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    The King Inspired A Houston Family to dream of success

    In Elvis the Newinns Trust: "Welcome to Vietnamese Graceland — Houston style"

    Carol Rust
    Feb 17, 2010 | 7:39 pm
    More tributes to Elvis

    A beaming Henry Newinn taps the microphone with his finger as he stands on a cramped stage in his dining room. Behind him, a red neon sign says, “Elvis.” All around him, likenesses of the king of rock 'n' roll appear on plates, lampshades, canvases, the doors of an armoire, a skillet hanging on the kitchen wall, on the labels of a collection of Elvis wines.

    “Welcome to Vietnamese Graceland, Houston-style,” he says. “We wish you many happinesses.”

    He hands the mic to his 36-year-old son, Elvis John, as the intro to “I Can’t Help Falling in Love” swells from the speakers of a nearby karaoke machine. Henry and wife Tania smile dreamily as John’s buttery baritone begins: “Wise men say…only fools rush in….”

    They’ve heard it before, hundreds of times. Henry, too, performs the King’s hits. For the Newinns, there’s no such thing as too much Elvis.

    They have transformed their 4,000-square-foot house in west Houston into a live-in shrine to the megastar, with framed vintage photos staggered up the stairs, old TV Guides with Elvis’ face on the covers stacked on the coffee table, Elvis hand towels and shower curtain in the bathroom, a Graceland dollhouse, stacks of guitar-shaped candy tins bearing his autograph and a wardrobe of rhinestone-studded jumpsuits that John, a sales coordinator for a local TV station, wears when he performs at charity fundraisers.

    And their two-car garage has never housed an automobile. It is a larger-than-life continuation of the shrine, with a robotic Elvis bust that moves its head from side to side as it croons the King’s hits when Henry pushes a button.

    So what’s all the fuss about Elvis? To the Newinns, Elvis epitomizes America, and America is “the top land of opportunity,” Henry says – and their adopted home.

    Henry was a teenager when American GIs first brought Elvis music to Vietnam in 1956. “I loved it, and I went crazy when I first saw Jailhouse Rock. All the teenagers did. We wanted to be like Elvis.”

    Henry started performing Elvis’ hits at his sister’s nightclub in Saigon, curling his hair into a pompadour style with heated ivory chopsticks in the absence of hairdryers. He later went to work for the U.S. State Department in a province outside Saigon where, in 1975, he got word that advancing communist soldiers were 15 miles away. They grabbed their infant son John and a pillowcase stuffed with his diapers and fled, rowing out into the South China Sea where U.S. Marines with the 7th Fleet picked them up and eventually took them to the United States after the fall of Saigon. He and Tania finally landed in Houston, lured by warm weather similar to that in Vietnam and the large Asian community. Lonely and homesick, they scraped by on Henry’s scant wages as a busboy.

    Then one day, Henry was driving down Telephone Road and saw a man selling black velvet portraits of Elvis from the back of his pickup. He saved his tips and returned with $5 to buy one. It became the family’s inspiration.

    “We were in the ocean, and Elvis was our life preserver,” Henry says. “He gave us confidence to continue working in America.”

    Both obtained engineering degrees and got jobs at large Houston companies. Son John and daughter Carol, who was born in the United States, grew up performing for the family and became confident on the stage. John became “Elvis John” and has won top honors as an Elvis impersonator in competition at Graceland. He recently taped an Elvis tribute to celebrate the Chinese New Year for a local Vietnamese TV station, one of many requests for performances he gets throughout the year. Carol became the first Vietnamese-American cheerleader for the Houston Texans in 2006 and now works as a banker in Los Angeles.

    Henry and Tania used Elvis’ life as an example to their children. “We taught them that Elvis moved from scratch up to the top, and they could achieve great things, too, because Elvis did, and because they live in America, where everybody has a chance,” says Henry.

    In the garage, a certain black velvet portrait, a little worse for the wear, has the central place of honor on the wall, with smaller pictures of Elvis on either side. Of all their memorabilia, it is their favorite.

