Elvis Presley Trivia

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Mentioned in Walter Kirn's novel "Thumbsucker". (imdb.com)

Was a fan of Tony Curtis. (imdb.com)

One of his biggest hit songs, "Are You Lonesome Tonight?", was actually written in 1926 and first recorded by Al Jolson. (imdb.com)

Barbra Streisand originally wanted Elvis to play the role of John Norman Howard in A Star Is Born (1976), but the studio couldn't meet Tom Parker's demands ($1 million plus equal billing with Streisand). (imdb.com)

Ranked #2 on VH1's 100 Sexiest Artists. (imdb.com)

According to a broadcast on the A&E Biography channel, he once attended a concert for singer Connie Francis and had to leave for emotional reasons once he heard her sing the Italian song "Mama" as his mother had just recently died. (imdb.com)

Once claimed Robert Mitchum was the inspiration for his famous hairstyle. Presley met Mitchum to discuss the possibility of starring together in Thunder Road (1958), but unfortunately Tom Parker's demands for Presley's salary could not be met. (imdb.com)

Portrayed by actor Jason Alan Smith in the film Crazy (2007/I). (imdb.com)

His mansion, Graceland, is the 2nd most-visited house in America. The first is the White House. (imdb.com)

At the time of his death in 1977, he was the second biggest selling recording artist of all time, after Bing Crosby. (imdb.com)

Recorded 33 takes of Hound Dog. (imdb.com)

When Ed Sullivan finally allowed him to appear on "Toast of the Town" (1948), he was filmed from the waist upwards. (imdb.com)

Loved football and often had three televisons set up at Graceland to watch all of the games. (imdb.com)

At his meeting with President Richard Nixon in December 1970, Presley denounced The Beatles as "very anti-American" for openly using drugs and protesting the Vietnam War, and suggested that they should be banned from entering the United States. (imdb.com)

Spoofed in Eminem's music video "Without me" (imdb.com)

Is portrayed by 'Peter Dobson' in Forrest Gump (1994). (imdb.com)

In total, he has spent 2,574 weeks in both the UK singles and album charts, way ahead of his closest competitors, namely Cliff Richard (1,982), Queen (1,755), the Beatles (1,749), and Madonna (1,660). (imdb.com)

The last song he performed in public was "Can't Help Falling In Love". (imdb.com)

He was voted the 3rd Greatest Rock 'n' Roll Artist of all time by Rolling Stone. (imdb.com)

Elvis' body was placed in a family crypt in Memphis on 18 August 1977. On 29 August 1977, however, an attempt was made to steal the body but the plan failed and three men were charged with trespassing and released on bond. Because of this incident, Vernon Presley, received approval from the Memphis Adjustment Board to allow reinterment of the bodies of Elvis and his mother Gladys Presley to the Meditation Garden behind Graceland, which took place on 2 October 1977. (imdb.com)

Hal B. Wallis, producer of 8 Elvis films, dreamed of making a western starring John Wayne and Elvis. (imdb.com)

In Alexandria, Louisiana, early in 1977 a local journalist complained that the singer was on stage for less than an hour and "was impossible to understand." In Baton Rouge, Presley didn't go on stage at all. He was unable to get out of his hotel bed and the rest of the tour was canceled. (imdb.com)

Although his height was measured as 6' when he joined the army in 1958, photographs show Elvis was wearing his army boots at the time which may have slightly increased his height. (imdb.com)

He was seriously considered for the role of the Texas Ranger in _True Grit (1969)_ starring John Wayne. Unfortunately Tom Parker's demand that Presley should receive top billing could not be met, so the part went to Glen Campbell instead. (imdb.com)

In 2002, a re-mixed version of one his more obscure recordings, "A Little Less Conversation", became a dance club hit, and topped the charts in the United Kingdom. (imdb.com)

He used to play touch football at Whitehaven High School during the '60s and early '70s with kids around the neighborhood. (imdb.com)

In Sam Lovullo's book "Life in the Kornfield" (which recalled his years as producer of the country music TV series "Hee Haw" (1969)), he remarked that Elvis was a big fan of "Hee Haw" (1969) and had always wanted to perform on the show. However, according to Sam Lovullo, Elvis remarked they'd have to tape his spots in the middle of the night, knowing that if manager Tom Parker found out, he'd never clear his appearance. Several months after Elvis' death, his father, Vernon Presley, appeared on "Hee Haw" (1969) and spoke about how the world would always love him and remember his music. (imdb.com)

Elvis is credited as a co-writer of "(I'll) You'll )Be Gone" (1965).This was the B side of the hit from the film "Girl Happy" , "Do The Clam". It is found in his 5 CD box set of 60s recordings.Elvis composed the lyrics and he brought the song to a recording session of usual 60s soundtracks. (imdb.com)

