Elvis stayed up all night on the day of August 16, 1977. This was not unusual behavior for the King of Rock 'n' Roll, for earlier, Elvis had entertained some friends, played the piano and sang, and even played racquetball in the early morning hours that day. Elvis retired to his bedroom sanctuary at approximately 8:00 am that morning. His fiancée, Ginger Alden, was staying with him, but sleeping in a different room. She was the last person to see him alive. In the hazy moments before his death it is obvious that Elvis was sitting on the toilet and reading a book. There are some witness contradictions as to whether Elvis was nude or wearing pajamas at the time of his death. Examination of the scene revealed that the bathroom had been cleaned prior to the medical examiner arriving. Bodily fluids were cleaned from the bathroom shag carpet and there were no prescription medicines at the scene of death. Elvis had probably been dead for many hours by the time his body was found.

At 2:33 pm, a Memphis Fire Department ambulance from Engine House 29 responded to the emergency call, resuscitation was attempted, and by 2:56 pm, Elvis was quickly taken to the emergency room of Baptist Memorial Hospital. He was officially pronounced dead by attending medical personnel at 3:30 pm. The very sad announcement was made to the public at 4:00 pm. The autopsy commissioned immediately after his death involved draining all body fluids, removal of all vital organs, and sent to a pathology lab for testing to ascertain the cause of death. Subsequently, it was ruled that Elvis died as a result of coronary arrhythmia (an irregular beating of the heart resulting from myocardial infarction). The contents of Elvis' digestive tract, essential for determining intoxication levels, were not saved, and to this day prevents a realistic and conclusive official cause of death.

This is the true story behind the Elvis in his Coffin Picture that appeared on the front page of the Nation Enquirer Tabloid on September 6, 1977. This is not a story dealing with the supposed wax dummy that was placed in the King's coffin.

Iain Calder, veteran Editorial Director of National Inquirer wrote a book entitled, The Untold Story: My 20 Years Running the National Enquirer. Calder admits they acquired the photo from Elvis' cousin Bobby Mann for $18,000. They bribed Mann to sneak a camera into Graceland and take a picture of Elvis’ corpse in the coffin. The shocking photo appeared on the cover of the Enquirer and led to a record-setting sale of 6.5 million copies for the issue. It has since become the most famous cover picture ever. The return on the $18,000 investment brought National Enquirer over 1000% profit.

Ever wonder about the casket chosen for the King of Rock 'n' Roll? Here is the truth. Robert Kendall was Elvis’ funeral director at the Memphis Funeral home where the arrangements were made for his burial. Having arranged the funeral service for Gladys Presley 19 years earlier, Mr. Kendall naturally thought it only appropriate that Elvis should be buried in an identical $8,000 casket as his mother. This particular model of copper lined casket also provided a 2 by 4 inch stainless steel cylinder for the purposes of identification in the event the remains were ever exhumed in the future. Such ID vials included the pertinent information on specially chemically treated paper. The contents of Elvis’ ID cylinder vial in his casket read as follows: 

"On August 18, 1977 a funeral service for the late Elvis Presley was held at Graceland mansion. The funeral service was followed by a ceremony and the burial of the King of Rock 'n' Roll. A motorcade of 14 gleaming white Cadillacs moved in procession through the streets of Memphis from Graceland mansion to the Forrest Hill Cemetery. Those attending the funeral included, Priscilla Presley, Lisa Marie Presley, Vernon Presley, Minnie Mae Presley, Chet Atkins, Caroline Kennedy, Ann Margaret, Colonel Tom Parker, James Brown, Charlie Hodges, George Hamilton, Ginger Alden, Sammy Davis Jr. and Linda Thompson. Jackie Kahane gave the eulogy and Kathy Westmoreland sang Heavenly Father. The pallbearers at Elvis’ funeral were, Jerry Schilling Joe Esposito, George Klein, Lamar Fike  Billy Smith, Gene Smith,  and Dr. Nichopoulous. 'Son, Daddy will be with you soon,' cried Vernon Presley. He died two years later from a broken heart."

The wonderful and inspiring visage of our OnLine Elvis Shrine made an early appearance today after much public demand for an earlier release. After an emergency meeting, the attending Elvis Shrine Management determined that the only way to please the multitude of clicks and people was to open the Elvis Shrine much earlier than planned. Soon afterwards, an eMail alert arrived at the Shrine's central inbox that informed us of our Number Five ranking on Google. It has been a great year at the EricHatheway.com Elvis Shrine. Thank you. Thank you very much. Please visit the Elvis Shrine on this special day and don't forget to sign the guestbook.   The ShrineMaster

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"Just after 2:00 p.m., Central Standard Time, on Tuesday, August 16, 1977 Ginger Alden found Elvis, face down and obviously unconscious, on the floor of the master bathroom at Graceland. Wearing only a blue top and yellow pajama bottoms, Elvis was found crouched over with his face dark and bloated. At approximately 3:30pm Elvis Presley was pronounced dead after an extremely frantic ambulance ride to Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis. At the hospital, a throng of highly trained medical specialists battled to save his life but to no avail. The official medical verdict was death by heart failure. Officials from Baptist Memorial Hospital reached Vernon Presley by telephone to tell him that his son was dead. Half an hour later, on the famous steps of Graceland, a very grief stricken Vernon Presley announced to the world: 'My son, Elvis is dead...' Vernon Presley died two years later from a broken heart."

Visit the EricHatheway.com Online Elvis Shrine The No. 5 Elvis Shrine on Google

As a prelude to the many wondrous festivities to be conducted during Elvis Week starting tomorrow, the EricHatheway.com staff proudly presents the best Elvis impersonation of all-time! The King himself even said so! This impersonation by Andy Kaufman was performed in 1979 on the Johnny Cash Show. Enjoy!

The wonderful and inspiring visage of our OnLine Elvis Shrine will appear tomorrow at 4:20 pm Memphis time. Please log on and behold the awesomeness of the OnLine Elvis Shrine that we have marvelously and wonderfully constructed for all your online shrine needs. Thanks to all those who donated Elvis relics to the Elvis Shrine. We are now the No. 7 Elvis Shrine on Google. Thank you. Thank you very much.

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	El Vez Jones The ShrineMaster eMail: shrinemaster@erichatheway.com Visit the Online Elvis Shrine
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Okay, at some fondue party in the Valley the other night, the author here, Dirque du Soleil, sort of overheard something. Over the bubbling fondue pots, the normal party chatter and the groovy disco music, it came from around the corner in the kitchen, I heard it – confirmation of The Rumor. It had been going around Hollywood and the Valley for some time now. But still, it fell upon my ears like a sad rain – Hef is shutting down the Playboy Mansion party scene after all these years. This year's fabled Midsummer Night's Dream party and the famous Halloween party held every year at the Playboy Mansion will likely be the last. Word on the streets is that the girls aren't getting along so well, and Holly has made it clear that Hef is HER man, n'kay? We hear the Girls Next Door aren't being seen together as much around here too. And, to top it all off, it's going around that the Playboy Mansion will only be available for high-dollar customers who wish to have a party at the most swanky house in the world.

Now, this seems to pretty reliable information here. The person who was heard confirming The Rumor was never seen you see – but, it was definitely a woman. You could tell she was a lively sort, but the voice and the hilarious laugh gave her away for sure. Besides, she was complaining about the fondue at the party. She said the fondue wasn't filling enough and she was going to take her booty down to the Olive Garden she saw on the way over here. Peace.

Dirque du Soleil

He's from the past, so he knows the future...

dirque@erichatheway.com

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