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Location
– Fort Dix, New Jersey
Interviewer
– Unknown
Elvis, if I may ask you just a few questions: would you like to
spend more time in the Army?
Would
I like to spend more time in the Army. Like I said, I was anxious to
get back to show business. I’ll answer that by saying I’m glad I
served the two years and that it worked out as well as it did, but
I’m very happy to get back into what I was doing.
There’s a rumour floating about, Elvis, that you plan to get married
soon. Is that true?
No,
sir. I don’t expect to be a bachelor, sir, I just… I think it’s all
according to the individual when they want to get married. I’ll know
when I want to.
In
other words, it’s just a rumour. You haven’t set a date.
I
haven’t set a date, I haven’t found anyone yet that I wanna marry.
But when I do, it doesn’t make any difference if I’m twenty-five or
forty-five or seventy.
Very good. What do you think the Army has done for you, Elvis?
I
think I have a little better understanding of life, I met a lot of
friends, like I said. I just think it’s been a big help in many
ways.
Do
you have any immediate plans?
Go
home for a while and then I’ll be makin’ some records. And then I’ll
be doing the television show with Frank Sinatra for ABC, then the
picture G.I. Blues for Mr. (Hal) Wallis, then after that, two
pictures for Twentieth Century-Fox.
Now that you’re about to be discharged from the Army, Elvis, have
two years of sobering Army life changed your mind about rock and
roll?
Sobering Army life? No, it hasn’t. It hasn’t changed my mind because
I was in tanks for a long time, and they rock and roll quite a bit.
Elvis, you have some screaming fans out there. Do you still like
screaming girls?
(Laughs). If it wasn’t for them, I’d have to re-up in the Army, sir,
I’ll tell ya.
Elvis, there’s a report that you liked the Army so much that you
wanted to write a book about it. Did you ever think of reenlisting?
(Laughs). No, sir, I never thought of (laughs)… I never thought of
reenlisting, but maybe someday I will write a book about my
experiences in the Army, you know.
Elvis, are you glad to be getting back to normal, or don’t you think
your life could ever be normal?
Sir,
if my life turns normal, I’ll have to start drivin’ a truck again
(laughs).
Elvis, do you feel that you’re a little old for the teenagers now?
That’s the first time I’ve been asked that one (laughs). I don’t
know. I don’t feel too old. I can still move around pretty good.
Are you apprehensive about what must be a comeback?
Yes,
I am. I mean, I have my doubts. I’m not gonna commit myself in
saying I’m gonna do this or I’m gonna do that because I don’t know,
actually. The only thing I can say is that I’m gonna try. I’ll be in
there fighting.
A
woman said in an interview that you were the sexiest man she’d ever
seen. What’s your reaction to that?
(Whistles). Are we on television?
What can you tell us about the two girls, one on each arm?
They’re both female, sir. That’s all I have to tell you.
Did you meet any Russian girls over there?
No,
sir. I beg your pardon, I believe I met one Russian girl.
What did she look like?
Pretty shapely, I mean (laughs). No movie magazines, though.
You look a little thin. What’s your weight now?
I’m
down to one hundred and seventy pounds and want to stay about that
weight. I weighed one eighty-two when I went in. Guess it was the
Army life and it’s not a bad life.
What have you missed most about being away from Memphis?
Everything! I mean that. Everything.
What’s the first thing you want to do?
I
want to get home, and I may stay right at home for a couple of days.
Then I want to get around and meet some of the old gang. It’s been
nearly two years since I’ve seen any of them. That’s a long time.
Are you anxious to get out of the Army uniform?
No. I
don’t have to be wearing it now. I sorta like this uniform (looking
at his wristwatch). I’ve been out of the Army forty-two hours now.
Yeah, forty-two hours.
(Regarding a German tailor who mistakenly added four stripes –
indicating a staff sergeant – when three would have been proper for
a sergeant, Presley’s rank upon discharge). I’ll probably get put in
jail about
that.
It was a taylor’s mistake in Germany. We had a rush job on it the
last day I was there. I called and told him to sew on sergeant’s
stripes, and he added a fourth stripe.
Do
you plan to take off the bottom stripe?
I
haven’t thought much of it. I don’t suppose they would send me to
jail for having it.
Since you didn’t make any personal appearances while in the service,
have you kept up with your singing?
I
sure have. I had plenty of time for it when I was off duty. I would
play records and sing. I guess I got in more singing that I would if
I had been working on it.
What are your plans for the movies?
Well,
my ambition is to develop as an actor. I am looking forward in some
ways to the Frank Sinatra show. It will be my first appearance on TV
in over two years. I know I will have butterflies when I go on. I’ve
been gone a long time… a long time.
It’s been reported that you have stated that you want to pattern
your movie career after Frank Sinatra. Is that true?
I
have great respect for Mr. Sinatra as an actor. However, I’ve never
made that statement, that I want to pattern my career after Mr.
Sinatra. I want to do it my own way, but it will take time and
experience.
Do
you plan to wiggle your hips when you return to singing?
I’m
gonna sing and I’ll let the shaking come naturally. If I had to
stand still and sing I’d be lost. I can’t get any feeling that way.
Any special plans for romance when you get home?
I
don’t know who I’ll go with in Memphis. I’ve been gone a long time.
I guess I’ll just let nature take its course. Eighteen months out of
this country is a long time. It has been a good experience in many
ways. I have learned quite a bit. But I’m glad to be back. I really
don’t know what’s ahead. I’m not exactly worried, but I’m not sure
of myself either.
Source
– Elvis Army Interviews (CD) and From Introduction to
Demob (video) |
