Elvis Presley spoke to a whole generation of people through his music. Whether it was a ballad, a gospel hymn, or pure rock'n'roll, when he sang, people listened. However, there was more to Elvis than his music and movies. Throughout his career he was questioned by mobs of adoring fans and interviewed by thousands of inquisitive reporters. Repeatedly he was asked personal questions about his life, ranging from love and marriage to his musical style, from his religious beliefs to his family. He answered them all in a polite and forthright way. Elvis Speaks is a collection of Elvis's words—what he said on a variety of topics such as loneliness, performing in front of live audiences, how he felt about his fans, how he felt about being drafted into the army, music, love, and religion. The words are pure Elvis. They come from the heart and reflect the man behind the entertainer and beyond the gates of Graceland, the Cadillacs, the gold records, and the money. Elvis Speaks tells of a man who loved to entertain people and found heartache and happiness in a career that spanned nearly three decades.

When Richard M. Hollingshead Jr. first projected a movie onto a white bedsheet stretched between two trees at his home in Camden, New Jersey, in 1933, little did he know that he was on the verge of creating an entirely new entertainment industry. With America just beginning its romance with the automobile, it's no surprise that the general public found this new form of moviegoing irresistible. Fun and affordable, the drive-in quickly gained popularity among families with young children. And, of course, the local drive-in was a favorite weekend hangout for teenagers: a place where they could go just to meet friends or take a sweetheart for a romantic evening of movies under the stars. Although drive-ins are no longer as popular as they once were, in many communities a devoted following still seeks out the open-air theaters at twilight. Cinema Under the Stars"" is a reminder of those wonderful times, as well as a recounting of the history of the drive-in experience. Here is the story, and here are the memories: B movies, concession stands loaded with goodies, screen towers, ticket booths, scratchy speakers, speaker poles, and intermission. It is all here - a nostalgic look at one of America's all-time favorite pastimes.""

When Richard M. Hollingshead Jr. first projected a movie onto a white bedsheet stretched between two trees at his home in Camden, New Jersey, in 1933, little did he know that he was on the verge of creating an entirely new entertainment industry. With America just beginning its romance with the automobile, it's no surprise that the general public found this new form of moviegoing irresistible. Fun and affordable, the drive-in quickly gained popularity among families with young children. And, of course, the local drive-in was a favorite weekend hangout for teenagers: a place where they could go just to meet friends or take a sweetheart for a romantic evening of movies under the stars. Although drive-ins are no longer as popular as they once were, in many communities a devoted following still seeks out the open-air theaters at twilight.

Cinema Under the Stars"" is a reminder of those wonderful times, as well as a recounting of the history of the drive-in experience. Here is the story, and here are the memories: B movies, concession stands loaded with goodies, screen towers, ticket booths, scratchy speakers, speaker poles, and intermission. It is all here - a nostalgic look at one of America's all-time favorite pastimes.""

Elvis Presley spoke to a whole generation of people through his music. Whether it was a ballad, a gospel hymn, or pure rock'n'roll, when he sang, people listened. However, there was more to Elvis than his music and movies. Throughout his career he was questioned by mobs of adoring fans and interviewed by thousands of inquisitive reporters. Repeatedly he was asked personal questions about his life, ranging from love and marriage to his musical style, from his religious beliefs to his family. He answered them all in a polite and forthright way. Elvis Speaks is a collection of Elvis's words -- what he said on a variety of topics such as loneliness, performing in front of live audiences, how he felt about his fans, how he felt about being drafted into the army, music, love, and religion. The words are pure Elvis. They come from the heart and reflect the man behind the entertainer and beyond the gates of Graceland, the Cadillacs, the gold records, and the money. Elvis Speaks tells of a man who loved to entertain people and found heartache and happiness in a career that spanned nearly three decades.

Kitty Dolan recalls a visit with Elvis in Killeen, Texas, right after his mother's death. "We drove in Elvis's white Cadillac to the house they had rented from Judge Crawford. . . .That night we sat down to dinner, with Elvis at one end of the table and his father at the other. Then his grandmother. There was a big platter of white bread for sandwich makings and a big platter of southern baked beans. Theat was topped off with a delicious pie his Grandmammy had baked. Elvis looked at me with a shy, little smile and said, 'I hope you like our southern cooking.'"

Elvis Presley liked traditional southern cooking. In "Fit for a King"(TM) are more then 300 recipes for the foods Elvis enjoyed, including many from his longtime cook Alvena Roy. Also included are menus for meals served at Graceland, for Elvis and Priscilla's wedding reception, for the Beatles' visit, and for Christmas in Memphis.

The memories Elvis's friends have of mealtimes with him at Graceland depict him as a thoughtful, considerate, and fun-loving person. Many of the seventy photographs are published here for the first time.