Posted August 16th, 2020 - Updated January 8, 2025
My First Celebrity Interview
I am often asked who my first interview was. I always chuckle to myself as I answer, “Col. Tom Parker.”
Here’s the story:
Mom and Dad raised me listening to Elvis Presley. The first records I ever owned were hand-me-downs 45 rpm records from my mom that consisted of “Were My Ring Around Your Neck”, Dontcha Think It’s Time”, and “Blue Christmas”, and “It’s Christmas Time”. I have those records safely stored and will never sell them. The first movies I ever was taken to as a kid were Elvis movies but I don’t remember which ones they were. I just know that he was cool, got in fights, won, and always got the 
Fan Photo Of Elvis Arriving In Phoenixgirl. Even at a pre-school age I knew that those were important accomplishments. The first albums I bought on my own were “Let’s Be Friends”, “Flaming Star”, “On Stage”, and a little later, “Aloha From Hawaii”.
Shortly after watching the “Aloha From Hawaii” broadcast on TV, I learned that Elvis was coming to town (Phoenix, Arizona).
I’ll stop right her to give you a little more context to what led to me meeting the Colonel.
My mom had my sister and I in church every time the church doors were open. My sister and I weren’t allowed to do much on Sundays because we were supposed to “keep it holy”. It was also supposed to be a day of rest.
Fan Photo of Elvis On Stage In PhoenixSo, with that as a backdrop, when I learned that Elvis was coming to town, I was excited beyond my teenaged ability (I was thirteen at the time) to contain myself. Then I saw when the show was taking place: April 22nd (1973).
A Sunday.
Not just any Sunday but . . . Easter Sunday.
I had never attended a concert before. And though my mom adored Elvis, I knew there was NO WAY my mom would allow me to attend the concert. I mean NO. FREAKING. WAY! Still, I asked, knowing what the answer was going to be. I mean, after all, what would the people at church think and say? We might even be run out of the church if she allowed me to go. But, still, I asked.
I was wrong.
She said I could go under two conditions. One, I still had to go to church Sunday morning and Sunday night (the concert was being held in the afternoon). Two, I had to by the ticket myself.
Fan Photo of Elvis On Stage In Phoenix
Huh? Mom said I could go?
I bought the ticket and as soon as church was over that Easter Sunday, Mom drove me to Veterans Memorial Colosseum . . . two hours before the start of the show. The photos on the right are of the incomplete report I wrote for a school project. It memorializes the events that day better than I remember them. The short version of it all is that is where I met the Colonel and asked him three short questions.
That night, I wasn’t met with derision by my fellow church goers. In fact, they acted a little envious. We didn’t get run out of church, either. In fact, the only “problem” (if you want to call it that) I encountered was my friends at school laughing at me because they didn’t think Elvis was cool.
All these years later, I still think about that momentous event. What it took for my mom to allow me to go to the show in the face of possible criticism from our small congregation. I actually got to see ELVIS! I still can’t believe it. And though I don’t know for sure if that influenced me thirty-six years later to launch Boomerocity (which I did in 2009), I kinda think it did.
What do you think?
R.I.P., Mom . . . and tell Elvis I said “Hi”.
Note: The following is a transcription of the handwritten interview that is shown in the five photos on this page. I'm also including photos of that concert that were taken by other fans who were there. I hope you enjoy all of this and do please feel free to share!
Elvis In Concert
April 22, 1973
Veterans Memorial Coliseum
Phoenix, Arizona
I arrived at the Coliseum about two hours before the show began. I was lucky enough to get in line. I was in a midst of wide eyed, excited, fans talking about the time they saw him (in) Las Vegas, on a train, in a car, or other times in the far past.
Among all of that you would hear sales boys yelling “Elvis Presley Photo Album. 20 pictures for $2.00”
All of a sudden people are saying “I’ll take one!” All of a sudden, doors flung open, and lines were formed. As we entered, I saw sales stands selling photo albums $2.00; a semi-large poster for $1.00; giant poster for $2.00; small aluminum flashbacks of his concert in Hawaii for $2.00; giant size for $5.00; plastic binoculars for $2.50. After I looked around up top at the exhibits, I went to hunt for my seat. After I sat in disgust in my rotten $7.50 seat, I went to the stage to watch them set up the equipment. While I was there, I saw Colonel Parker, Elvis’ manager.
