Ye Olde Rocket Forum - View Single Post

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doug Sams

Don't forget Elvis !! He and Evel dressed a lot like with the red-white-blue jump suits.

I had kinda forgotten about that until I took a tour at Graceland a few years ago and saw several of Elvis' costumes on display, many of which could have passed for Evel's outfits.

Doug

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You bring up an interesting social phenomenon. Many Americans like the *idea* of nobility and even royalty, even though not wanting to be ruled over by a royal family--it's a matter of liking the -trappings- of royalty (which include the fine, special clothing and the protocols of public behavior). In many people's minds, Elvis and Evel were a sort of "royalty by deeds" because of their accomplishments in their respective fields (Elvis still is, to many people). Elvis was the "King of Rock 'n Roll," and Evel was the "King of Stunt Men." Also:

Evel Knievel even had a royal scepter, and Elvis may have had one, too. I suppose it's possible that they may have mimicked each other either subconsciously or knowingly (but secretly). Both being southerners who rose from poverty to fame and fortune by their own efforts, I wouldn't be surprised if they admired each other's achievements, even if they never met (which they may have--I don't know). This phenomenon has even "worked in the other direction," so to speak:

The astronauts--especially the original Mercury Seven--were not infrequently compared with knights (due to their public and societal obligations as well as their work). This comparison even moved Queen Elizabeth II to want to confer knighthood upon Alan Shepard (the first American in space, of course), after he commanded the Apollo 14 lunar landing mission. At the time he was on tour in Great Britain, acting (if I recall correctly) in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre group. When she expressed her desire to knight him, an aide told her that he couldn't be knighted because he wasn't a British subject. Instead, they created the status of honorary knighthood, and she made him an honorary knight.