ELVIS ON HIS SUCCESS

Q: Can you in your own words, Elvis, tell us why you think you are the big success that you are? Are there one or two things you can point out?

EP: Uh, nah, I don't, I can’t think of anything specific, just the great backing that I've had, the people, and my managers and my assistants and all that sort of stuff have really done a wonderful job. And Milton Berle, Steve Allen, the Dorsey brothers, RCA Victor, everybody's just been really helping me, you know.

Q: I heard the Democratic Party is trying to buy the Elvis Presley block of votes.

EP: (Laughs). Well, I'm afraid the biggest part of 'em would be kind of too young to vote.

Q: A DJ said he's pay you a dollar a minute for every minute he interviewed you on the air.

EP: That's one of the most untrue rumors I've ever heard yet. I've never even, in fact, it's the first time I've even thought of anything like that, when you mentioned it. But I think it's a good idea, so…(laughs)

Q: What you do, you do well, so I don't know why--

EP: I'll tell you like this, I was telling a reporter a little earlier today, there's people regardless of who you are or what you do, there's going to be people who don't like ya. There were people who didn't like Jesus Christ, they killed him, and Jesus Christ was a perfect man, you know. And there's going to be people who don't like you regardless of who you are and what you do. Because if everybody thought the same way, they'd be driving the same car, they'd be marrying the same woman and that wouldn't work out.

Q: Right. Do you think you’re any different then you were two years ago? A year ago?

EP: You mean as far as character is concerned, or what?

Q: As far as the way you feel now in comparison to when you were a nobody?

EP: Oh, I don’t feel a bit different. I’m just like I was. I mean in other words… ‘course I suppose everybody says this and a lot of people change, but actually I haven’t. I never even felt a change. The only thing I felt is happiness that things have gotten better for me. That God has blessed me and he has given me a lot of things that a lot of other people would like to have. I mean, that I would like to see other people have. In other words, I wish that everybody could have, you know, luxuries in life. But I guess that’s impossible.

Q: Has money changed you?

EP: No, it hasn’t changed me. Like I said earlier, it’s just that I can afford things I never would have gotten otherwise if I hadn’t gotten lucky in life, you know.

Q: What are some of the big things you’ve done with the money? Things you’ve always wanted to do and suddenly you have the money to do them with?

EP: Well. I have got a nice home, which I guess it’s a desire of everybody to have a nice home. And I got, you know, cars and everything that I always wanted. When I was small, I used to see cars, you know, real shiny cars and everything, and I said if I ever had any money I was going to get my fill of cars, you know?

Q: How many cars have you got now, Elvis?

EP: Eight.

Q: Are they all Cadillacs?

EP: No, sir, four of ‘ems is Cadillacs. One is a Lincoln Continental, and I got 3 little sports cars.

Q: I heard about the bad luck you had with the Lincoln over in Tampa. Is that true? Over in the garage?

EP: Oh that wasn't too bad. Some of the kids got my gas cap, and some of my cigarette lighters. But that was the fault of the garage.

Q: Someone said they got the hubcap, is that true?

EP: No that's not--

Q: Oh, I'm so glad. I could just see you buying four hubcaps for a Lincoln that would cost more than the car I drive.

EP: I think the Continental hubcaps are fifty dollars each. That's two hundred dollars for a set.

Q: What's this $350 hood ornament you were telling--

EP: Yes, the ornament on the Lincoln Continental is $350 'cause it's white gold plated.

Q: Do you mind me asking how much money you grossed last year?

EP: About a million, 200, 000 dollars

ELVIS ON HAVING FUN