elvis 1977 concert tour

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Elvis' final stage shows were spiritual experiences.

In June 1977, a group of over 250 Elvis fans crossed the Atlantic to see their idol perform in concert. The Elvis Presley Fan Club of Great Britain sponsored the excursion, and while most of the travellers were from the United Kingdom, others from Denmark, Belgium, and Ireland also came on the trip of a lifetime for Presley European fans.

The group’s timing was both fortunate and tragic. The fans from abroad were fortunate in being able to see Elvis on stage in two mid-West American cities. The tragedy was that, of the nearly 1,500 stage shows Presley played during his 24-year career, the European fans saw the last ones he performed during his lifetime. Elvis died less than two months later.

Elvis started his final stage tour, a 10-day swing through the American heartland, in Springfield, Missouri, on June 17, 1977. Following were stops on successive nights in Kansas City, Omaha, Lincoln, Rapid City, Sioux Falls, Des Moines, and Madison. The final two shows, both attended by the European tourists, came on June 25 and 26 in Cincinnati and Indianapolis.

Despite disturbing reports of Presley’s declining health and recent bizarre behavior on stage in other cities, Cincinnati’s Riverfront Coliseum and Indianapolis’s Market Square Arena both sold out their capacities of over 17,000 for Elvis’ upcoming shows. In Cincinnati the doors opened 2 ½ hours before show time. Available for early arrivers were an assortment of Presley souvenirs, including posters ($3 and $5), programs ($3), buttons ($2), binoculars ($5), necklaces ($5), and belt buckles ($10).

As with all Elvis concerts in the ’70s, the anticipation of seeing the King was prolonged. After the Stamps, the Sweet Inspirations, and comedian Jackie Culhane concluded the hour-long opening show, the frustrating intermission leading to Elvis’ appearance dragged on. Rita Rose of the  Indianapolis Star  waited with trepidation, noted in her review of the concert the following day:

“The big question was, of course, had he lost weight? His last concert here, nearly two years ago, found Elvis overweight, sick and prone to give a lethargic performance. As the lights in the Arena were turned down after intermission, you could feel a silent plea rippling through the audience: Please, Elvis, don’t be fat?”

In Cincinnati the previous night, the announced 20-minute intermission stretched out to 55 minutes (due, Elvis later explained on stage, to an emergency trip to the dentist). Elvis finally appeared to an explosion of flashbulbs and a swelling tumult of noise from the audience. “The King looked awful,” lamented Ken Williams of the  Journal News . “Elvis still had a paunch which could do as a Santa Claus suit without needing padding … Ghastly pale, eyelids nearly swollen shut.” Elvis mumbled something, but Williams could make out only two words, “Novocain shot,” which the writer interpreted as “an excuse for what was about to happen.”

Other journalists in the audience confirmed Presley’s unhealthy appearance. In the  Cincinnati Post , Brad Balfour observed, “Elvis ambled about the stage moving his bloated face and heavy bulk around woodenly.”  Indianapolis Star  writer Zach Dunkin teased, “Married men may have found an ally in Elvis Presley. Wives may figure so what if their old men have 42-inch waists and chubby cheeks.” Published photos of Elvis on stage have since confirmed what the reviewers described.

But the journalists also reported that it didn’t matter to the crowd that Elvis was so out of shape. In Cincinnati, Williams noted, “It is obvious the fans still love Elvis. They still pack arenas to see their idol. They come to see the legend.” In the  Cincinnati Enquirer , Cliff Radel added, “It was not a concert. It was a rite.” Dunkin opened his review with, “Elvis Presley led another crowd of screamers into bananaland last night,” adding that “three songs into the concert one front row cutie shouted to Elvis, ‘I’m easy!’”

Dunkin described the nature of the crowd in Indianapolis:

“The conservative audience was vintage 35-ish, sprinkled with several curious teenyboppers. There were foxy ladies dressed to impress and would-be Presleys in jumpsuits. A few tots had to be carried through the turnstiles because Mom and Pop couldn’t find a babysitter. Make room for a second generation of Presley fans.”

David and Carole Hawthorne sat excitedly in the audience both nights. They had come across the ocean from County Down in Northern Ireland with the United Kingdom tour group. “I became a fan of Elvis’ in 1963 or ’64,” David explained to Cliff Radel while waiting for Presley to take the stage in Cincinnati. He added, “You know, it’s like John Lennon said, nothing was really going on until Elvis came along.”

Presley’s opening number, “C. C. Rider,” got the show off to a “flash-bulb-popping, hand-clapping start,” Rita Rose observed in Indianapolis. “His ‘Amen’ encouraged everyone to clap and sing along, bringing everyone together.” The playlist of about 20 numbers also included oldies “I Got a Woman,” “Jailhouse Rock,” “Teddy Bear,” “Hound Dog,” “Don’t Be Cruel,” “Little Sister,” and “It’s Now or Never.” Also included were songs Presley had recorded more recently, such as “Unchained Melody,” “You Gave Me a Mountain,” “Fairytale,” “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” and “My Way” (for which he had to read the lyrics off a sheet of paper).

The reviewers differed in their appraisal of Presley’s voice. “Elvis constantly mumbled and the audience couldn’t hear what he was singing,” observed Ken Williams in Cincinnati. “Elvis’ once strong voice is now dominated by his musicians and backup vocalists." The  Post’s  Brad Balfour, who heard the same concert, disagreed: “He has a great voice, richly matured, strong and ranging. He sang all his material well no matter what the style.” The next night in Indianapolis, Presley’s vocals also impressed writer Zach Dunkin: “The man can still sing when he tries. Twice last night he did it magnificently, especially on ‘Hurt,’ when he made a serious effort to reach some difficult notes.”

Elvis’ attempts to parody himself with some hip stage movement did not impress journalist Williams in Cincinnati. “Elvis tried to exercise his booty as in the golden years. I’ve seen senior citizens with better acts.” In Indianapolis, Rita Rose vividly described what she called Elvis’ “leg jerks”:

“In case you have never seen Elvis, this particular maneuver consists of the singer, standing perfectly still with his legs apart, then making his legs ripple like jelly, completing the action with moving first one leg and then the other abruptly to each side.”

