Once Upon A Time: Elvis and Anita --> Out Now!

It seems this book can only be ordered if you live within the USA ...

You are mistaken.

Once Upon A Time: Elvis and Anita is readily available on Amazon.com:

http://www.amazon.com/Once-Upon-Time-Elvis-Anita/dp/0985805609

You can only get an autographed copy within the USA from Jonnita's site:

We are terribly sorry but due to shipping cost, autographed copies are only available in the USA at the current time.

I got my copy from Amazon and Im in Australia

Just received it too. It looks a great read. Will comment later. Not autographed but beggars etc.

The postman just arrived with one very sodden package. Honestly, it looked like the post office had left it sitting in a puddle for a week. Anyway, I made him wait while I checked the condition of the contents, expecting the worst. I didn't so much open the package, as just let it disintegrate in my hands, but inside, wrapped in a plastic zip bag (joy of joys!) was my signed copy of Jonnita's book.
So far I've just had a quick scan through, and it looks like it will be a thoroughly interesting and entertaining read. Nicely illustrated (thanks to all who contributed) and at well over 200 pages, money well spent.
I'm looking forward to reading it when time allows (busy 3 weeks coming up)
If you're looking in Jonnita, thanks for the plastic bag!

You are very welcome! I'm just happy you got the book!

I recently received a picture taken of my mom in 1958 or 59 leaving Graceland that I thought I would share with y'all. Mom believes it was 1959 when Elvis was gone. Patsy, Elvis' double first cousin, was the passenger that Moma was taking for a spin.

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I recently received a picture taken of my mom in 1958 or 59 leaving Graceland that I thought I would share with y'all. Mom believes it was 1959 when Elvis was gone. Patsy, Elvis' double first cousin, was the passenger that Moma was taking for a spin.

What a fabulous picture Jonnita, thank you for sharing.

This is a very good book.

Thanks for the picture Jonnita

Just wanted to let y'all know that this weekend will be our first book signing! It is in Jackson, TN at Music Highway Crossroads at Casey Jones Village. It's so exciting, I can't wait!

Just wanted to let y'all know that this weekend will be our first book signing! It is in Jackson, TN at Music Highway Crossroads at Casey Jones Village. It's so exciting, I can't wait!

Both you and your mom will be there? Best of luck.

Yes, we'll both be there and thank you!

I got my signed copy.. and I LOVE IT!! Great stories!
I sent them a couple of pictures I had of Anita with Gary Pepper and Roy Barlow... not in time for the book tho... Maybe the next editions! yeah!
Fun tho... Anita signed it and said she "loved my Aunt Penny"... boy would Penny have loved that... because she sure loved her too!
This page mentions Aunt Penny at the party Gary Pepper through for Albert Hand and Roy at Gene Smith's house! What a wonderful surprise while I was reading... I almost fell off my couch! haha
Great book Ladies! ... and I too appreciated the ziplock bag it came in... My son said... "wow... you have an original Anita Wood ziplock bag!" haha

Anita Wood book Anita autograph.JPG

Anita Wood book Jonnita Autograph.JPG

Anita Wood Book Aunt Penny on page.JPG

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As noted elsewhere, I have finished reading Jonnita's lovely book.

Once Upon A Time: Elvis and Anita is a warm, intimate look at the life Anita Wood shared with Elvis from the summer of 1957 to the summer of 1962. It reads as if you're sitting in the author's living room as she tells the story, including the occasional personal aside. Always she refers to her mother as "Momma," father as "Daddy" and grandmother as "Mamaw." It sounds hokey, but it's not. It's a genuineness that informs the entire book.

For those who follow the Elvis story with a keen eye, there are many new insights, experiences not noted in other Presley books that fill in more pieces of the puzzle. I won't totally spoil it for those of you who do not yet have this book, but here are a few moments I found interesting.

The fellow who Anita kept her previously-arranged date with, after Elvis had called to ask her out for the first time, was named Jimmy Omar. It was a classy move for a young lady just 19 years old to keep her original date, but it's clear Anita was always a cut above the average girl. But where, oh where, is Jimmy Omar today?

Gladys Presley was warm and inviting to Anita, and always a "straight shooter." Gladys' observation about Natalie Wood and panties is quite a revelation. Some of the seeds of Presley's destruction were evident in September 1957, in ways not previously cited in other biographies.

While Elvis was in Germany, Anita had an eye-opening experience in New York with legendary director Elia Kazan. Prior to that, Elvis treated her to three Fred F. Seals films in a single day. After Anita left the relationship in August 1962, she saw Elvis twice more, once by accident.

