Some Random Elvis Trivia Trivia Quiz

Answer: The Catholic Church forced the cancellation of the concert.

Believing Elvis to be a bad influence, the Catholic Church in Montreal forced the cancellation. It was one of many instances where the Church took a strong stand against Elvis, including the suspension of eight girls at a Catholic school in Ottawa because they violated an oath not to attend his concert there.

Answer: True

In 1970 an anonymous caller phoned the Las Vegas Hilton twice. The first call was a warning that someone planned to kidnap Elvis and hold him for ransom. He called back later and said that Elvis would be killed unless he was paid $50,000 to reveal the details of the plot.

The hotel wanted to cancel the shows but Elvis not only insisted on performing but carrying two concealed guns onstage. The FBI was called but nothing ensued.

Answer: Karate

Elvis's fascination with karate first began when he was stationed in Germany while serving in the US Army. His first instructor was a German martial arts specialist named Juergen Seydel. His favorite training partner while in the Army was a fellow soldier named Rex Mansfield. After his return to the concert stage Elvis would often incorporate karate moves into his stage performance.

Answer: Elvis met personally with then FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover.

After already meeting President Nixon, Elvis was determined to pursue one of his fantasies--meeting J. Edgar Hoover and becoming a special undercover agent for the Bureau. But Hoover's advisers, citing what they considered to be his "unkempt" appearance (hair down to his collar, etc.) discouraged such a meeting, believing that Elvis did not fit the conservative image of the Bureau. Hoover was conveniently out of town on the day of the visit. Ironically one of the items on Elvis's agenda concerned his feeling that groups like The Beatles were a bad influence on American youth.

Answer: Fairgrounds Amusement Park

Even at the height of his career Elvis would frequently rent the Fairgrounds, keep all the ride operators and vendors (with him footing the bill) and entertain himself and his friends. On rare occasions he would even invite fans. The park was renamed "Libertyland" in later years. It was finally closed in 2005.

Answer: Clint Reno

The original working title of "Love Me Tender" was "The Reno Brothers". It was the only one of Elvis's movies in which his character dies. Fans were so upset by this that Colonel Tom Parker, Elvis's manager, had it stipulated in any future movie contracts that Elvis's character not die.

This was Elvis's first movie. The title song, of course, was a big hit for Elvis. Jack Reno was a country singer and DJ in the 1970s. Reno Riggins and Reno Rogers were both professional wrestlers.

Answer: True

Elvis WAS nearsighted, but he did not want to be seen in public wearing glasses. He did, however, wear prescription sunglasses and was reputed to own over 400 pairs totaling $60,000. He was sensitive to bright sunlight and had early stages of glaucoma, a condition that can eventually cause loss of vision.

Answer: Loving You

There were two movies Elvis refused to watch or allow to be shown in his presence. One was "Jailhouse Rock" because his female co-star Judy Tyler had perished in an auto accident after the movie was filmed. The other was "Loving You" because there is a brief shot of his mother sitting in the audience during a performance scene.

Answer: October 2, 1954

While a few members of the country music community recognized Elvis's raw talent and saw him as a breath of fresh air most were not welcoming and the Opry audience was stunned by his style. In words that would haunt him for the rest of his life, Opry manager Jim Denny told Elvis he should consider going back to driving a truck. Elvis fared much better on the "Louisiana Hayride" out of Shreveport Louisiana.

Answer: The Freddy Martin Orchestra

It was painfully obvious from the very start that Vegas wasn't ready for Elvis in 1956. In a town where entertainers like Frank Sinatra ruled, Elvis and his music were not a good fit then. But by the time of his return in 1969 to his last Vegas show in 1976 Vegas had gone from "Sinatra Town" to a town filled with Elvis impersonators, Elvis ministers performing wedding ceremonies and fans lining up to see him perform.