45 Years Ago At Graceland

Above, Elvis Presley's grave at Graceland. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Big news events happen in every generation. 

People will generally remember where they were and what they were doing upon hearing a big news story. This happened when the news hit about Pearl Harbor, JFK's assassination, 9/11 and the death of Elvis Presley.

Above, returning home from a dental appointment at 12:29 am on August 16. One of the last known photos of Elvis Presley.

Tuesday, August 16, 1977 was a relatively quiet summer day. It was warm, but humid out as there was a monsoon flow coming up from Mexico into the Los Angeles area.

I was at home in Hawthorne watching a James Cagney comedy movie, One, Two, Three (1961) that was directed by Billy Wilder. It would be a couple of hours later that I would have to go to work in Redondo Beach. My mother was outside working in the yard.

Above, Memphis newspapers from 45 years ago at Sun Studio. Photo by Armand Vaquer

A news bulletin interrupted the movie. It was announced that singer Elvis Presley had been found unresponsive at his Graceland mansion on Elvis Presley Blvd. in Memphis, Tennessee and was rushed by ambulance to Baptist Memorial Hospital, where efforts to revive him failed and he was pronounced dead.

After hearing the bulletin, I rushed outside to tell my mother, who was a big Elvis fan.

Later, when I went to work, it began to rain. It was strangely appropriate. It was a strange day all around.

In many respects, it is hard to believe that 45 years have passed.

For an interesting article on the state of Presley's health during his final months of life, go here.

Pamela Tiffin, R.I.P.

Above, Horst Buchholz and Pamela Tiffin in One, Two, Three. 

On August 16, 1977, I was at home watching the 1961 James Cagney comedy, One, Two, Three on television when a news bulletin broke in.

It was to announce that Elvis Presley had died at his Graceland Mansion.

The actress in One, Two, Three died today in New York. She was Pamela Tiffin. She was 78. The cause of death was not revealed.

According to the New York Daily News:

Pamela Tiffin, the brunette beauty who achieved film stardom in her late teens for her performances in “One, Two, Three” and “Summer and Smoke,” is dead at 78.

The actress and model died Friday in New York City, reported La Repubblica.

Tiffin’s husband, Edmondo Damon, told the La Repubblica that she had passed away on Friday, and a friend of the actress confirmed her passing to Deadline.

“Pamela was that rare commodity in the (1960s); the beautiful girl next door who could be quite funny,” explained Tom Lisanti, author of “Pamela Tiffin: Hollywood to Rome, 1961 to 1974″ in a 2015 interview for the Oklahoma Gazette. “Actresses who looked like her were not supposed to have her comedic ability and were to play the ingenue only.”

Yes, she was quite a looker and was also very funny.

R.I.P.

Oddly, last night I was watching The Magnificent Seven, which introduced Tiffin's co-star, Horst Buchholz. It was probably the first movie I've seen him in since I watched One, Two, Three in 1977. I haven't seen One, Two, Three since then.

To read more, go here. 

40 Years Ago This Week

Above, Memphis newspapers announcing Elvis Presley's
 death on display at Sun Studio. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Tuesday, August 16, 1977 was a relatively quiet summer day. It was warm, but humid out as there was a monsoon flow coming up from Mexico into the Los Angeles area.

But the day would turn out to be one of those days where a news event causes people to remember exactly where they were at and what they were doing when the news hit.

I was at home in Hawthorne watching a James Cagney comedy movie, One, Two, Three (1961) that was directed by Billy Wilder. It would be a couple of hours later that I would have to go to work in Redondo Beach. My mother was outside working in the yard.

Above, Graceland mansion. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

A news bulletin interrupted the movie. It was announced that singer Elvis Presley had been found unresponsive at his Graceland mansion on Elvis Presley Blvd. in Memphis, Tennessee and was rushed by ambulance to Baptist Memorial Hospital, where efforts to revive him failed and he was pronounced dead.

After hearing the bulletin, I rushed outside to tell my mother, who was a big Elvis fan.

Later, when I went to work, it began to rain. It was strangely appropriate. It was a strange day all around.

This all occurred 40 years ago.

Above, Elvis Presley's grave. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Currently, this year's Elvis Week in Memphis is commemorating the 40th anniversary of Elvis Presley's passing.