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(Regular Price $99.95 - Limited Time
Introductory Website Price Just $69.95)
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about new
photo book ‘Elvis Incredible' |
To uncover a rare photo of Elvis is always a treasure,
 but
to uncover two hundred photos (never before seen) almost
fifty years later is absolutely incredible! When I had my
first look at the photographs of Elvis, taken by Roy
Cummings, I was amazed. How could these rare photos taken by
a professional photographer in the ‘50’s and ‘60’s be filed
away never to be seen? Photos from Tupelo ’56, The Wedding
’67, Las Vegas International Hotel opening ’69, Press
Conference ’69, and most important, some candid photos…to
die for. After researching further, I found that throughout
the years a select number of Roy Cummings photos were seen
again and again in the movie and fan magazines as well as
newspapers around the world. Hundreds more were filed away
never to be seen until now.
Nearly fifty years ago, Jean Cummings and her late husband,
Roy, came to America from their native England, and embarked
on a grand new adventure in their young lives. Roy had been
an official photographer for the London Paladium Theater,
and also worked on photo assignments for the London Radio
Times. An opportunity arose for Roy to come to the United
States to photograph acts getting ready to take their shows
to Great Britain.
Jean was a photo-journalist, combining written word with the
pictures Roy would capture. This led to choice assignments
in the U.S. from fan magazines, motion picture magazines and
newspapers.
In 1956 while living in New York, Roy received an assignment
from the English Associated Newspaper. He would travel to
Tupelo, Mississippi to take photographs of this hot, new,
young singer who was driving all the girls wild. Elvis
Presley gave a special concert in his hometown. “It was in
Tupelo that Roy first met Elvis,” Jean explains “and took
photographs, many of which were seen in magazines and
newspapers worldwide.”
Jean explained, “It was through the relationship with the
Colonel that Roy ended up photographing the wedding; the
opening in Las Vegas, The Steve Allen Show, Press Conference
and other special events in Elvis’ career.”
All of the photographs in this book were filed away and
unpublished, and as Jean says, “I am so excited to share
these photos with the fans for the first time.”
The following are excerpts taken from the interview with
Darwin Lamm and Jean Cummings.
 Elvis
International: Over the years, several notable
photographers did extensive work with Elvis, but you and
your husband seem to be the only English photographers in
that group. Tell us about your start in England.
Jean Cummings: We were both in London working for the
London Paladium and Radio times before we came to America.
When I first met my husband, he was the official
photographer for the London Paladium. That was where a lot
of American stars performed in the 50’s. You know, Johnnie
Ray, Frankie Lane, Guy Mitchell, and Ernie Ford.
Elvis International: And then you came to the United
States to expand your work for the Radio Times?
Jean Cummings: We did a lot of work for other
newspapers as well. We then started getting assignments for
fan magazines and motion picture magazines here in the U.S.
working with people like Jane Mansfield, Frank Sinatra, Dean
Martin, Roy Rogers and countless others. All the fan
magazines were very friendly and ran many of our photos.
Elvis International: How did you get your first assignment
to photograph Elvis?
Jean Cummings: When we became aware of Elvis we were
in New York. I was doing the writing and Roy was doing the
photos. That was in 1956. Elvis was appearing in Tupelo, his
hometown, and Roy was assigned to cover the event for the
English Associated Newspapers.
Elvis International: What kind of impression did
Elvis make on your husband?
Jean Cummings: Roy was very impressed with Elvis and thought
he was very talented and a real gentleman. He also felt he
had a lot of charisma. Roy also met the Colonel in 1956 and
he would continue to send us Christmas cards thereafter.
Elvis International: Where else did Roy take pictures
of Elvis in 1956?
Jean Cummings: In New York when he was on the Steve
Allen Show. Those candid pictures were from the dressing
room at the Steve Allen Show.
Elvis International: Elvis fans can’t seem to get
enough new pictures of The King, and they’ll love Roy’s
photographs from 1956. Are there any of his first pictures
of Elvis that have been lost over the years?
Jean Cummings: Yes, so many of the photos that went
to the fan magazines were not returned. Back then you didn’t
think of making copies because they were supposed to return
them. They should’ve given the photos back to the
photographers, because it wasn’t their copyright.