Rose added that “Elvis has limited his karate movements, but the stances he takes with his guitar generated screams and shrieks from delighted fans.” He also triggered squeals as women rushed forward to grab the occasional scarf he dangled from the edge of the stage. He went on an especially big scarf-tossing binge during his final show in Indianapolis. Reviewer Zach Dunkin reported that Elvis threw 46 scarves into the “stage rushing audience which included two fellas wearing motorcycle helmets. Were the helmets for protection against the billy club wielding security men? Nope. Those dudes knew they might have to face their wives empty handed.”

In the end, all of the newspaper reporters who saw Elvis Presley perform his final two performances in Cincinnati and Indianapolis in June 1977 concluded that the shows were meager efforts at best. Ken Williams was brutally honest in his review of the Cincinnati show on June 28:

“Apparently the reports are founded upon truth, and the King confirmed the suspicions with his listless, lifeless performance Saturday night at Cincinnati Riverfront Coliseum before another sellout crowd … Gone from his performance is the magic generated by one of the world’s ultimate legends; gone is the energy and vitality of a healthy Elvis; gone is the beauty of the voice that charmed millions … I feared the worst for Cincinnati and the fears became a nightmare for me."

However, the passion evident in both arenas suggests that most of the 34,000 people who saw Elvis Presley perform on stage in Cincinnati and Indianapolis on June 25-26, 1977, cherished that final opportunity to see him perform in a live show, even though he was not at the top of his game, either physically or musically. Just to see him and hear him sing in person must have been a spiritual experience for the pilgrims from across the Atlantic, as well as for thousands of others who saw his final shows.

The final paragraph of Ken Williams’s review in the June 28, 1977, issue of the Cincinnati  Journal News  rang eerily prophetic:

“There was an emptiness at the end. Yes, there comes a time when a performer should step down, retire or rest. Elvis, we love you, but please don’t do this to us. We prefer remembering you at your peak, rather than at your funeral. ‘The King is Dead. Long live the King!’”

When Elvis Presley “left the building” in Indianapolis on June 26, 1977, he had just 50 days to live. —  Alan Hanson  | © April 2015

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Elvis Presley And The Events Of 1977

January - Bill Clinton takes public office for the first time, as attorney general January 1 - The album 'Elvis In Demand' released. Highest chart position #12 January 1 - Australia's population reaches 14,000,000 January 14 - Australian actor Peter Finch dies (1916-1977) January 20 - Jimmy Carter is sworn in as the 39th President of the United States January - Alex Haley's 'Roots' attracts the largest television audience in history February 2 - Elvis Presley No-Shows RCA Recording Session - Press scimitar

February 12 - 21 Elvis tours in concert.

February 12 - Hollywood. Ca. Sprtatorium February 13 - West Palm Beach. Fla. Auditorium February 14 - St. Petersburg, Fla. Bay Front Center February 15 - Orlando, Fla. Sports Stadium February 16 - Montgomery. Ala. Garrett Coliseum February 17 - Savannah, GA. Civic Center February 18 - Columbia, S. Carolina. Carolina Coliseum February 19 - Johnson City, Tenn. Civic Center Freedom Hall February 20 - Charlotte, N. C. Coliseum February 21 - Charlotte, N. C. Coliseum March - 'Welcome To My World' album released, Highest position U.S. #44 U.K. #7 AU #58 March - Australia wins Centenary Cricket Test against England by 45 runs - same margin as 1877

March 3 , After his February '77 tour Elvis returned to Memphis. Elvis had planned a vacation in Hawaii in order to show the islands to Ginger Alden . Before leaving, he takes care of several business matters, including a loan to Dr. Nick for an additional $55.000 at 7 percent interest with a repayment schedule of twenty-five years. Also, at his father's urging, in the early hours of the morning of March 3, Elvis finally signed his will , which designates Vernon as executor and trustee, entrusting to him total responsibility for the 'health education, comfortable maintenance and welfare' of himself, Grandma, and Lisa Marie, the sole heir. Ginger is witness to the will. Ginger Alden, a local beauty queen (Miss Traffic Safety, Miss Mid-South and runner-up Miss Tennessee University), who has the distinction of being Elvis' last girlfriend and the last person to see him alive on the night he died. Elvis was introduced to Terry Alden, the present Miss Tennessee, by George Klein on November 19, 1976. Terry brought her two sisters Rosemary and Ginger with her. George thought it was Terry to whom Elvis would be attracted, but Elvis was immediately drawn to the youngest sister. Elvis' Saturday-night date with Ginger started as a flight to view the Memphis skyline but ended with a trip to Vegas, chaperoned by his cousin Patsy and her husband. Ginger called her mother for permission.

After two days Elvis and the Alden sisters and a couple of the guys move to a beach house at Kailua.

March 12 , A visit to the USS Arizona memorial is canceled as Elvis prepares for an abruptly scheduled return to Memphis. He has gotten sand in his eye, and Dr. Nick , concerned that he may have scratched his cornea, suggests that he recuperate at home for a week or so before going out on tour once again.

March 23 - 30 Elvis tours in concert

March 23 - Tempe. Arizona. Arizona State Univ. March 24 - Amarillo. Texas. Civic Center March 25 - Norman, Oklahoma. Univ. Of Oklahoma March 26 - Norman, Oklahoma. Univ. Of Oklahoma March 27 - Abilene, Texas. Taylor County Coliseum March 28 - Austin, Texas. Municipal Auditorium March 29 - Alexandria, LA. Rapides Parish Coliseum March 30 - Alexandria, LA. Rapides Parish Coliseum

April 1 - 5 Elvis is hospitalized in Memphis and tour shows scheduled for March 31-April 3 are canceled.

