. All they could do was sit and wait it out. “They shook the car a little bit thinking Elvis was in there with us,” added D.J., “but finally they let us go. It took about two hours for us to get out. It usually took us about two hours to get out of all the buildings”.

Bower snapped a shot of the crowd just before they trampled him, and the paper ran it on the front page, accompanied by a scathing review by John Kirkwood.  “It was like watching a demented army swarm down the hillside to do battle in the plain when those frenzied teenagers stormed the field," Kirkwood wrote. "Elvis and his music played a small part in the dizzy circus. The big show was provided by Vancouver teenagers, transformed into writhing, frenzied idiots of delight by the savage jungle beat music. A hard, bitter core of teenage troublemakers turned Elvis Presley's one-night stand at Empire Stadium into the most disgusting exhibition of mass hysteria and lunacy this city has ever witnessed.”

The kids who were at the show, of course, felt differently and they loved Kirkwood's hysterical condemnation of the show. Colonel Parker also enjoyed reading the accounts of the riot the next day. Scotty said, “It really wasn't a riot; the fans were just trying to get closer to the stage to see, that's all.”

Audience rushing Elvis’s stage at Empire Stadium.

Red Robinson recalls that at the show they played “Money Honey”, “That's Where Your Heartaches Begin”, “Hound Dog” and “Jailhouse Rock”. Red said the 'biggest single goof' of his long career was when he went on the radio the day following the show and divulged Elvis's room number. “I went on the air the next day and said, Wasn't that wonderful, Elvis stayed at the Hotel Georgia, room 1226.” The kids went up and ripped up the carpet, tore pieces out of the bed. It cost CKWX about $5,000 to repair the room.”

Canada was the only country outside the United States to experience an Elvis Presley Concert.

Slide Show

Video

Mercury

Are you having problems with technology, communication, travel, logic, and information? This blog may help to explain why. The photo of Freddie Mercury may be a little misleading, because this article has nothing to do with the iconic singer of Queen, and everything to do with the planet Mercury.

Recently I ran into some difficulty with an interview that I posted. After working steadily for a month before posting, I had no explanation as to why there was a huge omission since I meticulously go over every bit of work I post. No explanation, that is, until I found out that the planet Mercury is about to go retrograde on July 7th, and the effects can be felt more than a week before.

In his column, Toronto astrologer, Phil Booth, pointed out that I am only one individual in a world of others affected by Mercury retrograde:

The planet Mercury.

THURSDAY, JUNE 27, 2019

HERMES – HAVING A LITTLE FUN
The Mercury retrograde is still days away (July 7 to 31), but it can already be felt. We began slipping into it about June 20. A few peculiar Mercury retrograde type incidents have come up in news on Wednesday:

It has been reported that Israel is experiencing unexplained GPS disruptions in its airspace. Many pilots had lost satellite signals from the Global Positions System around Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport.

Nearly 100 drivers took a Google Maps alternate route to avoid a traffic jam caused by a crash on a road leading to Denver International Airport. The alternate route took about 100 Colorado drivers down a dirt road that led to a slippery muddy bog caused by recent heavy rainfalls.

Issues with a microphone plagued the first night of the first Democratic primary debate hosted by NBC. The candidates apparently couldn’t hear the debate moderator as he posed a question, because mics from the previous round of NBC moderators were left on backstage. It led to a commercial break being called to give time to solve the technical debacle.

Mercury, aka Hermes, has a well-deserved reputation as a trickster. The above are just a few examples. And we haven’t even entered the three-week Mercury retrograde period yet. There will be more to come.

The Moon spends on average about 54 hours in each sign in her monthly journey through the 12 zodiac signs. Today our Celestial Mother slips into TAURUS AT 1:32pm GMT ● 9:32am ET ● 6:32am PT ● 11:32pm AEST

Working at the Tansley Cafe, St. George, June, 2018. Photo Credit: C.M.

The omission in the article is only one of many tech/information issues I have had this past week: I had no internet service at all on Thursday, so I called Cogeco to have my internet reset. I got stuck in traffic due to unforeseen roadwork on my way to meet Lori-Anne on Wednesday. Twice in the past week, SquareSpace where all my blogs are stored, closed down completely and I was unable to save what I had been working on. And even today, on my way to an appointment, I learned from my daughter that they are having trouble with their electric car reaching maximum power storage. “Ah ha,” I said to my daughter, “The effects of Mercury retrograde!”

Is there any scientific proof to the theory that other planets effect us here on earth? Maybe, if we accept the aphorism, "as above, so below" which is associated with Sacred Geometry, Hermeticism and the Tarot, that can be traced back 38,000 years to The Emerald Tablets. I do know that more than one bewildered teacher, after hours of trying to teach a class full of (more than usual) rambunctious students, has entered the staff room asking, “Is there a full moon tonight?!!!”

The following article from https://www.horoscope.com, with edits by C. MacArthur, explains Mercury retrograde in plain English. In keeping with my intention of always having my SB Mag bogs connect to Elvis Presley and the ETA world in some way, I am including astrology readings for Elvis and ETA Matt Cage, which are located at the bottom of the page.

What is Mercury Retrograde?

When Mercury is in retrograde, technology, communication, travel, logic, and information all get disrupted; but understanding Mercury retrograde's true meaning, knowing its dates and how long it lasts can help you deal with astrology's most nerve-wracking event.

The actual meaning of Mercury retrograde isn't just some run of bad luck. It's astrology's way of forcing us to review, recheck and revisit.

