Timeline:
January 8: Elvis turns 31 and holds another closed-theater screening in Memphis' Memphian moviehouse, this time the classic comedy epic It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World. That same day, RCA sends a congratulatory telegram, somewhat suspiciously claiming that 1965 was "the biggest of all the ten years you have spent with us."January 14: The singer spends nearly $5,000 for a professional slot-car race track to be installed at Graceland, in keeping with the "Memphis Mafia's" new obsession. Elvis plans to extend the mansion to accommodate the track, but when his interest in slot car racing wanes, this is transformed into what is now known as the Trophy Room.
January 28: An article in the Memphis Press-Scimitar erroneously states that the Beatles' manager, Brian Epstein, is maneuvering to buy Elvis' contract out from Colonel Tom Parker.
February 3: Elvis moves from his Bellagio Way property into a new temporary L.A. home at 10550 Rocca Place in Bel Air.
February 21: Elvis begins filming his 22nd movie, Spinout. He also tells a local Los Angeles paper about the gospel album he's currently working on, eventually titled How Great Thou Art.
February 21: During a weekend break in filming, Elvis and his entourage fly to Las Vegas.
April 2: Colonel Parker signs a new movie deal with producer Hal Wallis -- Elvis' last with him.
April 8: Elvis finishes filming on Spinout. Eight days later, Elvis and the "Mafia" head back to Memphis at the wheel of a new customized Greyhound cruiser (which has replaced the old series of mobile homes).
May 22: A bored Elvis organizes a football team for the Mafia (complete with uniforms!) at nearby Whitehaven High School.
May 25: Felton Jarvis takes over as session producer from Chet Atkins. Jarvis, an Elvis fan from the early days, will be instrumental in moving the singer back to blues, gospel, and R&B-based material.
July 11: Elvis begins filming his 24th motion picture, Double Trouble.
August 6: Elvis visits Palm Springs for the first time, staying in a home loaned to the Colonel by the William Morris Agency, a powerful talent agency in Hollywood.
August 30: Presley finishes work on Double Trouble. On the same day, RCA extends Elvis' recording contract to the end of 1974.
September 6: Director Hal Wallis writes to the Colonel, concerned about the deterioration of Elvis' appearance since their last film together, Roustabout.
September 27: Elvis begins shooting his 23rd film, Easy Come, Easy Go.
November 7: Elvis completes filming on Easy Come, Easy Go, but is not released by Wallis until two weeks later. Whether this has anything to do with his health is unclear.
November 24: Elvis spends Thanksgiving at the Colonel's home in Palm Springs.
November 29: Arriving in Memphis, Elvis is tuned in to radio station WHBQ when he hears Tom Jones singing "Green, Green Grass Of Home." He calls the radio station and requests the song over and over again -- although Mafia member Red West had brought the song to his attention in 1965 and was told it was "too country"!
December 5: Elvis finds a new obsession -- horseback riding -- and enters into it with the same effort he brought to all his pastimes, purchasing a entire wardrobe of riding clothes.
December 12: Continuing his usual Christmas tradition (but upping the ante), Elvis donates $105,000 to various Memphis charities.
December 15: Elvis presents DJ George Klein with his Christmas present -- a yellow Cadillac convertible.
December 20: Having finished with the clothes, Elvis purchases two horses for himself and Priscilla, as well as two for Memphis Mafioso Jerry Schilling and his fiancee, Sandy Kawelo.
December 24: Pressure had been mounting on Presley for years from the Beaulieu family and from the Colonel, rumors had been swirling for months even amongst Elvis fans, and he'd had an engagement ring made six months previously, but not until today does the singer get on one knee during Christmas celebrations at Graceland and present Priscilla Beaulieu with the three-carat ring, saying, "We're going to be married."
December 28: With the whole gang in on Elvis' new cowboy fetish, the singer purchases more horses and riding equipment.
December 31: Elvis Presley arrives at Memphis' Manhattan Club for his annual (private) Christmas party, but, unable to find a parking space, returns to Graceland.
Next... Elvis 1966 recording sessions
