Throughout the years that Elvis lived at Graceland the front gate area was a place fans enjoyed being. There was the chance that he might drive through in one of his cars or on a motorcycle, or ride down on a golf cart or on horseback and have an impromptu autograph session. They could also watch him and his friends ride their horses and golf carts around the grounds. Even when Elvis out of town, it was fun to be at the gates, getting to know the guards (some of whom were Elvis' relatives) and meeting other fans from around the nation and the world. When Elvis was away, sometimes the guards would let fans onto the grounds for photos, sometimes even driving them up to the front of the house. There was a sense of warmth, welcome and camaraderie. Actually, some lifelong friendships between Elvis fans began at the Graceland gates.

While, in general, things tended to be calm enough around here, it wasn't all that uncommon for fans and curiosity-seekers to climb over the stone wall or wood fence on a dare or, more often, with the heartfelt hope of seeing Elvis. The security staff had more than one occasion to politely escort uninvited guests off the grounds, sometimes having to summon them down from the trees. On one occasion Elvis happened upon a couple of mischievous young guys who had jumped the fence and were taking a swim. Elvis is said to have nonchalantly suggested that they be careful, then went on about his business. Once, an enterprising fellow actually made his way into the house and was found sitting in the den waiting for Elvis, hoping to interest him in some songs he had written, but he didn't get to have that meeting.

The most famous incident of wall jumping occurred one night in 1976. Bruce Springsteen, who was enjoying the first rush of great fame and had just played Memphis on his Born to Run tour, decided to catch a cab to Graceland.

Noticing a light on up at the house, he climbed the wall and ran to the front door. As he was about to knock, Security interceded. He recalls asking, 'Is Elvis home?'. Answer: 'No, Elvis isn't home, he's in Lake Tahoe'. (It was true.) Springsteen attempted to impress the guards by telling all about his being a recording star and his having recently made the covers of Time and Newsweek, as he was politely escorted to the street. (Perhaps they didn't believe him or hadn't heard of him yet.)

Years later in a concert, he told the story and commented:

'Later on, I used to wonder what I would have said if I had knocked on the door and if Elvis had come to the door. Because it really wasn't Elvis I was goin' to see, but it was like he came along and whispered some dream in everybody's ear and somehow we all dreamed it. And maybe that's why we're here tonight, I don't know. I remember later when a friend of mine called to tell me that he'd died. It was so hard to understand how somebody whose music came in and took away so many people's loneliness and gave so many people a reason and a sense of all the possibilities of living could have in the end died so tragically. And I guess when you're alone, you ain't nothin' but alone. So anyway, I'd like to do this song for yous tonight, wishing you all the longest life with best of absolutely everything'.

In Bruce's opinion Elvis' real comeback occurred in 1972 with the release of 'Burning Love'. 'That's when the jockeys woke up and found out that Elvis could still rock with the best of them'.

- Behind the Button: Elvis Presley's 'Cameo' on Born to Run