Hundreds gather at Elvis haircut anniversary

 

 

Karen Raymer and five of her friends from Kansas City, Mo., were there. So was Rick Wood, an engineer from Hot Springs.

“When I heard about this, I just took the day off,” Wood explained.

The “this” of which Wood had heard was the 53rd anniversary of Elvis Presley having his famous hair cut at Fort Chaffee while being inducted into the U.S. Army. This is the third year the Chaffee Barbershop Museum has held an event marking the King’s March 25, 1958, haircut.

More than 300 (possibly more than 400) attended the series of events held between 1 and 4 p.m. on Friday at the museum in what is now Chaffee Crossing.

In 1958, the building that now houses the museum was part of Fort Chaffee and was used as a barbershop. It was in the barbership where Elvis got his haircut before being shipped off to Fort Hood, Texas.

Events at the anniversary included:
• Members of the Fort Smith Antique Automobile Club had numerous cars on display;
• The first 100 visitors to sign up for the museum‟s email list received a special Elvis prize (which included a photo of Elvis getting a haircut and Elvis-styled sunglasses);
• Jimmy Don Peterson, son of the barber who cut Elvis‟ long locks, gave free, first come, first served G.I. buzz cuts; and
• Elvis tribute artist Jerry Page, in character as Elvis on March 25, 1958, performed several of Presley’s early songs.

Raymer and her five friends belong to the Stuck On Elvis fan club in Kansas City.

“We came last year. Wouldn’t miss it,” Raymer said.

Jim Kell, a television reporter in 1958 for Channel 22 in Fort Smith, interviewed Elvis after the entertainer arrived at Fort Chaffee to begin his Army service. Kell said Elvis was very polite and gracious, but created a big stir during his brief few days at Fort Chaffee.

“He made quite a mark in the music industry, and he made quite a mark in Fort Smith,” Kell told the gathered crowd.

Ivy Owen, executive director of the Fort Chaffee Redevelopment Authority, which oversees the museum, said the FCRA is seeking to get the property listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Also, the FCRA has plans to renovate the barracks in which Elvis stayed during the induction process.

The Chaffee Barbershop Museum is open to the public from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.