Elvis and NoHo

Last week was the 30th anniversary of the death of Elvis Presley (yes we realize some of you out there think he is still alive) and it gave me a moment to reflect on Elvis' own NoHo connection.

You can read here about where I was when Elvis died, and other semi-related issues.

Nudie Cohn was a Ukrainian immigrant who emigrated to the US almost a 100 years ago. Cohn eventually settled in North Hollywood in 1947. With help from western bandleader Tex Williams, Nudie got his business going. Nudie and his wife Bobbie sewed costumes for a number of entertainers, including the famous gold lame suit Elvis bought for $10,000 in 1957.

The original Nudie shop was located on Victory and Vineland. In 1963 Nudie moved to the famous 5015 Lankershim Boulevard location (now a furniture store).

The list of Nudie's clients was legendary - as was Nudie himself. I had the opportunity to meet Nudie several times as a child when my father, then a country music songwriter, took me to the shop including during live remotes for country powerhouse KLAC radio.

Nudie created several suits for Elvis - right here in NoHo - and developed a friendship with Elvis' manager, Colonel Tom Parker who visited the store often.

Nudie died in 1984 and his wife Bobbie and grandaughter Jamie kept the store going for another ten years before Bobbie decided it was time to close down. The Nudie tradition is kept alive somewhat by Jamie's father and Nudie protege Manuel Cuevas who eventually moved his NoHo based operation to Nashville.

Incidentally though Nudie charged Elvis ten grand for that suit that The King apparently didn't care for and only wore twice, the cost to make it was about $50.

(Nudie related photos from www.nudiesrodeotailor.com)

When I Was A Kid Old People Didn't Get It

I remember that day that Elvis died, Tuesday, August 16th, 1977. I was 12, almost 13 and dreaming of a career in radio when I grew up. I had become a fan of a talkradio program that aired then on the Cal State Northridge radio station, KCSN. The current format of the public radio station owned by the University is "arts and roots radio," but back in 77 it was more of an eclectic mix of talk and music more akin to KCRW.

I was more than thrilled on that Tuesday afternoon that a then talk host on the station had invited me to visit the studio after I had called his about a half dozen times. I was sitting in the control room when the engineer received a phone call. He hung up the phone and announced to us, "Elvis Presley just died."

A call was placed to the station manager as to whether or not the current broadcast should be interrupted to announce the King's death. The response back was "Our listeners would not be interested in a rock and roll singer. We can wait until the news at the top of the hour."

Every other television and radio station in Los Angeles broke into programming to carry the news of the passing of Elvis.

Another example of the difference in the older generation when I was a kid compared to now is a similar but different experience I had at the assassination of John Lennon in 1980. At that point I was a junior at San Fernando High School. I had asked the school principal if the school would fly the flag at half staff in honor of Lennon. The principal declined, telling me "Michael, Jack (sic) Lennon was not a very savory individual. I don't think it would be appropriate to lower our flag in his honor."

This is the same San Fernando High School that refused to place a photo of alum, rocker Ritchie Valens on their wall of fame in the school office. Why? I was told because he had never actually graduated (of course he died at 17). It took almost another generation and a hit movie about the singer (some of which was filmed at the school) to get Ritchie's picture up on the wall as well as his name on a park in his hometown of Pacoima.