April 1 - Elvis Admitted To Baptist Hospital 'Entertainer Elvis Presley was admitted to Baptist Hospital early today after canceling a show at the last minute in Baton Rouge, La., and flying to Memphis with complaints of intestinal flu '... - The Memphis Press-Scimitar

April 6 - Elvis at Home: Hospital on Call 'Elvis Presley was released from Baptist Hospital at 4 am yesterday [April 5] ... He decided to keep the [Hospital] rooms reserved ... He is feeling fine and looking forward to returning to his personal appearance tours that begin April 21 at Greensboro, NC'. - The Commercial Appeal

April 21 - May 31 Elvis tours in concert.

April 21 - Greensboro, N. C. Coliseum April 22 - Detroit, Michigan. Olympia Stadium April 23 - Toledo, Ohio. Univ. of Toledo April 24 - Ann Arbor, Michigan. Crisler Arena: RCA records live 'Unchained Melody' and 'Little Darlin' that will be released on the album Moody Blue . April 25 - Saginaw, Michigan . Saginaw Center RCA records 'If You Love Me' that will be released on the album Moody Blue. April 26 - Kalamazoo, Michigan. Wings Stadium April 27 - Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Milwaukee Arena April 28 - Green Bay, Wisconsin. Brown County Veterans April 29 - Duluth, Minn. Duluth Arena April 30 - St. Paul, Minn. Civic Center May 1 - Chicago, Ill. Chicago Stadium May 2 - Chicago, Ill. Chicago Stadium May 3 - Saginaw, Michigan. Saginaw Center

May 20 - Knoxville, Tenn. Univ. Of Tennessee May 21 - Louisville, Ky. Freedom Hall May 22 - Largo, Md. Capital Center May 22 - 60 second RCA Elvis radio commercials played in Australia (Welcome To My World) May 23 - Providence, R.I. Civic Center May 24 - Augusta, Maine. Civic Center May 25 - Rochester, N.Y. Community War Memorial May 26 - Binghamton. N.Y.

May 26 , Elvis' private jet, the Lisa Marie , had just landed after a Rochester-to-Binghamton, N.Y. flight. Grob, the chief of security, had just warned Elvis that they were in a restricted gun-carry area.

It was about 3 a.m. May 26, and a crowd of fans and dignitaries, including Elvis' manager, Col. Tom Parker , and a high-ranking law officer, had gathered to welcome Elvis.

Still wearing pajama-like karate gear, Elvis began descending the portable stairs when the crowd started cheering as a spotlight hit him. As he lifted his arms to acknowledge the reception, two loaded semiautomatic Colt pistols fell from his waistband and bounced down the steps. 'Elvis had a sheepish grin as he came down'.

Waiting was the local police chief or ranking officer. Elvis 'completely disarmed the man by shaking his hand and introducing himself'. 'The guy handed him the guns and said, 'I believe these are yours Mr. Presley'. Elvis stuck 'em back in his waistband'. The guns are now on display at Graceland. At another concert, around the same time, a loaded .22-caliber derringer popped out of one of Elvis' stage boots and bounced on the stage right in front of rhythm guitarist John Wilkinson, 'who did not like guns'. It was retrieved about 20 minutes later.

May 27 - Binghamton. N.Y. May 28 - Philadelphia, Pa. Spectrum May 29 - Baltimore, Md. Civic Center May 29 - 60 second RCA Elvis radio commercials played in Australia (Welcome To My World) May 30 - Jacksonville, Fla. Coliseum

The ticket below from a canceled concert .

The last four shows of the March / April 1977 tour (Baton Rouge, Mobile, Macon, Jacksonville) were canceled. These shows were then rescheduled at the end of the late May / June 1977 tour. However, these tickets were printed with the planning being that Elvis was to perform in Asheville on May 30, 1977. If you look at the listing (below) of the planned August 1977 tour you can see that Elvis was to perform there on August 26, 1977. So this date was pushed back the Asheville show until August due to this scheduling. Of course, the August show in Asheville never took place because Elvis died. The tickets for the May 1977 Asheville show were printed and on sale prior to the original cancellation of the late March / early April 1977 shows.

May 31 - Baton Rouge, La. La State Univ

June 1 - 2 Elvis tours in concert.

June 1 - Macon, Ga. Coliseum June 2 - Mobile, Ala. Municipal Auditorium

June - The Single 'Way Down' released - Highest chart position #18 U.K. #1 AU #6 June - President Carter visits Australia

June 17 - 26 - Elvis tours in concert . Shows on June 19, 20, and 21 are recorded by RCA and videotaped by CBS-TV for an upcoming live album and television special. Footage from the show on the 20th is not used in the show. The special will be called 'Elvis in Concert'. It will air in early October after Elvis' death in August. The camera gives a shocking picture of Elvis' poor health in his final days. Still, some of the song performances are great. He still had his voice.

June 17 - June 25 Elvis tours in concert.

Unchained Melody: Rapid City: June 21, 1977

June 27- August 15, 1977

Elvis relaxes in Memphis and prepares for the next leg of touring for 1977.

June 27 - August 15 Elvis relaxes in Memphis and prepares for the next leg of touring for 1977 June 30 - The United States introduces Cruise missiles to replace the B-1 bomber July - The album Moody Blue released - Highest chart position U.S. #3 U.K. #3 AU. #3 July 22 - MOSCOW (AP) - Pity Poor Elvis - So Say Reds 'To hear the Soviets tell it, rock star Elvis Presley is now a broken and forgotten man demonstrating to the world the heartlessness of the American system of exploitation. ...Today this 42-year-old man has lost his taste for life '... August 1 - The book ' Elvis - What happened ? ' released August 11 , Elvis pays his respects to his mother at Forest Hill Cemetery. August 12 - The Space Shuttle Enterprise makes it's first successful solo flight August 15 - The album 'Moody Blue' enters Australian album charts .

August 12 , Elvis was unable to get a copy of the film ' Star Wars ' to view with his daughter Lisa Marie , so they watched the James Bond film ' The Spy Who Loved Me ' instead. (Star Wars was released to theaters in the US on May 25, 1977). As they came home, Lisa was sitting on Ginger Alden's lap, holding her bag of popcorn from the theater. The photo below snapped just four days before his death is the last ever taken with his daughter Lisa Marie.

