Elvis, who spoke of his twin throughout his life, grew up an only child in a poor family. Only three people were. Ginger Alden's first book, Elvis and Ginger: Elvis Presley's Fiance and Last Love Finally Tells Her Story , was published in 2015. I understood her feelings and appreciated notes she wrote to me.". As for stories that the Enquirer reporters riled reporters from other publications because they had papered the town by buying up exclusive rights to peoples stories--Calder said simply, If the sheer force of money can give you what people want to read, you give them what they want.. We were going, going, going. Alden was reportedly the last person to see him alive, and she still has fond memories of her short time with The King. The book promises a whole new take on the public's general . (The Memphis Commercial Appeals editorial on his passing noted that if he kept late hours, he also kept the peace.) After nightfall, he took one of his Stutz-Bearcats out for a drive through Memphis. As West noted: The whole point of the book was to embarrass (Elvis), to try to make him come to his senses. Explained Esposito, who today lives in Sherman Oaks and manages singer Karen Kamon, the Los Angeles group Charm School and record producer Davy Johnstone (Elton Johns lead guitarist): The thing about the drugs is that everyone around Elvis took pills, too. Editors picks Ginger Alden was born in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1956. May you rest in peace Lisa. Why Do Cross Country Runners Have Skinny Legs? Do Men Still Wear Button Holes At Weddings? . Presley became close to both parents and formed an especially close bond with his mother. Recalled Elliott: She called and said, Weve just gotten Elvis Presley in respiratory distress--and it doesnt look good., Well, that floored me. THE KING OF ROCK N ROLL LIVES ON--TEN YEARS AFTER HIS TRAGIC DEATH--National Enquirer. Elvis Presley enjoyed a whirlwind romance with actor Ann-Margret from 1963 to 1964. Did Ginger Alden Attend Elvis Funeral. 20 2019, Updated 1:42 p.m. I felt enough had been said. A run on sales of Elvis records. Here is a rarely seen interview with Ginger Alden, discussing her relationship with Elvis and the circumstances surrounding his death. On the night of January 26, 1977, just two months after they met, Elvis proposed to her at Graceland. Nobody wanted to delve into the seedier side., Brown--who would later work for the National Enquirer as its Elvis expert, and who these days writes about celebrities for books and newspapers (including The Times)--added: To this day, I keep thinking, If only wed all asked more questions. . Those are the things I like to remember. How Can We Protect Against Galvanic Corrosion? Of Elvis problems with drugs, Klein stressed, They were prescription drugs--not illicit drugs., Not that he didnt have colorful exploits with Elvis. Here's the full interview as first printed in Good Housekeeping, January 1978. Kennedy--who everyone assumed had come to pay her familys respects--was admitted to Graceland by Elvis friend and Memphis disc jockey George Klein. People come around the same time and theyre all there.. Elvis Presley, was still wearing her 11 1/2-carat diamond engagement ring as she recalled the final hours of the singer's life. He sent it over in his limo. Im going to the bathroom to read. Those were the words Elvis Presley said to his fiancee, Ginger Alden, early in the morning of August 16, 1977, at his Memphis mansion, Graceland. Yet, Ginger still has an enormous diamond ring to prove he planned to marry her. Ginger and Elvis and ed Parker. But the infamous musician was engaged to Ginger Alden before his death. . The police were called in. Charlie Hodge, Elvis longtime guitarist, kept a brush handy. One former National Enquirer reporter, who played a part in that papers acquisition of the famed last picture of Elvis in his coffin, remembered: As a war correspondent, I had covered the war in Bangladesh and two wars in the Middle East and a revolution in Ethiopia. Elvis just dropped dead, out of the blue. In an interview Sylvester Stallone was asked if he and Elvis Presley ever met. In 1976, she left Presley as Elvis began dating Mindi Miller from 1975 to 1976 and then Ginger Alden, his last serious girlfriend and the person who found his unresponsive body on the day he died. And both West and Hebler appeared at a press conference on the day after Elvis death. According to Burk, hed figured his reporting of the death was finished. Red West remembers tuning into a Geraldo Rivera report on Good Morning America the morning