Still strolling down Memory Lane in the afterglow of India's Independence Day celebrations yesterday, I recall Elvis Presley was a big part of my schooldays in Calcutta (Kolkata). I think I saw almost every movie of his which used to be screened regularly in the theatres then, the old ones doing countless reruns in Sunday morning shows to packed houses.
The auditorium would burst into applause the moment the King first appeared on screen. Young men would get up and dance in the aisles or in front of the screen during intermission. I was sure to meet schoolmates at the shows, and we would all be dressed up to the nines. The one movie I missed was Blue Hawaii. Somehow I never got to see it though it was a regular Sunday morning feature. I still remember JS, which was originally called the Junior Statesman but later shortened its name to be more trendy and appeal to an older crowd, brought out a special issue when Elvis married Priscilla in 1967. This video shows Elvis singing Don't Be Cruel in 1968. My favourite is Are You Lonesome Tonight followed by It's Now Or Never and Surrender. But the King looks so dashing here. He could wow even after the Beatles, Bob Dylan and Simon and Garfunkel had recorded their greatest hits. There will never be anyone else like him.
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