San Antonio Express from San Antonio, Texas • Page 139

1973: THE DIVORCE. Elvis just believe it. GOOD ONLY ON TOPtfSS MASSAGES AT I MASSAGE I STIMO Do something nko for yourself with a topless massage at any of our 4 locations. sr OFF TOPtfSS 3 WITH THIS COUPON 1213 WtSTAVET 123 LANARK (Off 2100 Slock Austin Hwy.) 1510 666-K S.W. MILITARY DR She was always brought in and seated in a booth, well hidden after the lights went out.

She was also escorted backstage before the finale and the lights came on. That can be very disappointing to such a beauty, rarely permitted to be shown proudly on her arm, and always shunted into the background. Colonel Parker concentrated on Elvis exclusively. what kept the King of Rock the greatest, it? His wife and baby, Lisa Marie, were his private life and not a part of his career. I More and more, kidnap threats were also frightening Elvis at this time.

With extreme worry, he was frantically calling home constantly asking for even greater security. At the same time he had to go on and do his shows. To top that, he developed a severe eye infection. While the critics, unaware of his problems, blasted him roundly. The worst was a simple headline: Elvis Washed Up? Priseilla, at this time, was now seen openly dating Mike Stone, her Hawaiian karate instructor.

Stone was reported already married but in the process of getting a divorce. The gossip shook Elvis to his very toes His wife was his for all time and eternity, and now the world was clued had left him, not for a competing idol, but for someone of far lesser stature. His humiliation was abject. Way down deep he clung to the hope that it was ail a bad dream I Priscilla, he hoped, would return A member of the Presley family explained feelings. and religion are a big part of tht Presley life style, for all of them.

Divorce is just something that never happens in their families. Certainly Elvis want it. got to be in the South to know how Southern men consider their women. A Southern man is head of his household His woman is his to love, care for. and to adore important, to stay home and look out for their personal life, welfare and well-being.

This especially applies to the Presleys. began stepping out of line She disregarded what Elvis asked her to do. She rebelled, of all times, on his birthday She made it clear lead her Reprinted with permission from the book Elvis And The Colonel, by May Mann (Drake Publishers New York. $9.95) On stage through 1971-2 Elvis forgot words, cut shows short. The reason for heartbreak: His wife Priscilla, with the man she left him for karate expert Mike Stone.

The women in Presley's life talk frankly about his loves and fears own life if Elvis would not concede to her ways. trouble was plain lonely for attention, mainly her She had been hidden away too long She angrily refused to be sold short. her own right, she had worked hard, studying dancing, singing and acting so she could become a full- fledged star. Her original idea was for her and Elvis to make a picture together. The Colonel thought otherwise.

was accustomed to a lot of beautiful women flinging themselves at him. He sometimes gave away cars as gifts. It hit the columns and Priscilla was furious. you go on telling Elvis what he can and cannot do. had that all of his life.

And not going to take it from his young wife. where Priscilla made her fatal mistake with Elvis. opening night in Las Vegas, Priscilla flew straight from Elvis' show to I.OS Angeles to stand at the door and act as a ticket-taker for her karate instructor Mike exhibition Elvis resented pictures of his wife with Stone at karate exhibitions. She was equally stubborn, declaring her rights to do as she pleased. Priscilla resented the show girls and friends who always came to pay their respects to Elvis while she was left safe back home in Holmby Hills, Calif.

Elvis would call two or three times, day and night, but then suddenly, when he called, Mrs. Presley at home. He issued an ultimatum to Priscilla She ignored it. He warned her he would sue for divorce. She still went her own way.

Priscilla told Elvis she was now in love with another man No matter how Elvis tried to keep the deep hurt private, it was to come out for the world to see. Continuous threats on his life, his wife's and his made Elvis so uneasy he was now carrying a loaded 45 in his hip pocket, while closed circuit TV guarded every door in his various homes. Like any loving parents, Elvis and Priscilla took movies and snapshots of Lisa Marie. To insure the little safety. Elvis never allowed photographs of her for publication.

Author May Mann. an expert on Elvis, gazes fondly at the King of Rock, whose heart she now lays bare. But one day a print of Elvis, Priscilla and Lisa Marie appeared on a movie magazine cover. Somebody could not resist making an extra print and selling it for $3,000. Elvis then set up his own printing and developing dark room to insure the privacy he required for Lisa Marie, to protect her.

means more to me than anything," Elvis told me. ll do everything to protect her. never exploit her or allow Repeated attempts at reconciliation with Priscilla after years of marriage failed. Finally, she told Elvis she was leaving him. She moved out.

Then, in August, 1972, the story appeared in the newspapers: Presley sued his wife of five years for divorce in Santa Monica Superior Court citing irreconcilable differences 37. and his wife, Priscilla. 24, agreed she will have custody of the couple's four-year-old daughter Lisa. said a major reason for the divorce was the pressure of his traveling six months of every The property settlement was signed. It was only a matter of Elvis picking up a default divorce in California.

Then Priscilla herself filed, accusing Elvis and his attorney of getting her to sign an unfair settlement, one that gave her $100,000 and a thousand dollars monthly for herself with $500 for Lisa. Priscilla requested the court to vacate the default so she might obtain a fair division of our community property together with spousal and child Priscilla said she felt she had been led around by the nose and legally In her petition, she said: I was 16. been living with my husband, his father, and other persons associated with them. our marriage, I was never involved in my business or financial matters. "1 was never informed of my income nor the nature and amount of property which we had accumulated.

