Cottonwood, Arizona...
Elvis Presley historical facts.
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"Special Location Radio Program. MGM's Stay Away, Joe on Location Sedona, Arizona Compliments of Elvis and the Colonel" (RCA Victor UNRM-9408). This 13 word title is sometimes more simply referred to the "Stay Away, Joe" album. Yet not included in the movie, this album was recorded during the time of the production of the 1968 movie that Elvis Presley filmed in Cottonwood and Sedona.
Photo to right is the old KVIO Radio Station in Cottonwood, AZ. Taken during an August 2010 Elvis Tour of "Stay Away, Joe" movie location and other locations that Elvis left his footprint!
Photo credit to Maria Augusta Mendez and her Elvis Fan Club from Brazil...
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| Maria Augusta Mendez ~ Elvis Fan Friends from Brazil, August 2010 Elvis Tour from the Cottonwood Hotel |
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RCA created this LP for a one-time broadcast by just one radio station: KVIO in Cottonwood, Arizona. There is only one copy to be known to exist.
Joe Adams the KVIO announcer at the time delivered the uninterrupted 30-minute program which featured nine of Elvis' gospel tunes, publicity for Elvis' two inspirational albums ("His Hand in Mine" and "How Great Thou Art") as well as promotion of the (Dec. 3, 1967) "Special Christmas Radio Program." Also in order was exceptional gratitude, thanking the community (Cottonwood & Sedona) for its hospitality shown the cast and crew during the filming of the "Stay Away, Joe" production.
Over 40 years later, Adams remembered the event well. He stated that he was given the script to simply read and record, with no ad-libbing. Other instructions provided with the disc stated: "For KVIO broadcast, Sunday, November 5, 1967. Property of All Star Shows. Return to Col. Parker's office after airing." Adam's had no idea how the tape would be used or what the finished program would be. And that his voice would be on todays most sought-after Elvis record in the world! The lone copy remained in Presley's personal collection for 22 years.
Minimum value: $25,000.
See more on this whole story HERE...
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"Stay Away, Joe” is a 1967 musical comedy starring Elvis Presley who plays a Navajo half-breed Indian trying to get government aid for his tribe's reservation. He sings tunes as "Stay Away," "Lovely Mamie" and "All I Needed Was the Rain"! Burgess Meredith, Joan Blondell, Katy Jurado co-star.
Sedona received credits for film location, Cottonwood did not.
This movie is available for purchase on DVD from Turner Classic movies unlimited.
Or come and watch it on video when you stay at the historic Cottonwood Hotel in Suite 1. This unit is sometimes referred to as the Elvis Suite. Movie posters of the Stay Away, Joe movie are displayed on the walls.
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| Stay Away, Joe ~ ELVIS |
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| Elvis Presley, "Stay Away, Joe" |
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Different staging and filming took place in front of the Cottonwood Hotel.
Here Elvis sits behind the steering wheel of his red cadillac convertible in his Indian cowboy western attire. This was a scene taken in front of the Cottonwood Hotel's, Robinson Clothier Western Wear Store. You will see it in the movie.
Elvis bought western wear from Bob Robinson, the owner of the shop and hotel at that time.
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Cottonwood, Arizona "Stay Away, Joe" movie photos/scenes below...
• Elvis trades a horse for a cadillac! This scene takes place in front of the old Larry Green Chevrolet, today's Habitat. (737 S Main Street)
• Old Town 1929 historic old jail scenes. (The jail at that time did not have the brick addition). (1101 N. Main Street)
• Scenes in front of the Cottonwood Hotel & Robinson's Clothier Western Wear Shop, where Elvis bought some western apparel. (930 N. Main Street)
It's fun to see what the small town of Cottonwood, Arizona looked liked back in the 1960's!
