The Ordeal of Elvis Presley (1957 article)

[The fool]

A rather interesting interview made during the first days of Loving You.

The Ordeal of Elvis Presley
by Helen Hendrix
Screenland Plus TV-Land, May 1957

[drjohncarpenter]

A rather interesting interview made during the first days of Loving You.

The Ordeal of Elvis Presley
by Helen Hendrix
Screenland Plus TV-Land, May 1957

As usual, these shares are absolutely fabulous. This is the first time I've seen the complete article, including the cover. Reporter Helen Hendrix covered Hollywood for years, and she does well in her interview with Elvis, even if there's nothing too revelatory.

"I love ballads," he says. How true that was. He also says "I hope, for example, that it won't be too long before they let me cut some hymns and spirituals" and "Been rehearsing the songs I'm going to sing for my new picture." So this interview took place before the first RCA gospel session on 1-12-1957 (Sat) or the first Paramount session on 1-15-1957 (Tue). Since he got into Los Angeles on 1-11-1957 (Fri), this must have been when he was interviewed. Yes, it wasn't too long before RCA let him cut some gospel ... in maybe like about 24 hours! He must have enjoyed making that statement to her.

Of the woman Hendrix noted Elvis had dated recently, I had not heard about actress and dancer Monique van Vooren. She was almost eight years older than Elvis at the time. The article said she met him in New York, probably when Elvis was there for his final "Ed Sullivan" appearance on 1-06-1957 (Sun), "and dated him here when she appeared at Mocambo."

Below is a shot of her from that nightclub engagement, not too shabby!

570200_Monique van Vooren_Mocambo_Los Angeles.jpg

Elvis ran into her a few years later, at the Sahara in Las Vegas. Monique's still with us at the age of 89!

600726_w Monique van Vooren_Sahara_Las Vegas.jpg

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monique_van_Vooren



Another nice bonus are some images "new" to my eyes sprinkled throughout. They are copied below. Thank you again!

560605_backstage_Milton Berle.jpg

560605_Milton Berle_rehearsal.jpg

560824_20th Century Fox_session.jpg

[Mister Moon]

Great stuff, as always, The fool.

Many thanks. You are a rock and roll star !

"He is already a living legend". Tremendous sentence about a 22 year old man, who had jumped into stardom just a little over one year ago.

As George Harrison put it, The Beatles were four, but Elvis was alone.

[PiersEIN]

SENSATIONAL find.
Great stuff as always
Thanks
Cheers,
Piers

[George Smith]

Superb, thank you.

I recognise some of the quotes but it's great to have the source.