Shortly after midnight, Elvis returns to Graceland from a late-night visit to the dentist. The photo below is the last known photo of Elvis taken on his return from the dentist.

Through the early morning of the 16th Elvis takes care of last-minute tour details and relaxes with family and staff. He is to fly to Portland, Maine that night and do a show there on the 17th, then continue the scheduled tour. Elvis retires to his master suite at Graceland around 7:00 AM to rest for his evening flight. By late morning , Elvis Presley is dead of heart failure. The news is announced by mid-afternoon. In a matter of hours the shock registers around the world.

'A Memphis Fire Department ambulance from Engine House 29 at 2147 Elvis Presley Boulevard responded to the call at 2:33 pm and by 2:56 pm had taken Presley to the emergency room at Baptist Hospital, seven miles away from his Whitehaven home' 'It was just a routine call. Someone was having difficulty breathing at 3764 Elvis Presley Boulevard. Such calls had come in before when people had collapsed on the street as they waited to catch a glimpse of their singing idol. The call was received by the normal procedure, said Charlie Crosby, an emergency medical technician. We only knew it was his house'. - The Commercial Appeal

The News Headlines

Death Captures Crown of Rock and Roll - The Commercial Appeal - 'The ambulance hit the gate as it was going in [to Graceland] ... There was severe cardiovascular disease present ... Dr. Fransisco said ... there was no indication of drug abuse of any kind. He said the only evidence of drugs involved those Presley was taking for his physical condition '...

A Lonely Life Ends on Elvis Presley Boulevard - Memphis Press-Scimitar

Rock Idol Elvis Presley Dies at 42 - The Washington Post - Elvis Presley, who revolutionized American popular music with his earthy singing style and became a hero to two generations of rock 'n' roll fans, died yesterday in Memphis, Tenn. He was 42.

Reaction among fans, performers and music industry executives elsewhere was also emotional. In Santiago, Chile, newspapers stopped the presses and radio stations changed their evening programming to recount the life of ' El Rey de Rock 'n' Roll '. In Memphis, the telephone system was reported unable to handle the volume of calls coming into the city from around the country. Hundreds of weeping fans gathered outside Baptist Memorial and Graceland Mansion last night.

Two European radio stations also suspended regular programming as soon as Presley's death was announced. Radio Luxembourg, the continent's most widely listened-to pop station, canceled all its commercials to play Presley's music nonstop.

'This is the end of rock 'n' roll', said Bob Moore Merlis, an executive with Warner Bros. Records, who compiled an anthology of Presley's early material several years ago for RCA.

'The void he will leave is impossible to gauge', said Pat Boone.

One Hour Battle Fails .. King Elvis Dies - The Herald (Australia)

Fans Fight To Peer At Elvis - The Herald, Late edition (Australia)

Fat, 42 And Fazed - The Sun (Australia) - 'He couldn't sing anymore', 'His stage appearances were a joke because his stomach bulged over his gold lame, sequined suits' 'Presley's movie career ended in 1969 after about 60 films, all with roughly the same plot' [From John Fraser in New York.]

Elvis Presley Is Dead - Daily Mirror (England)

Rocks First Superstar Elvis Presley, 42, Dies - Rocky Mountain News

King Elvis Dead - The Sun (England)

All Roads Lead to Memphis - Evening Standard (England)

August 17 - Elvis was to have begun another tour, starting with a concert in Portland, Maine

Canceled Tour Dates

August 17, 1977 - Cumberland County Civic Center, Portland, Maine August 18, 1977 - Cumberland County Civic Center, Portland, Maine August 19, 1977 - Utica Memorial Auditorium, Utica, New York August 20, 1977 - Onondaga County War Memorial, Syracuse, New York August 21, 1977 - Civic Center, Hartford, Connecticut August 22, 1977 - Nassau Veterans Coliseum, Uniondale, New York August 23, 1977 - University Of Kentucky Rupp Arena, Lexington, Kentucky August 24, 1977 - Roanoke Civic Center, Roanoke, Virginia August 25, 1977 - Cumberland County Memorial Arena, Fayetteville, North Carolina August 26, 1977 - Asheville Civic Center Arena, Asheville, North Carolina August 27, 1977 - Mid-South Coliseum, Memphis, Tennessee August 28, 1977 - Mid-South Coliseum, Memphis, Tennessee

August 18 - Final Glimpse of Fallen Star Lues Faithful 'An estimated 50,000 to 100,000 persons visited Graceland during the day Wednesday [August 17] to pay their respects ... Presley's body was placed in the foyer just inside the front door. It was the first time the mansion had been open to the public since Presley purchased it in 1957 ... Throughout the day the crowds moved single- file into the front foyer. The visitors were quickly routed out of the house as soon as they viewed the body ... The gates were closed at 6:30 pm to the distress of many fans [Below], and at 6:00 it was estimated that 10,000 persons were in line and that 20,000 to 25,000 had filed into the mansion'

Eddie Fadal , who described himself as a 'lifelong friend' of Elvis, emerged from the mansion to give reporters a picture of what was taking place inside. 'Things are very quiet' he said 'People are sitting around the coffin in the living room. Some are crying, but everyone is pretty subdued'. Fadal said Ginger Aldren, the late singer's fiancée, was taking his death 'well' but that Priscilla Presley, the singer's ex-wife and mother of their daughter Lisa, was 'taking it very, very hard'.

