G.I. Blues Premiere, November 15th, 1960

[Greystoke]

I was looking at various footage on the Producers' Library website, and was going to post a link to footage of Hollywood Boulevard in 1963, when Fun in Acapulco was on release, but wondered if footage of the G.I. Blues premiere had ever been posted on here. It probably has, but it's been a while since I last saw it, so I thought it was worthwhile sharing this again.

Held on November 15th, 1960, at the Fox Wilshire Theatre in Los Angeles, this was special benefit screening that helped to raise money for the Haemophilia Foundation. Newsreel cameras filmed the event, which Elvis didn't attend, although he was previously in attendance at the Theatre Owners of America screening on September 12th, which was also attended by Juliet Prowse.

Juliet Prowse was also at the November 15th premiere, and can be seen signing autographs in the footage. Also in attendance were Nick Adams, Paul Anka, Anette Funicello, Cesar Romero, Nick Adams, Judy Nugent, and Ronald & Nancy Reagan, amongst others.

G.I. Blues was also screened privately for military personnel before the film's national release eight days after the aforementioned premiere. A link to the footage is below, along with a link to the other videos featuring Elvis and Tom Parker that have been collected on the Producers' Library website.

https://producerslibrary.com/preview/CRV-0002_009

https://producerslibrary.com/search?all_words=Elvis+Presley+

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Elvis and Juliet Prowse in conversation at the Theatre Owners of America screening with (left-to-right) Kermit Karr, of Paramount-Gulf Theatres, Lamar Sarra, vice-president of Florida State Theatres, and Jim Harrison, general manager of Wilby-Kincey Theatres in Atlanta, Georgia.

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Joseph Hazen's enthusiastic open letter to George Weltner, Paramount's worldwide sales chief, on the heels of the September 12th Theatre Owners of America screening of G.I. Blues.

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The image below is a screen capture of the footage taken on Hollywood Boulevard in 1963, when Fun in Acapulco was screening at the Iris Theatre.

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https://producerslibrary.com/preview/CRV-0012_009_002

[jetblack]

Fantastic Hugh.

I wish that footage had sound. It would have been interesting to know what those stars were saying.

Andy

[jurasic1968]

Agree.

[Thats_all_right]

It's a mystery to me why Elvis never attended any of the premieres of his movies. Especially for the first three and G.I Blues. Simply because the Colonel didn't want his boy around the Hollywood crowd?

[Greystoke]

It's a mystery to me why Elvis never attended any of the premieres of his movies. Especially for the first three and G.I Blues. Simply because the Colonel didn't want his boy around the Hollywood crowd?

Perhaps Elvis didn't want to go to premieres. He wasn't obligated to. Whilst Parker did say to Variety in 1961, that Elvis didn't attend premieres because there would be the expectation for him to perform, and because of this, they would require $25,000 for Elvis to attend.

[jurasic1968]

Parker was bluffing once again.

[billy jack]

It's a mystery to me why Elvis never attended any of the premieres of his movies. Especially for the first three and G.I Blues. Simply because the Colonel didn't want his boy around the Hollywood crowd?

Elvis often attended private screenings of his own films by renting a cinema. Elvis simply couldn't show himself in public. The time pressure of 3 films per year. The opening of ''G.I. Blues'' in November, in December the opening of ''Flaming Star'', Elvis was filming ''Wild In The Country''. The same goes for ''Blue Hawaii'', November 1961, opening BH, Elvis working on ''Kid Galahad''.

You said it yourself. Parker liked to keep his ''Golden Egg'' away from, as mentioned, openings of films, but also guest appearances by other artists when they presented a television show, for example The Johnny Cash Show, the Grammy Awards. If you wanted to see Elvis in person, the only option was to go to his performances (1970s). An exception was the presentation of the Jaycees Award in 1971.

[drjohncarpenter]

It's a mystery to me why Elvis never attended any of the premieres of his movies. Especially for the first three and G.I Blues. Simply because the Colonel didn't want his boy around the Hollywood crowd?

He attend a few premieres, but none in Los Angeles.

[drjohncarpenter]

I was looking at various footage on the Producers' Library website, and was going to post a link to footage of Hollywood Boulevard in 1963, when Fun in Acapulco was on release, but wondered if footage of the G.I. Blues premiere had ever been posted on here. It probably has, but it's been a while since I last saw it, so I thought it was worthwhile sharing this again.

Held on November 15th, 1960, at the Fox Wilshire Theatre in Los Angeles, this was special benefit screening that helped to raise money for the Haemophilia Foundation. Newsreel cameras filmed the event, which Elvis didn't attend, although he was previously in attendance at the Theatre Owners of America screening on September 12th, which was also attended by Juliet Prowse.

