Elvis Aron Presley, with the happy-go-lucky singing style, invaded the Coliseum in cape crusader fashion last night and convinced any doubters he belongs to the present as well as the recent pass.

Appearing in his eighth one-nighter in a 16-city tour which began last week, the former Memphis truck-driver took over the capacity audiences it took over him.

As they reacted, the 37 year old showman reacted.

He still struts, shakes, grunts and groans and flails in a rising crescendo perfectly attuned to the mood of the crowd - and what a well watched crowd it was.

There were 12 policemen lined across the front of the stage. Bodyguards, plain clothes policemen, other security officers and Elvis' personnel huddled in various parts of a glittering almost blinding, building illuminated by hundreds of flickering flashbulbs.

Elvis was here in all his glory with a baby blue jeweled jumpsuit, which had bell bottom pants and chest-exposed top with a cape. He wore fancy white boots, jewel-studded belt with chains and a white scarf around his neck.

Before Elvis "flew" on stage at 9:20 pm, there was an announcement: "Once the show starts stay seated; the aisles must not be blocked." The guards saw to it that nothing happened.

Presley opening with "C.C. Rider" sang for 50 minutes the ones which brought him into the big time in 1956 and the newer songs which continue to electrify audience and critics alike wherever he goes.

He did "Teddy Bear," "Don't Be Cruel," "I'm All Shook Up," and "hound Dog," a song he said he sang on the Ed Sullivan show in 1956. "They showed me from the waist up on that show," he said.

A trend, not irreversible for sure, may be entering into Presley's songs and his treatment of them. There was a time when no one would touch a song he had recorded, because he had done it so well. He has lost a little of the leader image.

PICK UP SOME TUNES

Elvis picked up some tunes others have already done, including Bill Sainte-Marie's "Until It's Time For You To Go."

But Elvis, the multimillionaire RCA recording phenomenon and actor, still retains the animal magnetism which made him an idol of the teen-agers in the 1950s.

His sound is tops as he gyrates his guitar in competition with the new generation of superstars.

He threw out three sweatsoaked scarves to eager women during the performance and in one stretch routine said, "I hope this suit don't tear."

GETTING HOT HERE

"It's getting hot in here," he said. A screaming woman replied "Take it off," and Elvis tossed a scarf into a scrambling crowd of women.

He went from "Dixie" into "The Battle Hymn of the Republic". His country blues gospel based vocals ended soon after when he was whisked out the back of the stage as quickly as he had entered.

Within seconds another announcement came: "Elvis has left the building. He is gone."

The Coliseum doors opened at 7 o'clock, an hour and a half before the start of last night's show. His fans waited and waited through two preliminary acts (the Sweet Inspirations, singing group, and comic Jackie Kahane) and an intermission. Finally, out of darkness he had arrived.

He left for Charlotte, NC. For another show tonight, after staying at the Indianapolis Hilton Hotel.

He is a performer, one of the few who can step out on a stage and make it his.

Courtesy of Geoffrey McDonnell