after Elvis death and hearing Elvis: What Happened? branded a lie. So we kept telling reporters that he was in respiratory distress--and we were working with him.. [Signed by Elvis A. Presley] ELVIS A. PRESLEY The foregoing instrument, consisting of this . Other reporters were the enemy--and they were ruthless without using bullets.. Alden reportedly had a contentious relationship with the Presley family following his death. Ginger Alden and Elvis at Grandpa's funeral. . Like Bill E. Burk, reporter/columnist with the now-defunct Memphis Press-Scimitar. Related Ginger Alden who was Elvis current girlfriend at the time of his death is selling her engagement ring which Elvis gave her. There is no doubt that with Elvis' death rock n roll music died and the world would never be the same again. The bell rang, and I opened the door and said, Caroline, come on in. She never let on that she was free-lance writing for Rolling Stone., Added Klein, That was a cheap-shot way to get a story.. "It's not always easy knowing all/what to say in moments sometimes but here goes," she wrote on Facebook. We want to hear it. ", "My time with Lisa Marie was unique for me and special," added Alden, who had been 19 when she first started dating Elvis in November 1976. I think about her a lot., Joe Esposito wondered if the reporter was going to mention what a great friend Elvis was. Said Esposito, For all the things that have been said and written about him--and it seems as if thereve been a lot of negative things--what about the fact that he was a good friend. Charlie Crosby and Ulysses S. Jones Jr. jumped into Unit No. Everyone knows Elvis Presleys relationship with Priscilla Presley. After all, pictures are run of dead prime ministers and Popes and national heroes. Then he just got in his car and headed for Memphis. No one expected it. Elvis wouldve kicked my rear end if I hadnt., Elvis death brought together the members of Elvis inner circle--known as the Memphis Mafia. Said Hodge: We all just sort of assumed certain duties. The 73-year-old grandmother is planning her own funeral and has secretly . Alden did not discuss the day Elvis died, but did say that contrary to what has been written about his final days . She says that they were happily and excitedly discussing wedding plans on the very night he died. One year after the funeral, Vernon recalled a conversation he shared with Ann-Margret in an article forGood Housekeepingin 1978. One of the many mourners was Ann-Margret, a Swedish-American actress who was once one of Elvis Presleys former lovers. Except when it came to what you hear on those records. Home | About | Contact | Copyright | Privacy | Cookie Policy | Terms & Conditions | Sitemap. As it turned out, Elvis death generated more than tributes. The city of Memphis, which also gave the world Holiday Inns, once again if only for 48 hours or so became the spiritual headquarters of rock & roll. Along with its last photo of Elvis, the Enquirer snared the last photo of Elvis alive, which happened to be snapped by a fans $20.95 Instamatic outside Graceland at 12:28 a.m. on Aug. 16. said that someone was having trouble breathing at Graceland. The job escalated each time Elvis Presley checked in. Among the stories that appeared across the country in the days following his death were those about: Obsessed fans. During the funeral, Vernon reportedly welcomed more than 30,000 people from the entranceway of Graceland to allow people to pay their respects. And we werent going to be out for two weeks. According to CelebrityNetWorth, Elvis Presley had a net worth of $20million (15million) at the time of his death but technically his net worth was only $5million (3.5million), before adjusting for inflation. Calder is insistent: It was a terrific news photo at the time. The hospital called Vernon Presley to tell him that his son was dead. Talking about his wife, Ginger Alden is 5 feet 9 inches (1.75 m) tall and has a body weight of around 71 Kg (156 lbs).7. Alden wrote a memoir in 2014 entitled Elvis and Ginger. