Confirmed : Elvis' planes staying put at Graceland
The Lisa Marie, a vintage Convair 880 airliner, and Hound Dog II, a Lockheed JetStar executive jet, have been on display at Elvis' Graceland estate in Memphis, Tennessee since 1984, however over the past 10 months their fate had been literally up in the air with both planes being put on sale by their owners, an action probably more to do with 'negotiations' than actually wanting to sell.
After changing hands following Elvis' death in 1977, the planes ended up in the care of OKC Partnership, who agreed in the mid-Eighties to display the planes at Graceland in exchange for a cut of ticket sales. But the situation became complicated in April 2014, when Elvis Presley Enterprises sent a letter to OKC asking the company to 'make arrangements for the removal of the airplanes and the restoration of the site on or shortly after April 26, 2015'. (Again probably more to do with negotiations than wanting the panes moved).
This month, OKC received approval from the Shelby County land use board and Memphis City Council to move the planes to a nearby lot, where they'd be displayed outdoors as a tourist museum. This seems to have been the final move in a game of dare by the two parties, with the news of a settlement following hot on the heels of the approval councils.
OKC Partnership declined an immediate comment however Lisa Marie Presley has confirmed the news - and also appears to have announced that EPE have purchased the planes) on her Twitter account: 'Exciting news:I wanted 2 b the first to tell U: The Planes will remain at Graceland 4 ever!' she wrote. 'We own them and have fun plans 4 them as well :)'
The back-story
Elvis' Jets for destined for a museum - or more games? Elvis' jets to be auctioned Elvis' jets to be auctioned
Hardball negotiations over the 'Lisa Marie'
'Negotiations' over the 'Lisa Marie' continue ...
Priscilla Presley responds to fans complaints about removal of the 'Lisa Marie'
Graceland tells Lisa Marie to get lost
The planes
The Lisa Marie : Convair 880 Jet
On April 17, 1975 Elvis bought a Convair 880 Jet, recently taken out of service by Delta Airlines, for the then-substantial sum of $250,000. After refurbishing, the total exceeded $600,000. He immediately rechristened it the Lisa Marie. Read the full article (with pictures).
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Tupelo's Own Elvis Presley DVD
Never before have we seen an Elvis Presley concert from the 1950's with sound. Until Now! The DVD Contains recently discovered unreleased film of Elvis performing 6 songs, including Heartbreak Hotel and Don't Be Cruel, live in Tupelo Mississippi 1956. Included we see a live performance of the elusive Long Tall Sally seen here for the first time ever. + Plus Bonus DVD Audio.
This is an excellent release no fan should be without it.
The 'parade' footage is good to see as it puts you in the right context with color and b&w footage. The interviews of Elvis' Parents are well worth hearing too. The afternoon show footage is wonderful and electrifying : Here is Elvis in his prime rocking and rolling in front of 11.000 people. Highly recommended.
Tupelo's Own Elvis Presley DVD Video with Sound.