August 18 - Elvis' Funeral Service - 'C.W. Bradley, minister of Woodvale Church of Christ conducted the brief service at the mansion '... - August 19. 'We are to honor the memory of a man loved by millions. ... But Elvis was a frail human being. And he would be the first to admit his weaknesses. Perhaps because of his rapid rise to fame and fortune, he was thrown into temptations that some never experience. Elvis would not want anyone to think that he had no flaws or faults. But now that he's gone, I find it more helpful to remember his good qualities, and I hope you do too'. - From the August 19 editions of The Commercial Appeal and The Tennessean - Nashville

August 19 - Elvis Burial Hushed, Private 'The 2 p.m. funeral services were held in Presley's music room, which adjoins the living room'. During the services, a gospel quartet sang 'How Great Thou Art' and Sweet, Sweet Spirit'. Guests left Vernon Presley , the singer's father, alone after the last words were spoken. It was Vernon Presley whose car led the procession afterward when shortly after 3:30 p.m., guests and family members left the grounds. Behind that car followed the white hearse that bore the un-draped coffin. Behind the hearse rode Presley's divorced wife Priscilla, her face red behind her veil, clutching9-year-old Lisa Marie to her breast'. - The Tennessean - Nashville

August 19 - Rock 'N' Roll King Entombed 'The flower-laden coffin of Elvis Presley was carried into it's resting place at Forest Hill Midtown Cemetery'... 'The Crypt in the mausoleum where the body was placed was later sealed and mortared over, then covered with a marble slab'.

August 19 - Swerving Cars Kills Two Elvis Mourners 'I can't believe Elvis is really dead' Alice Hovatar was telling Patrolman W.C. Greenwood early Thursday [August 18] as she and Joanne Johnson passed the time with idle conversation in front of Graceland Mansion. It was about 3:30 am, and moments later the two 19-year olds from Monroe, La., would be killed instantly by a driver in a no-traffic lane ... Greenwood looked up in time to jump out of the way'.

August 19 - Groucho Marx dies (1890-1977)

August 20 - Elvis' Father Expresses Thanks 'It lightened my grief somewhat as I watched the tributes to my son that was shown from people throughout the world ... I am very sorry that all of the people who came to Memphis were not able to view the body, but there was not enough time ... I would like to express my sincere and deepest sympathy to the families of the girls in the very unfortunate and regrettable thing that happened at the gate'.

August 20 - Presley Fans Buy Big - The Age - Melbourne, Australia 'Melbourne ... she ain't nothin' but a town agog. The death of Elvis Presley, the 'King' of Rock, left most people all shook up rather than crying all the time. City record shops reported the greatest surge in buying of Elvis' records for many years, and they swamped Elvis' label, RCA, with demands for more stocks'. 'Coincidentally, RCA had nominated August as Elvis Presley Month and supplied stores with extra records. But by evening, much was bought up'.

August 23 - Elvis Will Names 3 Close Relatives 'Elvis Presley named his Father, Vernon Presley, executor of his fortune in a will probated here yesterday [August 22] afternoon, but [it] did not include his fiancée, Miss Ginger Alden, one of three witnesses who signed the will March 3, or his ex-wife Priscilla. An inventory of the singer's wealth believed to be millions of dollars is not expected to be filled for 60 days '... - The Commercial Appeal

August 27 - Body of Elvis' Mother Moved To mausoleum 'The body of Gladys Love Presley, was quietly unearthed and moved late yesterday [August 26] into the mausoleum where her son was entombed last week. In a 3 hour and 17 minute operation, 11 workers at Forest Hill Cemetery Midtown unearthed the massive steel and copper casket' ... ' Vernon Presley , the entertainer's father, made the decision '... - The Commercial Appeal

August 28 - Elvis was to have completed his tour with 2 shows in Memphis, August 27-28

August 30 - 3 Charged In Body-Stealing Plot 'Three Memphis men were charged yesterday [August 29] afternoon with criminal trespassing in connection with what Police Director E. Winslow Chapman said was a plot to steal the entombed body of Elvis Presley'. - The Commercial Appeal

August - Elvis Fans Hang Onto $600,000 Worth of Tickets 'Had Elvis Presley lived, more than 120,000 people would have paid about $1,300,000 ... Promoters, theater owners and lawyers must now tackle a problem they rarely encounter - what to do with an estimated $600,000 in tickets fans refuse to give up '...

September 8 Graceland Site For Graves Of Presley's 'An application to allow the bodies of Elvis Presley and his mother, Gladys, to be moved to the Meditation Garden at Presley's Graceland Mansion was submitted yesterday [September 7] to the board of Adjustment ... The request will be heard at the board's next meeting Sept. 28'

September 24 - Drawn Grand Final between North Melbourne and Collingwood in the VFL Grand Final . [ Australian Rules Football ] This is the only Grand Final draw to have occurred in the history of the game [102 years] Final scores North Melbourne 9.22 76 Collingwood 10.16 76

October 1 - North Melbourne defeats Collingwood in the Grand Final replay Final scores North Melbourne 21.25 151 d. Collingwood 19.10 124

October 3 - Bodies Of Elvis, Mother Are Moved 'The move was unannounced. Two white hearses escorted by eight city police officers and five Selby County deputies took the bodies of Elvis Presley and his mother, Mrs. Gladys Smith Presley, into the rear entrance of Graceland shortly after 7 last night [October 2]' ... 'Only a few watchers were outside the gates of Graceland when the cortège arrived, and at first some did not realize what they had seen ... The board of Adjustment gave permission last Wednesday to rebury the bodies on the south side of Graceland estate '...

October 3 - Elvis in Concert telecast on CBS

October - Alan Moffatt wins Bathurst, Australia's premier touring car race over 1000 Km

October 5 - Charges Against 3 Dropped, in Presley-Body Theft Case 'Trespassing charges against three men accused in a purported scheme to steal the body of Elvis Presley were dismissed yesterday [October 5] after the prosecutor said the city could not vouch for the truthfulness of its key witness'.

October - ' Elvis in Concert ' album released - Highest chart position U.S. #5 UK #13 AU #17 October 14 - Bing Crosby dies (1903-1977) November - 'My Way' released - Highest chart position U.S. #22 U.K. #9 AU. #6 November 9 - Israeli jets strike southern Lebanon November 10 - Malcolm Fraser's Liberal Party wins the Australian Federal election. December 25 - Charlie Chaplin dies on Christmas day (1889-1977)

Movie Releases of note from 1977

Star Wars Jaws Smoky And The Bandit The Eagle Has Landed A Bridge Too Far Cross Of Iron

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Elvis in Concert

Television special featuring Elvis Presley's last tour before his death. Television special featuring Elvis Presley's last tour before his death. Television special featuring Elvis Presley's last tour before his death.

