Elvis Presley Charity Shows: Memphis & Hawaii 1961

February 25, 1961 - Elvis appears in Memphis at a luncheon in his honour, and numerous recent awards Elvis has received are shown to the press and others attending. A press conference follows. 'Elvis Presley Day' is proclaimed by Tennessee Governor Buford Ellington. Every year after this, (and before) Elvis donates money to a list of Memphis-area charities, eventually reaching fifty or more, usually around Christmas time.

Within a few years, to show their appreciation the city gives him a massive plaque listing fifty charities.

Then, Elvis performs one afternoon show and one evening show at Ellis Auditorium.

The concerts benefit around thirty-eight Memphis-area charities. Other than the Frank Sinatra television show, these shows are, so far, Elvis' only live performances since his army discharge.

Comedian George Jessel hit the stage in an exaggerated salaam to the King of rock and roll at Elvis' evening performance at Ellis Auditorium Feb. 25, 1961

Elvis Presley Photos Salaam To The King Of Rock And Roll

Above, Comedian George Jessel hit the stage in an exaggerated salaam to the King of rock and roll at Elvis' evening performance at Ellis Auditorium Feb. 25, 1961. Jessel, the master of ceremonies, could not make it to the earlier matinee performance because of an airline strike. Elvis Presley Day began earlier with a luncheon honoring the singer at Hotel Claridge. More than $50,000 was raised for charity from the events.

Articles about Elvis Presley Elvis Presley Photos Colonel Elvis Presley at Tennessee State Legislature March 8, 1961
Elvis Presley Photos Frank Sinatra television show

Elvis Presley 25 February. Memphis, TN. Ellis Auditorium (2 shows)
Elvis Presley 25 February. Memphis, TN. Ellis Auditorium (2 shows)

Pearl Harbor Benefit. Mar. 25, 1960

Elvis and Colonel Parker bought 50 of these special seats and donated them to patients from Tripler Hospital in Hawaii. Elvis' benefit raised more than $52,000 for the memorial fund. On March 30, the Hawaii House of Representatives passed Special Resolution 105 thanking Elvis and the Colonel.

The benefit for the Arizona memorial could be considered a good career move in that it helped Elvis become more acceptable to an adult audience, but his career was not the only reason Elvis agreed to do the concert. He had a sensitive, generous nature, and throughout his entire life, Elvis gave freely to charities and other worthy causes, whether he received publicity for it or not.

Five years after this benefit, while in Hawaii filming Paradise, Hawaiian Style, Elvis visited the completed memorial and placed a wreath there. Photographers and reporters rushed in to record the event, but Elvis sent them away. He did not want his visit to the memorial to become a publicity stunt.

Elvis Presley 25 March. Honolulu, HI. Bloch Arena
Elvis Presley 25 March. Honolulu, HI. Bloch Arena

Elvis Presley Honolulu, Hawaii March 1961
Elvis Presley Honolulu, Hawaii March 1961

Elvis stayed in these hotels during his stays in Hawaii (Nov 1957 - March 1977):

Hilton Hawaiian Village Hotel - Waikiki Beach - Ohau
Ilikai Hotel (adjacent to the Hawaiian Village) - Waikiki Beach - Ohau
Coco Palms Resort (closed / devastated by Hurricane Iniki) Wailua - Kauai

1957: Hawaiian Village Hotel : Honolulu / Shofield Baracks concert
1961: Hawaiian Village Hotel : Bloch Arena concert / Blue Hawaii (scene) / Coco Palms Resort (movie finale)
1962: Hawaiian Village Hotel : Girls, Girls, Girls
1965: Ilikai Hotel: Paradise Hawaiian Style
1968: Ilikai Hotel: Vacation (May)
1969: Ilikai Hotel / Coco Palms Resort: Vacation (May)
1969: Hawaiian Village Hotel : vacation (Oct)
1972: Hawaiian Village Hotel : Concert / press conference
1973: Hawaiian Village Hotel : Aloha from Hawaii (arrival / rehearsals)
1977: Hawaiian Village Hotel : Vacation arrival / - entourage stayed at the Rainbow Tower
(Elvis and selected friends moved to his Kailua beach house afterwards)

January 1961

Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley Friday, January 6, 1961 | Elvis' 26 birthday party

February

Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley February 25, 1961 | Elvis Presley Day Proclaimed
Elvis Presley Photos Salaam To The King Of Rock And Roll (Same day as above)

March

Elvis Presley Photos Colonel Elvis Presley Tennessee State Legislature | March 8, 1961
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley Pearl Harbor Benefit | March 25, 1961
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley With Hal Wallis | Blue Hawaii | Paramount 1961

April

Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley with Indonesia's first President Kusno Soekarno

July

Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley Red West's Wedding to Elvis' Secretary Pat Boyd | July 1, 1961

Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley 525 Perugia Way in Los Angeles | 1961

The Movies Of 1961 In Photos

Elvis Presley Photos Inside Wild In The Country | On set & Location 1960 | 1
Elvis Presley Photos Inside Wild In The Country | On set & Location 1960 | 2 (With pat Boone)
Elvis Presley Photos
Inside Wild In The Country | On set & Location 1960 | 3
Elvis Presley Photos Inside Wild In The Country | On set & Location 1960 | 4
Elvis Presley Photos Blue Hawaii

The Movies Of 1961

Elvis Presleys Movies 1961, Wild In The Country, Twentieth Century Fox
Elvis Presleys Movies 1961, Blue Hawaii, Paramount

CDs | DVDs | Books

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Official Elvis Presley WebShop | CDs, DVDs, LP Records, Books, Elvis Memorabilia | ElvisPresleyShop.com

Elvis Presley Photos

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Elvis Presley Video Tupelo's Own Elvis Presley DVD

Never before have we seen an Elvis Presley concert from the 1950's with sound. Until Now! The DVD Contains recently discovered unreleased film of Elvis performing 6 songs, including Heartbreak Hotel and Don't Be Cruel, live in Tupelo Mississippi 1956. Included we see a live performance of the elusive Long Tall Sally seen here for the first time ever. + Plus Bonus DVD Audio.

This is an excellent release no fan should be without it.

The 'parade' footage is good to see as it puts you in the right context with color and b&w footage. The interviews of Elvis' Parents are well worth hearing too. The afternoon show footage is wonderful and electrifying : Here is Elvis in his prime rocking and rolling in front of 11.000 people. Highly recommended.

Tupelo's Own Elvis Presley DVD Video with Sound.