    It reminds them of their carefree, Elvis-crazed days in Vietnam before the communists came, of their first months in Houston feeling isolated, living on the edge of poverty and missing their home half a world away. Henry can still feel the surge of joy that rose inside him when he first spotted the man on Telephone Road selling the portraits and the determination it inspired inside him to thrive.

    More than anything, it reminds them of how far they’ve come. It’s their story of success. It’s Elvis’ story.

    Elvis memorabilia fills the Newinns' home.

     
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    Here are the 15 best things to do in Houston this weekend

    Craig D. Lindsey
    Jun 11, 2025 | 6:30 pm

    This weekend is Father’s Day weekend. If you have one of those dads who likes leaving the house and doing stuff, lots of events are happening where you can hang and chill with Pops.

    Take dad to an art-show opening, a one-night-only haunted house, a Japanese indoor festival, a white linen night, two concerts featuring two legendary, renegade groups, or a new digital restoration of an indie-film classic. If all else fails, head over to Typhoon Texas and let dad float a lazy river for free.

    Thursday, June 12

    Architecture Center Houston presents Falon Mihalic: "Verdant Laboratory" opening reception
    This immersive exhibition by artist and landscape architect Falon Mihalic explores Houston’s wild ecologies through large-scale drawings, sculpture, and video. The exhibition highlights the city’s living landscape as a vital force in building urban resilience. As the effects of climate change become more visible and the city of Houston continues to grow, this exhibit prompts a critical question: How can we foreground landscape ecology in shaping the resilient cities of tomorrow? Through Friday, August 22. 5:30 pm.

    The Wiggles: Bouncing Balls! Tour
    With this interactive show based on the hit single “Bouncing Balls,” The Wiggles aims to spark creativity, curiosity, and a love of learning through their signature mix of entertainment and education. Families can sing, dance, and wiggle along to the high energy musical extravaganza, featuring all eight Wiggles: OG Blue Wiggle Anthony, Simon, Lachy, Tsehay, John, Lucia, Caterina, and Evie. 6 pm.

    Houston Ballet presents Sparrow
    Houston Ballet's final program of their 2024-2025 season, Sparrow features three one-act ballets by choreographers spanning from yesterday’s eminence to today’s prominence: George Balanchine, Houston Ballet director emeritus Ben Stevenson, and artistic director Stanton Welch. Along with Balanchine’s Theme and Variations and Stevenson’s Four Last Songs, Welch’s Sparrow, set to some of Simon & Garfunkel’s most recognizable music, fills the stage with a vibrant and large ensemble cast. Through Sunday, June 22. 7:30 pm (2 pm Sunday).

    Friday, June 13

    Clear Lake Symphony presents Season Closing Concert
    The Clear Lake Symphony will perform their sixth and final concert of their 49th season, with music including Russian Sailor’s Dance by Gliere; Piano Concerto No. 2 Opus 18 by Rachmaninoff (featuring Dr. Stephanie Chen, guest pianist); and Symphony No 3 in C Minor (Organ Symphony) by Saint-Saens (featuring Dr. Brad Morrison, guest organist). The Symphony will be led by Robert Wall, in his 31st year as conductor. 7:30 pm.

    Cultural Center "Our Texas" presents Kseniia Abramovskaia: "The Artist Behind The Trees & Cats" opening reception
    Russian-born, Houston-based artist Kseniia Abramovskaia transforms wood and canvas into worlds where nature pulses with life, and the mystical feline reigns. With acrylics, spray paint, palette knives, and brushes, she constructs textured landscapes brimming with movement and emotion. Her pieces are more than visual treats; they are storytelling spectacles. The exhibition marks Abramovskaia's first solo show, where nature meets the artist, one tree, one cat, and one bold brushstroke at a time. Through Friday, July 18. 7:30 pm.

    Punch Line Houston presents Emil Wakim
    Brooklyn comedian Emil Wakim just finished his first year as the first Lebanese-American cast member on Saturday Night Live’s milestone 50th season. He made his late-night television debut on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon and was selected as a New Face of Comedy at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. Wakim has also opened for comedians like Roy Wood Jr., Kyle Kinane, Nikki Glaser, Hasan Minhaj, and Neal Brennan. 7:30 pm (7 and 9:15 pm Saturday).

