Elvis Presley loved amusement parks, but according to his longtime friend Jerry Schilling, he also loved terrifying newcomers with one particular trick.
During one visit to the Memphis Fairgrounds, Schilling watched Elvis climb into the front car of the Pippin roller coaster, later known as the Zippin Pippin, with his girlfriend Anita Wood sitting beside him.
Friends including Patsy Presley, Gene Smith and Billy Smith filled the cars behind them.
Then the ride began.
The wooden coaster slowly climbed its first hill before disappearing from view. Seconds later, everyone waiting on the platform could hear screams as the cars raced around the track.
But when the train finally returned, something looked horribly wrong.
Anita Wood was sitting in the first car alone.
Elvis was gone.
Schilling recalled that some of the women immediately screamed while others stood frozen, believing Elvis had somehow been thrown from the roller coaster.
Then they heard laughter.
Video 1 Link: Ride Elvis Presley’s Favorite Roller Coaster
According to Schilling’s memoir Me and a Guy Named Elvis, Elvis suddenly appeared behind the frightened group, laughing and looking like a mischievous kid.
There had been no accident.
Elvis knew the ride well enough to identify a point near the top of the first hill where he could jump out before the coaster reached full speed.
He would climb down, sneak around behind everyone and wait for the train to return without him.
The best part for Elvis was watching the panic on the faces of people experiencing the trick for the first time.
Schilling said this was not a one-time prank.
Elvis reportedly repeated it whenever he brought new people to the Fairgrounds because he enjoyed their terrified reactions.
The Pippin became closely associated with Elvis over the years. He was known to rent the Memphis amusement park after hours so he and his friends could enjoy the rides without crowds gathering around him. The roller coaster was widely remembered as one of his favorites.
One documented outing came in July 1960, when Elvis rented the Fairgrounds from roughly 1 a.m. until 5 a.m. and brought dozens of friends, including Anita Wood, for a private night at the park.
For someone whose public life became increasingly controlled by fame, those private nights offered Elvis something much simpler.
He could ride roller coasters, joke with his friends and apparently scare them half to death for his own amusement.
For a few terrifying seconds, everyone thought Elvis Presley had been thrown from the coaster. Elvis was actually hiding nearby, waiting to see their faces when he came back laughing.