'On the 34th anniversary of Elvis Presley’s death of August 16, 1977, hundreds of thousands of fans are visiting his Graceland estate to pay their respect. Here are some little known facts and rare trivia regarding the entertainer’s connection to San Antonio.
The term, “Elvis has left the building,” was used for the first time at the end of his San Antonio concert in April 1972 at Hemisfair Arena.
Elvis performed in San Antonio nine times. Every show was sold out.
- January 15, 1956, 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. Municipal Auditorium
- April 15, 1956, 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. Municipal Auditorium
- October 14, 1956 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. Joe Freeman Coliseum (also known as Bexar County Coliseum at the time)
- April 18, 1972, 8:30 p.m. Hemisfair Arena
- October 8, 1974, 8:30 p.m. Hemisfair Arena
- August 27, 1976, 8:30 p.m. Hemisfair Arena
In August 2008, the highest price ever paid for a piece of Elvis memorabilia was the costume he wore for the 1974 San Antonio concert. Known as his favorite costume, the “Peacock Jumpsuit” was purchased by an unidentified “big Elvis collector” for $300,000. Elvis paid $10,000 to designer Bill Belew for the jumpsuit in 1974.
Elvis, or one of his bodyguards, found a bugging device in the limo taking him to the Hilton Palacio Del Rio hotel for his April 1972 concert. Later they discovered it was a hidden microphone recording dialogue for the movie “Elvis On Tour.” Cinema Associates, an independent film company from North Hollywood was filming during his San Antonio performance.
Elvis autographed the hood of a 1957 Chevrolet with spray paint for a local charity in 1974. After months of selling tickets for a chance to win the classic car, it was given away during a Flash Cadillac and The Continental Kids concert at the San Antonio Convention Center.
The Hard Rock Hotel on the San Antonio River Walk displays Elvis’s Karate Gi and a photo of the King wearing it.
Elvis and his manager, Colonel Tom Parker, had an argument in the hallway of the Hilton hotel heard by at least one police officer assigned to security. Down below, San Antonio celebrated the city’s annual Fiesta party on the Riverwalk in April 1972.
Glenn Hartman, a popular San Antonio television weatherman, and city council member, presented an official proclamation announcing August 12, 1976 as “Elvis Presley Day” to Presley officials behind stage before the concert.
The 1972 hit, “Burning Love,” was introduced publically for the first time in San Antonio during Elvis’s April performance weeks before it was released. It was so new, that Elvis required a print out to begin singing the lyrics. You can see this in the movie “Elvis On Tour.”
The man who directed Elvis’s dancing for the movie Jailhouse Rock (1957) was born in San Antonio. Alex Romero (Quiroga), who died at age 94 in 2007, was also responsible for Elvis’s choreography in Double Trouble and Clambake (both 1967) and Speedway (1968).'
www.examiner.com/headlines-in-san-antonio/little-known-facts-about-elvis-presley-and-san-antonio-on-his-death-anniversary