THE
ELVIS MEMORIAL WALL AT THE
MOTION PICTURE AND TELEVISION HOSPITAL,
WOODLAND HILLS, CALIFORNIA
"The Instigator"Elsie
Pringle at the Elvis Wall
THE UNUSUAL STORY OF THE ELVIS WALL AT THE MOTION PICTURE AND TELEVISION HOSPITAL IN WOODLAND HILLS, CALIFORNIA
by Norm Pringle
The Motion Picture and Television Hospital in Woodland Hills, CA has
an entire hallway dedicated to the great movie stars of the past, with
each wall dedicated to a single star.
One morning my wife Elsie was paying a routine visit to Dr. Chalmers
Armstrong at the hospital. After a brief checkup, the doctor suggested
she make a return visit in a week. As Elsie fumbled through her purse
for her date book, out popped a small photo of Elvis with his arm around
Elsie.
Dr. Armstrong picked it up off the floor and asked her if she had met
Elvis.
"I sure did, back in 1957 in Vancouver and I have always kept this
picture in my wallet for good luck," replied Elsie.
"Did Norm meet him too?" asked Dr. Armstrong.
"Yes, he interviewed him when he worked at the radio station CKDA
VICTORIA BC," said Elsie.
"Well, where's his picture?"
"Well, I have to make a confession. Norm was there too," said
Elsie, "But I had a big decision to make: I had to cut either
Norm or Elvis out of the picture so it would fit in my wallet.
So I cut Norm!"
Picture in Elsie's wallet
Dr. Armstrong (laughing) then asked if he could have the full photo for his reception room. Well, the picture caused so much commotion that I suggested that it was time Elvis had a wall of his own at the Motion Picture and TV Hospital.
Original Photograph
Officials at the hospital all agreed, so the wheels were put in motion. I contacted Todd Morgan of Graceland who supplied the Elvis memorabilia which included gold and platinum records and various posters of a younger Elvis.
The unveiling of the wall took place last August on the 25th anniversary of Elvis' passing.
I thought a concert was in order so I put together an Elvis sing-a-long featuring the 30-piece Pierce College Choir conducted by Terry Danne.
The program also featured Marion Wisers Dance Theater who choregraphed a fabulous dance routine to JAILHOUSE ROCK, ROCK AROUND THE CLOCK, and A LITTLE LESS CONVERSATION. The concert was held in the Louis B. Mayer M. Memorial theater on Steven Spielberg Drive.
"The
Creator" Norm Pringle at the Elvis Wall
A footnote: Elsie and I are the only living ones on
the wall that includes many of the great old stars of Hollywood.