    13th Floor Haunted House presents Blackout
    We know it’s the summer, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get a bit frightened this time of year. Blackout is a one-day event where monsters and mayhem lurk in total darkness. Upon arriving, each group (not each person) is given one glow stick. Venturing into the depths of darkness, a horde of monsters roam freely. Visitors may catch a glimpse of them under the glow of black lights, but monsters may steal glow sticks, leaving groups in the dark. 8 pm.

    Saturday, June 14

    Tokyo X
    There’s a good chance all the weebs (translation: non-Japanese people who like Japanese stuff) in town will be at NRG Center for Houston’s biggest Japanese indoor festival. Tokyo X is a two-day celebration of Japanese culture that seamlessly blends modern and traditional elements. It will be a showcase of Japanese culture featuring renowned anime voice actors, cosplay, a car show, live concerts, martial arts demonstrations, workshops, free arcades, 30+ food vendors, and more. 10 am.

    White Linen Night—A Local Art Affair
    Residents and visitors to League City are invited to dress in white and step into an enchanting evening of art, culture, and community during the City’s White Linen Night—A Local Art Affair. Inspired by the timeless New Orleans tradition of wearing white linen to embrace the summer season and stay cool in the heat, this night invites guests to enjoy an evening of artistic discovery, local talent, live entertainment, food and drinks, and neighborly connection under the canopy of century-old oak trees. 4 pm.

    City Place presents Hot Nights, Cool Grooves
    At the summer concert experience Hot Nights, Cool Grooves, guests can enjoy a picturesque setting overlooking waterfront City Place Park and a monthly showcase of regional musical artists from a variety of genres. Each evening will feature back-to-back sets, food trucks, promotional pop-ups, beer samplings from Saint Arnold, photo opportunities, swag giveaways, and other surprise elements. Through Thursday, August 2. 5:30 pm.

    Metallica and Wu Tang Clan in concert
    Two legendary groups will be in Houston this Saturday night. For the hardcore metal heads, Metallica will be at NRG Stadium, performing the same headbanging classics that made them the veteran rock giants they are today. For all the hardcore hip-hop heads, the surviving members of the Wu-Tang Clan (RIP ODB!) will be at Toyota Center. They’ll be hitting you with some iconic, East Coast rap as part of their final tour, Wu-Tang Forever: The Final Chamber. 6 pm and 8 pm.

    Sunday, June 15

    Father’s Day at Typhoon Texas
    This weekend, all the fathers out there will be getting a hookup, courtesy of Typhoon Texas. Simply purchase anyticket at the gate, and dad gets in free. Theoffer is valid only at the gate, and cannot be combined with any other offer. (It’s also not available online.) Now celebrating its 10th year, Typhoon Texas offers multiple water slides, a massive wave pool, a winding lazy river, and a child-friendly play area including Typhoon Jr., aka five, junior-sized versions of its most popular waterslides. 11 am.

    The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston presents Killer of Sheep
    Killer of Sheep examines life in mid-’70s, Los Angeles neighborhood Watts through the eyes of Stan (Houston native Henry G. Sanders), a sensitive dreamer who is growing detached from the psychic toll of working at a slaughterhouse. Frustrated by money problems, he finds respite in moments of simple beauty. Charles Burnett’s acclaimed debut — screening in a stunning new restoration — combines lyrical elements with a starkly neorealist, documentary-style approach that chronicles the unfolding story with depth and riveting simplicity. 5 pm.

    Performing Arts Houston presents Glory to Glory (A Revival For Spiritual and Devotional Art)
    The only event from Solange Knowles’ Eldorado Ballroom live music series that isn’t sold out, this program celebrates women shaping Black praise in contemporary spiritual and devotional sounds. Gospel icon Twinkie Clark takes center stage alongside The Clark Sisters in a tribute to her unmatched artistry. The evening also pays tribute to Mary Lou Williams, a jazz luminary whose spiritual choral works continue to resonate with the brilliance that once guided legends like Duke Ellington, Thelonious Monk, and Miles Davis. 6:30 pm.

    Metallica
      
    Photo by Herring Herring

    Metallica performs at NRG Stadium on Saturday.

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