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Elvis and Me 86 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • H O L I D A Y 2 0 1 8 P r i s c i l l a P r e s l e y C o m e s t o C a r m e l B Y R E B E C C A K N I G H T P riscilla Presley sits quietly for a quietly for a moment before moment before answering a question about answering a question about her memories of when she her memories of when she and Elvis Presley visited and Elvis Presley visited Monterey in December Monterey in December 1967. They had traveled 1967. They had traveled from Los Angeles to visit her from Los Angeles to visit her parents, Ann and the late parents, Ann and the late Colonel Paul Beaulieu, who Colonel Paul Beaulieu, who were living in Fort Ord. were living in Fort Ord. Laughing softly, her eyes Laughing softly, her eyes Laughing softly, her eyes sparkle. Presley's eyes will sparkle. Presley's eyes will telegraph many things over telegraph many things over the next few hours as she the next few hours as she the next few hours as she talks about her life with and talks about her life with and without The King of Rock and Roll. Relaxing on a large leather sofa sur- without The King of Rock and Roll. Relaxing on a large leather sofa sur- rounded by plush velvet pillows in her Beverly Hills mansion, her delicate rounded by plush velvet pillows in her Beverly Hills mansion, her delicate frame seems almost lost amid its stone walls and cavernous ceilings. frame seems almost lost amid its stone walls and cavernous ceilings. However, it soon becomes evident that her spirit is bigger than these sur- However, it soon becomes evident that her spirit is bigger than these sur- roundings, and this palatial home has become her protective sanctuary roundings, and this palatial home has become her protective sanctuary from the outside world. from the outside world. She begins, "Elvis had finished production on the movie, 'Speedway' the She begins, "Elvis had finished production on the movie, 'Speedway' the She begins, "Elvis had finished production on the movie, 'Speedway' the summer before with his friend and co-star Nancy Sinatra. Also, Nancy had summer before with his friend and co-star Nancy Sinatra. Also, Nancy had just taped a television special that was going to air the night we arrived in just taped a television special that was going to air the night we arrived in Monterey. My parents had a Monterey. My parents had a black-and-white television black-and-white television set and Elvis wanted to see set and Elvis wanted to see the special in color, so he the special in color, so he ordered a television to be ordered a television to be delivered to my parent's delivered to my parent's house in time for our visit. house in time for our visit. When we arrived, my father When we arrived, my father was out in front of the was out in front of the house shouting at someone house shouting at someone that he did not order a tele- that he did not order a tele- vision set and they needed vision set and they needed to take it away. to take it away. "It was already at the "It was already at the door and the men were try- door and the men were try- ing to bring it in. Elvis and I ing to bring it in. Elvis and I got there in the middle of all got there in the middle of all the craziness and Elvis explained to my dad that it was ok, he was the one the craziness and Elvis explained to my dad that it was ok, he was the one that had ordered it—and it was paid for—because it was also quite that had ordered it—and it was paid for—because it was also quite expensive. Elvis got him calmed down and that night we all sat around the expensive. Elvis got him calmed down and that night we all sat around the television together and had a good laugh over what had happened earlier television together and had a good laugh over what had happened earlier while we watched the show with Elvis." while we watched the show with Elvis." Presley continues, "Another memory of that trip was going to George Presley continues, "Another memory of that trip was going to George Stoll's mansion (The Crocker Mansion, known then as the "Castle") in Stoll's mansion (The Crocker Mansion, known then as the "Castle") in Pebble Beach. Elvis had a standing invitation to visit George and his wife Pebble Beach. Elvis had a standing invitation to visit George and his wife Dallas because George was the musical director at MGM Studios in Dallas because George was the musical director at MGM Studios in On May 1, 1967, Elvis Presley married 21-year-old Priscilla Ann Beaulieu in Las Vegas at the Aladdin Hotel. They honeymooned in Palm Springs. in Las Vegas at the Aladdin Hotel. They honeymooned in Palm Springs. Photo: Alamy Photo: Alamy