Elvis International: Your next set of photos came
 from
the wedding of Elvis and Priscilla in 1967. How did Roy
happen to be at the wedding?
Jean Cummings: The Colonel and Roy kept in touch from
1956 on, and that was how Roy ended up at the wedding.
Elvis International: Two years later, Elvis returned
to the stage after an eight year absence. This time, you
were with Roy when he covered Elvis’ opening at the
International Hotel (known as the Las Vegas Hilton.)
Jean Cummings: Yes, we were invited to the opening in
Las Vegas, and it was amazing. We met the Colonel in the
lobby, and that’s when he gave me a stuffed hound dog. The
lobby was like a big circus, and the Colonel seemed like the
ringmaster. That’s when I met Elvis for the first time. It
was backstage, and I remember there were so many people.
Elvis International: Was it nice to see Elvis back in
the limelight again?
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Jean Cummings: Yes,
it was almost like he had disappeared, as far as I could
remember. There hadn’t been much going on with Elvis. I
guess that was when he was doing movies, but everyone was
really excited that Elvis was back doing concerts. I
remember he had a whole floor in the hotel, and he was so
guarded you couldn’t even get into the elevator.
Elvis International:
The tickets to these concerts were extremely hot items. Were
they expensive?
Jean Cummings: The Vegas shows at that time were
charging about $10 for a show and dinner. They were charging
$25 for Elvis performances, which was really expensive.
Everyone said, “Do they think they’ll get $25?” You got
dinner and Elvis! That was a deal, and that place was
packed.
 Elvis
International: Roy was also taking photographs at the
famous press conference Elvis gave in Las Vegas following
the performance.
Jean Cummings: Yes. At the the press conference,
Elvis remembered Roy from Tupelo. They had a long chat. He
seemed so relieved that he got such a wonderful reception
opening night. After that, we were invited back to every
appearance at the International Hotel.
Elvis International: The fans will love these photos
of Elvis from the press conference. They are truly
incredible. How did he look to you in person?
Jean Cummings: He was absolutely gorgeous with his
black hair. He was wearing a black suit with a pinkish,
black and white scarf.
Elvis International: Do you consider yourself an
Elvis fan?
Jean Cummings: Oh, yes. I was a fan after I saw him
in Vegas. I thought that was terrific. It was the first time
I had ever seen him in person. Before that, I had just seen
him on some of the television shows.
Elvis International: Any memories of Elvis in Las
Vegas?
Jean Cummings: One time in Las Vegas we were there,
and Don Rickles was performing in the lounge. Elvis and his
whole entourage walked through, and Don stopped the show
when he saw Elvis. They were friends, and I remember Elvis
gave him his gold watch, which was worth I don’t know how
many thousands. We didn’t have a camera with us
unfortunately. Elvis left the stage and watched the rest of
the show.
Elvis International: You mentioned Sinatra and Dean
Martin. What other stars did you and Roy photograph?
Jean Cummings: Assignments over the years included
Goldie Hawn, Raquel Welch, William Shatner. We took a lot of
pictures of Jayne Mansfield, who was very popular but never
made it like Marilyn Monroe. I can’t tell you how many
photographs we took of people that never amounted to
anything. However, I shot Leonardo Di Caprio in the foreign
press office when he was 15. Who would have ever thought? He
never really became a star until The Titanic.
Elvis International: So you continue to work.
Jean Cummings: Yes, I’m a member of the Hollywood
Foreign Press. I’ve been: Vice President, Executive
Secretary, a member of the Board, Chairman of the Board. Now
I just basically work on the Golden Globe Awards for a
couple of months.
Elvis International: On a more personal note, what
kind of person did you find Elvis to be?
Jean Cummings: Elvis was loyal to everyone.
He
was that kind of person, and he gave everyone gifts. I don’t
think Elvis ever said anything nasty about anyone. He was
always very polite, open and answered questions.
Elvis International: Jean, thank you for sharing your
time and thoughts with us and all the
Elvis fans.
Jean Cummings: It
was my pleasure. I hope everyone enjoys the photographs.
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