DEC4 Podcast

For this latest instalment in our occasional series, Elvis and the Press, our leading contributor Gary Wells‬ joins us to consider press reaction to Elvis' March 3rd, 1974, matinee performance at the Houston Astrodome as part of the Livestock Show and Rodeo, at which time he broke his own 1970 Rodeo attendance record.

Jeff Millar, writing for the Houston Chronicle, applauded Elvis' effort, and observed, 'Presley now does a Las Vegas headliner act. It's a good one, but, heaven knows, the Dome's not the place to stage it'. The combined audience of over 88 000 for Elvis' two performances might have strongly disagreed.

We review the show itself, thanks to a very fine quality soundboard recording, and learn about some of the technical and staging challenges behind it. We also examine some of Jeff Millar's observations about Elvis' career direction at the time, and question some of his wider commentary which, putting it politely, has not aged well.

Join us for the full episode at our website or on your favourite podcast platform;https://dec4podcast.com/2026/05/29/elvis-and-the-press-houston-rodeo-march-3rd-1974/

For this latest instalment in our occasional series, Elvis and the Press, our leading contributor Gary Wells joins us to consider press reaction to Elvis' March 3rd, 1974, matinee performance at the Houston Astrodome as part of the Livestock Show and Rodeo, at which time he broke his own 1970 Rodeo attendance record.

Jeff Millar, writing for the Houston Chronicle, applauded Elvis' effort, and observed, 'Presley now does a Las Vegas headliner act. It's a good one, but, heaven knows, the Dome's not the place to stage it'. The combined audience of over 88 000 for Elvis' two performances might have strongly disagreed.

We review the show itself, thanks to a very fine quality soundboard recording, and learn about some of the technical and staging challenges behind it. We also examine some of Jeff Millar's observations about Elvis' career direction at the time, and question some of his wider commentary which, putting it politely, has not aged well.

Special thanks to Francesc Lopez, whose pioneering Elvis information website, elvisconcerts.com, celebrates 30 years online this year (2026).
We have more background to this episode, including tour stats, images and links to further reference, at our podcast website;
https://dec4podcast.com/2026/05/29/elvis-and-the-press-houston-rodeo-march-3rd-1974/

This episode, our leading contributor, Gary Wells,‬ guides us through the fascinating story of Colonel Parker, the Presley Estate, and a tenacious Memphis lawyer determined to get to the truth.

In the wake of Vernon Presley’s death in 1979, court-appointed attorney Blanchard Tual presented a 300 page report detailing his forensic investigation into Colonel Parker’s financial arrangements with the Presley family, which he described as ‘excessive, imprudent, unfair to the estate, beyond all reasonable bounds of industry standards’, and stated that Parker had ‘violated his duty to Elvis and the estate’. A Memphis judge went on to assert that Parker’s behaviour ‘shocks the conscience of the court’. We learn that the report also called for a thorough investigation into Parker’s business associates, including RCA, and find out what, if anything, happened as a result of Blanchard Tual’s devastating findings.

Gary also recounts his own memorable (and slightly starstruck) 2024 meeting with Mr Tual himself, still practising law in Memphis, and for some additional context, we look at another astonishing show business partnership; superstar recording artist Tommy James and Morris Levy of Roulette Records.

Join us on your favourite platform or at our podcast website;
https://dec4podcast.com/2026/04/11/gary-wells-colonel-parker-the-presley-estate-tommy-james-roulette-records/

In this supplement to our episode on the Winter Dance Party tour, headlined by Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and JP Richardson (the Big Bopper), our leading contributor ‪Gary Wells‬ joins us to discuss in more detail some of the friendships and professional relationships forged during the tour. We examine the culpability of the promoters taking into account the context of the time, and learn that the Ritchie Valens biopic, La Bamba, might have been a very different movie if not for a notable intervention. We also look at how the tragedy shaped the future of JP Richardson’s family, and share some personal thoughts on the often forgotten fourth occupant of the plane; the young pilot, Roger Peterson.

Quotes from Carl Bunch used in this clip are credited to the website of 'Buddy Holly Lives'.

Find our two episodes on the Winter Dance Party at our podcast website, or join us here or on your favourite podcast platform.
https://dec4podcast.com/2024/02/23/gary-wells-the-winter-dance-party/

This episode, our leading contributor ‪Gary Wells,‬ guides us through the fascinating story of Colonel Parker, the Presley Estate, and a tenacious Memphis lawyer determined to get to the truth.
In the wake of Vernon Presley’s death in 1979, court-appointed attorney Blanchard Tual presented a 300 page report detailing his forensic investigation into Colonel Parker’s financial arrangements with the Presley family, which he described as ‘excessive, imprudent, unfair to the estate, beyond all reasonable bounds of industry standards’, and stated that Parker had ‘violated his duty to Elvis and the estate’. A Memphis judge went on to assert that Parker’s behaviour ‘shocks the conscience of the court’. We learn that the report also called for a thorough investigation into Parker’s business associates, including RCA, and find out what, if anything, happened as a result of Blanchard Tual’s devastating findings.
Gary also recounts his own memorable (and slightly starstruck) 2024 meeting with Mr Tual himself, still practising law in Memphis, and for some additional context, we look at another astonishing show business partnership; superstar recording artist Tommy James and Morris Levy of Roulette Records.
Link here to research sources and background, including Gary's articles on Blanchard Tual and Tommy James, as well as his account of meeting Mr Tual himself in Memphis;
https://dec4podcast.com/2026/04/11/gary-wells-colonel-parker-the-presley-estate-tommy-james-roulette-records/