Tag Archives: Elvis Presley

Dynamic Duo #44

Posted on October 29, 2025 by sheila

Hayley Mills and Elvis Presley

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“Given as much to the gutter as to the gods” — Nick Tosches

Posted on October 23, 2025 by sheila

“He was born alone. He would die alone. These truths, he, like every punk, took to heart. But in him they framed another truth, another solitary, stubborn stone in the eye of nothing. There was something, a knowing, in him … Continue reading →

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“The other girls weren’t singing quite like I was.” — Wanda Jackson

Posted on October 20, 2025 by sheila

It’s her birthday today. She was a pioneer. One of the few women in that original “class”. Rockabilly was a boys’ game. She changed that game. She looked around in 1954/55, and thought, “Hey. All these songs are written by … Continue reading →

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Today, the Sheila Variations turns 23.

Posted on October 18, 2025 by sheila

I don’t even know what to say. And now I will proceed to say some shit. The above pic of me – taken by Michael – graced the top of my original blog, when I set it up 23 years … Continue reading →

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“Quite frankly. I was all talent and no looks.” — Angela Lansbury

Posted on October 16, 2025 by sheila

It’s her birthday today. Even if you came to Gaslight clean, without knowing a thing, which is hard to believe, but let’s just pretend: Even if you knew nothing about it, it would be instantly obvious that the teenage girl … Continue reading →

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September 2025 Snapshots

Posted on October 13, 2025 by sheila

Attended some of the press screenings at the New York Film Festival. I haven’t been in a couple of years, for various reasons, and it’s been so sad for me. I loved getting up in the morning and heading to … Continue reading →

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“When I’m performing, that’s the real me.” — Billy Lee Riley

Posted on October 5, 2025 by sheila

“Memphis 1955 on Union Avenue Carl and Jerry and Charlie and Roy And Billy Riley too…” – Johnny Cash, “I Will Rock’n’Roll With You” “and Billy Riley too” …. Billy Lee Riley was always a little irritated to be an … Continue reading →

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“That cat was royalty, man.” — Mick Jagger on Eddie Cochran

Posted on October 3, 2025 by sheila

It’s his birthday today. Eddie Cochran’s songs still get play everywhere, all the time, on the radio no less! 1950s hits still in rotation. Elvis’ 1950s hits aren’t still in rotation. The only ones you hear on the radio for … Continue reading →

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“Who do you sound like?” — Marion Keisker to 18-year-old Elvis Presley, July 18, 1953

Posted on September 23, 2025 by sheila

It’s her birthday. I finally wrote about her – and my theory about her “role” in “discovering” Elvis – for my column at Liberties! That was a long time coming! In the piece I mentioned her reunion with Elvis in … Continue reading →

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“Blues is a tonic for whatever ails you.” — B.B. King

Posted on September 16, 2025 by sheila

I love Langston Hughes’ description of the blues: “The mood of the Blues is almost always despondency, but when they are sung people laugh.” WHAT a performance. And WHAT an audience. The mood – the back and forth – the … Continue reading →

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