The Original "King" Dies, 32 Years Ago Today - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Retro4Life · 08-16-2009, 05:11 PM

32 years ago, about this time in the afternoon, I was a 13 year old boy sitting on the family's living room floor watching a Chicago Cubs game on WGN-TV. Suddenly, a "special bulletin" came across the screen (and mind you, these were the days when those were really "special", not just something about Paris Hilton's dog or that someone in Florida had been attacked by a shark or that the President and Congress still couldn't get along).

The news was that Elvis Aaron Presley had been found dead at his home in Tennesee, aged 42.

I wasn't a huge Elvis fan, but he was probably the biggest celebrity in the world at that time, even in his "declining" years. The media didn't do 24/7 in those days and we weren't privy to the amount of detail that we were in the Jackson case. Still, the news was truly shocking and riveting. In the intervening years I've grown to appreciate how talented the man was, and how tragic his life was.

Does anyone else remember where they were when he died?

Jessica · 08-16-2009, 07:18 PM

Wow, yeah. He died 13 years before I was born.

Retro4Life · 08-16-2009, 10:28 PM

Well thank you for answering my post anyway. I appreciate it.

Fleet · 08-16-2009, 11:33 PM

I was almost 16 years old... 12 days from it.

I was at home and heard the news about Elvis on the local news station.

Marvo301 · 08-16-2009, 11:43 PM

I was about 3 months shy of my thirteenth birthday when Elvis died. I remember seeing the "special report " on our TV that day.

70s show watcher · 08-17-2009, 02:36 AM

i was 6 at the time and believe it or not my family and i were heading to tenn, anyway and we did get caught in some heavy traffic on the way there i never tell that story because its too weird but it did happen we werent on our our way to mempihs though

Scoobiedoo30 · 08-17-2009, 11:55 AM

I was 4 When he Passed Away.

browneyes106 · 08-17-2009, 12:57 PM

I wasn't born yet but my parents said they remembered hearing about it on a radio station.

MickeyMac · 08-17-2009, 02:49 PM

Watch Elvis perform espeically in his prime, and watch the girls as he sings. The man was the original BMF!!!!!!!

MrCleveland · 08-17-2009, 02:53 PM

5 years before my time...sorry.

It was a tragic death too, 42 was considered young.

Schmoopie · 08-19-2009, 04:46 AM

I remember I was sitting in the car with my mom. We were at a strip mall and my mom about freaked when she heard the news. At the time I could have cared less, but I think it affected my dad a little too, because the 16th of August would have been my dad's 63rd birthday. How awful to have someone die on your birthday!!

Wreckless · 08-19-2009, 05:23 AM

When you said the original king, I thought you meant Martin Luther King Sr. lol. And I was like damn, I know I'm on something, cause I thought he died before his son did, even though MLK Jr. died at a young age.

But, my family loved Elvis I think. My grandfather always referred to him, when he talked to us (my brother and I), by one of his nicknames *Elvis The Pelvis*. But that guy could really dance, attract the women and entertain the crowd & his fans as well. I wasn't even close to being born when he died, or was around, so I really can't speak on the rest of it. But a very talented man he was.

eltonfan80 · 08-20-2009, 09:33 AM

i was born 3 years later but mom remembers hearing it on the radio

Mr. Television · 08-20-2009, 09:42 AM

I was 12 years old at the time. That was the summer that my sister was born ( she was born in June). My Parents and her were next door at our neighbors house and I was home playing. The TV was on and the nightly news came on. It was the top story on the news. When I heard it, I ran next door to tell everybody. They were all shocked. My Mom was an Elvis fan. Since that time I have been becaome a big fan of his myself.

08-16-2009, 05:11 PM	#1
Retro4Life Accept No Substitutes Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 04, 2009 Location: IL Posts: 6,708	The Original "King" Dies, 32 Years Ago Today 32 years ago, about this time in the afternoon, I was a 13 year old boy sitting on the family's living room floor watching a Chicago Cubs game on WGN-TV. Suddenly, a "special bulletin" came across the screen (and mind you, these were the days when those were really "special", not just something about Paris Hilton's dog or that someone in Florida had been attacked by a shark or that the President and Congress still couldn't get along). The news was that Elvis Aaron Presley had been found dead at his home in Tennesee, aged 42. I wasn't a huge Elvis fan, but he was probably the biggest celebrity in the world at that time, even in his "declining" years. The media didn't do 24/7 in those days and we weren't privy to the amount of detail that we were in the Jackson case. Still, the news was truly shocking and riveting. In the intervening years I've grown to appreciate how talented the man was, and how tragic his life was. Does anyone else remember where they were when he died?
	__________________ Alex Reiger :[Trying to convince Louie not to antagonize Bobby] "It's not hard to make people feel bad about their lives. What's hard is making people feel good about their lives."

