Elvis Presley

[tamiele]

Ummm, speechless!!! Well, I could say a few things, but.....

That man was Hot!!! In more ways than one with that leather suit on. My husband and I watched Jailhouse Rock one evening. He had never seen it. That scene where he grabs the girl and kisses her and says "it's the beast in me". Hubby turns to me and says "now that is a good looking man". Yup!! Thought I'd died and gone to Heaven when Elvis said that.

[cindyt]

On March 25, 1958, Elvis entered the US Army at the Memphis draft board.

[McCourt]

So who remembers where they were when Elvis died?? For me, I was 7 years old. Growing up in Saskatchewan and it was harvest time. Mom and I were driving the grain truck back out to the field to where my Grandfather was combining. It came on over the radio. My mom said - Ah, I always liked him!!! And I also remember the posthumous televised concert. Mom has a picture of the TV with Elvis singing on it. His last concert.

I was 13 years old and coming home from school. My father owned a small tavern in Milwaukee and that weekend was one of the most sad and depressing ever.

[jc1305us]

I watched the documentary on YouTube "Elvis: The last 24 hours" and I must say it was fascinating. It's a miracle the man lived as long as he did. Consuming vast quantities of narcotics, uppers, downers, pain pills, etc. not sleeping, not eating right, CONSTANT touring. The colonel literally worked the man to death on top of it. Three shows a day for seven days a week?! Holy crap! I guess the colonel didn't believe in the concept of less is more. The other thing I found interesting is the interviewees, his bodyguards, his head of security, his hairdresser, all said the same thing. The man could not be saved from himself. Trying to tell Elvis to relax and take care of himself physically and mentally was not an option. What's true and what's fiction? I don't know. They all had a stake in keeping Elvis alive so I imagine what they said was the truth, but it is a very interesting look into a life many would say they want, but in reality looks more like a prison sentence to me. Very sad.

[jerryvr]

Guess who's going to be in Memphis during Elvis Week this year

[Bidmor]

I guess Parker saw that Elvis was on the downward spiral so he decided to squeeze as much out of E, performance wise, as possible...put as many butts into as many seats as many times possible before his meal ticket dropped dead. Reinforces my opinion of Parker being a real S.O.B. But on the other hand, why didn't Vernon step in? Maybe he tried but Elvis forbade him. Maybe Elvis subconsciously committed suicide by work.

[steelerstwin]

That photo just doesn't look right, I agree. It's far too fuzzy and appears to be altered, in much the same way as old Soviet pictures were airbrushed to wipe out former Communist party officials who had fallen out of favor. I'm not suggesting that Elvis isn't dead, or that the pic isn't authentic, but why doesn't it look like a real picture that any one of us could have taken? Maybe it had to do with cleaning it up for publication in the National Enquirer, but damn, it doesn't look right.

[TheWrath of MadelineKahn]

http://news.yahoo.com/goodbye-gracel...172423749.html

The jets owned by Elvis may be leaving the site after April 2015.

A ticket to Graceland is now $72??!!!

[findadeathaddict]

http://news.yahoo.com/goodbye-gracel...172423749.html

The jets owned by Elvis may be leaving the site after April 2015.

A ticket to Graceland is now $72??!!!

I saw this on FB. I have got to get to Graceland before they are gone.

[StewartGilliganGriffin]

I went to Graceland years ago. Then they let you actually get on the Lisa Marie. I don't know if they still do or not. If you do go you'll be shocked at how small the house actually is. It was still really cool. The only thing I didn't like was that we weren't allowed upstairs. Being the death hag I am I really wanted to see the King's famous "throne" he died on. Trying to sneak up went through my mind but I was with my gf and it just wasn't feasible.

[Shejay]

Good Lawd!! I can't believe the tickets are so much now!! Glad I went when I did!!!

I too toured the Lisa Marie - it was small, but awesome all the same. I did "Get in Trouble" for opening drawers and cabinets, you know as Death Hags do.

I'm surprised Lisa Marie doesn't step up to buy her namesake - kinda sad really.

[choff]

I'm surprised Lisa Marie doesn't step up to buy her namesake - kinda sad really.

I am a bit surprised Lisa Marie hasn't done this as well but then again when Libertyland amusement park had closed many years ago I seem to recall reading on one of the theme park sites where the owners had offered Lisa their roller coaster at a very cheap price. The ride was a favorite of Elvis actually it has been said that the Zippin Pippin coaster was Elvis' favorite roller coaster. Lisa Marie wasn't interested.

