As today, January 8th winds down here in the States, a new day dawns in Great Britain, which leads us to the “King” and the once-and-future Queen — a royal flush of Happy Birthday frenzy, if you will!
Any red-blooded American well knows that January 8 represents the birthday of “The King” of rock and roll, Elvis Aaron Presley. Then, 47 years (plus one day) later…and an ocean away, a sweet baby girl was born to a middle-class family in the English countryside. And while every little girl shines as her father’s princess, this young lass grew up to live a REAL fairy tale as the wife of Prince William — the future King of England!
So, today as we salute these royals let’s take a look at all the glitz and glam that accompany these two VERY different cultural icons, including a detour into some 24-karat “golden” and lofty realms.
What might Elvis and Kate have in common besides a “near” birthday, you might ask? Well, these Capricorns share several traits that served them both extremely well — while told he had absolutely no musical aptitude and “couldn’t sing,” Elvis’ innate Capricorn ambition carried him to the top of the Billboard charts where he still holds the record for most Number 1 hits. Equally persistent, Kate Middleton endured for a decade as the on-again, off-again love interest of Prince William demonstrating characteristic Capricorn patience — so much so that at one point the British press dubbed her “Waity Katie.” But, as we all know, her “wait” really paid off…ROYALLY!
Obviously, this future Queen Consort will have literal access to the real “Crown Jewels,” festooned with gold and gems. But, The King also enjoyed a 24-karat lifestyle! Today, his famous “Gold Cadillac” sits on display in the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville where tourists can view his over-the-top opulence — much like visitors to England can view royal treasures.
Our “King” would settle for nothing less than the full royal treatment with 24-karat gold plated detailing on his prized Cadillac limousine, complete with a real gold television, wet bar, telephone and personalized name plate…all in a 1960 75 Series Fleetwood!
The luxurious customization continued on the exterior where no less than 40 COATS of a specially-developed paint gave it a golden luster. The finish consisted of actual ground diamonds and fish scales and became dubbed Diamond Dust Pearl. Which leads us down a rather unique path!
Since this IS a Dental site blog, you can’t expect me to completely ignore teeth…frequently referred to as our Pearly Whites! But, the “bling” comparisons don’t stop here. As we all know, gold has been used for years in Dental procedures — long before the advent of gold grilles. We might remember our grandparents’ gold fillings but the use of gold by Dentists dates back to the Etruscans in 166 A.D. when this advanced civilization employed gold “crowns” and fixed bridgework!
It’s easy to see where the term “crown” first originated, since these Dental appliances sit atop the tooth just as a royal crown sits atop the heads of rulers. Even today, gold is considered THE “gold standard” in Dentistry with gold crowns and fillings providing the very best in durability and fit…and are even called “high noble!”
The lofty comparison continues, with an even more unique connection. Around the turn of the 20th Century a relatively unknown Dentist practicing in Detroit invented a unique Dental appliance that continues to be used today with very few changes! Circa 1901, Dr. George H. Land created the very first porcelain crown jacket which enabled modern Dentists to completely cover the tooth with an aesthetically-pleasing protective crown. Later scientific advances would allow this innovation to gain widespread use.
And while his revolutionary invention failed to earn Dr. Land widespread recognition within his profession, his legacy did not end here. As a devoted family man, he remained close to his only daughter and completely doted on the grandson she bore him. Young Charlie, named for his grandfather, became the apple of his grandfather’s eye. Crafting handmade toys in his kiln and lavishing him with attention, Dr. Land fervently hoped his namesake would follow in his footsteps as a Dentist. While he did inherit his grandfather’s extraordinary mechanical aptitude, young Charles chose to pursue a different path, first as an engineering student at the University of Wisconsin then dropping out after his second year to follow his REAL passion. First as a daredevil barnstorming pilot, then entering the United States Army to train as a pilot, little Charlie had found his true calling.
Unfortunately, his grandfather never lived to see where this adventure led his grandson. Piloting a little plane, called the Spirit of St. Louis, Charles A. Lindbergh flew nonstop across the Atlantic from America to Europe and into the history books!
Which brings us back to where we began…the King and his almost-birthday mate across the ocean, Catherine Duchess of Cambridge! So, we at The Smile Center celebrate our high-flying royalty on this day in all their crowning glory.