08-16-2009, 11:33 PM	#4
Fleet Mansions, limousines & H-ween Forum Star Join Date: Jan 06, 2002 Location: Northridge/Porter Ranch, California Posts: 15,625	I was almost 16 years old... 12 days from it. I was at home and heard the news about Elvis on the local news station.
	__________________ 1976 Cadillac Fleetwood Seventy-Five Limousine.

08-16-2009, 11:43 PM	#5
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,460	I was about 3 months shy of my thirteenth birthday when Elvis died. I remember seeing the "special report " on our TV that day.
	__________________ Only a life lived for others is worth living. Albert Einstein A life isn't worth living unless it has impact on other lives. Jackie Robinson Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. Benjamin Franklin

08-17-2009, 11:55 AM	#7
Scoobiedoo30 Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Jun 27, 2002 Location: KENNER, LOUISIANA Posts: 27,654	I was 4 When he Passed Away.
	__________________ Who Dat

08-17-2009, 02:53 PM	#10
MrCleveland Drew Carey from Hell Forum Star Join Date: Nov 10, 2007 Location: The City of Cleveland, in The State of Cleveland, in The United States of Cleveland Posts: 14,235	5 years before my time...sorry. It was a tragic death too, 42 was considered young.
	__________________ Thank God for kids that love Obscure Things. Lee Hazlewood (1929-2007) You ARE Special to God! Rev. Ernest Angely (August 1921-May 2021)

08-16-2009, 07:18 PM	#2
Jessica Retro fan Forum Fanatic Join Date: Oct 09, 2007 Location: Sweden Posts: 9,034	Wow, yeah. He died 13 years before I was born.

08-16-2009, 10:28 PM	#3
Retro4Life Accept No Substitutes Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 04, 2009 Location: IL Posts: 6,708	Well thank you for answering my post anyway. I appreciate it.

08-17-2009, 02:36 AM	#6
70s show watcher Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: May 20, 2008 Location: between point place and studio 8 h Posts: 4,549	i was 6 at the time and believe it or not my family and i were heading to tenn, anyway and we did get caught in some heavy traffic on the way there i never tell that story because its too weird but it did happen we werent on our our way to mempihs though

08-17-2009, 12:57 PM	#8
browneyes106 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 01, 2008 Posts: 6,094	I wasn't born yet but my parents said they remembered hearing about it on a radio station.

08-17-2009, 02:49 PM	#9
MickeyMac Member Forum Star Join Date: Jun 18, 2008 Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan Posts: 19,008	Watch Elvis perform espeically in his prime, and watch the girls as he sings. The man was the original BMF!!!!!!!

08-19-2009, 04:46 AM	#11
Schmoopie Keep Calm and Love Snoopy Forum Star Join Date: Jul 13, 2008 Location: Lynnwood, Washington Posts: 15,697	I remember I was sitting in the car with my mom. We were at a strip mall and my mom about freaked when she heard the news. At the time I could have cared less, but I think it affected my dad a little too, because the 16th of August would have been my dad's 63rd birthday. How awful to have someone die on your birthday!!
	__________________ In memory of my wonderful husband. I love and miss you more than words can say, but I will always and forever keep you in my heart. September 23, 1961-January 14, 2019

08-19-2009, 05:23 AM	#12
Wreckless Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Nov 04, 2007 Location: Banned Posts: 9,406	When you said the original king, I thought you meant Martin Luther King Sr. lol. And I was like damn, I know I'm on something, cause I thought he died before his son did, even though MLK Jr. died at a young age. But, my family loved Elvis I think. My grandfather always referred to him, when he talked to us (my brother and I), by one of his nicknames Elvis The Pelvis. But that guy could really dance, attract the women and entertain the crowd & his fans as well. I wasn't even close to being born when he died, or was around, so I really can't speak on the rest of it. But a very talented man he was.

08-20-2009, 09:33 AM	#13
eltonfan80 RIP MJ I'LL MISS YOU FOREVER Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 11, 2005 Location: in a cloud above the sky Posts: 847	i was born 3 years later but mom remembers hearing it on the radio
	__________________ michael jackson 8-29-58- forever rip

08-20-2009, 09:42 AM	#14
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,132	I was 12 years old at the time. That was the summer that my sister was born ( she was born in June). My Parents and her were next door at our neighbors house and I was home playing. The TV was on and the nightly news came on. It was the top story on the news. When I heard it, I ran next door to tell everybody. They were all shocked. My Mom was an Elvis fan. Since that time I have been becaome a big fan of his myself.
	__________________ Sonny