[PiggyTx]

I also am glad to have visited Graceland, before it got sold out. I always knew things would change when new owners take over. I was in so much
awe when I visited. Just knowing, the King lived here. It was awesome. Visited the planes too. was so cool! I hope they don't take them away

[StewartGilliganGriffin]

I just read that Priscilla was bombarded with complaints about the possible removal of the planes. She responded by telling everyone to calm down and that they are in negotiations with the people that own the plane. Sounds like a very smart negotiating tactic by the owners to me. Trying to get the absolute most they can out of a new deal. They won't make anything close to the money they'd make if the planes are at Graceland. My guess is those planes aren't going anywhere.

[JimC]

I went to Graceland years ago. Then they let you actually get on the Lisa Marie.

For the longest time I wanted to get on Lisa Marie - never happened; but I did see the airplane.

[Tony Trout]

That photo just doesn't look right, I agree. It's far too fuzzy and appears to be altered, in much the same way as old Soviet pictures were airbrushed to wipe out former Communist party officials who had fallen out of favor. I'm not suggesting that Elvis isn't dead, or that the pic isn't authentic, but why doesn't it look like a real picture that any one of us could have taken? Maybe it had to do with cleaning it up for publication in the National Enquirer, but damn, it doesn't look right.

It was cleaned up for publication by the NE - and they did a horrible job at it.

I just read that Priscilla was bombarded with complaints about the possible removal of the planes. She responded by telling everyone to calm down and that they are in negotiations with the people that own the plane. Sounds like a very smart negotiating tactic by the owners to me. Trying to get the absolute most they can out of a new deal. They won't make anything close to the money they'd make if the planes are at Graceland. My guess is those planes aren't going anywhere.

The argument about the planes goes on all the time. Jack Soden of EPE wrote a letter to the planes' owner basically telling him to move the planes by April, 2015. I am unable to reproduce the letter here but, according to someone who knows the planes' owner very well, here's his thoughts:

It appears that EPE wants to separate the planes from the tour. $12 to tour the plane is outrageous!!!! I think we will see more and more things separated from the regular ticket price, which has risen to outrageous too. For two people to take the Platinum tour, it's almost a hundred dollars. I'm sure the VIP is probably over a hundred. Now they want to separate things, like the planes, to get even more. You can write all the letters you want and sign all the petitions, and it doesn't hurt them. The ONLY thing that will get their attention is when they are hit in the purse $$$$!!! Everyone complains, but they keep throwing dollars at them. I have heard them say that it is the tourist that brings in the money. Well, when they price themselves out of the tourist business and the numbers drop, who do you think they will turn to? The fan.

For me, all I can say is TOO LATE! I am afraid that when they finish pushing the ETAs down our throats, and taking our hard earned dollar, the memory of Elvis will suffer a painful death. There is a generation of people coming along that won't fall for their money grab.

[jerryvr]

I'm going there in August and to me, the $72 for the VIP tour (and $34 normal entry) doesn't seem very high. To be honest compared to the prices we have to pay over here for sites like this it is normal/cheap.

Besides.. it's Elvis and not the home of Justin Bieber

[MiraculousMandarin]

Wait, whats the VIP tour?

My mom took my brother and I there when I was 15 and I remember being incredibly pissed off that they wouldn't let me upstairs. It was like the first thing I found out when the tour started and I had to just keep walking through the rest of the stupid tour. I could not have cared less about the stupid "Jungle Room". I just wanted to see the upstairs bathroom (at the time I still thought he kicked while he was making #2)

[Bidmor]

For the longest time I wanted to get on Lisa Marie - never happened; but I did see the airplane.

Rimshot

MM...I think it's safe to say there was a #2 committed at some point during the incident. The when is the question.

[PiggyTx]

Wait, whats the VIP tour?

My mom took my brother and I there when I was 15 and I remember being incredibly pissed off that they wouldn't let me upstairs. It was like the first thing I found out when the tour started and I had to just keep walking through the rest of the stupid tour. I could not have cared less about the stupid "Jungle Room". I just wanted to see the upstairs bathroom (at the time I still thought he kicked while he was making #2)

When I went, which is like 10 yrs ago, VIP was you got to see some trailer homes in the back of graceland where some of his mafia buds lived. that's all i can remember of the VIP tour. I was kinda disappointed lol.

