Seventeen years ago, Elvis Presley found the way to millions of women's hearts by his phenomenal voice and his revolutionary way with a guitar and a wiggle.

Elvis Presley proved Sunday that he has managed, through his personality and his ability to grow, to keep those same hearts and to win new ones every year.

Those women who were young girls in 1955 are turning out in droves to see the great Elvis on his 15-city tour.

And they are bringing their husbands, their sons, and their daughters to pack the huge houses where the living legend is giving to them his talent, his good humor, and his fantastic appeal.

Adored and idolized for all these years, Elvis still feels strongly for his fans.

"I just like to think I make people happy by singing and by entertaining," Presley told the Daily Press backstage.

He has no messages, he said, and added, in reference to some recent rock groups "I think every entertainer is entitled to his own opinions, but I personally think I'm here to entertain."

His greatest contribution, he believes, has been "just making people happy."

Sunday might have been declared "Elvis Presley Day" in Hampton, because this two shows here were the talk of the city.

Both the matinee and the evening show were complete sellouts.

Four long black limousines heralded Presley's arrival at Patrick Henry Airport. Many people out for a Sunday afternoon ride stopped at the crowded gate out of curiosity, caught the excitement of the gathering crowd and stayed to race across the taxi way when the sleek Gulfstream jet cut its engines at about 2 o'clock.

Hopeful fans pushed ahead to try to reach the steps before Presley disembarked, but the agile entertainer was too quick for them, and was down the steps and into the limousine before they could encircle him.

And that was about as close as most fans got, except for a few nearest the stage that he touched or kissed during the show.

People around him, fearing for his safety, feel they must keep him protected within their trusted circle.

Backstage, a security was possibly the tighest of that for any performer.

Paper badges with stick-on backs were issued by the Presley organization and no one without a badge could hope to get backstage.

Red letter badges were for coliseum personnel on official errands.

Black letter spelled out Now On Tour - Elvis - April, 1972" for some persons traveling with the show including the MGM-contracted crew filming a concert documentary.

The inner group, including Elvis' personal manager, Col. Tom Parker, and his associates, wore blue badges, admitting bearers to all parts of the backstage area.

Parker, formidable by reputation, turned our to be friendly and competent.

He is the one who makes all the crucial decisions concerning the tour, and he personally came to Hampton in March to complete arrangements.

He is obviously devoted to Presley, and his pride in the star's charismatic performance is plain.

After considerately showing this reporter to his own folding chair beside the stage, Parker kept checking to ask "Are you enjoying the show?" and "Isn't he great?"

No one can argue with the colonel on Presley's greatness.

The fondness the other members of the show feel for Presley is also apparent.

In the rather bare dressing room he chose instead of the more plush star's dressing room, Presley was surrounded by members of his troupe, who seemed to be enjoying the tour.

His new movie, Presley said now called "Sold Out." But, he said, "they will probably change the name."

Asked about the chances of his coming back to Hampton, he said, laughing that famous deep laugh "I'd say they're pretty good. It's been great!"

Presley, offstage, seemed to be as happy as he is before a microphone with a spotlight.

He laughs a lot, jokes with everyone and doesn't seem to take himself too seriously.

Although he is doing shows in 15 cities, sometimes two shows a day, Presley did not seem to be feeling the strain.

He likes to call people "Honey" and has a way of putting them at ease.

He seemed slightly amused at the adulation he received.

One gets the feeling that if he had his way, he would be walking through the crowd touching hands and signing autographs.

But his success has made that impossible. Those fans who love him would tear him to pieces.

Presley entered and left the stage straight from and to the big limousine. His agent said he was spending the night in Richmond.

But, judging from his pleasure over his Hampton reception, he just may be back.

Courtesy of Hampton Public Library