Elvis' jets to be auctioned

Well it seems it is on for real, a Beverly Hills auction house began accepting bids Friday for Elvis Presley's former personal planes, the Lisa Marie and Hound Dog II. The auction appeared to dump cold water on a social media-fuelled campaign pleading with Graceland operators to keep the planes on display, as they've been for 30 years. Graceland's new owners stirred controversy last April by moving to end a joint venture with the planes' owners, a Tennessee-based group called OKC Partnership. Graceland notified OKC that the planes had to be removed from Graceland on or shortly after April 26, 2015. AND words are flying between fans and EPE, and Priscilla has again responded to the criticism. Read in full details and view the promo video (interesting in itself).

Previously Priscilla and Lisa Marie have stated the planes were not for sale (by the owners) however it looks like they are now, and will be sold unless there is a resolution in the ongoing dispute.

Priscilla Responds

Priscilla Presley : 'It's very disheartening and unsettling that you point your fingers at my daughter, Jack Soden, EPE as a whole, our partners and myself as the blame for the sale of the planes. Do you honestly think we want them sold? Have you never thought that the owners are the culprits? That perhaps THEY are greedy, unwilling to be fair, or are being TOTALLY unreasonable? Shame on you for using threats of not going to Graceland or that we're going to lose loyal fans. Or asking what's next? Putting your two cents on an issue you know nothing of the DETAILS is quite disturbing. This is a business matter that needs good common sense and good business sense that anyone in our position needs to apply.

A quote Elvis stated many times: 'Don't criticize what you don't understand, son... you never walked in that man's shoes'.

Promo clip for the auction of Hound Dog II and Lisa Marie

Latest Audio (and video) updates : Video courtesy of  Elvis Presley Video Central.

K.G. Coker, a representative of OKC, referred questions to Julien's Auctions after the company announced the auction in a news release.

'I think the article speaks for itself', Coker said. 'I don't want to confirm or deny any part of it'.

Officials at Elvis Presley Enterprises, which operates an entertainment complex adjoining the late singer's mansion on Elvis Presley Boulevard, could not be reached for comment on the auction. The split with OKC comes as new ownership, New York-based Authentic Brands Group, plans upgrades including a new, 450-room Heartbreak Hotel.

'It's two planes but it's not just any two planes', said Julien's executive director Martin Nolan. 'It's a really important part of Elvis and the King's lifestyle and the final years of his life. They're buying a piece of pop culture history'.

Julien's will accept sealed bids from Friday through Feb. 2, and the successful bidder would be declared within 30 days of bid closing.

Presley bought the Lisa Marie, which he named for his daughter, from Delta Air Lines in 1975. While having the Convair 880 jet customized and refurbished in Texas, he purchased a Lockheed JetStar and christened it Hound Dog II.

The planes have been on public display at Graceland since 1984.

Nolan said the sellers hope whoever buys the planes will find a way to keep them on public display at or near Graceland.

In a video he taped in Memphis last week to promote the auction, Nolan said, 'I voice my personal hope that these will remain within close proximity to Memphis so that the hundreds of thousands who visit Graceland every year will continue to have an opportunity to view the planes. The owners, they, too, would prefer that the planes remain on display at or near Graceland'.

Jets 'Lisa Marie' and 'Hound Dog II' that the late King of Rock and Roll designed himself will be offered together to bidders and are expected to fetch between US$10 million and US$15 million, the Beverly Hills, California, auction house said.

Graceland tells Lisa Marie to get lost
'Negotiations' over the 'Lisa Marie' continue ...

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