Design
All 3 books follow the ca. 220-page letter-sized format we have become accustomed to. The books present Elvis’ whereabouts for the aforementioned period in pictures with additional text to provide the necessary background and context.
The chronological “day-by-day” layout makes it easy to browse through this book and absorb the content in images and text. The pictures and additional paperwork that illustrate and support the events are primarily presented in black and white, with some additional color(ized) pictures.
The downside is that this is reflected in the quality of the photographs presented on the 660 pages of these 3 books in front of me, as I would not have chosen to publish them all. Trying to be “99 percent complete” has its drawbacks, and is a "mission impossible" as new material will always pop up, even after all these years. But Belard comes close, I think.
Content
In these books, Paul Belard offers a complete-as-possible account of the period at hand. He compiles the books using material from his own collection with additional original, online, and public sources, and a lot of research and puzzling to complete the story for each book. Using primarily original sources (all credited for further reading), we read how it was reported by the press and experienced by the fans 70 years ago. That’s what makes these books an interesting read.
Working like this, the books have two sides. First, the series offers the most complete graphical timeline available, but readers - especially those focused on the visual element of these graphic biographies - will scratch their heads every now and then looking at some of the photographs. Personally, I would have skipped circa 20% of the images, as the quality is too low to use, and making them smaller won’t add to the reading experience.
The two October volumes could perhaps have been combined into one book, with fewer or smaller printed pictures, but this is a decision from the author.
With that said, what do we get in these 3 volumes? The month of October 1958 is split over 2 volumes, with the first volume opening with the USS Randall docking at Bremerhaven in Germany on October 1st, 1958. What follows on the 220 pages is the media circus that surrounded Elvis’ first steps as a U.S. G.I. on German soil, and enthusiastic fans adding to the frenzy.
We all know the image of Helge Rothenberg, who managed to slip through security, climb the gangway, and try to get Elvis’ autograph even before he was able to set one foot on German soil … this probably wasn’t the script as outlined by the communication department of the U.S. Army. But it was probably good to see how “welcome” Elvis was on this side of the Atlantic.
We see every step Elvis took, from the boat to the train, to the press conference, and to the Ray Barracks, where he was stationed as part of Company “D” 1st Battalion of the 32nd Armor Division. Everything he did to get settled and start those first days was photographed and reported by various professional and fan cameras, and thanks to Belard, we get to see it in the right sequence and from all perspectives. This volume covers less than a handful of days.
Two-thirds of October 1958 Volume 2 are dedicated to his visit to that city and the start of a new romance he found there, according to the eager press. If you have visited the city, like I have, this book offers a lot of recognizable spots, which makes it a fun read. If you haven’t visited this little town, the books will serve as a source of information to identify the Elvis spots if you want to “walk a mile in his shoes.”
The remainder of the book covers Elvis’ first month on the base, getting settled in Hotel Grunewald in Bad Nauheim, and some trips he made in his spare time, including a nice meet-up with fellow rock-and-roll pioneer Bill Haley in Frankfurt.
Elvis spent the month of November 1958 at the U.S. training area in Grafenwöhr, in Eastern Bavaria near the Czech border, for winter maneuvers.
You have to remember that this was only 13 years after World War II, and the Iron Curtain - the political and later physical boundary dividing Europe into two separate areas - was still up, with soldiers in arms on both sides. So I was surprised to see so many photographs from his time away.
The letters to Master Sergeant Norwood in Texas, Anita Wood, and his friend Alan “Hog Ears” Fortas add a nice personal insight. To Fortas, he writes: “We are up on a Training Area for 50 days and believe me it’s miserable. It’s so cold and there is nothing at all to do up here.”
The month ends well for Private Presley, as he was promoted to Private First Class at the end of the month.
Conclusion
With these three volumes, Paul Belard added some interesting and well-researched reads to the graphic Elvis Presley timeline, almost completing the Army Years. With a trip to Germany coming up, the timing of the release couldn’t be better!