• Dwight Hemion
• Annett Wolf Sr.
• Elvis Presley
• Vernon Presley
• Ginger Alden
• 18 User reviews

• (as Ginger)
• Self - bass
• Self - electric piano and keyboard
• (uncredited)

• Self - Stage Assistant

• Self - Elvis Presley Bodyguard
• All cast & crew
• Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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• Trivia Elvis Presley's third and final television special was the most-watched program in the U.S. when it was broadcast, seven weeks and six days after his death. CBS rebroadcast it in spring 1978, and it hasn't been shown since. It is his only special that remains unavailable on home video.
• Goofs The special was promoted as "Highlights from Elvis' last two concerts" but they were not his last two concerts.

Elvis Presley : [last words from Elvis on the concert before closing song] 'Til we meet you again. May God bless you. Adios.

• Connections Featured in This Is Elvis (1981)
• Soundtracks See See Rider Traditional, also credited to Ma Rainey Performed by Elvis Presley

User reviews 18

• sirkristoferkling
• Jul 10, 2004
• October 3, 1977 (United States)
• United States
• Elvis Presley Special
• Omaha, Nebraska, USA
• Smith-Hemion Productions
• See more company credits at IMDbPro

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• Runtime 50 minutes

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​ The King’s Final Bow: Elvis’ Last Concert in Indianapolis

By Justin Clark

Market Square Arena, Indianapolis, June 26, 1977.

Elvis Presley, known around the world as the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, thrilled audiences for decades with his legendary swagger, good looks, and unique vocal stylings. Among his many concerts over the years, the one that garners much historical attention is the final one, at Indianapolis’s Market Square Arena on June 26, 1977.

His final performance, to a crowd of nearly 18,000 people, inspired copious press attention. An article in the Indianapolis News on June 25 listed it as a requisite event for music fans. The Indianapolis Star noted playfully “If you admire Elvis Presley’s back you still can buy $15 seats behind the stage for his concert at the Market Square Arena tomorrow night.”

The concert began at 8:30 p.m., but Elvis didn’t perform until 10 p.m.; warm-up acts of brass bands, soul singers, and a comedian filled time before the King. Then for about 80 minutes, Elvis sang both his classic tunes like “Jailhouse Rock” and “Hound Dog,” and his more somber numbers, like “Hurt” and a cover of Simon & Garfunkel’s “Bridge over Troubled Water.” He closed the concert with “Can’t Help Falling in Love with You,” one of his most poignant ballads. He reportedly told the audience “We’ll meet you again, God bless, adios” as he left the stage. Based on filmed footage, the crowd appeared enthusiastic about the performance; the local press, however, was a bit skeptical.

The Indianapolis press seemed divided on the quality of his performance. Rita Rose’s piece in the Indianapolis Star provided a sympathetic take of the show, even as it criticized his appearance. Rose wrote comically:

The big question was, of course, had he lost weight? His last concert here, nearly 2 years ago, found Elvis overweight, sick and prone to give a lethargic performance. As the lights in the Arena was turned down after intermission, you could feel a silent plea rippling through the audience: Please, Elvis, don’t be fat.

She assuaged readers, writing “At 42, Elvis is still carrying around some excess baggage on his midsection, but it doesn’t stop him from giving a performance in true Presley style.” She noted glowingly how well he sang some songs, including “It’s Now or Never,” and “This Time You Gave Me a Mountain.” Rose’s piece emphasized the better elements of the concert and the excitement of the crowd.

Conversely, critic Zach Dunkin’s piece in the Indianapolis News was the consummate bad review:

“Elvis Presley led another crowd of screamers in banana land last night during his concert at Market Square Area and the question is why,” wrote Dunkin at the start of his piece. He added, “He obviously doesn’t need the money. He apparently doesn’t care about the way his concerts are packaged either.”

Dunkin went on to call Elvis’ mix of opening acts and his performance a “sideshow,” writing:

“It’s like waiting through the sword-swallower and the fire-eater before seeing the REAL attraction in the back room.” He also heavily criticized the “hawking” of souvenirs by vendors, who he said “came on the P.A. three times and urged the crowd to visit the souvenir stand. He even listed the prices.”

However, Dunkin’s strongest criticism was of the King himself, who he said could “sing when he tries.” His best numbers, in Dunkin’s view, were his renditions of “Hurt” and “Bridge over Troubled Water,” even though Elvis “for some reason had to read the lyrics from a sheet.” Dunkin’s lackluster impression of the King ended with this final take:

“It’s time ardent Presley fans quit protecting their idol and start demanding more. They know ‘the King’ can do better.”

Sadly, Presley never got the chance to do better, for his show in Indianapolis was his last. After the concert at Market Square Arena, Elvis took a break from touring and returned home to Graceland. Nearly six weeks after his Indianapolis concert, Elvis died in his home on August 16, 1977.

Fans line up outside Market Square Arena to purchase tickets for Elvis Presley's 1977 show at the venue, which proved to be his final public performance

Elvis performs in true Presley style before 18,000

By Rita Rose The Indianapolis Star:

Elvis looks great and Elvis sounds great!" exclaimed comedian Jackie Kahane to 18,000 enthusiastic, sweaty-palmed fans at Market Square Arena last night. And Indianapolis once again prepared to great royalty-the hip-swiveling singer who has been called the King of rock 'n' roll since the Mid-1950s. Elvis. His name was everywhere: on posters, buttons, souvenir books, T-shirts, hats, and homemade clothes that proclaimed with personal touches, admiration for a man idolized by millions.

The big question was, of course, had he lost weight? His last concert here, nearly 2 years ago, found Elvis overweight, sick and prone to give a lethargic performance. As the lights in the Arena was turned down after intermission, you could feel a silent plea rippling through the audience: Please, Elvis, don't be fat. And then he appeared, in a gold and white jumpsuit and white boots, bounding onstage with energy that was a relief to everyone. At 42, Elvis is still carrying around some excess baggage on his mid-section, but it didn't stop him from giving a performance in true Presley style.