It's clear that one of the reasons Elvis stormed out of his soundtrack sessions for "Girl Happy" on the second evening, June 11-12, 1964, was not just over frustration with the substandard material, but the fact that Anita married football pro Johnny Brewer just a day later, on Saturday, June 13, in Memphis. There is no doubt Elvis knew about it, and no doubt Anita had been on his mind since news of their engagement was known earlier that year. His behavior during a Las Vegas vacation, and his comments about singer Phyllis McGuire, spoke volumes.

Finally, it was sad to realize that Anita's birthday, noted in the book as May 27, is also the date that she lost her husband, Johnny, in 2011.

The book has so much more, but you should pick up your own copy, settle down and enjoy it as I did. In many ways, this is Anita's final word on these years, through her eyes, given life through the gentle words of her only daughter, Jonnita.

In closing, here's a song that Elvis made sure Anita transcribed while he was overseas. The lyric was very important to him.

Marty Robbins, "Tomorrow You'll Be Gone" (Columbia 2345, March 29, 1952)

520329_Columbia 20925_Robbins.JPG

Tomorrow You'll Be Gone
Marty Robbins
© 1952 Mariposa Music, BMI

What can I do, when they ask me about you
When they ask me if our love has died away
I wish that I could tell them, you'll be gone a little while
And not that you have gone away to stay

I wish that I could them that I never cared for you
That love was never meant for such as I
But in the mornin' you'll be gone, and I'll be left alone
With memories of the love that passed me by

If you're ever feeling blue, and you want me back again
I'll be waiting here and hope my waiting's not in vain
How I wish that I could keep you with me from now on
But it's too late, tomorrow you'll be gone

Tomorrow you'll be leavin', and I'll stand and watch you go
In life and love you'll make another start
A million tears may flood my soul, but not one will you see
The tears that fall will be within my heart

If the castles that you build should ever lean and fall
I'll be waiting here for you, to answer when you call
How I wish that you were mine to treasure from now on
But it's too late, tomorrow you'll be gone

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Received my autographed copy yesterday and started reading right away!
Great story, but a minus for me its poor printing of most of the photographs. It gives the book a bit of 'low budget' feel, and that's too bad, cause its a fantastic read!
Nevertheless, i really enjoy raeding it!

Oh, I can't wait! That was quite a taste. It's on my amazon wish list, so it's kind of a deal that I won't read it till Dec. 25.

I dunno if I have the willpower!

Thanks for the sneak peek, Doc.. And many thanks to mother and daughter for this gift to the fans!

rjm

It is indeed a real gift, and essential to anyone who cares about the Elvis story, circa 1957-1962.

The moments recalled after their parting also make for interesting reading.

you've convinced me Doc, I've ordered it

you've convinced me Doc, I've ordered it

You will be happy you did!

It is indeed a real gift, and essential to anyone who cares about the Elvis story, circa 1957-1962.

The moments recalled after their parting also make for interesting reading.

Thank you Doc for the insight here. And for the others as well.

I'm about 6 months behind on this info but I'll trust everyone's suggestions that this is a great read, as the lovely lady Anita's story has always been of interest to me. Aside from her own talent I always enjoyed some of the recordings of her, along with her & Elvis together. Plus she most certainly was present in a interesting time period of Elvis' story, yet so little of that story told in great detail, until this book, so I've been curious....until I just read the comments here on the forum.

It is indeed a real gift, and essential to anyone who cares about the Elvis story, circa 1957-1962.

The moments recalled after their parting also make for interesting reading.

Thank you Doc for the insight here. And for the others as well.

I'm about 6 months behind on this info but I'll trust everyone's suggestions that this is a great read, as the lovely lady Anita's story has always been of interest to me. Aside from her own talent I always enjoyed some of the recordings of her, along with her & Elvis together. Plus she most certainly was present in a interesting time period of Elvis' story, yet so little of that story told in great detail, until this book, so I've been curious....until I just read the comments here on the forum.

Thanks! You may enjoy reading this topic:

Anita Wood --> The One Who Got Away !
http://www.elvis-collectors.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=61930

Thank you very much, Doc, for this beautiful review of the book. Now I have not the posssibility to buy the book, but can you write more about this quote, because I am not sure I understood why Elvis was in danger as early as September 1957. Because he didn't really wanted to join the US Army?

"Some of the seeds of Presley's destruction were evident in September 1957, in ways not previously cited in other biographies".

you've convinced me Doc, I've ordered it

You will be happy you did!

Me too. Your review did it for me!