"Never
Ending Love" (Great Video Clip)"Elvis And Graceland"
Graceland began as the 500-acre Memphis
farm of S.E. Toof, a pressman for The Memphis Daily Appeal during the era of the
Civil War. Toof’s daughter Grace, inherited the property, and other members of
the family named it Graceland. Grace Toof’s niece, Ruth Moore, eventually
inherited the land and, in 1939, her husband built the home that’s now known as
Graceland Mansion. Because Ruth and her husband, Dr. Thomas D. Moore, wanted to
encourage their daughter to mature as a musician, the rooms of the mansion were
designed with superior acoustics.
The daughter, Rith Marie, who began
practicing at the age of four, did not disappoint them. She became the principal
harpist for the Memphis Symphony Orchestra.
"Never
Ending Love" (Great Video Clip)
When Elvis bought Graceland, he
installed two swimming pools and stables. The property was already abundant in
trees and foliage, but were added to insure further privacy.
While Elvis was alive, fans often gathered at the gates, hoping to see him as he
drove through. To this day, countless snapshots circulate among fans that Elvis
driving through the gates-sometimes smiling, sometimes waving. At times, Elvis
rode one of his horses or his golf cart down to the gates to greet the fans
personally and sign autographs. These visits to the gates became a way for Elvis
to meet fans in a controlled situation.
Fans also enjoyed chatting with the guards stationed in the small guardhouse
just inside the gates. Elvis’ family members were often employed as guards,
including his uncle Vester Presley, who worked as head guard for over 20 years,
beginning in 1957. Sometimes Vester entertained the fans tourists with stories
of his famous nephew, or he obligingly posed with them for a photo or two.
Meeting at the gates became a bonding experience for many fans, who struck up
acquaintanceships and even close friendships over the years. The gates continue
to serve this role each year during Tribute Week, when fans from all over the
world gather in Memphis to commemorate Elvis’ death.
A
huge white lightning bold outlined in yellow blazes across the wall of the TV
Room on the lower floor of Graceland. The lightning bolt represents a part of
Elvis’ trademark and motto – “Takin’ Care Of Business in a Flash.” Most often,
the motto “Takin’ Care of Business” is represented by the initials TCB pierced
by a lightning bolt. This is the version rendered on the tail of the Lisa Marie
jet plane, on his tombstone, and on the necklages given to Elvis’ closest
cohorts. The famous ring worn by Elvis features the letters TCB framed by two
lightning bolts.
For
the wall of the TV Room, the initials have been excluded in favour of a simple
design that recalls the bright colours and bold patterns of the early 1970’s. A
slang phrase from the late 1960’s, “Takin’ Care of Business” was adopted by
Elvis around 1970 as a slogan for him and his organization.
Many stories, embellished over time, have been handed down by members of his
entourage, the Memphis Mafia, explaining why the lightning bolt was added. The
design for the logo may have been worked out by Priscilla and Elvis during a
plane trip.
When
Elvis purchased and converted a Convair 880, which he dubbed the Lisa Marie, for
his personal use, he had succeeded in creating an almost enclosed world. With
the heavily customized jet as his disposal, he could literally move from behind
the high walls of Graceland to the stage of his next concert and not encounter
an unfamiliar face. Elvis’ master bedroom on the Lisa Marie boasted a queen-size
bed and a bathroom with golden fixtures. Like his private bedroom suite at
Graceland, the area was off limits to anyone except certain members of the Elvis
entourage and then by invitation only. The Lisa Marie was on call 24 hours a day
and stood ready to depart at a moment’s notice.
Elvis
purchased the plane on April 18, 1975 for $250,000. He named the plane “Lisa
Marie” after his daughter and had the registration number changed to N 880 EP.
Tower call name was “880 Echo Pappa”
Nickname was “Hound Dog One”
Elvis called the plane “The pride of Elvis Presley Airways”
Elvis also jokingly referred to it as his “Flying Graceland”
The Hall of Gold, located in the Trophy Room just behind the Graceland mansion, contains the many gold records, awards, and honours that Elvis received as a performing artist. When the mansion was opened to the public in 1982, these records and awards were moved into cases lining the 80-foot hallway to create the illusion of a “Hall of Gold.” At the entrance to the hallway sits a huge colour television and stereo console that was given in 1960 by RCA as a reward for selling over 50 million records.
The gold and platinum records on display
are those that Elvis received during his lifetime. The sheer number of them
makes for an impressive sight and immediately conveys the magnitude of Elvis’
recording career.
Countries from all over the world honored Elvis with awards, though he performed
outside the United States only briefly when he appeared in three Canadian cities
in 1957. A huge trophy from RCA’s division in South Africa, featuring a gold
record on top and four golden gazelles leaping from the base, celebrates Elvis’
many million-selling records in that country from 1956 to 1960. Other trophies
from Japan, Norway, Australia, Germany, Sweden, France, and Belgium acknowledge
his international popularity and influence.
The
hall also contains honors from many music magazines. New Musical Express honored
Elvis with a special crystal and gold trophy for repeatedly being named Top
World Singer and Top World Entertainer. There were also awards from Billboard
and Cash Box, and Photo play gave him a gold medal to acknowledge his popularity
as an actor.
While the 160 gold and platinum records in the Hall of Gold make an outstanding
visual impact, most of them were the originals presented during Elvis’ lifetime,
so the Hall does not represent the most up-to-date tallies of his gold and
platinum record status. The new display of gold and platinum records in the old
racquetball court is more accurate accounting of his record sales status.