I went up and asked 3 brief questions:
Q1.Does Elvis spend a lot of time in Memphis?
Answer: “Yes. Lots of time.” In a strange accent.
Q2. “Where will he perform next?”
Answer “Anaheim.”
Q3 “Could you please sign the Photo Album?”
Answer “We don’t sign anything till after the show.”
Then he left to go backstage, and I went to my seat.
(Randy’s Note: I distinctly recall my last question being if I could go backstage to meet Elvis as my last question. The Colonel’s answer: “No” I don’t know why – other than being embarrassed to admit being turned down – why I didn’t include that question in the original report.).
I went back to my seat and waited for the show to begin.
Then all the lights went out except the four spot lights. The announcer said, “Ladies and gentlemen, The Sweet Inspirations!”
The three female black group came on stage and sang some melodies. Then a so-called comedian by the name of Jackie Cohane (sp – actually spelled Kahane, born in Narajow, Galicia or known today as Ukraine), he came and cracked some sorry jokes.
Then the announcer said, “Ladies and gentlemen, it’s time for intermission.” He announced the things for posters, photo albums, and binoculars. Then the announcer said that we had about 2 minutes to buy what we wanted then the show would begin.
Then 2 minutes seemed like 2 hours. Then the eerie piano rumble began as the trumpeters stood up and slipped in the theme song of “2001 A Space Odessy” (sp). Then all of a sudden the drum started to roll and the group strode into playing “See, See, Rider” (shown with the punctuation that I used at the time). He (Elvis) picked up his black guitar with his name written on the neck of his guitar in silver.
The whole coloseum (sp) was like a giant strobe light from the flash bulbs from cameras.
He (Elvis) puts up his guitar and starts singing “Love Me Tender”. While he was singing, he threw one of his 3 foot long silk scarfs. Man, they (the fans) fought like tigers over it.
After that I walk (sp) a to the stage a few times but got turned back by guards.
Elvis was in a real good mood. During the show he would crack jokes. He would bend real low and say “Man, this belt is cuttin’ off my circulation!” Once while about to sing “Hound Dog”, he would sing the beginning real slow three times in a row. The girls above him would scream, he would put his hands on his hips and say “Now hold it, you don’t (know) what I’m going to do yet.”
I went above the stage so I could see better. He started singing “You Gave Me A Mountain.” Right after he sang that, I was asked to go back to my seat.
Elvis then started to sing “You don’t have to say you love Me” (punctuation and caps that I used at the time. Don’t hate me).
After that he said “Since its Easter I would like to sing this song especially for you. He then started singing “How Great Thou Art”.
He then glided into “American Trilogy”. At the end of it he got about a 2 minute long standing ovation. I made my way to the side of the stage while he sang “Fever”. While he was singing this (the) girls were screaming. There were three girls behind me looking at him through binoculars saying “You can even see the sweat!”
Dumb idiots you could see the sweat without the binoculars. Then he started to sing “Suspicious Minds along with gyrations, karate spasms, knee drops, squatting, bending, and scarf throwing.
Then Elvis said “Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to introduce the members of my group, first of all, the Stamps Quartet, the Sweet Inspirations, the Lit’l girl with (the) beautiful high voice, Kathy Westmoreland, on the lead guitar James Burden (Burton), on the rythym (sp) guitar John Wilkerson, on the drums is Ronnie Tut(t), on the Fender bass is Jerry Shift (Scheff. Sorry Jerry), on the Piano is Glenn Hardin, the guy who gives me my guitar, water, scarfs, and sings harmony with me, his name is Charlie Hodge.
Our conductor ladies and Gentlemen Joe Frashell (Guercio), the Joe Frashell (Guercio) Orchestra.
Then he sang “Big Hunk o’ love” which brought screams from the crowd.
Then for the last song he sang “Can’t help falling in love”. After he finished he took bows ran off stage shook hands dived into his limousine and took off.
After the concert I hung around , then called for my ride home.
My Original Handwritten School Report On The Elvis Concert
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