Elvis: "A Day in the Life" December 1, 1968, (Sunday)
1174 Hillcrest Road, Beverly Hills, California.
No information.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" December 2, 1968, (Monday)
MOVIE PRODUCTION: - (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer) "The Trouble With Girls"
Metro Goldwyn Mayer, 10202 West Washington Boulevard, Culver City, California.
Principal photography continued on "Chautauqua." by now the movie title had been changed to "The Trouble With Girls"
(and how to get into it)
1174 Hillcrest Road, Beverly Hills, California.
No information.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" December 3, 1968, (Tuesday)
NBC TV SPECIAL BROADCAST: - (NBC) "Elvis" (9:00 pm - 10:00 pm) (60 mins)
1174 Hillcrest Road, Beverly Hills, California.
A nervous Elvis and Priscilla watched "SINGER presents ELVIS" which aired in a sixty minute version that was broadcast at
9:00 pm (EST) It was greeted by critical hosannas (this is the Elvis who "performed existential acts to liberate an entire
generation," proclaimed the Boston Phoenix; "Rock Star's Vintage Blues Have Explosive Quality," opines the New York Times) as well as some doubters ("He still can't sing," declared Variety; "I don't think many viewers care to see Singers sweat on TV" sniffed the Los Angeles Times) - but there was no question: Elvis was back! (video)
"Elvis" (NBC TV Special)
(opening only)
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" December 4, 1968, (Wednesday)
MOVIE PRODUCTION: - (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer) "The Trouble With Girls"
Metro Goldwyn Mayer, 10202 West Washington Boulevard, Culver City, California.
Principal photography continued on "The Trouble With Girls"
1174 Hillcrest Road, Beverly Hills, California.
No information.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" December 5, 1968, (Thursday)
MOVIE PRODUCTION: - (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer) "The Trouble With Girls"
Metro Goldwyn Mayer, 10202 West Washington Boulevard, Culver City, California.
Principal photography continued on "The Trouble With Girls"
1174 Hillcrest Road, Beverly Hills, California.
Elvis had fun practising his karate moves with Sonny Hughes. (photo)
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" December 6, 1968, (Friday)
MOVIE PRODUCTION: - (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer) "The Trouble With Girls"
Metro Goldwyn Mayer, 10202 West Washington Boulevard, Culver City, California.
Principal photography continued on "The Trouble With Girls"
1174 Hillcrest Road, Beverly Hills, California.
No information.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" December 7, 1968, (Saturday)
1174 Hillcrest Road, Beverly Hills, California.
No information.
BILLBOARD POP CHART (singles)
HOT 100:
"Love Child" by Diana Ross & the Supremes.
"If I Can Dream" by Elvis Presley. #63
EASY LISTENING (TOP 40):
"Those Were the Days" by Mary Hopkin.
BILLBOARD C&W CHART (singles)
HOT C&W SIDES:
"Stand By Your Man" by Tammy Wynette.
BEST BETS FOR CHRISTMAS:
"The Christmas Song" by Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass.
BILLBOARD R&B CHART (singles)
HOT R&B SIDES:
"Who's Making Love" by Johnnie Taylor.
BILLBOARD POP CHART (LP)
TOP LP's
"Cheap Thrills" by Big Brother & the Holding Company.
BILLBOARD COUNTRY CHART (LP)
HOT C&W ALBUMS
"Wichita Lineman" by Glen Campbell.
BEST BETS FOR CHRISTMAS:
"Christmas Album" by Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass.
"Elvis' Christmas Album" by Elvis Presley. #3
BILLBOARD RHYTHM/BLUES CHART (LP)
HOT R&B ALBUMS
"Special Occasion" by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" December 8, 1968, (Sunday)
No information.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" December 9, 1968, (Monday)
MOVIE PRODUCTION: - (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer) "The Trouble With Girls"
Metro Goldwyn Mayer, 10202 West Washington Boulevard, Culver City, California.
Principal photography continued on "The Trouble With Girls"
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" December 10, 1968, (Tuesday)
MOVIE PRODUCTION: - (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer) "The Trouble With Girls"
Metro Goldwyn Mayer, 10202 West Washington Boulevard, Culver City, California.
Principal photography continued on "The Trouble With Girls"
The Colonel informed Abe Lastfogel at William Morris that Elvis would consider an engagement in Las Vegas if he could have Mondays off, play one show a night on weeknights (at 11:30 pm) with two shows a night at the weekend, and received compensation of $500,000 for four weeks, or $300,000 for two weeks.
