Turner Classic Movies celebrates Elvis’ 75th birthday

Posted Dec 17, 2009 by Walt Belcher

Updated Dec 17, 2009 at 05:20 PM

Elvis Presley would have turned 75 on Jan. 8, 2010, so Turner Classic Movies is planning a 20-hour marathon.

On that Friday, his ex-wife Priscilla Presley and longtime friend Jerry Schilling will join TCM host Robert Osborne as TCM celebrates the 75th anniversary of the birth of “The King.” 

Their introductions will be part of a 20-hour marathon of movies and concert documentaries.

“Priscilla Presley and Jerry Shilling knew Elvis Presley as well as or better than anyone who’s still with us,” Osborne said. “It’s a treat to be able to talk with each of them and share their memories of both the man and the legend.”

Priscilla Presley is an actress and businesswoman who achieved popularity for her work in the “Naked Gun” films and the television series “Dallas.” In 1982, she founded Elvis Presley Enterprises and chaired the company’s board until 1998. Although Priscilla and Elvis divorced in 1973, they remained close friends and shared custody of the daughter, Lisa Marie, until Elvis’ death in 1977. Priscilla wrote about her life with Elvis in the bestseller “Elvis and Me,” published in 1985. 

Priscilla and Lisa Marie later collaborated on the book “Elvis by the Presleys,” published in 2005.

Schilling first met Elvis Presley when Schilling was only 12 years old. Years later, Schilling became one of Presley’s bodyguards. Schilling briefly managed the Beach Boys and Elvis’ daughter, Lisa Marie.  To this day, he lives in a house bought for him by Presley.

TCM’s tribute will begin at 6 a.m. and will feature such titles as “Kissin’ Cousins” (1964), “Speedway” (1968), “Blue Hawaii” (1961) and “Viva Las Vegas” (1964). Priscilla Presley and Jerry Schilling will join Robert Osborne in primetime to introduce the concert documentaries “Elvis on Tour” (1972), with sequences co-edited by Schilling and Martin Scorsese, and the 2001 re-edited version of the 1970 film “Elvis: That’s the Way It Is,” as well as the film considered by many to be Elvis’ best, “Jailhouse Rock” (1957).

The following is a complete schedule for TCM’s 75th birthday celebration of Elvis Presley (all times shown are Eastern):

6 a.m.          Harum Scarum (1965) – co-starring Mary Ann Mobley, Fran Jeffries and Michael Ansara.

7:45 a.m.      Kissin’ Cousins (1964) – co-starring Arthur O’Connell, Glenda Farrell and Jack Albertson.

9:30 a.m.      Spinout (1966) – co-starring Shelly Fabares and Diane McBain.

11:15 a.m.    Roustabout (1964) – co-starring Barbara Stanwyck and Joan Freeman.

1 p.m.          Girl Happy (1965) – co-starring Shelley Fabares, Harold J. Stone and Gary Crosby.

2:45 a.m.      Speedway (1968) – co-starring Nancy Sinatra, Bill Bixby and Gale Gordon.

4:30 p.m.      Blue Hawaii (1961) – co-starring Joan Blackman and Angela Lansbury.

6:15 p.m.      Viva Las Vegas (1964) – co-starring Ann-Margret, Cesare Danova and William Demarest.

8 p.m.          Elvis on Tour (1972)

10 p.m.        Elvis: That’s the Way It Is Special Edition (2001)

Midnight       Jailhouse Rock (1957) – co-starring Judy Tyler, Mickey Shaughnessy and Dean Jones.