New Historical Exhibit On Elvis's Life In Memphis

Among the items that are the most valuable is this guitar in the Graceland archives (a 1956 Gibson J-200 with Elvis's name on the fretboard) and a pair of his shoes.

Visitors to Graceland this year will be treated to an extraordinary new exhibit about Elvis' life in Memphis, featuring several mural-size Don Newman photographs taken in the late 30's, 40's, 50's and displayed with Elvis artifacts from the Graceland Archives. The "Elvis Presley's Memphis" exhibit is located in the Sincerely Elvis Museum in the visitor center complex across the street from Graceland Mansion. The exhibit, which will be in place for one year, explores Elvis Presley's ties to the city he loved and called home, and was mounted with the support of Memphis Heritage, a local historical organization.

The new exhibit includes a downtown Goldsmith's department store display featuring a Newman photo of the Main Street landmark from the days when Elvis shopped at the city's finest store. Items in that display include a record cabinet, a phone lamp and a black circular chair with leopard print seat cushion - all purchased by Elvis at the downtown Goldsmith's - plus samples from Elvis' personal record collection.

The exhibit follows the life of Elvis in Memphis through other displays such as The Claridge Hotel, Lansky Bros., Mid-South Coliseum, Lowenstein's and the Sears superstore on Cleveland. The Britling's Cafeteria display is dedicated to Elvis' mother Gladys, who once worked at the local restaurant, and offers a rare look at some of her personal effects and the Presley's 1953 tax return.

Also in the exhibit is this employment application Elvis filled out at the Memphis Employment Center at 122 Union in March 1953.

The exhibit was made possible with the help of Memphis Heritage. The organization's annual fundraising Memphis Heritage calendar is sponsored entirely by Elvis Presley Enterprises, and is a unique 18-month edition featuring Newman photographs of Memphis as they relate to Elvis and the Memphis he knew. The content is supplemented by anecdotes and images of artifacts and documents from the Graceland Archives. The calendar is available on www.memphisheritage.org and in Graceland stores and elsewhere in the city.

Elvis Presley's Memphis
By Michael Lollar - Commercial Appeal

The Sincerely Elvis Museum's newest exhibit provides a glimpse into the Presleys' day-to-day lives

Among items are badges and dashboard lights Elvis used to stop people on Interstate 240 to tell them to slow down.

Elvis Presley had a Memphis police reserves captain's badge, so having a flashing portable police light to mount on the dashboard of his car was not a big deal.

"He used to pull people over on Interstate 240 and tell them to slow down," says Graceland archives manager Angie Marchese of one of the personal items in a collection seldom seen by Elvis fans.

Called "Elvis Presley's Memphis," the collection will officially open Monday for a one-year run at the Sincerely Elvis Museum in Graceland Plaza, the shopping and entertainment complex across the street from Graceland.

The collection includes the most valuable Elvis guitar in the Graceland collection, three jumpsuits worn by Elvis at Mid-South Coliseum concerts and a sampling of the furniture from Graceland's den before it was redecorated as the infamously tacky Jungle Room filled with fur, animal prints and a waterfall.

Turns out, the old den had its moments, too. There was a Mediterranean-style sofa in a carved wooden frame with avocado-colored cushions. The room's carved wooden room divider would have made a bold statement beside a wall print of tigers against a bright orange background. "The den always had an eclectic look," says Marchese in an arch tone.

Each exhibit case is organized with a vintage background photograph by Don Newman and supplied by Memphis Heritage. Among photos of the city's most popular landmarks, such as The Peabody hotel and the Downtown Goldsmith's Department Store, the exhibit includes a photo portrait of Britling cafeteria, where Elvis' mother, Gladys, once worked while living in public housing. Gladys also worked as a seamstress at Fashion Curtain Co. and as a nurse's aide at St. Joseph Hospital, before Elvis' fame swept the family from the projects into Graceland.

Before the move, a 1953 tax return filled out by Vernon Presley and included in the exhibit lists the family income at $2,855.97. It had helped buy the exhibit's sampling of clothing from Glady's wardrobe -- including two generously sized flowered-print house dresses or dusters, a pair of open-toed faux alligator pumps with straps and a cloth purse with gold-colored frame.

Most of the clothing in the exhibit belonged to Elvis, including a yellow leisure suit in a crinkly fabric woven into a checked design. Marchese said Elvis never wore the $75 suit, but, like the Jungle Room furniture, it was a noteworthy purchase for the man who could have everything. It is displayed next to outfits among Elvis' favorites, including a long, bright red coat with black faux fur trim. It was such a favorite that Elvis had two more like it in different colors. The exhibit also includes a leisure suit in patchwork shades of green which Elvis often wore, says the archivist.

It was the kind of taste in clothing that made Elvis stand out even before he was out of high school. An employment application form filled out by Elvis before he graduated from Humes High School included these comments from a placement worker about Elvis: "Rather flashily dressed -- 'playboy' type . . . Wants a job dealing with people."

Even more symbolic of the King of rock is one of Elvis' favorite guitars, a 1956 Gibson J-200. Marchese said Elvis played the guitar in the films "Loving You" and "King Creole" and used the guitar, which has his name inlaid on the fretboard, throughout his career. "It is the most valuable guitar in the Graceland collection."

One large display case, held over from the last rotating exhibit in the museum, includes the Elvis and Priscilla Presley wedding outfits, his a black-on-black tux and slacks with a paisley design, hers an all-white partially beaded dress that was "bought off the store shelf," said Marchese.

Graceland's mysterious, little-seen upstairs, off-limits to tourists, makes an appearance in the exhibit in the form of a round leopard-print chair bought from Goldsmith's and displayed with samples from Elvis' personal record collection.

Almost as eclectic and quirky as the Jungle Room, the exhibit also includes a Green Bay Packer football helmet kept as a souvenir by Elvis, a scuba tank and badminton set used by Elvis, his 1974 Grammy for best inspirational performance for "How Great Thou Art" and bottles of Elvis' favorite bottled water, Mountain Valley Water, a brand still used by Graceland employees.

Exhibit details

Where: Sincerely Elvis Museum in Graceland Plaza, across the street from Graceland

When: Opens Monday for a one-year run

Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays.

Admission: Adults, $6; seniors 62 and older and students, $5.40; children 7-12, $3 and children 6 and younger, free. (Platinum tour packages include admission to all Elvis attractions, including Graceland. They are $27 for adults; $24.30 for seniors.)

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