Elvis and mystery date at the Sahara '57 --> IDENTIFIED!

[drjohncarpenter]

UPDATE:

Stop the presses -- we have identified the MYSTERY DATE!

It is Brooklyn model Sandy Preston!




See: http://www.elvis-collectors.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=64133&p=976186#p976186

Many thanks to FECC's The fool!!

The original posting (with corrected attribution for the mystery photo) -->

On another topic, the feeling was that this lovely gal seen here is actress Venetia Stevenson:

571022_w Sandy Preston at Sahara Hotel Las Vegas.JPG

Elvis and Sandy Preston, Sahara Hotel, Las Vegas - Tuesday, October 22, 1957


But in other photos of Venetia from the period, we seem to see a different woman.

560000_Venetia Stevenson.JPG

Venetia Stevenson, circa 1956

570700_Perkins Loren Stevenson Pride and Passion premiere.jpg

Tony Perkins, Sophia Loren, Venetia Stevenson - July 1957
Post-premiere party for "The Pride and the Passion," Bali Room, Beverly Hilton, Beverly Hills, CA

5709_Popular Photography 'Most Photogenic' a.jpg

Popular Photography, September 1957
Venetia was chosen "Most Photogenic Girl in the World."

5709_Popular Photography 'Most Photogenic' b.jpg

Popular Photography, September 1957
Venetia's featured shot.




Venetia and Elvis behind the Strand Theater in Memphis, Thursday, August 8, 1957
They were about to see a midnight screening of "Loving You."

---

So, is there anything we have to confirm who Elvis' date was in that October 1957 photo, like a newspaper report? Or perhaps some more photos of this Las Vegas date?

[Good Time Charlie]

Interesting research Doc. All I know is, the mystery girl is absolutely gorgeous and one of the best-looking girls I've ever seen on a date with Elvis. Just look at Elvis' smile, I've never seen him so happy!

[Mike C]

It sure looks a lot like Anita Wood, who he started dating just a few months earlier.

[drjohncarpenter]

It sure looks a lot like Anita Wood, who he started dating just a few months earlier.

The shot from Vegas in October 1957 is definitely not Anita Wood.

[rickeap]

It's a close call, could be the same person. Her smile in the top photo is particulaerly lovely, but the other photos are nice too and not too distant in looks.
Either way, I don't blame Elvis for smling.
Nice photos, thanks Doc.

[luckyjackson1]

Maybe it was just a fan who wanted a photograph with Elvis? I have the feeling she was NOT Elvis' date on that particular evening. Sorry I can't provide any helpful information on this - but she sure was damn pretty!

Would've been a nice couple though...

[ekenee]

She has a smile similair to Suzanne Leigh from Paradise Haw. style, but the face is different.

She also resembles Dottie Harmony, but I've never seen that pic before, so I don't know.

[norrie]

Hmmm,could be the same person there sure are similarities but the hair has changed a hell of a lot from the Aug 57 photo to the disputed Oct 57.Great photos Doc lets hope we can get confirmation one way or another.

norrie

[Good Time Charlie]

When you type in Dottie Harmony in Google Images search, this picture appears in 3 of the first 4 results: http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&rlz=1T4TSEA_en-GBGB287GB288&q=dottie+harmony&gs_sm=e&gs_upl=12585l13233l1l13486l5l5l1l0l0l1l161l470l1.3l4l0&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&biw=1440&bih=785&wrapid=tlif131532119243810&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi

We all know Dottie spent Christmas of 1956 with Elvis, and he apparently saw her on and off for over a year. She also worked in Las Vegas so it is not unlikely he hooked up with her again when he was in town in October 1957. But once again, although she resembles the lady in the picture, it's far from conclusive.

Regarding Venetia, well she is mentioned as being at a party in Elvis' 'suite' in October 1957 in Guralnick's "The Last Train to Memphis", but it is very vague and confusing about what date and location he is talking about. But it appears he is talking about Las Vegas. Either way, we know Elvis was acquainted with her in this period, she'd already visited Graceland in the August and I think the picture may well be of her. Sometimes a different pose can make you look slightly different.

Guralnick also mentions though that in October and November of 1957 Elvis dated many showgirls in Las Vegas during this period. He talks of a 21 year old singer named KItty Dolan but further research shows he met her in Vegas in 1958 and she doesn't look anything like this girl anyway.

