Gael Greene in 1961, promoting her first book, Don’t Come Back Without It.   (Photo: Maynard Frank Wolfe)

1. ELVIS

1956 Conquest Elvis signing autographs.   (Photo: CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images)

Elvis Presley was coming to town to do two shows at Olympia Stadium. At 21, I was one of the hormone-raging millions with a crush on Elvisthe young, beautiful, seemingly unspoiled Elvis.

No New York newspaper would hire me fresh from college in 1956I had applied everywhere and sent countless rsumsso I was languishing at home in Detroit, Michigan, the most junior staffer at United Press International. I wrote a letter to Colonel Parker, asking if I could spend the day with Elvis and write about it. I got back a mimeographed invitation to Presleys official press conference. I was insulted and frustrated but not discouraged.

I wore a simple body-skimming black shantung dress (my most slenderizing) with white stitching along the neck and cap sleeves, shiny black patent-leather pumps, and little white kid gloves. I arrived backstage early to study security and find its most vulnerable link. Lamar was his name. He was in charge of guarding the door and a pair of 24-karat-gold pants with a sequined stripe, which he carried in a padlocked garment bag. From his rolling drawl, I figured he must be one of Elviss Memphis mafia.