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The Tankcaster – Issue No. 7 (1961)

 

By Ger Rijff
 
 

Blue Hawaii - USA promotional leis (1961) 03Welcome to the 3rd installment of the legendary TANKCASTER bibliography!
 
The number 7 issue contains no less than 20 pages, making it the biggest edition to date, and is loaded with interesting little ditties about Elvis Presley (“He was wearing a little mustache, which looked great on him”) written by the person who stood closer to the Boy From Tupelo than any other fan: GARY PEPPER.
 
This issue of The Tankcaster is also a good excuse to focus on the collectible BLUE HAWAII LEIS that pop up in auction from time to time. The Hawaiian leis were manufactured in different colours while the medaillon always had the same picture of Elvis on the front. The back of the medaillon came in two versions: one promoted the Blue Hawaii movie, the other the RCA soundtrack. An exception was the lei with the small medaillon that read “ELVIS WE LOVE YOU” on the front. The back is unknown to me (probably blank considering it’s small size), and I also haven’t seen any other versions of the small one pop up.
 
Enjoy Gary Pepper’s legendary “THE TANKCASTER” !
 

THE TANKCASTER – ISSUE No. 8 (1962) can be found HERE!

And be sure to check out THE TANKERS ANNUAL 1963 HERE!

 
 
 

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The Tankcaster No. 7 (1961) Ger Rijff 01 The Tankcaster No. 7 (1961) Ger Rijff 02

 

The Tankcaster No. 7 (1961) Ger Rijff 03 The Tankcaster No. 7 (1961) Ger Rijff 04

 

Blue Hawaii - USA promotional leis (1961) 02 Blue Hawaii - USA promotional leis (1961) 01

 

The Tankcaster No. 7 (1961) Ger Rijff 05 The Tankcaster No. 7 (1961) Ger Rijff 06

 

The Tankcaster No. 7 (1961) Ger Rijff 07 The Tankcaster No. 7 (1961) Ger Rijff 08

 

Blue Hawaii - USA promotional leis (1961) 05 Blue Hawaii - USA promotional leis (1961) 06

 

The Tankcaster No. 7 (1961) Ger Rijff 09 The Tankcaster No. 7 (1961) Ger Rijff 10

 

The Tankcaster No. 7 (1961) Ger Rijff 11 The Tankcaster No. 7 (1961) Ger Rijff 12

 

Blue Hawaii - USA promotional lei and postcard  (1961) Blue Hawaii postcard 1961

 

The Tankcaster No. 7 (1961) Ger Rijff 13 The Tankcaster No. 7 (1961) Ger Rijff 14

 

The Tankcaster No. 7 (1961) Ger Rijff 15 The Tankcaster No. 7 (1961) Ger Rijff 16

 

Gary Pepper 1961 Graceland candid 01 Gary Pepper The Tankers Annual 1963On page 13 Gary mentions that the Tankers can send a stamped and self-addressed envelope in order to receive a candid of Elvis at his front door taken by his mother.
 
In The Tankers Annual 1963 Gary printed the photo in question (in b/w).

 

The Tankcaster No. 7 (1961) Ger Rijff 17 The Tankcaster No. 7 (1961) Ger Rijff 18

 

Blue Hawaii album signed To Gary, from Elvis PresleyOn pages 14 and 15, Gary thanks certain people for their help, and these include Colonel Parker and Tom Diskin for sending him the Hawaiian leis (page 15).
Noteworhty is also that Gary appears to actually have the coverphoto for this issue of The Tankcaster professionally done since he thanks Leemans Portrait Studio in Memphis (page 14) for arranging and photographing this photo.
 
On the final page of this issue (page 16) Gary announces the Contest and the amazing prizes to be won:
1. A piece of carpet from Graceland
2. A signed Blue Hawaii album (shown to the right —>)
3. A signed Something For Everybody album
4. Uncle Travis Smith’s uniform shirt

 

The Tankcaster No. 7 (1961) Ger Rijff 19 The Tankcaster No. 7 (1961) Ger Rijff 20

 
 
 

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Blue Hawaii Christmas card (1961)A photo similar to the one on the leis was used to send out the 1961 Christmas Card.
It leaves very little doubt that Gary and his family were on Elvis’ Christmas list.
However, the photo on the Christmas card is not just of a bad quality, but also reversed.
 
Blue Hawaii - USA promotional leis (1961) 07

 
 
 

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Blue Hawaii Tiki Mug given out on opening night in New Orleans (1961) 01Not related to Gary Pepper and his Tankers in any way, but this interesting TIKI MUG seems to fit the subject. It was produced in only a small quantity, given out on the Opening Night of Blue Hawaii in New Orleans, and just like the leis it has become a much wanted piece of movie-memorabilia among collectors selling for around $ 500.
 
 
Blue Hawaii Tiki Mug given out on opening night in New Orleans (1961) 02

 
 
 

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Blue Hawaii - USA banner

 
 
 

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4 Comments Post a comment
  1. Alan White #

    Some great items.

    March 17, 2015
  2. Paul Pearce #

    Thanks Bob.

    Wonderful !

    March 18, 2015
  3. Jambalaya #

    Just great, thank you so much!!!

    March 25, 2015
  4. Craig Philo #

    Nicely put together

    April 12, 2015

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