Elvis - G.I. Blues

These photos were taken back in 1960 as Elvis Presley prepared himself for making the film, "G.I. Blues."

Elvis on his way to Los Angeles Union station, late on April 20th, 1960. Charlie Hodge can be seen in the reflection sat next to Elvis. Every little whistle stop where trains no longer stopped, there was mobs of people all the way across the United States of America, they would be waving when the train went by, because they knew Elvis was on there'.

Elvis Presley (And Charlie Hodge) : On the train to California : April 20, 1960

Question : Has Rock N' Roll died out?

Elvis: 'A lot people say it is has'.

'I'll tell ya, It has changed some, the music itself has changed, it's progressed quite a bit I think'.

Question : It's better?'

Elvis: 'I think it's getting better all the time, you know, because the arrangements are getting better, they're adding more intsruments, and, you know so forth, it's getting better, but in 1956 when I first started out, I was hearing the same thing, that Rock N Roll was dead, that it was dying out, I'm not saying that it won't die out, because it maybe dead tomorrow, completely, I don't know'.

April 20, 1960 : Elvis Presley : Los Angeles Airport California.

As his cab is mobbed by teenagers, returning veteran Elvis Presley (rear seat) plays it cool as he arrives in Los Angeles to start work on a movie at Paramount Studios. Despite his attempts to get from the station to his private car via the cab route, he was recognized and quickly surrounded by adoring fans.

Charlie Hodge : 'When we got to Los Angeles, they put us in about five or six different cars, and each car went in a different direction, and they didn't know which one Elvis was in, so they didn't know which one to follow,then we of course, went through the hotel there in Beverly Hills, the Beverly Wilshire Hotel'.

April 20, 1960 : Los Angeles Airport California : Elvis Presley proved he has the same old magic yesterday as screaming teenagers surrounded his taxi as it left Union Station. The faithful had waited four hours for their hero.