Somewhere between "Hound Dog" and "Love Me Tender" I may have uttered a small sigh.

But the sigh wasn't as much for the gyrating man in the gold-studded, tight white suit who was singing the songs as it was for days gone by.

And seeing Elvis Presley live in concert yesterday at Stokely Athletics Center made at least this former teen-ager of the early Elvis era realize that the days have gone by.

Relived Adoslescence

The 1972 concert brand Elvis still resembles the 1950s Elvis who made teen-age girls scream and swoon. Girls screamed and swoomed at his concerts here yesterday, but the girls mostly were those approaching or already past 30 who were reliving their adoloscence for at least a few memorable minutes.

Most of the audience for the nearly full-house matinee performance yesterday were women over 30 or under 13. There were also numerous indulgent husbands, at least one of whom was overheard to remark (as in the Alka-Seltzer commercial) as he left, "I can't believe I sat through the whole thing"

Elvis still puts on a good show, but the continous gyrations of earlier years have changed now to occasional jerks, resembling karate movements more than efforts to dislocate the pelvis.

"Oldies but Goodies"

The updated Elvis opened his show here yesterday with several contemporary with several contemporary favorites such as "Proud Mary" and "Until It's Time For You To Go" and then when to the "oldies but goodies" that he made famous during the 50s. The hym "How Great Thou Art" recent country favorite "For The Good Times" and a moving combination of "Dixie" and "Battle Rymn of the Republic" were included in the latter part of the show.

Dressed in a spectacular white suit and cape lined in black, Elvis sang, swaggered, posed and performed continuously for over an hour.

Delayed by Sound System

The matinee performance was delayed for about 30 minutes because of the continuing difficulties experienced with the sound system at Stokely.

Those attending the matinee probably missed the full impact of the show becuase of the sound problems. The difficulty with the sound caused a large portion of the performance to appear sloppy becuase Elvis, his singers and the band members missed or couldn't hear cues.

Elvis apologized for the sound problems several times. He opened the show by quipping "Sorry I'm late, but I was building a sound system."

Trio, Comedian Open

The Elvis concert opened with a trio of pink velvet-clad. Afrocoifed soul singers called The Sweet Inspirations, who warmed up the audience with hot songs 'n dance numbers.

They were followed by comedian Jack Kahane whose quips were well received, and included an observation about Knoxville, where he said "the only thing that stays open all night is the mailbox".

Then came the intermission and another long fidding-with-the sound system session.

And then, to a musical introduction which sounded a lot like a Biblical movie theme, came Elvis, surrounded by a mob of bodyguards and the wild flashing of lights and flashbulbs, and screams.

Some touch His Hand

After a brief moment with guitar in hand, Elvis discarded it and began his performance, catering to an audience who wanted not only to hear his singing, but also watch the charismatic perdonality plus body in motion.

A bouffant-coiled middle-aged woman besides me jumped and screamed while her children watched her in wonder. Screams were located by the direction Elvis swaggered across stage. At the show's end, numerous women jumped up and stampeded toward the exit where, the Presley bodyguards were rushing the singer away. Many then contented themselves by swarming the souvenir stands to buy Elvis posters, portraits, photos and buttons.

A few were lucky enough to have touched his hand or perhaps the hem of his cape.

Elvis Shows, Newsman is Manhandled.

"When Col. Tom Parker doesn't want any photographs taken of Elvis, no photographs are taken." That was the edict relayed to News-Sentinel photographers yesterday by more than word of mouth.

News-Sentinel photographer Terry Moore was in the parking lot of the Sheraton Campus Inn where the Presley troupe stayed when the limousines bearing Elvis and his entourage arrived yesterday.

Grabbed by Policeman

He aimed his camera in the direction of a limousine and was confronted by Presley bodyguard Sonny West who jumped out of the limousine and said "no pictures". The bodyguard grabbed for Mr. Moore's camera and Knoxville policeman Carl Rowan, who was standing nearby, grabbed Mr. Moore around the neck in a stranglehold.

A walkie-talkie Mr. Moore also was carrying was taken by the bodyguard but later returned by Knoxville police.

Security unusual

Security was tighter for Elvis during his visit here than for any presidents, kings or other officials who have visited Knoxville in recent years.

A News-Sentinel reporter and photographer were first told they would not be allowed near the Lear jet bringing Elvis to Knoxville when it arrived. Later arrengements were made to allow a photographer tomeet Elvis . However, no fuss was made when a reporter accompanied the photographer to greet Elvis. He was spirited off and on stage in a matter of seconds, before and after performances, at Stokely Athletics Center.

Courtesy of Knoxville Public Library