So I think it is safe to say it is either Venetia Stevenson, Dottie Harmony or just one of the many Las Vegas showgirls Elvis dated in this period.

[Good Time Charlie]

To further highlight how 'busy' Elvis was with the ladies, here he is in Vegas in October 1957 with Miss. Nevada 1957 and Miss. USA's Runner-Up of 1957, brunette Joan Adams. It appears it could be from the same night, as Elvis is wearing the same clothes.

http://www.elvispresleymusic.com.au/pictures/1957_october_joan_adams_elvis_las_vegas.html

[drjohncarpenter]

Maybe it was just a fan who wanted a photograph with Elvis? I have the feeling she was NOT Elvis' date on that particular evening. Sorry I can't provide any helpful information on this - but she sure was damn pretty!

Would've been a nice couple though...

The idea of the photo being a quick shot with a fan is an intriguing possibility, although they look pretty chummy for a photo op. See another theory below!

---

When you type in Dottie Harmony in Google Images search ...

The girl is definitely not Dottie Harmony, the Google Image search is pulling from misattributed photos.

Regarding Venetia, well she is mentioned as being at a party in Elvis' 'suite' in October 1957 in Guralnick's "The Last Train to Memphis", but it is very vague and confusing about what date and location he is talking about.

IIRC, she was part of the after-party group (including Sammy Davis, Jr., Nick Adams, Tommy Sands, Vince Edwards and Ricky Nelson) following one of Elvis' Pan-Pacific gigs in Los Angeles on October 28 and 29, 1957.

So I think it is safe to say it is either Venetia Stevenson, Dottie Harmony or just one of the many Las Vegas showgirls Elvis dated in this period.

Probably not, definitely not, and maybe.

To further highlight how 'busy' Elvis was with the ladies, here he is in Vegas in October 1957 with Miss. Nevada 1957 and Miss. USA's Runner-Up of 1957, brunette Joan Adams. It appears it could be from the same night, as Elvis is wearing the same clothes.

That site, no surprise, took those October 1957 Joan Adams images after they were posted here:

Presley w/Date Joan Adams!
http://www.elvis-collectors.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=54179&p=781088&#p781088

---

Joan was not only Miss Nevada 1957, she worked at the Sahara.

Wait. Perhaps our mystery girl was another Miss USA success, and a friend of Miss Adams.

Elvis also escorted Kathryn Gabriel, Miss Ohio 1957, around this time, including down in Memphis that December. He was a busy, busy 22 year-old.

---

Here's another shot of Venetia, about a year before she met Elvis.

560000_Venetia Stevenson b.jpg

---

Thank you both for your input. More valued feedback is welcome.

bripet56, where are you?

[Jove]

They look a little bit similar,but the first photo, the lady has dimples when smiling, in the second photo (also smiling) there were no dimples. If I had time I will check out my Darby's Rangers dvd.

[promiseland]

Great topic Doc.

After running a few filters on your supplied photo , the "Dimple" on the cheek area is not a dimple , but an artifact in the photo, just a high pixilated area that resembles a dimple caused by an indentation in the photograph.

I have posted a photo of Venetia Stevenson with another rare hairstyle forehead shot from '57.
Note the eyes, the smile, the teeth, the face structure and cheek lines , the woman that Elvis is sitting with and the photo of the woman I have supplied, are one in the same -
Venetia Stevenson!

[promiseland]

The 'Dimple" is nothing more than an indentation (deep recess) in the photograph itself

note that is is actually longer than what appears in the photo in this high pixelated image.

[Aunt Delta]

If it wasn't for the dimples I'd say it's Mamie Van Doren. She claimed to have attended Louis Prima's show with Elvis at the Sahara (read the story here: http://www.biwa.ne.jp/~presley/elnews-MamieVanDoren.htm) and Elvis is wearing the same clothes in the pictures with Prima...




Mamie Van Doren

[Aunt Delta]

Another picture of her I just came across. She looks a lot like the girl with Elvis in the "mystery date" pic here.

[Joe Car]

1957 was a great year for our boy, in more ways then one! Well done everybody!

[drjohncarpenter]

Great topic Doc.