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| 737 S. Main St., Cottonwood, AZ (1) |
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| 737 S. Main St., Cottonwood, AZ (2) |
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| Elvis barters for red cadillac |
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| Elvis trades horse for cadillac |
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| We Trade on Anything |
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| Car Salesman Shistered by Elvis! |
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| Stay Away Joe Old Town Cottonwood Scene |
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| Elvis Presley Old Town Cottonwood AZ |
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| 2010 Main St. Old Town Cottonwood |
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| Photo to left is courtesy of Maria Augusta Mendez. Taken August 2010 on Main Street in Old Town Cottonwood, AZ during an Elvis Tour of "Stay Away, Joe" movie location scenes from the Cottonwood Hotel.
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| Cottonwood Hotel Movie Scene (1) |
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| Cottonwood Hotel Movie Scene (2) |
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| Cottonwood Hotel Movie Scene (3) |
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| Cottonwood Hotel Movie Scene (4) |
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| Cottonwood Hotel Movie Scene (5) |
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| Cottonwood Hotel Movie Scene (6) |
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| Cottonwood Hotel Movie Scene (7) |
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| Cottonwood Hotel Movie Scene (8) |
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The movie "Stay Away. Joe" starring Elvis Presley was also filmed in parts of Uptown Sedona. A good portion of the movie took place on the Bradshaw Ranch. There were like 144 movies filmed on Bradshaw Ranch. The U. S. government has since taken the property over due to UFO sightings, orbs, and the secret military base in the Secret Mountain area. see more
UFO sightings in Sedona, Arizona.
The pictures below are recent pictures of the Bradshaw Ranch. They were the closest we could get.
***If you come to the Cottonwood Hotel and stay and would like a tour out there we can arrange that.
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| Bradshaw Ranch Feb. 2010 |
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| Bradshaw Ranch confiscated by the U.S. government |
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| Elvis Movie Staging at Cottonwood Hotel |
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Elvis Throws a Hi-5!
The station wagon on the left is the car that Elvis drove back and forth from Sedona to Cottonwood during the filming of Stay Away, Joe. Colonial Parker thought that the car would be less conspiculous for fans tracking Elvis down. Everyone still recognized the car as his admirers would toot and wave and yell his name. Elvis would always throw them a HI-FIVE!
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Where Did Elvis Stay During His Filming of "Stay Away, Joe"??
Elvis rented a house up on Back O' Beyond in the Sedona area during the filming. The house he rented had large exposed window panels from ceiling to floor on the back side, including a large open shower that overlooked Oak Creek. In fear of being seen naked to any peeking toms, Elvis had Colonel Parker go to a local business to have custom shower curtains made. Later when the business owner went to install the curtains he was asked to stay for a good southern home cooked luncheon prepared by a black woman who traveled with Elvis.
True story told by Roger Curry of Sedona, as it was his dad that hung the curtains... Thank you Roger for the info!
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Elvis Tours Old Town Streets
Elvis loved filming in the small town community of Cottonwood.
I met "Stay Away, Joe" movie director Peter Tewksbury, a few years back, as he stopped by the Cottonwood Hotel visitor center/gift shop a few years back. He stated that this filming location was one of Elvis's favorite and most fun. Elvis walked around the neighborhood back streets in Old Town Cottonwood autographing for fans right in front of their homes. Photo at right was taken by Jo Becchetti See in front of their old home, which today is a vacant lot 925 Cactus Street behind the Cottonwood Hotel, next to the hotel's parking lot.
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| Elvis Autographs for fans |
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Elvis Takes A Break
Captured here on camera at the former Old Town Cottonwood Shep's liquor store, Elvis was buying a cola and magazine, as the fan snapped his picture.
Today this is the location of:
The Ledbetter Law Firm, P.L.C.,
1003 North Main Street, Cottonwood, Arizona
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The KING Shows Up at the Cottonwood Hotel
May 2009
Back tracking some of Elvis's footprints, King who actually knew Elvis, today continues to pay special tribute to Elvis, with memories, music & more and is a real Elvis look-a-like, shows up at the Cottonwood Hotel. Impressing the guests on the hotel balcony, he sings a love song. Elvis "the King"...No Aaron King is his name.
And he's available for hire...Contact: Judy Conley in Tucson at 520-790-0906 or cell# (520) 405-6392.
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| Aaron King "alias" Elvis Presley |
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| Keeping Elvis Alive! |
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| Letter from Aaron King February 2010 |
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