Juliet Prowse was also at the November 15th premiere, and can be seen signing autographs in the footage. Also in attendance were Nick Adams, Paul Anka, Anette Funicello, Cesar Romero, Nick Adams, Judy Nugent, and Ronald & Nancy Reagan, amongst others.

G.I. Blues was also screened privately for military personnel before the film's national release eight days after the aforementioned premiere. A link to the footage is below, along with a link to the other videos featuring Elvis and Tom Parker that have been collected on the Producers' Library website.

https://producerslibrary.com/preview/CRV-0002_009

https://producerslibrary.com/search?all_words=Elvis+Presley+

















Elvis and Juliet Prowse in conversation at the Theatre Owners of America screening with (left-to-right) Kermit Karr, of Paramount-Gulf Theatres, Lamar Sarra, vice-president of Florida State Theatres, and Jim Harrison, general manager of Wilby-Kincey Theatres in Atlanta, Georgia.





Joseph Hazen's enthusiastic open letter to George Weltner, Paramount's worldwide sales chief, on the heels of the September 12th Theatre Owners of America screening of G.I. Blues.





The image below is a screen capture of the footage taken on Hollywood Boulevard in 1963, when Fun in Acapulco was screening at the Iris Theatre.




https://producerslibrary.com/preview/CRV-0012_009_002

It was a time.

Interesting, too, is I found this event was described in the press as a "military" premiere:

SCREEN : DRAMA MUSIC

By JERRY PAM, Editor

G.I. Blues Premiere

A gala military charity premiere of Hal Wallis' G. I. Blues, first Elvis Presley starring feature since he completed overseas duty with the 3rd Armored Division, was set for the Fox Wilshire theatre on Nov. 15th with entire proceeds to the Hemophilia Foundation.

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Elvis


A series of meetings held between principals representing the U. S. Army, Paramount Studios, Fox West Coast Theatres and the charity organization, blueprinted extensive participation by the military in the bright light, carpet event as well as saturation television and radio advance and premiere activity coverage.

Valley Times TODAY - Tuesday, November 1, 1960
https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/580344655/

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ELVIS PRESLEY appears in His first post-army film "G.l. Blues" having a military premiere tonight at the Fox Wilshire.

Valley Times TODAY - Tuesday, November 15, 1960
https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/580669184/

Don't believe there were any flyovers done that night, though.

_____


It also stuck me that these two marquees symbolize the upward and downward slant of both Elvis' post-army film career and the state of the country.

At the Fox Wilshire on 11-15-1960 (Tue), the premiere of "G.I. Blues," Elvis' first film in over two years, came exactly one week after 43 year-old Senator John F. Kennedy won the presidency. The "New Frontier" had begun, and America was filled with Kennedy's youthful appeal and optimism. Presley's Hollywood career seemed ready to hit another plateau.

"Fun In Acapulco" opened at the Iris Theatre on 11-27-1963 (Wed), less than a week after President Kennedy was killed in an ambush in Dallas. The country was reeling from the aftermath. Meanwhile, Elvis' movie output at this point -- "Acapulco" marked his 13th release, and 8th since "G.I. Blues" -- was on a steady decline in terms of box office and film quality.

All this in the space of three short years.

[Greystoke]

With regards to this being a "military premiere," according to the Hollywood Reporter, military personnel from the Desert Training Center were present that night.

[Greystoke]

A few more trade advertisements that might be of interest here.

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[drjohncarpenter]

With regards to this being a "military premiere," according to the Hollywood Reporter, military personnel from the Desert Training Center were present that night.

Those men and women must've been ushered into the Fox Wilshire before the stars pulled up.

[Greystoke]

Theatre owners certainly championed G.I. Blues to the hilt in 1960. Musical grandmas, indeed!

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[jurasic1968]

Too bad that Flaming Star was released only 2 months later, in December 1960. It was a failure at the box office. But the main reason was that the fans wanted Elvis singing, not acting. Same with Wild in the Country in 1961.

[jurasic1968]

Juliet Prowse was in 1960 Frank Sinatra's girlfriend. Elvis played with her a risky game on the set of GI Blues.

[mike edwards66]

Too bad that Flaming Star was released only 2 months later, in December 1960. It was a failure at the box office. But the main reason was that the fans wanted Elvis singing, not acting. Same with Wild in the Country in 1961.

Me too! I’ve said before I would gladly swap both for two more delicious musicals (and 20+ great recordings) in the style of Blue Hawaii and GI Blues.

Lots of nice stuff on this topic. Thanks.

[Mike Windgren]

Hi there!! .

My original invitation ticket for the special benefit screening on 11-15-1960 (8:30 PM) for the "Hemophelia Foundation", from the original "Norman Taurog" estate .

Wish I was there but I wasn´t even born yet.... . Bye for now .