The
Jungle Room is an add-on built in the mid-1960’s . It started as a screening in
porch. Then was closed in as a den, with paneled walls and carpeted floor and
ceiling. They say Elvis spent 30 minutes picking out the furniture for the
Jungle Room. The wood and fur armchairs reminded Elvis of Hawaii. A mirror has
an exotic feathered frame. The wooden bar is carved in animal and totem figures.
Elvis had an indoor waterfall built out of stone. Because of the Jungle Room’s
great acoustics, Elvis used it as a rehearsal room as well for recordings.
Badge Collection
Interspersed with Elvis’ collection of firearms in the Trophy Room at Graceland is his assortment of law enforcement badges on the badges. Elvis appreciated and respected law officers and security personel, particulary after they began to protect him from frenzied crowds while touring during the 1950’s.
When he began
collecting badges, word spread quickly, and various local police departments and
security agencies made him an honorary member of their law enforcement
fraternities. From the police department of Prince George’s County, Maryland,
to the sheriff’s department of Los Angeles, Elvis was honored with badges from
all over the country.
One
of the more interesting stories related to Elvis’ badge collection involved a
trip to the seat of America’s government. In December 1970, Elvis boarded a
commercial flight bound for Washington, D.C. He then flew from D.C. to Los
Angeles, where he picked up friend Jerry Schilling. The pair returned to D.C.
and were joined by bodyguard Sonny West. Elvis went to the nation’s capital to
drop in on one of the city’s prominent residents..President Richard M. Nixon.
Though Elvis told Nixon that he had come because he was concerned about the youth
of the country, he also mentioned that he was interested in getting a federal
narcotics bureau badge. He had first asked Bureau of Narcotics Deputy Director
John Finlator didn’t feel it was appropiate, so Elvis went over his head. During
his impromptu visit to the White House, Elvis presented Nixon with a WW Two
Colt.45 and asked the President for the badge he coveted. When Nixon came
through with the badge, Elvis was so thrilled he gave the President a bear hug.
Firearm Collection
Elvis
owned an extensive collection of firearms. He simply enjoyed buying, carrying
and collecting guns. When he died in 1977, he owned 37 firearms, including
rifles, pistols, machine guns, and a sawed off shotgun.
Currently on display in the Trophy Room, Elvis’ gun collection features several
unique pieces that command attention. A Colt Python. 357 pistol is personalized
with Elvis’ TCB Logo in gold just behind the chamber.
Despite the hyperbole, Elvis was not a mere fan of firearms; he was a fanatic. Occasionally plagued by death treats during the 1970’s, he took to wearing a derringer strapped to his leg while he was performing.
When he attended a
private showing of a James Bond movie, he liked to carry his Walther PPK because
that was the weapon issued to 007. As he grew more despondent in the last few
years of his life, his misadventures with guns increased, casting a dark shadow
over a troubled man.
Elvis’ Cars
The
pink Cadillac Fleetwood that Elvis bought for his mother is the car he is most
remembered for. Customized for Elvis, the 1955 sedan has become synonymous with
the spirit of rock’n‘ roll. When Elvis wanted his new 1956 Cadillac Eldorado
painted purple, he squashed a handful of grapes on the fender and asked the
customizing firm to match the color. Upon delivery, the firm sprinkled grape
drink into the carpet so it would even smell purple.
Car
customizer George Barris converted a 1960 Cadillac Sedan Limousine into a
tricked-out roading roadhog for Elvis. Coated with ten layers of diamond-dust
gold pearl paint, the car featured gold-plated bumpers and hubcaps. The interior
included a record player, telephones, television, and shoe buffer.
Throughout his life Elvis had a fascination for cars and he not only bought many for himself, he also often bought them as gifts for friends, acquaintances, and even total strangers. The first car he ever owned was a 1941 Lincoln coupé, bought by Vernon And Gladys. When he first began to earn serious money he bought his mother a brand new pink Cadillac, even though she did not drive.
Meditation
Garden
"News Reports About Elvis' Dead"
Meditation Garden is the final resting place for Elvis and his immediate family. His mother, Gladys Love Smith Presley, his father, Vernon Elvis Presley, and his grandmother, Minnie Mae Presley, are buried next to Elvis in this small garden that was originally intended as a tranquil retreat for the residenty's of Graceland. Elvis was fascinated by Eastern philosophies and religions during the 1960’s, and he had Medication Garden built as a place for contemplation, despite its close proximity to the swimming pool.
If
Meditation Garden became more than the serene site that Elvis had intended, then
it is also more than his final resting place. Fans solemny walk around the
graves, silently pondering the impact of Elvis on their lives. They leave
handmade or special-ordered floral arrangements in every possible design, with
Graceland dutifully exhibts for a select period of time.
Just 11 days after the burial, three men made what was thought to be a bungled attempt to steal Elvis’s body, charges were dropped after the court was convinced that they had merely been trying to prove that the coffin was empty and that Elvis was still alive. Elvis is perhaps even more famous today than when he was alive. In the weeks after his funeral, radio stations around the world started to play his music again and several off his records re-entered the charts. He was posthumously inducted into the Rock And Roll, Country and Gospel Halls of Fame, the first artist to make it into all three.
Vernon received special permission to remove the bodies of his
son and first wife to the grounds at Graceland. Gladys’ original monument was
also moved and placed at the edge of Meditation Garden. Vernon was buried there
in 1979, and Minnie Mae followed in 1980. A ground plaque in memory of Elvis’
twin brother, Jessie Garon, is located nearby.
Not
long after Graceland was opened to the public, a fan visited Meditation Garden
and left behind a little wooden cross with a note pinned to it.
"From
the womb of your loving mother
To the hearts of your loving fans
To the arms of our Savior Jesus
With whom
you do now stand.”
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