At the same time, the Colonel convinced RCA to pay him a flat fee of $100,000 for the promotional effort he would provide in 1969. This was in addition to the regular merchandising arrangement between RCA and the Colonel.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" December 11, 1968, (Wednesday)
MOVIE PRODUCTION: - (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer) "The Trouble With Girls"
Metro Goldwyn Mayer, 10202 West Washington Boulevard, Culver City, California.
Principal photography continued on "The Trouble With Girls"
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" December 12, 1968, (Thursday)
MOVIE PRODUCTION: - (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer) "The Trouble With Girls"
Metro Goldwyn Mayer, 10202 West Washington Boulevard, Culver City, California.
Principal photography continued on "The Trouble With Girls"
Abe Lastfogel was swamped with requests for more TV appearances, but the Colonel told him to simply respond that Elvis was not available.
1174 Hillcrest Road, Beverly Hills, California.
No information.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" December 13, 1968, (Friday)
MOVIE PRODUCTION: - (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer) "The Trouble With Girls"
Metro Goldwyn Mayer, 10202 West Washington Boulevard, Culver City, California.
Principal photography continued on "The Trouble With Girls"
lester Welch, the producer of "The Trouble With Girls," sent Col. Parker a thank you letter for giving him a copy of the soundtrack album to Elvis' TV Special. (photo)
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" December 14, 1968, (Saturday)
372 Camino Norte, Palm Springs, California.
Elvis spent the weekend in Palm Springs.
BILLBOARD POP CHART (singles)
HOT 100:
"I Heard it Through the Grapevine" by Marvin Gaye.
"If I Can Dream" by Elvis Presley. #40
EASY LISTENING (TOP 40):
"Wichita Lineman" by Glen Campbell.
BILLBOARD C&W CHART (singles)
HOT C&W SIDES:
"Born to be With You" by Sonny James.
BEST BETS FOR CHRISTMAS:
"The Christmas Song" by Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass.
BILLBOARD R&B CHART (singles)
HOT R&B SIDES:
"I Heard it Through the Grapevine" by Marvin Gaye.
BILLBOARD POP CHART (LP)
TOP LP's
"Cheap Thrills" by Big Brother & the Holding Company.
BILLBOARD COUNTRY CHART (LP)
HOT C&W ALBUMS
"Wichita Lineman" by Glen Campbell.
BEST BETS FOR CHRISTMAS:
"Christmas Album" by Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass.
"Elvis' Christmas Album" by Elvis Presley. #3
BILLBOARD RHYTHM/BLUES CHART (LP)
HOT R&B ALBUMS
"Special Occasion" by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" December 15, 1968, (Sunday)
372 Camino Norte, Palm Springs, California.
Elvis spent the weekend in Palm Springs.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" December 16, 1968, (Monday)
MOVIE PRODUCTION: - (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer) "The Trouble With Girls"
Metro Goldwyn Mayer, 10202 West Washington Boulevard, Culver City, California.
Principal photography continued on "The Trouble With Girls"
The Elvis' TV Special topped the Nielsen ratings for the week of December 2 - 8. It was seen by 42 percent of the viewing audience, this made it the number one show for the season and gave NBC it's biggest ratings victory of the year. (photo)
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" December 17, 1968, (Tuesday)
MOVIE PRODUCTION: - (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer) "The Trouble With Girls"
Metro Goldwyn Mayer, 10202 West Washington Boulevard, Culver City, California.
Principal photography continued on "The Trouble With Girls"
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" December 18, 1968, (Wednesday)
MOVIE PRODUCTION: - (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer) "The Trouble With Girls"
Metro Goldwyn Mayer, 10202 West Washington Boulevard, Culver City, California.
Elvis' work on the "The Trouble With Girls" was completed and he was released by the studio.
Sometime in December more additional backup vocals overdubs were recorded by Billy Strange at United Recorders. The Blossoms added their vocals to "Clean Up Your Own Back Yard" and "Swing Down Sweet Chariot."
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" December 19, 1968, (Thursday)
1174 Hillcrest Road, Beverly Hills, California.
Elvis spent some time with the Colonel and Lamar Fike before he left California. (photos)
LAS VEGAS BECKONS
he Colonel accepted a deal for Elvis to perform at Kirk Kerkorian's yet-to-be-built International Hotel, but rejected the opportunity to open the projected two-thousand-seat showroom (the largest in Vegas) in July, since the Colonel felt that someone else should have the opportunity to iron out the bugs. The arrangement was for four weeks, seven nights a week, and the standard two shows a night, although the contract stipulated that should any other performer get a less demanding schedule within a year of Elvis' engagement, the hotel would pay a $50,000 penalty. Elvis' salary was $100,000 a week, out of which Elvis would pay for his band and backup singers.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" December 19, 1968, (Thursday)
Elvis flew home to Memphis and arrived early in the morning. In the evening he went to the movies and saw John Wayne's "Hellfighters" and Richard Burton, Marlon Brando, Walter Matthau and an all-star cameo cast in Candy. He attended the movies almost every night during the month he was at home.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" December 20, 1968, (Friday)
No information.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" December 21, 1968, (Saturday)
No information.
