Jackie Kahane: Reflections on working with Elvis
Jackie Kahane: Reflections on working with Elvis
I was the comedian with Elvis Presley for seven years. Colonel Parker, his manager gave me a lifetime contract with Elvis. This was all in a handshake. You didn't need a contract with Colonel.
Elvis and I had our private little jokes. I would tease him that Southerners didn't pronounce their 'L's' They would. say 'hep me' and I'd say to Elvis, 'Evis hep me'. In fact his father Vernon called him Evis.
It was a most unusual group. It was a family.
We had out little arguments as most families do, but there was a great affection between us.
In all the time I was with him, I never had a cross word with Elvis. I did have one confrontation with Colonel. He hated to have his picture taken, I had gotten a new camera and was taking a picture of the plane, the Lisa Marie, and I didn't see Colonel sitting on the stairs of the plane. He called me over to him and in very vulgar terms told me off. I stood my ground, yelled right back at him and finally said, 'Remember I can get another job, you can't'. With that we both broke into laughter, shook hands and never had a bad word after that.
The two accomplishments I'm most proud of are:
- Being voted one of the ten best comedians of the decade by Time Magazine, and
- Being asked by Colonel Parker to deliver the eulogy at Elvis' funeral, which was written by Barry W. Adelman and me.
It was a great ride!
Elvis Presley and Jackie Kahane.
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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.
