meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
Log in
Slate Presents

1977: Elvis, the Pledge, and Extraterrestrials

Slate Presents

Slate Podcasts

Documentary, True Crime, Society & Culture, History

4.31.3K Ratings

🗓️ 5 August 2021

⏱️ 56 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Three stories from one day in August 1977. Elvis Presley dies, and the National Enquirer goes after the ultimate tabloid scoop: a photo of the King in his coffin. A New Jersey high schooler becomes a pariah when she refuses to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. Astronomers in Ohio get a mysterious signal from outer space—could it be a message from aliens? One Year is produced by Josh Levin, Evan Chung, and Madeline Ducharme. Mixing by Merritt Jacob. Slate Plus members get to hear more about the making of One Year and more about the culture of 1977 in supplementary episodes this season. Get access to those episodes, listen to the show without any ads, and support One Year by signing up for Slate Plus for just $1 right now. For a behind-the-scenes look into some of the articles we read when we create the show, check out our Pocket collection at http://getpocket.com/slate.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

At British Airways, we're recruiting in our ground operations team at London Heathrow.

0:04.7

You'll have bags of responsibility as a valued colleague below the wing of our aircraft.

0:09.2

Every touchdown it take off would not be possible without our brilliant team.

0:12.8

So this is your chance to make a real difference and showcase your original skills and talents.

0:17.2

New joiners will receive a £1,000 sign on bonus along with star travel benefits from day one.

0:22.2

Plus, we offer world-class training and career development opportunities.

0:26.0

Bonus terms and conditions apply visit ba.com slash careers and apply now.

0:33.6

At 12.28 am on August 16, 1977, a man from Indiana snapped a photo of Elvis Presley

0:41.2

with a Kodak Instamatic camera. That picture shows Elvis at the front gate of Graceland,

0:47.7

heading back home after a late-night dentist appointment. He's driving a black luxury car,

0:53.2

a Stutz Black Hawk 3. Elvis's right hand is on the steering wheel, and he's holding up his left

0:59.6

as though he's giving a casual wave. He's wearing dark sunglasses, and it looks like he might be smiling,

1:05.7

but it's hard to tell. As far as anyone knows, it's the last image ever taken of Elvis Presley alive.

1:14.3

Elvis Presley, the king of rock and roll, is dead at the age of 42.

1:18.5

He sold millions of records, more than anyone in the music industry except the Beatles.

1:23.2

What we're left with is a life that was the stuff of Fables.

1:26.8

I think you'll be the greatest thing I've remembered that came out of America.

1:34.5

On the afternoon of August 16, Ian Calder convened an emergency meeting at his office in

1:40.2

Lantana, Florida. We wouldn't have dreamed if he was still alive running a major front page

1:45.2

story in Elvis. Calder was the editor of the National Inquirer. It was on him to decide how to

1:51.7

cover the king's death. He had gone downhill, he had got fat. He was not a major star at that

1:57.8

particular point. Now that changed big time when he died. You don't have to be any kind of

...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Slate Podcasts, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Slate Podcasts and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.