To the Woods

This year is the 50th anniversary of the Elvis Presley film Kid Galahand, shot in Idyllwild, Ca in 1962. Though I'm no stranger to the place, yesterday's visit was unique to any other. There was an outdoor potluck and film screening in celebration of the King and the mountains. It couldn't get more small-town cutesy than that. The majority of people who came out to the screening were old enough to have been in Idyllwild at the time Elvis was there. During the film, the host, who began with some background information, kept yelling out small tidbits, such as "That's the gas station today" or "There's town hall now." Everyone was acting like children or young girls melting in front of their idol. The Elvis impersonator (yes, that is in-fact what I just said) made all the seniors swoon with his white cape and rainbow ruby rings, one for each finger. "That's my cousin" and "There's my Dad's car" were popular commentaries shouted during the film. Even if you weren't from Idyllwild or alive during the Elvis obsession days, the screening awakened the film more than it could ever have been today.