His opening number, the audience-grabbing “C.C. Rider," got his portion of the show off to a flash-bulb-popping, hand-clapping start. His Amen," in which he encouraged everyone to lap and sing along, seemed to bring everyone together, as did "Jailhouse Rock" and "I got a woman."

His older numbers seemed to draw more applause, although just about everything he did created mass hysteria, especially his "leg jerks." (In case you have never seen Elvis, this particular maneuver consist of one singer, standing perfectly still with his legs apart, then making his legs ripple like jelly, completing the action with moving first one leg and then the other abruptly to each side.)

Elvis has limited his karate movements, but the stances he takes with his guitar generated screams and shrieks from delighted fans. One of his best numbers, we feel, was "It's Now Or Never," followed by a medley of his hits. He also offered "This Time You Gave Me A Mountain," and "Fairytale," plus several others. He also did his famous "I uh, we uh, well, well, well, well, well, well" monologue, which seems to turn dyed-in-the-rood Elvis fans on. He coveted scarves, tossed into the audience after gracing the singer's neck, caused mad scrambles by the stage as he got rid of them just about as fast as they were put around his neck.

The fans were well-behaved, considering the usual impedes that take place at rock concerts.

The first half of the show consisted of the usual stuff - the Stamps singing, Jackie Kahane with his Elvis jokes, and The Sweet Inspirations in song. But we'll mention them only briefly, since most fans just want read about the King.

The packed Arena was indication enough that Elvis is still as popular as ever. Well, well, well, well!

The setlist was as follows:

Also Spake Zarathustra (opening)

See See Rider

I Got A Woman/Amen

You Gave Me A Mountain

Jailhouse Rock

O Sole Mio/It's Now Or Never

Little Sister

Teddy Bear/Don't Be Cruel

I Can't Stop Loving You

Bridge Over Troubled Water

(band introductions)

Early Morning Rain

What'd I Say

Johnny B. Goode

(solos by band members Larrie Londin: drums,

Jerry Scheff: bass, Tony Brown: piano)

I Really Don't Want To Know

(solo by the backing Joe Guercio Orchestra)

(Elvis introduces various people from the stage)

Can't Help Falling In Love

(closing vamp)

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The Last Year of Elvis Presley's Life

A historical Elvis Presley timeline of dates and important events

Steve Morley/Staff/Getty Images

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Here's a handy database of dates and events in Elvis Presley's life during 1977, up until his tragic, controversial, and ultimately untimely death in August of 1977.

• January 8: Elvis celebrates his 42nd birthday in Palm Springs with girlfriend Ginger Alden and her sister, Rosemary.
• January 11: Presley convinces his dentist Max Shapiro to fly down to Palm Springs along with his fiancee and get married, with Larry Geller performing the ceremony. Elvis then says, "Ginger, I haven't asked you before, but I would like us to get married, and I want Larry to do it the same way he married Dr. Max and Susan, so what do you think, do you want to?"
• January 21: Elvis arrives a day late for his next recording session in Nashville after arguing with Ginger about joining him there (he eventually shows up without her). Despondent and complaining of a sore throat, he remains in his hotel room for the duration of his stay, never making it to the studio.​
• January 26: Apparently deciding that the formal proposal will solve everything, Elvis presents Ginger with a quickly-assembled engagement ring made from a diamond on one of his rings. She accepts in the King's bathroom at Graceland.​
• January 28: The newspaper The Nashville Banner mentions Elvis' doomed recording session in its entertainment column, speculating that Colonel Tom Parker is furious at the King and hinting that the much-younger Ginger is the cause of his exhaustion.​
• February 1: Elvis and Ginger fly to Los Angeles to celebrate Lisa Marie's ninth birthday.​
• February 12: At Elvis' insistence, Ginger joins him on the tour beginning tonight in Hollywood, FL.​
• February 20: Having flown Ginger's family in to join him on the tour in order to make her stay on, Elvis calls Ginger's embarrassed sister Terry up on stage during tonight's show to play some classical piano. The same night, Elvis unplugs keyboardist David Briggs' instrument on stage and fires him from the tour after learning that he's been carrying on an affair with Ginger.​
• March 3: After some prodding by his father, Vernon, Elvis signs his will, leaving control of everything to his father, then heads off for a vacation in Hawaii.​
• March 12: Elvis cuts his vacation short, complaining of sand in his eye, and returns to Graceland to "recuperate" before his next tour begins.​
• March 22: A despondent Elvis, pining for Ginger, is barely able to make it to his tour plane. Dr. Nick puts him on an IV.​
• March 26: Producer Felton Jarvis, desperate for new material to fulfill Elvis' contract, begins recording selected songs from the tour on a rented eight-track machine, suggesting songs to Elvis he's never performed before.​
• March 30: At tonight's show in Alexandria, LA, Elvis sings the first verse of "Can't Help Falling In Love" as "Wise men know when it's time to go."​​
• March 31: Elvis cancels his second date in Baton Rouge during intermission, then flies home and cancels the last three days of the tour as well. An upset Colonel moves the canceled dates to the end of his next tour.​
• April 1: Elvis checks into Memphis' Baptist Hospital for "exhaustion."​
• April 5: Elvis returns to Graceland, with a concerned Priscilla and Lisa Marie flying in to visit.​
• April 13: The singer vacations in Vegas with a twenty-year-old bank teller he's just met, Alicia Kerwin. While there, he complains of labored breathing, and his Vegas doctor is flown in. Kerwin soon leaves the King after finding his mental state "too depressing."​
• April 26: The National Enquirer ups the ante by publishing new photos of Elvis and claiming he's had a recent facelift.​
• April 29: The Nashville Banner breaks the news that the Colonel looking to sell his management contract with Elvis to pay off his mounting gambling debts. If there is any such deal, the Colonel soon breaks it off due to public pressure. The same day, Elvis signs the deed of Graceland over to Priscilla for payment of her outstanding divorce settlement.​
• May 6: A distraught Elvis fires a gun out of his bedroom window, shattering it.​​​
• May 22: Elvis leaves the stage during tonight's show in Landover, MD, claiming he has to attend to "nature's call."​
• May 29: Elvis leaves his show in Baltimore, MD for a full half-hour, angering and bewildering fans.​
• May 31: The as-yet-unpublished tell-all book from Sonny and Red West, Elvis: What Happened? begins to leak out, one chapter at a time, to newspapers in England and Australia.​
• June 1: Plans for the upcoming CBS-TV special Elvis In Concert are announced.​
• June 14: US President Jimmy Carter returns the call Elvis had placed to the White House the day before, but finding him incoherent, Carter hangs up.​
• June 19: Tonight's concert in Omaha, NE, is filmed, the first of two to be recorded for Elvis In Concert. It is a disaster, one of the legendary last shows that records just how low the King has fallen. The shocking performance of "Can't Help Falling In Love" from This Is Elvis is taken from this show.​
• June 24: En route to his hotel while on tour in Madison, WI, Elvis spots an altercation between two young men and a gas station attendant and immediately gets out of his limo, striking a karate pose, to take the two assailants on. When all three get a glimpse of their intruder, however, they immediately forget the fight and ask for pictures and photographs.​
• June 26: Elvis plays what will end up being his last concert . The concert was in Indianapolis, IN for a crowd of 18,000 people.

