BackinMemphis

Time to Turn Page to a Better Year 2011 was another year where what had once glittered wasn’t always what was of value. Recessions have a way of ripping away veneers that look more substantial and less tentative than we hope they are. What is clear for the year ahead is that it is up to us collectively to make our destiny. Perhaps what we do deliberately will be tempered considerably by the weight of other factors beyond our control. But not all of the elements that determine success or failure and the ground between them are out of our reach. 2012 will be the year a specific plan to consolidate Shelby County’s two public school systems takes shape. Our civic disposition to look at what others have done has been satisfied. With that, we hope the consolidation planning commission will fashion a school system that has as its goal a single public school system that strives to be better for the parents of all children in what are now two school systems. By better we mean in mea...

Oh! You Pretty Things' David Bowie + Elvis Presley Birthday Bash, to be held at (Le) Poisson Rouge on Sunday January 15. The show will feature the Oh! You Pretty Things orchestra along with Michael T and the Vanities performing larger-than-life arrangements of hit songs from their catalogue. Formika and Queen V will emcee the event, which will also feature performances from Lady Circus, Hickry Hawkins, Corey Tut, Rob Roth, Saphin and many more, along with burlesque by The Flying Fox and Brewster. Eddie Clendening who originated the role of Elvis in the Broadway production of Million Dollar Quartet and now plays the role Off-Broadway at New World Stages will also participate in the show.

We brought you this story yesterday about the Mackenzie family who were robbed outside Graceland on Christmas Day. The family is in Memphis while their 13 year old son, Dustyn is being treated at St. Jude Children's Hospital for leukemia. Shannon MacKenzie said her son gave Memphis police a description of the man, who has not been identified. "He said after he took my purse, he turned around and started laughing about it," MacKenzie said. She said she was not sure which aspect of the incident was more painful. Even more discouraging, MacKenzie said officials at Graceland have not been very helpful to her. "They've been hateful," MacKenzie said. "They said they didn't want this kind of publicity and did not file an internal report like they were supposed to." MacKenzie said Graceland officials provided video surveillance to authorities in Memphis, but said the footage was poor. She said after the incident, she and her family have swo...

Imelda and Bono tear it up as audience dances recession away Sunday December 18 2011 Looking like an Old Testament preacher on a festive jolly, Guggi was sitting next to me on Friday night at The 02 in Dublin. The artist smiled quixotically at me when I told him what was about to happen next was the worst-kept secret in Ireland. Then, seconds later, Guggi's best friend, a messianic fella by the name of Bono, joined headliner Imelda May and her band onstage for an audacious version of Desire by his band U2 (the rumour that Larry Mullen was to play drums proved unfounded). The 12,000 crowd went mental. Harry Crosbie, who owns the venue, had told me earlier in the bar that tonight "we would be witnessing a magical piece of rock 'n' roll history -- it was 23 years ago that U2 filmed music for the movie Desire in this building". When Bono and Imelda did another duet together -- a suitably festive and out-of-kilter version of Phil Spector's Christmas: ...

Watch Actor Robert Blake, Part 1 on PBS. See more from Tavis Smiley. If you missed this on PBS, check out parts 1 & 2. It's must see tv! Blake needs a reality show! In part 1 of an exclusive two-part conversation, the Emmy-winning actor talks about the ghosts that haunt the living when they “get old,” the days he spent in jail before his acquittal on murder charges and the plan he believes God has for his life. Robert Blake began his acting career at age 5 in MGM's Our Gang series and went on to appear as a powerful adult performer in leading and character roles. Following his breakthrough role as real-life multiple murderer Perry Smith in the film adaptation of In Cold Blood, he reached stardom with his Emmy-winning three-season star turn on the popular TV cop series Baretta. He also played the title character in the TV miniseries Hoffa and won another Emmy for his performance in the TV biopic Judgment Day: The John List Story. In recent years, Blake has maintained ...

Donna Douglas & Elvis Presley DONNA DOUGLAS is best known to Elvis fans as Elvis' co-star in Frankie And Johnny . But she also had another memorable role known to most Americans as Elly May Clampett on the "The Beverly Hillbillies ." Douglas and toymaker Mattel Inc . and CBS Consumer Products Inc. have settled their legal battle. Donna Douglas & Mattel's Elly May Barbie They settled a lawsuit claiming the companies didn't get Donna’s approval to use her name and likeness for a Barbie doll as The ENQUIRER previously reported. Douglas shone as the critter-loving tomboy sexpot for nine seasons of the CBS TV sitcom about a backwoods family that strikes oil and moves to Beverly Hills. U.S. District Court in Baton Rouge said in a one-sentence order that a settlement had been reached. Details of court settlements typically are kept private. The ENQUIRER had reported Douglas' lawsuit sought a minimum payback of  $75,000. Earlier, both...

Eleven-year-old Dustyn Ates and his family were visiting Graceland when a Grinch stole their Christmas joy. Photo courtesy Shannon MacKenzie. FAST FACTS: 13-year-old Dustyn Ates was just diagnosed with leukemia.  After getting out of intensive care, he wanted to visit Graceland.  A man stole a purse out of the family car while Dustyn and his brother were in the back seat. (Memphis, TN 12/26/11) A family whose 13-year-old son is undergoing treatment for leukemia was robbed outside Graceland on Christmas Day. Dustyn Ates was diagnosed with leukemia on Dec. 15 and flown from his home near Shreveport, LA, to Memphis, to be treated at St. Jude. “We thought he had the stomach flu. Had no idea. He was the picture of health. And the next thing you know, it was a whirlwind. We were all just here,” said Shannon MacKenzie, his mother. Since being released from intensive care, the family decided to leave the hospital and do something in Memphis. “He said, ‘Mom, I jus...