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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.
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.
Colonel Elvis Presley at Tennessee State Legislature March 8, 1961
Frank Sinatra television show
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 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)
Sergeant Elvis Presley Back in the USA - March 3, 5, 6 and 7, 1960
| Stop, look and listen baby that's our philosophy .... First thing in the morning, last thing at night ... look, stare everywhere and see everything inside .... Stop, look and listen!
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