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Apparently, Elvis did indeed watch the film with some friends. Grieve Hard', Priscilla Presley: Revisiting Elvis' Final Days, Drug Abuse in New Documentary Was 'Difficult', Priscilla Presley Remembers Elvis' Allure on the 40th Anniversary of His Death: 'I Used to Wake Up Staring at Him', Celeb Quotes of the Day: Mila Kunis, Amber Rose & More, Priscilla and Lisa Marie Presley Lead Elvis Fans in Candlelight Vigil at Graceland on 40th Anniversary of His Death, Elvis Presley's Graceland: 10 Things You Didn't Know About the Legendary Home, Celeb Quotes of the Day: Christina Aguilera, Serena Williams & More, Priscilla & Lisa Marie Presley Attend Vigil 35 Years After Elvis's Death, A Strange Kennedy Connection to Truman Capote's Ashes: From a Bel Air Halloween Bash to Marilyn Monroe's Crypt. Elvis used Ginger's white Lincoln Continental during this 24 hour visit. Read the book the world is talking about, screamed the headlines. . There were so many times like that, so many great things Elvis did. He was just sitting there, outside the gates, with a days worth of beard, and this strange look on his face. . Subscribe to our newsletter for new stories, tips & events. After Elvis Presley died in 1977, his ex-wife, Priscilla Presley, didn't want his girlfriend, Linda Thompson, to accompany her on the plane to his funeral. The world lost the King of Rock 40 years ago last August, and now his longtime queen is opening up about the day she said goodbye. It turned out hed told his boss hed see him in a few days. She didnt have any legs--only these stumps which she had to drag herself around on. Equally puzzling (and still the subject of story after story) was the Elvis phenomenon. Previously, he served as a Music Editor at PEOPLE and VH1.com. Elvis was crouched over.His face dark and bloated. The procession headed to Forest Hill Cemetery, where Elvis beloved mother Gladys who died a premature death when the singer was a young man was interred. The last record that Elvis ever played is still in the record player and theres even a styrofoam cup remaining on the bookshelf. People were crying, said Elliott, and then Joe Esposito made the point that everyone should pull themselves together, so that when they left the hospital no one could see them like this.. Burt Reynolds, Ann-Margaret, John Wayne and Roger Smith attended the private funeral service. The last long-term relationship that Elvis Presley had was with Ginger Alden. When Elvis died in 1977, he was interred in a crypt in Forest Hills Mausoleum. Ginger Alden is 5 feet 9 inches (1.75 m) tall and has a body weight of around 71 Kg (156 lbs). "I grew to care deeply for her and felt the same from her.". Time magazine went with LAST STOP ON THE MYSTERY TRAIN. (Nearly two and a half years later, in January of 1980, Nichopoulos would be charged with overprescribing drugs. He was ordinary in so many ways. Did Ginger Alden go to Elvis funeral? Officially, Elvis death--at age 42--was attributed to cardiac arrhythmia brought on by an irregular heartbeat caused by undetermined causes., In initial interviews, Elvis personal physician, Dr. George Nichopoulos, denied any drug problems. He began recalling the events of the funeral, Because I was dazed with shock and misery, I didnt see or recognize some of the people at the funeral. He added, Ann-Margret and I hugged each other and cried together, but I didnt even see her husband, Roger Smith, who was close by.. It's a site that collects all the most frequently asked questions and answers, so you don't have to spend hours on searching anywhere else. Elvis Presley, was still wearing her 11 1/2-carat diamond engagement ring as she recalled the final hours of the singer's life. Soon, they were in a relationship, which continued till Presely's death in 1977. Like the Memphis woman whose house included an Elvis shrine, complete with stained glass portrait of Elvis and a red velvet altar. He was hospitalized four times, from 1973 prior to his death. the Little Dipper, the Fender Bender and the parks 11 other rides. So, when he died, I guess you could say we also protected him. Instant Elvis exploitation. There are portions of that talk that Ive never printed--and I never will.. The beneficiaries of the trust were Vernon, Elvis grandmother Minnie Mae Presley, and his nine-year-old daughter Lisa Marie Presley. How did Elvis mom die? Alden was reportedly the last person to see him alive, and she still has fond memories of her short time with The King. In the hours that followed, Kendall was faced with locating a copper casket similar to that which had been used for Elvis mother (there was no such coffin in Memphis, so one was flown in from Oklahoma City) and rounding up a fleet of 17 white Cadillac limousines (there were only three in Memphis). A decade ago, however, not all of Elvis associates would talk for the record. So had actor George Hamilton. Likewise, there is no information available regarding Ron's physical appearance. And since then,. