Like a fine wine, Elvis Presley gets better with age.

The 37-year-old man of music can still shake a leg and wiggle his hips in the same heart-quickening manner that made the Elvis fans swoon in the early 1950s. But he doesn't quite go into the twisting frenzy he did in earlier days.

Looking a little like Prince Charming in the classic fairytale of "Sleeping Beauty," Elvis showed up at the Hampton Roads Coliseum Sunday afternoon in shocking pink pants, a shirt and a swirling cape. A glittering wide belt encircled those famous hips.

Unfortunately, he has replaced his ducktail haircut with an unbecoming version of the pageboy, which isn't flattering to his suave appearance.

Elvis, who is known for having a bevy of beauties swarming around him in his movies, could have had a field day watching the thousands of female fans who paid up to $10 a ticket to watch him caress the microphone with his honey-sweet voice and gyrate across the stage without signing any autographs.

Dressed in everything from knit hotpants to sequined evening clothes, young and old women screamed "We want Elvis."

"Right on, he's our man," said an 18-year-old girl.

"Tell Elvis we love him... he's beautiful," said a young fan, wringing her hands with excitement.

Flamboyant as ever, Elvis really melted the hearts of a few lucky women. Dorothy Rayfield of Hampton presented the personality with a gift-wrapped bottle of champagne. Projecting his sexy smile, Elvis said "Thank you, babe."

Afterwards, Dorothy said, "He's better than ever. I've been an Elvis fan ever since I was old enough to go to the movies."

Some fans who had front row seats still used binoculars to get a closer look at the man who made rock music come alive with his "Hound Dog" and "Blue Suede Shoes," which he didn't sing at the matinee shoe. As one woman observed, "he doesn't have a wrinkle or a gray hair."

Carole Lang of Newport News said, "he hasn't aged a bit."

The climax of the show came when he bestowed a kiss on Mrs. Bonnie Epperson of Newport News. "I'm the most excited person in the world," was all she could say as tears trickled down her cheeks.

However, Mrs. Epperson did mention her favorite Elvis song is "I Was The One," and that she was.

Like most conscientious entertainers, Elvis treats the fans like royalty while he is on stage. Whereas Tom Jones mops his sweaty brow with handkerchiefs and then gives them to screaming fans, Elvis distributes white silk scarves.

The living legend is on a 15-day tour;tonight he appears in Richmond.

According to his manager Col. Tom Parker, who has been with Elvis for 16 years, the star is making a film entitled "Remnants of the Old West." His current tour is also being filmed by MGM.

Elvis' wife, Priscilla, and his three-year-old daughter, Lisa Marie, returned home to Los Angeles about three days ago.

About a year ago it was rumored Elvis and Priscilla were separating, but Col. Parker said, "They were extremely happy the last time I had dinner with them."

So Elvis has come and gone on the Peninsula, but he won't be forgotten. The brightest star of them all has left sweet memories of a dashing hero.

Courtesy of Hampton Public Library