In our technology-focused society where emails, texts, and reliable WiFi are everything, the planet of communication has a big job. And when Mercury goes haywire during its retrograde phase, its effects hit us where it hurts. After all, you're reading this on your phone between Snaps, texts, booking flights and mapping your route to the restaurant you made an online reservation for, right? Understandably, if your phone suddenly shuts down, a message gets lost, or travel is delayed, you're majorly inconvenienced.

What exactly is the science behind Mercury retrograde? First off, the name is deceptive. It's not as if the planet actually reverses its orbit. Simply explained, Mercury retrograde describes an optical illusion which makes it look as if the planet is moving backwards from our viewpoint on earth. During this perceived backwards motion, anything to do with communication, technology or contracts can get majorly screwed up.

Mercury is associated with communication, information, electronics, travel, and even clear thinking, so when it's retrograde we have to be ready for a slowdown in all of those areas. Things break. Projects stall. We lose things. Breakups happen. Schedules are thrown off, we get frustrated, we lash out and more breakdowns in communications follow. The effects of Mercury retrograde aren't all in your imagination - but it isn't all bad news either.

Mercury retrograde may feel like it's shaking up your entire world, and it's true. This aspect affects health, and career moves, but it also means different issues for each astrological sign. Knowing what to do and what to expect is one of the best ways to handle Mercury retrograde.

Mercury Retrograde Survival Guide

How can you get Mercury retrograde to work for you instead of against you? First, take a deep breath. Despite the serious frustration and even terror that comes with a Mercury retrograde cycle, it's not the end of the world. While it may be an inconvenience to deal with for close to three months every year, it's not unmanageable. You can sign contracts, make major financial decisions, or start a new job in this time period, but you should be careful. During this period, cross your t's and dot your i's - and double check everything.

Keeping certain dos and don'ts in mind during every interaction will be your protection through the Mercury retrograde season. This can be a rich period of creativity and connections; and if you can be flexible, not get buried in the details, and think big picture, you'll emerge without a scratch.

General Dos and Don'ts of Mercury Retrograde

DO:

1. Brainstorm. Think of every available solution to the problems you're facing - one of them has to work eventually.

2. Be flexible, adaptable, and patient. You may have to step outside of your comfort zone to come up with the right fix.

3. Think in broad terms. The bigger and farther reaching the solution is, the more likely it is to work.

4. Stay updated on delays and cancellations while travelling.

5. Keep an eye on warning lights on your car's dash and stay on top of all regularly scheduled maintenance appointments to ensure things are running as smoothly as possible. Monitor the gas in the tank (that little arrow pointing to F or E might not be as accurate as you think).

6. Back up your computer and phone so you don't lose important data if they shut down without warning.

7. Revisit persistent issues from the past. You know that one thing that's really been on your mind lately? The one that keeps you up at night? This is the perfect time to address it and try to resolve it once and for all.

DON'T:

1. Get into a negative thinking cycle. Things may be falling apart around you but staying positive and remembering this is just a speed bump will help you get through it. You've got this!

2. Be a lone wolf. When things break, make an appointment with a professional to get them fixed and then sit tight rather than trying to impatiently DIY it.

3. Exaggerate. Things are bad enough without stretching the truth, aren't they?!

4. Plan a big presentation or draft up important papers (especially legal documents). If you can't avoid tasks like this, pay close attention to the details.

5. Rely only on technology. If you have an important meeting coming up, write down or print out info you know you'll need.

6. Rush. Slowing down the pace can help you eliminate costly mistakes.

7. Have unrealistic expectations. Because of misunderstandings and mix-ups, things may not turn out as you'd planned. Avoid disappointment by keeping expectations relatively low.

8. Set unrealistic timelines. Red tape can keep documents in a holding pattern for a long, long time.

How Mercury Retrograde Affects Your Health and Mood

When you're stressed, you have a harder time getting to sleep; and during Mercury retrograde your stress and anxiety levels can be through the roof. Lying awake at night wondering how you could have prevented the day's mistakes or worrying about what could happen tomorrow will take a toll on your health.

And to make matters worse, sleep deprivation can cause even more problems like being tired, anxious and distracted, only furthering the effects of Mercury retrograde! Your exercise routine can also be thrown off by gym equipment malfunctioning or the battery on your activity tracker dying. Meals can even become problematic if the fridge or freezer breaks down, the stove malfunctions or the microwave freaks out. The following are some tips to keep your body and mind in top shape during Mercury retrograde.

Tips for Taking Care of Your Body and Mind

DO:

Make sure your alarm is set properly before going to bed so that you don't wake up late and feel rushed.

Listen to quiet music, put on noise-cancelling headphones, or wear a sleep mask - anything that will shut out distractions, let you drift off to sleep and have peaceful dreams.

Plan a digital detox.  If there's ever a great time to take a break from your electronics and close out of your social media apps, it's Mercury retrograde.

Practice some breathing exercises to utilize when you're having a technology or travel snafu. There's no use getting worked up about something you can't control.

DON'T:

Plan elaborate meals using fancy kitchen gadgets. The simpler the better.

Watch the news or violent TV shows/movies right before bedtime.

Use your phone or other bright electronic devices in bed.

Drink caffeine or eat anything spicy that might keep you up past your bedtime.

Written in the Stars

Mercury is retrograde from July 7th to July 31st, 2019. I hope this article has given you some insight that will see you through the retrograde. The following are horoscopes for Elvis and Matt Cage that I did for earlier posts, and even without a time, year, or place of birth, the horoscopes ring true.

ETA Matt Cage

ETA Matt Cage, Collingwood, 2018. Photo Credit: Lori-Anne Crewe, LA Crewe Photography.

"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."

Elvis Presley

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…

”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.”