August: The Month of Elvis Presley's Death

• August 4: The book Elvis: What Happened? is published, sparking new rumors in America about the King's drug use .​
• August 10: Elvis watches The Spy Who Loved Me , among other new films, during a special viewing at the General Cinema in Whitehaven, TN.​
• August 15: Elvis visits his dentist at 10:30 at night — not an unusual occurrence — to get a cleaning and two fillings.​
• August 16: Elvis Presley dies .
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The Indiana History Blog

Presented by the Indiana Historical Bureau

The King’s Final Bow: Elvis’s Last Concert in Indianapolis

Elvis Presley , known around the world as the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, thrilled audiences for decades with his legendary swagger, good looks, and unique vocal stylings. Among his many concerts over the years, the one that garners much historical attention is the final one, at Indianapolis’s Market Square Arena on June 26, 1977. His final performance, to a crowd of nearly 18,000 people, inspired copious press attention.

An article in the Indianapolis News on June 25 listed it as a requisite event for music fans. The Indianapolis Star noted playfully “If you admire Elvis Presley’s back you still can buy $15 seats behind the stage for his concert at the Market Square Arena tomorrow night.” While $15 doesn’t sound like much, that’s the equivalent of nearly $60 today .

The concert began at 8:30 p.m., but Elvis didn’t perform until 10 p.m.; warm-up acts of brass bands, soul singers, and a comedian filled time before the King. Then for about 80 minutes, Elvis sang both his classic tunes like “Jailhouse Rock” and “Hound Dog,” and his more somber numbers, like “Hurt” and a cover of Simon & Garfunkel’s “Bridge over Troubled Water.” He closed the concert with “Can’t Help Falling in Love with You,” one of his most poignant ballads.

He reportedly told the audience “We’ll meet you again, God bless, adios” as he left the stage. Based on filmed footage , the crowd appeared enthusiastic about the performance; the local press, however, was a bit skeptical.

The Indianapolis press seemed divided on the quality of his performance. Rita Rose’s piece in the Indianapolis Star provided a sympathetic take of the show, even as it criticized his appearance. Rose wrote comically:

The big question was, of course, had he lost weight? His last concert here, nearly 2 years ago, found Elvis overweight, sick and prone to give a lethargic performance. As the lights in the Arena was turned down after intermission, you could feel a silent plea rippling through the audience: Please, Elvis, don’t be fat.

She assuaged readers, writing “At 42, Elvis is still carrying around some excess baggage on his midsection, but it doesn’t stop him from giving a performance in true Presley style.” She noted glowingly how well he sang some songs, including “It’s Now or Never,” and “This Time You Gave Me a Mountain.” Rose’s piece emphasized the better elements of the concert and the excitement of the crowd.

Conversely, critic Zach Dunkin’s piece in the Indianapolis News was the consummate bad review:

“Elvis Presley led another crowd of screamers in bananaland last night during his concert at Market Square Area and the question is why,” wrote Dunkin at the start of his piece. He added, “He obviously doesn’t need the money. He apparently doesn’t care about the way his concerts are packaged either.”

Dunkin went on to call Elvis’s mix of opening acts and his performance a “sideshow,” writing:

“It’s like waiting through the sword-swallower and the fire-eater before seeing the REAL attraction in the back room.” He also heavily criticized the “hawking” of souvenirs by vendors, who he said “came on the P.A. three times and urged the crowd to visit the souvenir stand. He even listed the prices.”

However, Dunkin’s strongest criticism was of the King himself, who he said could “sing when he tries.” His best numbers, in Dunkin’s view, were his renditions of “Hurt” and “Bridge over Troubled Water,” even though Elvis “for some reason had to read the lyrics from a sheet.” Dunkin’s lackluster impression of the King ended with this final take: “It’s time ardent Presley fans quit protecting their idol and start demanding more. They know ‘the King’ can do better.”

Sadly, Presley never got the chance to do better, for his show in Indianapolis was his last. After the concert at Market Square Arena, Elvis took a break from touring and returned home to Graceland. Nearly six weeks after his Indianapolis concert, Elvis died in his home on August 16, 1977 from heart failure, likely caused by years of prescription drug abuse.

For months afterward, Dunkin received scores of angry letters from fans of Elvis for his unfavorable review. In an interview with John Krull , Dunkin talked about the hate mail he received, particularly attacks against his personality and his supposed “envy” of Elvis. Yet, other letters (in his estimation about “20 percent”) were sympathetic, with one letter saying the King “should’ve stayed home.” Dunkin’s review still receives attention from fans of Elvis and students of music history.

Market Square Arena was demolished in 2001 and it is now a parking lot. A memorial marker for the arena commemorates its history and importance as the venue for Elvis Presley’s final concert.

Elvis Presley’s mark on American music and culture is permanently etched into stone, but his controversial final concert showed the complications and problems associated with his final years. Regardless of the quality of the concert, it will be remembered forever as the place where the King took his final bow.

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