April 5, 1973. The NY Times.
Presley Pure Showbiz in ‘Aloha Hawaii’
Elvis, at 38 years of age, is schmaltz. His white jumpsuit costume is adorned, in jeweled studs, with American eagles. His repertoire includes a medley of “Dixie,” “Battle Hymn of the Republic” and “Hush Little Baby.” His fingers are clogged with flashy rings. His act includes tossing scarves, dabbed in sweat from his chest, to aging teeny boppers. It is pure showbiz…..
Pasetta said he told Presley at their first sit-down meeting, attended by two bodyguards, he had to lose weight before the concert.”He sat straight and the guys on either side of him took out their guns and laid them down on the table,” said Pasetta. “And if you don’t think I was scared, you’re crazy.”I said, ‘I want you skinny because I’m going to use close-ups, which weren’t very popular on television in those days. I said, ‘I’m going to go from your neck to the top of your head. That’s going to be your sex (appeal) on the tube, along with your voice, and it’s going to make a landmark.
“He jumped out of his chair. He grabbed me, put his arms around me and said, ‘You’re the first person who was ever honest with me!’ He said, ‘I will lose the weight for you, and he lost 20 pounds in two months.”….. 