Thanks for visiting and please let others know about our site, blogs, and http://www.ElvisCollector.info the premier Elvis Presley website with NO ads. NO pop-ups. NO solicitations. NO selling. Just great, rare, awesome, unique, cool. and “you can only find here” content. Oh yeah it features Jeff Schrembs the Elvis Presley expert, collector, historian, and author.
For those who don’t know Jeff Schrembs, pertaining to Elvis and per his own self description, he has been collecting Elvis Presley memorabilia for six decades. He put a priority on photographs, videos, Elvis personal notes/letters/handwriting/autograph/signatures/etc. Mr. Schrembs has never monetized any aspect of his collection, website, knowledge, etc. Having a personal relationship, with great respect, to so many who; worked with, lived with, were related to, who were loved by, etc. Elvis (in all areas of Elvis personal and professional life dating back to Elvis’ childhood continuing until Elvis’ passing and continuing to this very day). Mr. Schrembs has never, nor will ever, attempt to monetize his relationships (individually or collectively) with these fine people nor does Mr. Schrembs (even remotely) believe/convey that he knows Elvis “better” than any of these people or so many in the “Elvis Presley world”. Had it not of been for Mr. Schrembs having cancer, dating back a few years ago and he opted to begin to share his knowledge about Elvis Presley online as a positive distraction, this blog would not be in existence. With that said lets get to some way cool info.
Elvis Presley, back in the 1950’s, preferred Pepsi versus coke because at that time Pepsi offered twice the quantity for less.
Elvis would chase down the milk man, it was the norm for a milk man to deliver fresh milk in bottles on the porches and/or front doors, of it’s customers, and pay for a few frosty/perfectly chilled milk bottles so fresh rich cream was at the top of the bottles.
Many times Elvis would go the donut store, and they made them 24 hours a day and Elvis knew when they would be piping hot, and eat 1/2 a dozen donuts and wash it down with his bottles of milk.
Elvis was an usher at a movie theatre as a teenager.
When Elvis was told, by Sam Phillips that Dewey Phillips the DJ (no relation), that Elvis’ first recording of “that’s all right little momma” would be played on the radio that night Elvis went into a movie theatre to be alone with his nerves and in the darkness should the song not be received well.
When the song was played the switchboard at the radio station lit up with request after request to hear the song played again. It was an instant hit and Dewey Phillips radio show, red hot and blue, was played to a wide and diverse audience (i.e. white audiences, african american audiences, etc.). African Americans, and white people and others across the spectrum, were equally enjoying this song and 99% of the audience thought Elvis was African American. It was only until Elvis, who was invited, went into Dewey Phillips radio booth to do an interview (note – Elvis did not know the interview was live and being broadcast) and he disclosed that he attended Hume’s High School did the radio audience realize that Elvis was white (as Humes High School, like most every school in the nation was segregated).
Memphis, during Elvis’ childhood and throughout the 1950’s, was a bustling thriving location where muscians were found on the streets, in the churches, and on front porches everywhere. You could not go down a main street in downtown Memphis and not hear various songs. But, it was in church that Elvis was first exposed to as a child that he exhibited singing, dancing, and his own vocal inflections and movements. This was not regulated to Elvis’ family church for it has been documented that Elvis, at an early age, went to African American churches and loved the music. The sermons. The praising of the lord. Many African American Pastors have participated in documentarys confirming these statements and remarking that Elvis was a truly gifted singer. He was unlike anyone they had seen or heard.
There was a well known mens clothing store in Memphis named Lanksy Brothers where there were bright colors, custom tailored shirts/suits/pants, wild shirts, shiny leather/animal print/suede/etc. shoes, and just about everything a man of style would want. Elvis often windowshopped and one day went to Bernard Lansky, one of the owners, and told him “Mr. Lansky one day I am going to buy a lot of clothes from you”. Within a few years Elvis’ statment came true and Elvis remained a loyal customer for decades.
The only school subject that Elvis failed, which was an F, was in music. Can you imagine? Elvis failed music? He had a photographic memory. He had perfect pitch. But, at the time he was so shy and distracted by hardships (monetarily and within the family construct) that he earned this grade. There are several interviews, along with firsthand accounts, wehreby Elvis admiited this happened but his music teacher thought Elvis had talent so she entered him into talent shows and Elvis won the talent show at Humes High School to the shock of many students and facility. From that moment on Elvis brought his guitar to school and often would be outside during lunch break strumming it and singing for the students espically the young ladies.
One of Elvis’ favorite barbers was African American. There are many photographs of this, along with some firsthand accounts, taking place. The barber said that Elvis told him exactly how he liked it done, long for the time period and he wanted his sideburns neat but wide and long like the truck drivers wore theirs, and since Elvis’ hair was very thin, but he had a lot of hair, Elvis’ hair could be styled in any fashion he wanted.
(photo courtesy of the private collection of Mr. Schrembs)
Linda Thompson, her story including her time with Elvis, is well known to many. However, I have always believed that one should go directly to the source(s) as much as one can. Fortunately, Linda Thompson has; made videos, been a part of many documentaries, given many interviews, released rare personal effects including exceptional recordings of Elvis “in private moments” at his homes singing which he loved doing, and much more.
Self image edition January 2016
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