The Boy Who Tried to Fight Elvis

 Elvis Would Turn 91 Today

In Sept. 1955 he came to Kingsport where he performed at the Civic Auditorium, the middle act on a country show - although he was a long ways from country. 

Billie Mae Smith wasn’t exactly an Elvis fan in August 1955. She was a year out of high school and managing Huddle’s Record Shop. “A salesman came in with records that Elvis had recorded. I had never heard of Elvis but after hearing the recordings, I ordered some to sell. The salesman said, ‘Here are some tickets to an Elvis show that will be at your Civic Auditorium in September.’”

Billie Mae Smith in 1955

So when September 22nd came, she grabbed two of her friends and they were among the 270 folks who didn’t exactly fill the auditorium that night.

Elvis came on second, after the Louvin Brothers, and when he finished his set, he went out to the concession stand near the Stadium side exit, selling photos and talking up the young girls who were crowded around.

He flirted with Billie Mae’s friend Darla Hodge, then led a group of admiring girls out to show off his new Caddy. And the next thing Billie Mae knew, she was piled into Elvis’ Cadillac heading to Jimmie’s Steakhouse at the Upper Circle for club sandwiches.

From there they headed downtown to cruise Broad.

“I remember I kept looking at his hair because he had a permanent in it so that when he shook his head a curl would fall in his eyes.”

Wayne "Booge" Allen in 1955 yearbook

They were stopped at the red light at Center and Wilcox when Fate would arrive: Booge Allen pulled up next to them.

Booge – real name Wayne – was driving down Center Street in his green and white Chevy Bel Air.

Booge was a recent D-B grad and in a week he would be starting classes at ETSC – as ETSU was known at the time.

He was sitting at the red light at Wilcox when he heard a familiar voice. It was his girlfriend Billie Mae Smith and she was riding in the car next to his.

She called out, “Come over to my house later, I’ve got someone I want you to meet.”

Wayne would tell me years later that he remembered looking over and his girlfriend was in the car with Elvis Presley. “And I remember thinking, I don’t want to meet Elvis.”

And that was the night that Booge would acquire the label that would stick with him the rest of his life: The Boy Who Tried to Fight Elvis.

You see, while Booge didn’t particularly want to meet Elvis, he wasn’t too keen on Elvis cozying up to his girlfriend.

So he drove around and then headed over to Billie Mae’s house on Catawba.

Billie Mae and Elvis had beaten him there. They were inside at the kitchen table having coffee.

One of Elvis’ bandmates met Booge and told him, “You’re not wanted here.”

Booge didn’t take this too well. “I said, ‘The hell with you; two can play this game.’” He raced down to the Texas Steer Drive-In - it was on Center just before you got to Kingsport Press - picked up two of his friends, and returned to Billie Mae’s.

“I told the guy outside that if he wanted trouble there was more than one of us now.”

Elvis and Billie Mae heard the commotion and came out. Billie Mae introduced Booge and Elvis. But they didn’t shake hands.

Booge remembered, “Elvis said, ‘I’m breaking this guy’s heart. Maybe I’d better leave.’”

Billie Mae took Booge aside, told him everything would be all right and sent him home.

Elvis didn’t stay much longer. It was the last night of the tour and he was anxious to be back to Memphis. Just one thing before he left.

“When he went outside to leave, he reached out and pulled me up close to him and kissed me. My knees went weak. He had the softest lips I have ever kissed.”

It was a goodnight kiss for all time. “It was very thrilling.”

Booge came back later and circled the block but Elvis had gone.

Booge and Billie Mae later went their separate ways. But every year they would call each other on their birthdays.

Billie Mae didn’t get to call Booge in 2016. He passed away before his 80th birthday.

I like to think Booge and Elvis are in the same place now. Maybe they’ve finally shaken hands. I doubt it.

Photo that Elvis later mailed to Billie Mae