Every year on June 26th we hear assorted stories about Elvis Presley’s last concert at Market Square Arena (Indianapolis) in1977. Since I live in Indianapolis myself, I find we Hoosiers seem to hear more recollections from those who were in attendance because ours is the home town of the event.
Although I did not attend that now historic last concert, I can’t help but think about the much promoted “Aloha from Hawaii” concert when my boss Doris Day and I had front row seats! Yes, on April 4, 1973, we were right in front of the TV
in her maid’s room waiting for the big event. That show was broadcast to over 40 countries across Asia and Europe via satellite earlier in January, but did not air in the USA until April 4. This show was the most expensive entertainment special from that time, costing $2.5 million.
After becoming Doris’s personal secretary, I had moved in with the star in her lovely Beverly Hills home right before Christmas. That night we were doing laundry and while waiting for things to dry, we hunkered down in the vacant
maid’s room just off the laundry. Doris reclined in a lovely lounge chair and I sat on the floor surrounded by about six of her four-leggers, her pups.
The time came and we both sat there silent, eager to see this highly promoted “LIVE” concert with The King. It was a fabulous show and what I enjoyed most about the evening was hearing Doris hum and sometimes sing with Elvis I particularly recall her singing with his third song “Something.”
How beautiful to hear the two of them blend their marvelous voices through that song. I remembered Doris had done a take-off on that song one Saturday morning when we met at Bailey’s Bakery: a lisp version of “Something” which was hilarious. As she lisped along through the words, she would cross her eyes: very funny. The three other songs she hummed and/or sang along to were “My Way,” “Welcome
To My World,” and “Can’t Help Falling In Love,” the final song in the concert, one she had recorded. Time flew and the concert was over. We both really enjoyed seeing and hearing Elvis in his incredible show LIVE from Hawaii.
Aloha!
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