Moby Dick?

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Arvis Paisley

Moby Dick?

#1379529

Post by Arvis Paisley »

What does Elvis mean when he says "I think I see Moby Dick" or just shouts out "Moby Dick!" during a concert?

Is this a joke that I am unaware of?



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Re: Moby Dick?

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Post by Ricky »

He picked up the microphone stand and pretended to sail it across the stage. Imitating the act of harpooning a whale, such as the famed "Moby Dick" from the famous book.



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Re: Moby Dick?

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Post by Mike C »

Hound Dawg wrote:What does Elvis mean when he says "I think I see Moby Dick" or just shouts out "Moby Dick!" during a concert?

Is this a joke that I am unaware of?
Yes, it is a joke. He usually does it when holding the mic stand like a harpoon.


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Re: Moby Dick?

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Post by drjohncarpenter »

Hound Dawg wrote:What does Elvis mean when he says "I think I see Moby Dick" or just shouts out "Moby Dick!" during a concert?

Is this a joke that I am unaware of?
I assume you are aware of the famous book by Herman Melville?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moby-Dick

When you hear Elvis reference "Moby Dick" at the 12-15-1956 "Louisiana Hayride" benefit show, it is undoubtedly to the classic John Huston film released that summer by Warner Bros. and starring Gregory Peck as Captain Ahab. It was a huge hit, and Elvis probably first saw it during his July vacation. His reference during the 6-29-1968 stand up shows is unusual, but perhaps the film had been on TV recently. Obviously, he thought it was a funny notion, this great white whale coming after him.

560627_Moby Dick_Warner Bros.JPG
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0049513
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Arvis Paisley

Re: Moby Dick?

#1379538

Post by Arvis Paisley »

Thanks, that makes sense now. A lot of things are lost without the visuals. There should have been more concerts filmed.

One thing that I always had a hard time with until I saw concert footage is how sometimes he stops singing randomly several times during the middle of a song. I didn't realize at first he was stopping to kiss people.




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Arvis Paisley

Re: Moby Dick?

#1379540

Post by Arvis Paisley »

drjohncarpenter wrote:
Hound Dawg wrote:What does Elvis mean when he says "I think I see Moby Dick" or just shouts out "Moby Dick!" during a concert?

Is this a joke that I am unaware of?

When you hear Elvis reference "Moby Dick" at the 12-15-1956 "Louisiana Hayride" benefit show, it is undoubtedly to the classic John Huston film released that summer by Warner Bros. and starring Gregory Peck as Captain Ahab. It was a huge hit, and Elvis probably first saw it during his July vacation. His reference during the 6-29-1968 stand up shows is unusual, but perhaps the film had been on TV recently. Obviously, he thought it was a funny notion, this great white whale coming after him.

Thanks for the more detailed explanation--Yes, I know the book, just didn't know why he would randomly shout it out. :wink:



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Re: Moby Dick?

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Post by drjohncarpenter »

"Moby Dick" was nationally broadcast at least twice in the 1960s:

ABC-TV: Sunday, May 20, 1962
CBS-TV: Friday, February 4, 1966

Betcha Elvis watched both times. He loved Moby Dick very, very much.


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Re: Moby Dick?

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Post by jacob »

was Lamar in the 68 audience? I think he was? Perhaps it was a joke at him (As he was large)



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Re: Moby Dick?

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Post by Mister Mike »

jacob wrote:was Lamar in the 68 audience? I think he was? Perhaps it was a joke at him (As he was large)
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Re: Moby Dick?

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Post by drjohncarpenter »

jacob wrote:was Lamar in the 68 audience? I think he was? Perhaps it was a joke at him (As he was large)
The late Lamar Fike wasn't in the audience, and the comment was not aimed at him.

Elvis did not make fun of his friends while taping performances for U.S. network broadcast.


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Re: Moby Dick?

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Post by showfan »

Hound Dawg wrote:Thanks, that makes sense now. A lot of things are lost without the visuals. There should have been more concerts filmed.

One thing that I always had a hard time with until I saw concert footage is how sometimes he stops singing randomly several times during the middle of a song. I didn't realize at first he was stopping to kiss people.
Same here. In the late 80s, I hadn't seen the Aloha concert in years, but I bought it on tape. I thought he had forgotten the words to "Hound Dog" when he started that mumbling during it; I couldn't believe it. Then i saw it and realized he was having a little fun wiping his face with a handkerchief for a woman in the audience. That made more sense.



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Re: Moby Dick?

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Post by Dan_T »

drjohncarpenter wrote:
jacob wrote:was Lamar in the 68 audience? I think he was? Perhaps it was a joke at him (As he was large)
The late Lamar Fike wasn't in the audience, and the comment was not aimed at him.

Elvis did not make fun of his friends while taping performances for U.S. network broadcast.
He made fun at Alan Fortas during the taping of one of the Sit Down Shows..referring to him as "That"



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Re: Moby Dick?

