Colonel Parker hired Trude Forsher as West Coast secretary for him and Elvis while they were in Hollywood. She began this role in 1956 and continued through Elvis’ first four films before parting ways to branch out on her own in 1961. While in the employ of the Colonel and the king, Trude was responsible for assisting with the promotion of this emerging star so her duties spanned the spectrum to include the basic task of taking dictation for letters to organizing mailings of holiday greetings and everything in between. Because of her role, she needed access to a plethora of advertising materials and the offered collection of promotional examples includes:
• Two (2) 1956 black-and-white 8 by 10 inch (20.32 x 25.4 cm) photos of Trude and Elvis;
• One (1) color 10 by 8 inch (25.4 x 20.32 cm) photo of Elvis on November 10, 1957 between shows captured covered with lipstick kisses and with several leis around his neck;
• Two (2) black-and-white 10 by 8 inch (25.4 x 20.32 cm) Moss Photo Service photos of Bitsy Mott in Phillies uniform. Bitsy was Colonel Parker’s brother-in-law and bodyguard for Elvis who spent one year playing in the Major Leagues;
• One (1) 1957 Promotional Photo Folios featuring 10 interior images of Elvis, measuring 10 by 8 inches (25.4 x 20.32 cm);
• One (1) full-color doubled sided heavy paper stock promotion from It Happened at the World’s Fair Soundtrack LP, measuring 10 by 8 inches (25.4 x 20.32 cm);
• One (1) 1968 Singer color brochure for the December 3, 1968 NBC Television Special, measuring 9 by 4 inches (22.86 x 10.16 cm);
• Three (3) 1959 RCA Victor Records Elvis’ Recordings brochures, each measuring 8 by 3 1/4 inches (20.32 x 8.25 cm);
• and One (1) 1965 Elvis’ RCA Victor Records two-color brochure for his recordings catalog, measuring 7 1/4 by 3 3/4 inches (18.41 x 9.52 cm).
These promotional materials were often distributed in a variety of ways, yet this grouping was spared disbursement and emanates directly from Trude Forsher’s personal collection. This wonderful grouping is accompanied by a letter of authenticity from Graceland Authenticated and still includes all but a few of the items first offered in that auction..