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Stallone said that in 1976 after Rocky was released, Elvis contacted him and asked him to visit Graceland and a bring a copy of the film with him. Elvis Presley: Funeral in Memphis, Page 1 of 3. Then suddenly, he wasnt., So West opted not to talk. That was one of the things about the dude. The thing is, the Elvis I knew in high school, and 15 years into his singing and acting careers, wasnt the same Elvis I knew at the end. THE KING OF ROCK KEEPS ON ROLLIN--People magazine. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2012-2023 On Secret Hunt - All Rights Reserved Id gotten accustomed to Elvis Presley coming into the hospital and, well, checking out again. I was still shocked. heart failure Gladys Presley was only 46 when she died, after being hospitalized with hepatitis in 1958, when Elvis was undergoing basic training at Fort Hood, Texas, after being drafted into the Army. It was like we were defectors--nobody wanted to believe what we had to say, said West, who now makes his living as a character actor in Hollywood. You really do go for the untold story. Also, remember, we were competing with major daily newspapers and TV newscasts in the country. On August 7th, Elvis had rented Libertyland, a local amusement park, from midnight till dawn. Did Priscilla go to Elvis funeral? 3. Well, we were all impressed. We took uppers to stay awake and sleeping pills to get to sleep. Contents What celebrities were at Elvis funeral? But he reads everything he finds about Lisa Marie, now 19. The hundreds of reporters fought for rental cars and hotel rooms (and rooms rented out by Memphians who took advantage of the onslaught). Did Ginger Alden sell her engagement ring from Elvis? TimesMojo is a social question-and-answer website where you can get all the answers to your questions. The alleged plot to steal Elvis body. . These days, Alden stays out of the public eye as much as she can. Before his death, Elvis Presley was engaged to his soon-to-be-bride Ginger Alden for seven months. Elvis had the Presidential Suite. Because of his longtime tenure with Elvis, and because Esposito was initially credited with finding the body (reports would later clarify that it was fiancee Ginger Alden who first made the discovery), he had dozens of requests for interviews. On occasion, one would reach out to touch his face and caress his dark hair. Her autobiography mentions an uncomfortable moment during her engagement to Elvis. There were so many reporters, you couldnt get a story, said a reporter who covered the death for the Gannett newspaper chain. His stays came complete with entourage, girlfriends and orders to tin-foil the windows so that he could sleep during the daytime hours. Still others have penned their own memoirs. But no one was more devastated than his girlfriend, Ginger Alden. Enquirer editor-president Iain Calder wouldnt comment: How would anybody know those things? When Elvis returned from Germany and was no longer in the service, our family was invited, by an uncle of Elvis', to join Elvis and a group at the local fairground. And everyone wanted it.. But I do regret that Elvis is dead--Ill always regret that. He also happened to be on Today Wednesday morning and shared his memories of the day the music died. . Learning that Thompson had tried to reach him, he promptly called her back on the dentists phone, never thinking wed be talking for an hour and 40 minutes., He surmised: I think I was a shoulder to cry on. His daughter and his companion, a local woman named Ginger Alden, and about 15 friends spent the night riding Caseys Cannonball. Can you imagine what all went on? Why isnt Elvis buried next to his mother? Some went to startling lengths to get the truth. Like the National Enquirer writer who faked a toothache (which was ridiculous, since Ive always had perfect teeth) in order to get an emergency appointment with the dentist Elvis had visited the last night of his life. How much did Lisa Marie inherit from . Although Elvis Presley's final partner Ginger Alden has chosen to more or less remain out of the spotlight since her fiance's death in 1977, she made big headlines in recent years upon the release . Clad only in blue top and yellow pyjama bottom. 4. So we had to get something no one else had. Submitted by, George Vreeland Hill. Though you really dont know. The tentative ruling was heart failure, but the autopsy was expected to continue for at least a week. But the infamous musician was engaged to Ginger Alden before his death. Three men captured in a stakeout near Elvis tomb were accused of attempting to steal Elvis body and hold it for ransom. 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