My expenses were paid through an unlimited checking account upon which I wrote checks. Deposits into that account were made by my business managers. husband felt the sum of $100,000 would be a proper amount for me to get. I assumed it 4vas fair. I known that I was entitled to one-half of the community property and adequate support based upon my husband's income and our previous style of living, I would not have signed the Property Settlement Agreement or the Marital Settlement Agreement, nor would I have permitted the default to be entered against In a counter petition, Elvis said Priscilla had announced her intention to leave him as early as Christmas, 1971.

He said: had already heard about her relationship with one Mike Stone. She expressed surprise and a desire to have a separation and her freedom. mid-July, 1972, when it appeared that my wife was determined to get an immediate divorce and her freedom, I decided to discuss with her the prospects of seeking a final settlement. asked my wife what she wanted. She told me that she wanted nothing.

that she simply wanted her Elvis denied that Priscilla did not know the nature or value of his assets. Presiding Judge L. J. Rittenband indicated he could find no fraud, that Priscilla said she wanted her freedom for another man and willingly agreed to the property settlement. The Romeo and Juliet marriage of the century was at last dissolved with Priscilla winning a $2 million settlement.

ego had suffered a shattering blow, losing his wife to another man. There were always plenty of beautiful girls to give him tea and sympathy. One whom Elvis took more seriously was Linda Thompson, Miss Tennessee of 1972. A hometown girl from Memphis, she and Elvis seemed to become inseparable after the divorce was first filed. The fact that Linda was often seen with Lisa Marie cemented the solidarity of their relationship.

Also important, with Lisa Marie spending so much time with Elvis, Priscilla and Linda became friendly. Other names popped into print with Elvis from time to time. Then frequent marriage rumors said Linda saved Elvis from going into abject despondency over his divorce. be the second Mrs. Elvis Presley.

Elvis said he loved Linda, but he did not mention engagement or marriage plans. Linda was different from Priscilla. More sophisticated, she liked to mingle with people and be free. After a year together, Linda confided that although she loved Elvis, she now had no hopes of marriage. She said: think Elvis will The girl who broke heart: Priscilla, photographed recently.

took Priscilla too much for granted. But I was working to give her and Lisa Marie everything I could. And well, I lost her. thought it was like Mama and Daddy who were married forever to stick through thick and thin. I thought she Elvis has always been generous in sharing his money and good fortune with those close to him.

Two years in succession, he has iven his personal physician a $37,000 tutz Bearcat. He has distributed Rolls Royces, Cadillacs and other makes of expen sive cars annually to co-workers, girlfriends and members of his fami iy When he visits his tailors, he casually orders equally expensive suits and clothes for them also. There is nothing in the world Elvis have, except his two personal goals for happiness. First there is still the loss of his mother, Gladys; and second, his dream of having a devoted domestic wife and several children. Instead, he finds himself alone, divorced, his only child growing up in divided homes and his father legally separated from his second wife Dee after 14 years of marriage.

Was it the constant touring and ab sences away from home that broke up his marriage with Priscilla and his with his stepmother, who is enjoying a career under the Presley name as a songwriter? With ail of the millions of women young and old, who idolize Elvis Presley, there is a great fear in his heart that he will never find one who will love him for himself only, as his mother loved his father Linda Thompson wears diamond necklace from Elvis, the man she almost caught. every marry again. He wants more children, but his pride was badly hurt when he lost Priscilla to another man. get over that hurt far a time. We are constantly together, but we never discuss Elvis was more than generous with all sorts of presents and beautiful clothes.

Many look-alike pants suits were made for Elvis and Linda by his own tailors in white, orchid, beige, black. Linda fingers glistened with jeweled rings from not one was more than a friendship ring After the shock of the divorce had lessened, Elvis told me: I NEXT WEEK: Priscilla Presley gives her side of the story of why her marriage to Elvis broke up. ELVIS WON'T REMARRY -HIS ECO WAS SHATTERED Kidnap threats 1967: THE WEDDING. Elvis and bride Priscilla. -V MAY MANN is one of best known columnists.

Her book, Elvis And The Colonel, was written after hours of exclusive interviews with Presley, his manager Tom Parker, gnd his ex-wife Priscilla. By MAY MANN IN 1971-72 everything seemed to go wrong for Elvis Presley. He was a distraught, visibly unhappy man. He had become unpredictable, even professionally at times, cutting his shows short. He would forget some of the words to a song.

He would stop the orchestra and admit he had forgotten the lyrics. Then start again. The fact is Elvis was having behind-the-scenes problems that no one knew about. He was doing well even to appear at all. No one knew then the real his wife, had left him for another man! Elvis was emotionally shattered.

On the insistence of his manager, Tom Parker, who had to my him through this terrible Priscilla Presley flew to Las Vegas to be with Elvis. But she cut her visit short by immediately taking a plane back to Los Angeles, minutes before Elvis was to go on stage. PRISCILLA LETT HIM FOR 1958: THE BABY. Now the Presleys are three. power as wife had never been fully recognized until then.

She had never been allowed to participate in the spotlight with Elvis..