I just started this and when I got to the Elvis impersonators at the airport, I was out. It's my recollection that Elvis impersonation phenomenon didn't start until after he died, so this scene was so ridiculous, I didn't care to watch the rest of the movie.
shareI think you're mostly correct about that. There is one close-up photo of Elvis with an impersonator that I know of that I've seen in a couple of books plus Ginger Alden mentioned in her book that he saw Andy Kaufman do his impersonation of him on SNL. But were there many impersonators in 1970? I doubt it. Why see an impersonator when the original is still around?
No! That's not true at all, Elvis takes 50% of everything I earn!Col. Tom Parker share
Exactly. It's funny that you mentioned Andy Kaufman because, when I was writing my comment, he's the only person I could think of that did an Elvis impersonation while Elvis was alive.
shareThere have been Elvis impersonators since the 50's. I grew up in Little Rock (130 miles west of Memphis) and remember these guys showing up at car dealerships, grand openings, state and county fairs, all to attract the public. Most couldn't sing worth a crap and mainly posed for pictures with my fellow bumpkins. The best though was Andy Kaufman on SNL. Even Elvis thought Andy did his best impersonation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elvis_impersonator
He killed sixteen Czechoslovakians. Guy was an interior decorator.
Here's the photo of him and an impersonator. I don't think the guy looks much like him. Damn, Elvis looks so good!
https://www.google.com/search?q=photo+of+elvis+presley+with+larry+foster&biw=1067&bih=646&site=webhp&tbm=isch&imgil=F4nq9Jlsx0WiVM%253A%253BToQHmQ9eJ9BgkM%253Bhttps%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.youtube.com%25252Fwatch%25253Fv%2525253DugFLsxidjSI&source=iu&pf=m&fir=F4nq9Jlsx0WiVM%253A%252CToQHmQ9eJ9BgkM%252C_&usg=__2S_FBQLtmn4zp-J8lbKc_a9rPnc%3D&ved=0ahUKEwi_2MaKwu7OAhVCbiYKHS6IBCoQyjcIOQ&ei=jE3IV7_iMMLcmQGukJLQAg#imgrc=F4nq9Jlsx0WiVM%3A
No! That's not true at all, Elvis takes 50% of everything I earn!Col. Tom Parker share
Apparently, yes, they did exist but certainly not to the extent they do today.
The scene, as far as I know, is a complete fabrication.