Debra Paget first
appeared with Elvis on the Milton Berle Show in June 1956. She began
her career at the age of fifteen in Cry of the City (her brother
Ruell Shayne had a bit role in Love Me Tender) Contrary to popular
opinion Debra Paget did not give Elvis his first screen kiss. That
honor went to Jana Lund in Loving You 1957
During filming
Elvis fell madly in love with co-star Debra Paget. He thought she
was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. However,
Paget was not interested because, at the time, she was dating Howard
Hughes. At nights he would drive over to Paget's family home and
park outside for hours watching who was arriving. Elvis never
got over his first love. From then on he searched for the Paget look in
almost every woman. Many believe that Elvis was smitten by Priscilla
because she was a variation of Debra Paget. Upon learning
this, Priscilla went so far as to try to look like her
rival by changing her hair. For Love Me Tender Elvis still had
his natural "dish water blonde" colored hair, after which
he dyed it black for the rest of his life.
|
