Night Riders

Thomas claims victory in Elvis Trivialities #4, becomes first back-to-back winner

/ TY / 2 Comments

Thomas has once again triumphed over Elvis Trivialities by being the first person to correctly answer the fourth installment.

With a response time of two hours and twenty-six minutes, he becomes the first member of The Mystery Train’s Night Riders to score not only a repeat victory, but a back-to-back one at that. Thomas now receives even more bragging rights.

And the answer is…

Brett Reno in Love Me Tender was played by an actor who later had two different roles on Star Trek.

Veteran character actor William Campbell portrayed Brett Reno, a brother to Clint (Elvis). Among many other television roles, he went on to appear as Trelane in the first season Star Trek episode “The Squire of Gothos” (1967) and Koloth, a Klingon captain, in the second season episode “The Trouble With Tribbles” (1967). Both installments consistently rate among Trek’s best.

He reprised the role of Koloth in “Blood Oath,” a 1994 episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Campbell passed away earlier this year.

Congratulations again to Thomas!

The Mystery Train’s Night Riders

  • August 6, 2011: Thomas (2:26)
  • July 9, 2011: Thomas (5:26)
  • June 23, 2011: Fred Wolfe (0:18) <— Record time
  • June 22, 2011: [Ty stumps the train]

Thomas triumphs over Elvis Trivialities #3

/ TY / 12 Comments

Thomas correctly answered Elvis Trivialities #3. With a response time of five hours and twenty-six minutes, he becomes the latest member of The Mystery Train’s Night Riders and the proud new owner of a set of bragging rights.

And the answer is…

Having Fun With Elvis On Stage is the RCA album released during his lifetime on which Elvis quotes legendary Looney Tunes character Porky Pig (“…that’s all folks”).

RCA released this “talking album only” in October of 1974. Some people consider it to be Elvis’ worst album. These people obviously have never heard Roustabout.

Congratulations to Thomas!

The Mystery Train’s Night Riders

  • July 9, 2011: Thomas (5:26)
  • June 23, 2011: Fred Wolfe (0:18)
  • June 22, 2011: [Ty stumps the train]

Fred Wolfe wins bragging rights for Elvis Trivialities #2

/ TY / 1 Comment

Fred Wolfe was the first person to correctly answer Elvis Trivialities #2. Answering only eighteen minutes after I posed the question, Fred becomes the inaugural member of The Mystery Train’s Night Riders – a priceless honor that earns him a set of bragging rights. And the answer is…

Elvis was referring to Jackie Wilson when he said the following:

I heard this guy in Las Vegas [with] Billy Ward and His Dominoes. There’s a guy out there who was doing a take-off on me, ‘Don’t Be Cruel,’ and he tried so hard, until he got much better, boy, much better than that record of mine.”

Source: The Million Dollar Quartet, Elvis Presley, Colin Escott (liner notes), BMG Music, New York, 1990.

By 1957, Jackie Wilson had left Billy Ward’s Dominoes to pursue a solo career. He earned much success, with hits that included “Lonely Teardrops” (1958) and “Higher and Higher” (1967).

As Thomas commented yesterday, Elvis impersonating Jackie impersonating Elvis is one of the highlights of the December 4, 1956, “Million Dollar Quartet” jam session.

Elvis went on to repeat part of that impersonation when performing for the third and final time on the Ed Sullivan Show a month later. His January 6, 1957, appearance is also notable as the one where TV cameras shot him only from the waist up, a move that just increased his legend.

Thanks for playing, everyone. Congratulations to Fred.