BILLBOARD POP CHART (singles)
HOT 100:
"I Heard it Through the Grapevine" by Marvin Gaye.
"If I Can Dream" by Elvis Presley. #36
EASY LISTENING (TOP 40):
"Wichita Lineman" by Glen Campbell.
BILLBOARD C&W CHART (singles)
HOT C&W SIDES:
"Wichita Lineman" by Glen Campbell.
BEST BETS FOR CHRISTMAS:
"The Christmas Song" by Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass.
"Blue Christmas" by Elvis Presley. #12
BILLBOARD R&B CHART (singles)
HOT R&B SIDES:
"I Heard it Through the Grapevine" by Marvin Gaye.
BILLBOARD POP CHART (LP)
TOP LP's
"Wichita Lineman" by Glen Campbell.
"Elvis" by Elvis Presley. #166
BILLBOARD COUNTRY CHART (LP)
HOT C&W ALBUMS
"Wichita Lineman" by Glen Campbell.
BEST BETS FOR CHRISTMAS:
"That Christmas Feeling" by Glen Campbell.
"Elvis' Christmas Album" by Elvis Presley. #4
BILLBOARD RHYTHM/BLUES CHART (LP)
HOT R&B ALBUMS
"Diana Ross & the Supremes Join the Temptations"
by Diana Ross & the Supremes.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" December 22, 1968, (Sunday)
Elvis paid over $2,200 for a New Year's Eve party on December 21, 1968 at the Thunderbird Lounge on Adams Street in Memphis.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" December 23, 1968, (Monday)
Joe Esposito purchased gift certificates from Goldsmith's Department Store in amounts between $100 and $200 to be used by Elvis as Christmas presents.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" December 24, 1968, (Tuesday)
No information.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" December 25, 1968, (Wednesday)
LISA MARIE'S FIRST CHRISTMAS
Graceland, 3764 Highway 51 South, Memphis, Tennessee.
Elvis and Priscilla spent Christmas at Graceland. For Lisa Marie's first Christmas Vernon dressed up as Santa. (video)
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" December 26, 1968, (Thursday)
No information.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" December 27, 1968, (Friday)
No information.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" December 28, 1968, (Saturday)
No information.
BILLBOARD POP CHART (singles)
HOT 100:
"I Heard it Through the Grapevine" by Marvin Gaye.
"If I Can Dream" by Elvis Presley. #30
EASY LISTENING (TOP 40):
"Wichita Lineman" by Glen Campbell.
BILLBOARD C&W CHART (singles)
HOT C&W SIDES:
"Wichita Lineman" by Glen Campbell.
BEST BETS FOR CHRISTMAS:
"Little Drummer Boy" by The Harry Simeone Chorale.
"Blue Christmas" by Elvis Presley. #8
BILLBOARD R&B CHART (singles)
HOT R&B SIDES:
"I Heard it Through the Grapevine" by Marvin Gaye.
BILLBOARD POP CHART (LP)
TOP LP's
"The White Album" by the Beatles.
"Elvis" by Elvis Presley. #106
BILLBOARD COUNTRY CHART (LP)
HOT C&W ALBUMS
"Wichita Lineman" by Glen Campbell.
BEST BETS FOR CHRISTMAS:
"That Christmas Feeling" by Glen Campbell.
"Elvis' Christmas Album" by Elvis Presley. #5
BILLBOARD RHYTHM/BLUES CHART (LP)
HOT R&B ALBUMS
"Diana Ross & the Supremes Join the Temptations"
by Diana Ross & the Supremes.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" December 29, 1968, (Sunday)
No information.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" December 30, 1968, (Monday)
No information.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" December 31, 1968, (Tuesday)
NEW YEAR'S EVE PARTY
Thunderbird Lounge, Adams Street, Memphis, Tennessee.
Elvis' New Year's Eve party was at the Thunderbird Lounge again this year. Performers were the Short Cuts, Vaneese Starks, Flash and the Board of Directors, Billy Lee Riley, and B. J. Thomas.
Elvis' accountants reported that in 1968 his personal income from motion pictures was $2,600,000, with $532,000 from music and recording and $350,000 from television. His income tax came to $1,422,000.