Was extremely proud of his Cherokee roots. Wanted to be more open about it but was advised against it, according to some sources by Tom Parker, since this was around the time that there were still racial tensions in the US. Sometimes the audiences were "deceived with the truth" like in G.I. Blues (1960) when his character tells about his Cherokee background. In real life his Cherokee roots started with his maternal great-great-great grandmother Morning Dove White and it was even rumored in Memphis that he had Cherokee blood from his father's side of the family as well, though never confirmed. (imdb.com)

Shown on a 5.50 kr postage stamp issued by Sweden in 2004. (imdb.com)

He was considered for Ricky Nelson's role in Rio Bravo (1959) starring John Wayne and Dean Martin. However, by the time filming began in May 1958 Presley was stationed with the US army in Germany. (imdb.com)

Once gave a robe to Muhammad Ali which said 'The Peoples Champion'. (imdb.com)

Not one of Elvis' 31 feature films or either of his two music documentaries were nominated for a single Academy Award in any category. (imdb.com)

Passed out from exhaustion after recording If I Can Dream. (imdb.com)

Met President Lyndon Johnson at the White House in 1965. (imdb.com)

His song "Heartbreak Hotel" is based on a suicide note left in a Florida hotel suite. (imdb.com)

He is responsible for the best selling single of the 1950s ("Hound Dog/Don't Be Cruel", 1956) and that of the 1960s ("It's Now Or Never", 1960). (imdb.com)

Was voted best singer of all time by Q Magazine. (imdb.com)

Held the world indoor attendance record for a concert, which was at the Pontiac Silverdome in Detroit, on Dec' 31st '76. There was 62,500 in attendance, with another record for takings in a single show $850,000. (imdb.com)

He was the #1 touring act in America for 1977; the year he died. This, despite the fact that he was well below par and only toured until July, is quite an achievement. (imdb.com)

In 1962 he ceased almost completely to record non-soundtrack songs until his 1969 album "From Elvis in Memphis". (imdb.com)

Newspaper reports indicated that Sammy Davis Jr., Farrah Fawcett, Burt Reynolds and John Wayne were supposed to attend Presley's funeral, but they did not turn up. Ann-Margret, James Brown and George Hamilton were the only celebrities in attendance. (imdb.com)

Is portrayed by Val Kilmer in True Romance (1993). Like Presley, Kilmer also has Cherokee heritage. (imdb.com)

His home Graceland in Memphis is the second most popular private tourist attraction in the United States after the White House, and is estimated to bring in $150 million to the city itself each year. (imdb.com)

As a young man, Elvis idolized a gospel group called The Statesmen. According to Elvis' backup singer and lifelong friend Joe Moscheo, Elvis' leg-twitching dance moves were inspired by The Statesmen's bass singer, 'Big Chief' Wetherington, who was famous for his leg twitching. (imdb.com)

When he was in high school, he was on the Humes High School boxing team. (imdb.com)

Held a single day's attendance record for his march 74 shows at the Houston Astrodome in march '74 -- 89,000 fans for two shows. (imdb.com)

His favorite class in high school was wood shop. (imdb.com)

His favorite actors were Marlon Brando and James Dean, the latter Elvis considered an acting genius (in a 1956 interview). (imdb.com)

Was an Army veteran. He was drafted in 1958, stationed in West Germany and discharged in 1960. Presley, who achieved the rank of Private First Class, was a public relations headache for the Army, according to U.S. military documents released by the Pentagon on June 9, 2005. "Elvis Presley will not be released in a manner different from any other inductee serving overseas," the Army's adjutant general wrote to citizens who complained following reports that the rock 'n' roll icon would get an early "good behavior" discharge. When he entered the Army at Memphis, Tennessee, on March 24, 1958, there was a public outcry from his fans, and protests flowed to Washington, including a hand-written plea released by the National Archives and Records Administration. "Dear Mamie," one correspondent wrote to then-first lady Mamie Eisenhower. "Will you please, please be so sweet and kind as to ask Ike [President Dwight D. Eisenhower] to please bring Elvis Presley back to us from the Army" We need him in our entertainment world to make us all laugh." A 1959 Army memo set out the Presley problem: "When Private First Class Presley was first inducted, there was considerable adverse public reaction ... alleging that he would receive preferential treatment in the Army. This impression has been largely replaced by a public impression of a good soldier serving his military obligation. ... Many teenagers who look up to and emulate Private First Class Presley will ... follow his example in the performance of their military service." (imdb.com)