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Post by SteamrollerBlues »

Mister Mike wrote:
jacob wrote:was Lamar in the 68 audience? I think he was? Perhaps it was a joke at him (As he was large)
Good use of a wrestling gif.



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Re: Moby Dick?

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Post by TINML »

SteamrollerBlues wrote:
Mister Mike wrote:
jacob wrote:was Lamar in the 68 audience? I think he was? Perhaps it was a joke at him (As he was large)
Good use of a wrestling gif.
It's certainly appropriate.


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Re: Moby Dick?

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Post by SteamrollerBlues »

TINML wrote:
SteamrollerBlues wrote:
Mister Mike wrote:
jacob wrote:was Lamar in the 68 audience? I think he was? Perhaps it was a joke at him (As he was large)
Good use of a wrestling gif.
It's certainly appropriate.
Indeed.




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Re: Moby Dick?

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Post by donwebster449 »

Lamar as Moby Dick makes me laugh quite loud!



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Re: Moby Dick?

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Post by drjohncarpenter »

donwebster449 wrote:Lamar as Moby Dick makes me laugh quite loud!
Thanks. :smt023


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Re: Moby Dick?

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Post by jacob »

drjohncarpenter wrote:
jacob wrote:was Lamar in the 68 audience? I think he was? Perhaps it was a joke at him (As he was large)
The late Lamar Fike wasn't in the audience, and the comment was not aimed at him.

Elvis did not make fun of his friends while taping performances for U.S. network broadcast.
Lamar was with Elvis when they were making the Special as he dismisses the story of Elvis being ignored when Steve Binder took him out on to the Strip,
"That's total Bull****.He took Elvis out on Sunset alright.But phew!It was a mess.WE had to fight to get him back in." (Page449 REVELATIONS OF THE MM)
Too me, the WE implied that Lamar was there with Elvis.



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Re: Moby Dick?

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Post by mike edwards66 »

jacob wrote:Lamar was with Elvis when they were making the Special as he dismisses the story of Elvis being ignored when Steve Binder took him out on to the Strip,
"That's total Bull****.He took Elvis out on Sunset alright.But phew!It was a mess.WE had to fight to get him back in." (Page449 REVELATIONS OF THE MM)
Too me, the WE implied that Lamar was there with Elvis.
Elvis ignored on Sunset Strip, yeah right. Moby Dick.


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Re: Moby Dick?

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Post by elvis-fan »

drjohncarpenter wrote:"Moby Dick" was nationally broadcast at least twice in the 1960s:

ABC-TV: Sunday, May 20, 1962
CBS-TV: Friday, February 4, 1966

Betcha Elvis watched both times. He loved Moby Dick very, very much.
I wonder if he ever read the book.



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Re: Moby Dick?

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Post by drjohncarpenter »

jacob wrote:
drjohncarpenter wrote:The late Lamar Fike wasn't in the audience, and the comment was not aimed at him.

Elvis did not make fun of his friends while taping performances for U.S. network broadcast.
Lamar was with Elvis when they were making the Special as he dismisses the story of Elvis being ignored when Steve Binder took him out on to the Strip,
"That's total Bull****.He took Elvis out on Sunset alright.But phew!It was a mess.WE had to fight to get him back in." (Page449 REVELATIONS OF THE MM)
Too me, the WE implied that Lamar was there with Elvis.
There is no debate about that. Lamar Fike is seen in many photographs at NBC Burbank in June 1968, and his distinctive laughter is heard on both of the amazing dressing room recordings taped by Joe Esposito (June 24) and Steve Binder (June 25), respectively. But it is a fact that Elvis did not make fun of his friends in the manner you suggest.


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Re: Moby Dick?

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Post by donwebster449 »

Charlie had a distinctive laugh too don't you believe it? Almost not natural!



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Re: Moby Dick?

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Post by drjohncarpenter »

donwebster449 wrote:Charlie had a distinctive laugh too don't you believe it? Almost not natural!
Indeed, it was part of his magic.


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Re: Moby Dick?

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Post by HILLBILLY KID »

Sorry this is off topic.
Yes, good old Charlie :) I know there are people on here who "Charlie bash" as I call it; saying his vocals should be taken off records (or at least they wouldn't mind if they were!) etc. But I like him..yes his laughter may have been a tad sycophantic and false sounding at times (and I think there were times when that is the case..laughing to help Elvis feel at ease even if what he was saying wasn't as funny as Charlie's reaction warranted) but I just like him..he's part of Elvis history and an important one.


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Re: Moby Dick?

#1380074

Post by jurasic1968 »

Charlie Hodge is an important part of Elvis history? If Charlie was so, what about Sam Phillips, Marion Keisker, Scotty Moore, Chips Moman and Steve Binder?


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