Kim Adelman - The Girls Guide to Elvis: The Clothes, The Hair, The Women, and More!

Contents

Introduction

People are going to want to know what youre doing, where you are, what you wear, what you eatthese things are natural or normal.

ELVIS PRESLEY (1962)

Why a girls guide to Elvis?

Because girls get Elvis. Always have, always will.

When girls first saw him perform, we reacted by losing all inhibition: screaming, fainting, trying to tear his clothes off. Ed Sullivan reacted by censoring him from the waist down. Whom would you rather have as your guide?

Unlike Mr. Sullivan, girls like Elvis and his pelvis. Always have, always will.

Finally, somebody who says what I have been screaming about for twenty out of my thirty-two years! Elvis is the hottest, sexiest, coolest man that ever walked the earth.

A GIRLS E-MAIL TO
WWW.GIRLSGUIDETOELVIS.COM (2001)

The Girls Guide to Elvis offers a decidedly female take on what makes Elvis great. Unashamedly focusing on sex, style, and gossip, this illustrated handbook emphasizes the things girls care about, including:

Music

Elvis concerts in the 1950s and 1970s were designed to appeal to his female fan base. Even now, twenty-five years after his death, girls (of all ages) are the primary buyers of Presley CDs. Well go straight to the fans to find out how Elvis became the King of Rock and Roll.

Movies

Elvis personally hated his movies, but weve always loved them. Recently, the Girls Guide to Elvis Presley website conducted a survey asking chicks to pick their favorite flick. The results might surprise you: Blue Hawaii got the most votes, followed by King Creole, Viva Las Vegas, Jailhouse Rock, and Change of Habit. A female film professor will explain why the Hawaiian love story is the definitive Presley vehicle. Well also discover which costar from these above-mentioned films was a serious threat to Elviss bachelorhood. Heres a clue: it wasnt the one who played the nun.

Fashion

Because girls know the true importance of style, we stand in awe of the sideburns, jumpsuits, and Jungle Room. Just think, Elvis did all that without a stylist! As for his coif, only his hairdresser knows for sure, so well go directly to the source to find out everything about those jet-black locks. Well also ferret out the truth about Presleys famous black-leather ensemble (a mistake) and waist-cinching jumpsuits (hint: Saran Wrap has uses outside the kitchen).

Food

Girls empathize with Elviss lifelong weight issues. Imagine the humiliation of having movie producers write memos about your waistline. If only he had lived to see reduced-fat peanut butter... Its too late for Elvis, but not for us. Well translate his favorite recipes into more diet-friendly options.

Gossip

Stories about manager Colonel Parker, tales from bodyguards, and details about Elviss prescription drug dependencygirls have heard this rehashed before. Wed rather dish the dirt on his sexual fetishes, unnecessary plastic surgery, and shopaholic binges.

Girls

Check out the harem that accompanied Elvis to his army induction. Girls were often eyewitnesses to key events in the life and career of Elvis Presley. Theyll give us special insight into the Elvis phenomenon.

Are you ready for Elvis, girls style?

Creating the Ultimate Girls Guide

Although he never wrote an autobiography, Elvis did reveal what he thought and felt at press conferences, in rare personal letters, and onstage. Thats where the quotes dotting this book originate.

Girl talk from females who got up close and personal with Presley comes from new interviews and previously published articles, tell-alls, oral biographies, and documentaries.

Old newspapers and magazines were also scanned for illuminating commentary, bizarre theories, and fun facts. Sample tidbit: back in 1968, one male reviewer huffily complained about Elviss TV special, I dont think many viewers care to see singers sweat on TV! Wrong!

For a twenty-first-century perspective, guest guides graciously agreed to share their expertise with us in a Q&A format.

Finally, instead of the standard overexposed photos, rare images have been collected from archives and personal collections to provide a unique and intimate perspective: that of girl friends and girl fans.

Just One Last Thing...

If you bought this book thinking it was a guide to English singer Elvis Costello, Puerto Rican singer Elvis Crespo, ice-skating star Elvis Stojko, NFL quarterback Elvis Grbac, or New York Times film critic Elvis Mitchell, you were sadly misled. Sorry. But did you know that Elvis Presley also sang, skated (albeit roller skating, not ice), played football, and saw a lot of movies? Perhaps there is something in the name.

Jon Burrows
Wouldn't Smell as Sweet

Dear Mr. President. First I would like to introduce myself. Im Elvis Presley...

LETTER TO RICHARD NIXON (1970)

E lvis himself complained in 1974, My little daughter goes around and says, Elvis, whatcha you gonna to do? Swear to God, six years old: Elvis! I say, Honey, Im your daddy, dont call me Okay, Elvis.

Lisa Marie wouldnt have been able to articulate it at such a tender age, but she instinctively knew what all girls know: theres something irresistible about her fathers given name. Who would want to say Daddy when they can say Elvis?

Elvis

I Love Elvis. I Hate Elvis. Elvis Is Back. Elvis Now. Elvis Today. This Is Elvis. Elvis Lives. Elvis.com. Elvis! Elvis! Elvis!

The name is magical. Put it on a record, and it will sell. Put it on a movie, no matter how bad, and people will want to see it. On lipstick. On poodle skirts. On dog tags. In big red letters on a television soundstage. In foreign languages for a worldwide satellite broadcast.