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12

Southern Cultures 2011 Center for the Study of the American South

Published by the University of North Carolina Press

NOT FORGOTTEN
The KISS Letter

An Encounter with Elvis

EUGENIA DETTELBACH WICKER

WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY MARCIE COHEN FERRIS

Along with talent and energy, Elvis brought a sexual charisma into the music business that his colleagues did not possess. Certainly no country entertainer before him had exhibited such raw masculine appeal. Elvis unusual combination of little-boy shyness and leering sensuality won him a legion of female followers of all ages. Nicknamed Elvis the Pelvis because of his peculiar dance gyrations, Presley awakened feelings among his young women listeners that not even they understood.

Bill C. Malone, Country Music U.S.A.

THE LAST TIME I KISSED HIM, HE ONLY HAD ON HALF A SHIRT.

June 1956, Atlanta, Georgia. It was the summer before ninth grade at a white girls academy. Genie Dettelbach was thirteen years old, on the cusp of fourteen. Although her friends had returned for a final year of summer camp, Genie rebelled and chose to stay in Atlanta. Little did she know that her independent spirit would shake her from both a sense of summer malaise and her adolescence. When Genie heard Elvis Presley was coming to Atlantas Paramount Theater, she jumped at the chance to attend a performance.

Twenty-one-year-old Presleys career had rocketed that year, thanks to his first RCA recording session, the hit single Heartbreak Hotel, national television appearances, and his first gold album. Knowing of her parents disapproval of the controversial Presley, who was already famous for his charisma and physical gyrations on stage, Genie secretly made her way to the 2 p.m. concert on Friday, June 22.

The following KISS Letter, so named by Genie and her friends at summer camp who received the letter, was written the evening after the concert. At the heart of her description of the event is a passionate kiss with Presley. Genies excitement, as well as her close attention to detailwhat Elvis wore, the songs he performed, the first-time appearance of the Jordanaires, the reaction of the young girlsconfirm historians Peter Guralnick, Bill Malone, Pete Daniels, and Joel Williamsons descriptions of the powerful convergence in Presleys music of an emerging sexual revolution and the loosening of racial boundaries. Kissing

Twenty-one-year-old Elvis Presleys career had rocketed in 1956, thanks to the hit single Heartbreak Hotel, national television appearances, and his first gold album. Knowing of her parents disapproval of the controversial Presley, who was already famous for his charisma and physical gyrations on stage, Genie Dettelbach secretly made her way to his concert. The KISS Letter was written the evening after it. The envelope, courtesy of the author and the American Museum of Visionary Art, Baltimore, Maryland.

his female fansof all ageswas exactly the kind of illicit behavior that both shocked Middle America and enthralled those who adored Presley.

Genie Dettelbach was one of the thousands of young women awakened by Presleys dynamism in an era of 1950s conformism. Her parents must have wondered what had gotten into their daughter that night. Genie wrote, I couldnt even eat tonight. We had Roast Beef, but I just couldnt eat it... I cant even lie down without moving... Im going back tomorrow. You bet.

THE KISS LETTER

June 22, 1956

Dear Ann, Dell +Flossie,

Yall, Im so excited I cant write. Im also listening to Elviss album+records. Its been a dream come true + I really mean it like never before. Ill give you an exact record of what Ive done today. Got up at 7:30 fixed breakfast. got ready left the house at 15 to 11, got to town at the Paramount at about 11:30. I saw Patsy Allen + we ate a small lunch there were girls even then from the ticket box clear to the corner. However I bought my ticket and we both broke in line boy were those girls mad most of them had sign posts like this [drawing] + they were carrying them. At a quarter to twelve I was so hot it wasnt funny. excuse my writings, its just Im so excited I cant write straight. My hands sorta shaking. Anyway there was me in the middle and girls all over me and I mean [drawing] it was aful. I waited til 1:15 like that. Then they opened the door and we rushed in [drawing of Genie, the door, girls trying to get in].

I got really squshed and a bruise on my thigh. However I ran + got a wonderful seat on the second row in the middle. The picture was a dull Western. Then there was a band, a girl singin then a man doing a real funny act. He did an imitation of a girl taking off her girdle. He said this was how the Boogie Woogie got started. Then the Jourdaneers sang 4 good pop songs.

Then Elvis came on girls. He laughed a lot during his act I took 4 pictures of him. They told me to quit taking them (the policeman+usher) but I wouldnt. I knew they wouldnt kick me out. He had on a white shirt black tie green coat black pants. believe it or not I didnt scream once I just sat there. He sang Heart Break, Blue Suede Shoes, I Gotta Woman, I was the one, I want you I need you, Hound Dog. He sang Blue Suede Shoes 3 times. I got a picture album. It has about 30 pictures about half the size of this letter of him shakin. Man its the coolest and greatest. Anyway he was also wearin 2 diamond rings.

He talked sort of slow like. Im gonna do a song now... Pause... and its a song titled I want you... everybody yelled... I need youeverybody screamed... I hate you. he laughed.

Once we all yelled move the mike down we cant see your face. Then he mimicked us Want me to move the mike down he said in a real high squeaky voice. They screamed again. this was all great but listen. After he got through singing houndog real fast he did it slow and then sort of danced off the stage. Oh Ann you know how you said they danced at Grady when you stood still and wiggled your muscles.

It hurt you said. Well Hon he did it only 50 times more wiggly. Then I got up my legs were shakin sort of funny + I could hardly move. We went (by this time I had lost Patsy) with the whole theatre out the side exit to a side door. i was the first one at the door. They were pushing [drawing of the door, Genie, others] but I was determined to stay. Then Elvis came to the door opened it but shut it again+went up to the window upstairs [small drawing of the window, the word Elvis in the window, stick-figures]. Girls were climbing up the building. I started to go over to the window to see him but didnt cause I knew hed hafta come out sooner or later + I wasnt intending for anyone to get my place. Then a colored man came with some hamburgers from the Krystal. When he opened the door

We rushed in to another room. I said please open the door + let us get some autographs. A mob of girls leaned on the door + it came open. Then we rushed in. It was terribly hot. He was kissing some girl when the lights went off. There we were in a tiny little room with no lights. It was hot as hell. Police men had by now cleared half of the screaming girls away but I hid in a sort of dark corner. There were just about 15 girls left I stuck my pen + paper in his face and asked

Genie Dettelbach wrote the steamy tell-all about Elvis to her friends Ann, Dell, and Flossie, who were spending that summer of 1956 at Camp Juliette Low in Cloudland, Georgia. Genie with a friend in June, the month of Elvis Presleys concert.

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