At one point, the 1984 documentary Mondo Elvis was on YouTube in its entirety. For whatever reason, those days have passed, and that's a shame because holy fucking shit the Internet needs this! It's a half an hour of people still reeling over the death of the King and saying insane things about him as a result. My favorite lines are in the video above. My favorites of those favorites are:
Artie Mentz (Elvis impersonator): "I don't imitate Elvis. I don't try to be Elvis. I just do his music and dress in the style which he did."
Judy Carroll: "I almost died at birth. I was stillborn."
Frankie "Buttons" Horrocks: "There's no way I would choose the singin' over the screwin' any day!"
Also LOVE Artie's wife's repeated use of the word "mystic." Her ability to work it in where it isn't appropriate is what's really mystic.
So yeah, it's your daily dose of outlandish people saying outlandish things. The freaks and weirdos are what keep me going.
Update: Holy shit, guys - I highly recommend you check out the actual video page on YouTube for this so that you can watch it with YouTube's Beta captions, which are entirely inaccurate and thus entirely hilarious. My favorite voice-to-text (/nonsense-to-nonsense) translations are below...
Coons! This reminds me of a section in "Fight the Power": "Elvis was a hero to most, but he never meant shit to me you see / Straight up racist that sucker was simple and plain / Motherfuck him and John Wayne!"
And now, a trend:
YouTube captions: giving you the world news whether you want it or not.
I assume that Sonya is the one who's writing these. So yes, thank you, Sonya. Afghanistan you very munch.
I had to watch Mondo Elvis in my communications class last semester - Buttons was the obvious favorite among the class. She's on an entirely different level.
"I came out of there with my sanity restored. Somewhat."
Posted by: Sanspaper | March 03, 2010 at 12:52 PM
OH MY GOD that is great! I love it! Those twins.... hilarious... 'then again she never said 'yes'; but she never said 'no'"
Thanks for posting!
Posted by: Erin | March 03, 2010 at 01:38 PM
what would i do without you, rich?
AH-mazing.
Posted by: gem | March 03, 2010 at 02:37 PM
Of of my father's girlfriends was one of these fanatics, she loved Elvis and would always bring me Elvis paraphernalia when she came over. I still have an Elvis coin bank stored somewhere..
Posted by: steele | March 03, 2010 at 04:56 PM
I feel like one twin was way more into Elvis then the other.
Rich, where do you find these things? I've never heard of this, but now I really want to watch it!
Posted by: Reese | March 03, 2010 at 09:15 PM
Psst! Judy! I do not think that word means what you think it means.
Hilarious.
Posted by: Z. | March 04, 2010 at 03:44 AM
Dude, WHERE are you finding this amazing shit?! Every week some new gem of atrocious hilarity is uncovered!
Posted by: Zett | March 04, 2010 at 05:56 AM
Buttons: "...and I came out of there with my sanity restored. Somewhat." oooh yeah. this video is great!
Posted by: liz | March 04, 2010 at 05:55 PM
I have this doc on VHS and it has been one of the enduring sadnesses of my life that it's only 30 minutes long. I'm sure the makers have MONTHS worth of footage and I'm always hoping they'll release an extended version. Sometimes my sister and I will call each other and just say "I'd just want Elvis to sing to me" to which the other must reply "You're sick.". The youtube captions do bring a whole 'nother level. Thanks as always, Rich!!
Posted by: Daisy | March 05, 2010 at 10:08 AM
Those captions are like the backward masking of youtube. After watching this video without the captions, you'll suddenly support the war in Irag and go out and buy a canary.
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Posted by: Term Paper | March 06, 2010 at 04:14 AM
I just watched this documentary "Home Movie" that has interviews with people, many bordering on crazy, about their extraordinary homes. I was surprised by how good it was, and at one point was reminded of your posts about similar odd characters followed around in absurd docus. I think these people also have quote-worthy moments
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0275408/
Posted by: A.P. | March 06, 2010 at 07:46 PM
the "fight the power" connection. wow. you never cease to amaze. incredible. actually laughed out loud. i NEVER laugh out loud.
Posted by: miks | March 06, 2010 at 11:26 PM
It's difficult for me to describe just how hard the youtube captions make me laugh. I love them more than anything in this world.
Posted by: Justin | March 07, 2010 at 11:41 PM
I totally forgot about this and how obsessed I was with it a long time ago. Thanks!!
Posted by: John R. | March 12, 2010 at 03:36 PM
coins are very interesting objects, as a child and my mother gave me coins, was an exaggerated happiness I felt, and since young I always interested in collecting them, these items are great
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RICH! I was looking to send a link to your "I'm not here to make friends" mix (genius) when I saw this post. My hubby and I used to have a copy of Mondo Elvis but we had to give it back to its owner. TO THIS DAY, we say things are "Mystic" (as the woman says abt meeting her Elvis-Impers husband buying hairspray), and oh so much more. I'm glad you are pointing it out to a new group of people. I hope it will be available on some format soon!
Posted by: kzgz | May 18, 2010 at 02:02 PM
ICH! I was looking to send a link to your "I'm not here to make friends" mix (genius) when I saw this post. My hubby and I used to have a copy of Mondo Elvis but we had to give it back to its owner. TO THIS DAY, we say things are "Mystic" (as the woman says abt meeting her Elvis-Impers husband buying hairspray), and oh so much more. I'm glad you are pointing it out to a new group of people
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