After running a few filters on your supplied photo , the "Dimple" on the cheek area is not a dimple , but an artifact in the photo, just a high pixilated area that resembles a dimple caused by an indentation in the photograph.

I have posted a photo of Venetia Stevenson with another rare hairstyle forehead shot from '57.
Note the eyes, the smile, the teeth, the face structure and cheek lines , the woman that Elvis is sitting with and the photo of the woman I have supplied, are one in the same -
Venetia Stevenson!

Your post is quite persuasive!

I wish we had one or two more photos of Elvis with his date, though.

[promiseland]

Great topic Doc.

After running a few filters on your supplied photo , the "Dimple" on the cheek area is not a dimple , but an artifact in the photo, just a high pixilated area that resembles a dimple caused by an indentation in the photograph.

I have posted a photo of Venetia Stevenson with another rare hairstyle forehead shot from '57.
Note the eyes, the smile, the teeth, the face structure and cheek lines , the woman that Elvis is sitting with and the photo of the woman I have supplied, are one in the same -
Venetia Stevenson!

Your post is quite persuasive!

I wish we had one or two more photos of Elvis with his date, though.

Can't mistake those eyes Doc!

[Renan]

It's not Clyde McPhatter.

This I know for sure!

[TCB TED]

I think Promiseland has the right girl with Venetia.

Studying those two photos, the eyes are the same, and the hair
seems to part in the exact same place with both pics. The part
is unique, off center, with the same hairline.

Well done.

[promiseland]

If it wasn't for the dimples I'd say it's Mamie Van Doren. She claimed to have attended Louis Prima's show with Elvis at the Sahara (read the story here: http://www.biwa.ne.jp/~presley/elnews-MamieVanDoren.htm) and Elvis is wearing the same clothes in the pictures with Prima...



Mamie Van Doren

What dimples ? There are no dimples read up a post or two from yours.

[Aunt Delta]

If it wasn't for the dimples I'd say it's Mamie Van Doren. She claimed to have attended Louis Prima's show with Elvis at the Sahara (read the story here: http://www.biwa.ne.jp/~presley/elnews-MamieVanDoren.htm) and Elvis is wearing the same clothes in the pictures with Prima...



Mamie Van Doren

What dimples ? There are no dimples read up a post or two from yours.

I had read your post, it's just that I'm not as sure as you are about the "dimples" or whatever it is she has. The question is, have you or anyone read mine? It looks like this woman could really have been there the day the picture was taken. Look at her face bone structure, "dimples" or indentation on her face.

[promiseland]

If it wasn't for the dimples I'd say it's Mamie Van Doren. She claimed to have attended Louis Prima's show with Elvis at the Sahara (read the story here: http://www.biwa.ne.jp/~presley/elnews-MamieVanDoren.htm) and Elvis is wearing the same clothes in the pictures with Prima...



Mamie Van Doren

What dimples ? There are no dimples read up a post or two from yours.

I had read your post, it's just that I'm not as sure as you are about the "dimples" or whatever it is she has. The question is, have you or anyone read mine? It looks like this woman could really have been there the day the picture was taken. Look at her face bone structure, "dimples" or indentation on her face.

Close but the eyes are definatly wrong and the woman looks a bit older and a much shorter neck just to name a few.

[Aunt Delta]

If it wasn't for the dimples I'd say it's Mamie Van Doren. She claimed to have attended Louis Prima's show with Elvis at the Sahara (read the story here: http://www.biwa.ne.jp/~presley/elnews-MamieVanDoren.htm) and Elvis is wearing the same clothes in the pictures with Prima...



Mamie Van Doren

What dimples ? There are no dimples read up a post or two from yours.

I had read your post, it's just that I'm not as sure as you are about the "dimples" or whatever it is she has. The question is, have you or anyone read mine? It looks like this woman could really have been there the day the picture was taken. Look at her face bone structure, "dimples" or indentation on her face.

Close but the eyes are definatly wrong and the woman looks a bit older and a much shorter neck just to name a few.

Could be, it doesn't necessarily have to be her, it is just a possiblity. It could be any girl or a fan.
But also, if you take a look at Venetia's pictures you'll notice she had a big mole on her neck/throat that due to its location would have been visible in that picture of Elvis with his date in Vegas even if the picture was reversed.

You can see it here and also in other pictures of her posted in this thread.