[MiraculousMandarin]

When I went, which is like 10 yrs ago, VIP was you got to see some trailer homes in the back of graceland where some of his mafia buds lived. that's all i can remember of the VIP tour. I was kinda disappointed lol.

Unless some of them died in there (preferably while using the restroom), I would have been disappointed as well.

[Tony Trout]

For more information about the tours please visit:

Graceland Mansion Tours

Unless some of them died in there (preferably while using the restroom), I would have been disappointed as well.

No one except Elvis and then, in 1994, his Aunt Delta Biggs has died at Graceland.

Alot of the Memphis Mafia get a bad rep - why? Because people say that they didn't do their best to help Elvis get off of the drugs. Believe me, all of them tried! Red & Sonny West (who has fought and is still fighting a battle with throat cancer) both tried to help Elvis but what did they get for talking directly to Elvis about his drug use? They got fired!

The previous explanation is the exact reason that no one else ever approached him about getting off the drugs because they knew the consequences - either keep their mouth shut or lose their jobs.

However, there was one final attempt in 1977 to get Elvis off of the drugs but this time, it was spearheaded by Elvis's attorney Ed Hookstratten (now deseased) and P.I. John O'Grady (who, ironically, helped Elvis to obtain a BNDD badge (it's now called a DEA badge) for his collection from former President Richard M. Nixon in 1970 (I'm sure we've all seen the photos but there is an entire website dedicated to this event).

Priscilla, O'Grady & Hookstratten attempted to get Elvis into a rehab (can't remember the name of it) and, at first, he was actually all for it but - sadly, he backed out at the last minute of doing it. This was the last time that anyone attempted to save Elvis from the downhill road he was screaming towards like a runaway train - a runaway train that sadly crashed on August 16, 1977.....

[findadeathaddict]

Elvis week is fast approaching

[stephenmiller]

I believe Elvis's last girlfriend, Ginger Alden, is finally coming out with her book soon. What do the Elvis fans have to say?

[StewartGilliganGriffin]

I believe Elvis's last girlfriend, Ginger Alden, is finally coming out with her book soon. What do the Elvis fans have to say?

It took her this long to cash in? I would have thought she'd written a book long long ago.

[Upset]

According to Bob Zmuda's book on Andy Kaufman, when they were being given a private tour of Graceland, he distracted the guide long enough for Kaufman to make use of the Death Toilet.

[StewartGilliganGriffin]

According to Bob Zmuda's book on Andy Kaufman, when they were being given a private tour of Graceland, he distracted the guide long enough for Kaufman to make use of the Death Toilet.

That's funny but I'm betting it's fiction. If Bono isn't making it upstairs Andy sure isn't. Every angle of that place is monitored and you know there's armies of security teams stationed throughout that house. A person wouldn't make it to the top of the stairs, much less to make it to the bedroom, then the bathroom, and then given enough time to take a poop.... plus how would a person wipe? I'm sure there's no TP there.

[findadeathaddict]

Bill Clinton requested to see his room and was turned down. And he was the president.

[Upset]

As storytellers go, Zmuda is pretty unreliable. But I don't know. Kaufman died in 1984, so this would have to have been in the first few years after Elvis died. Have their security protocols been the same since 1977?

Another thing Zmuda said: Kaufman had always heard his was the King's favorite Elvis impersonation, and when they were given the tour they showed him videotapes Elvis had of his interpretation, and Kaufman became somewhat emotional.

[Tony Trout]

As storytellers go, Zmuda is pretty unreliable. But I don't know. Kaufman died in 1984, so this would have to have been in the first few years after Elvis died. Have their security protocols been the same since 1977?

Another thing Zmuda said: Kaufman had always heard his was the King's favorite Elvis impersonation, and when they were given the tour they showed him videotapes Elvis had of his interpretation, and Kaufman became somewhat emotional.

I don't believe either of the stories. Just because he was given a private tour doesn't mean he got to see anything else - much less personal videotapes that Elvis had.

The security measures have been the same since Dick Grob put them in place after Elvis died. There was one time when a famous singer, can't remember his name, tried to jump in the pool there at the mansion and was immediately thrown out and barred from coming back.

[StewartGilliganGriffin]

Bill Clinton requested to see his room and was turned down. And he was the president.

And let's be honest, if Slick Willy can't talk his way into a bedroom it can't be done lol :P

[findadeathaddict]

And let's be honest, if Slick Willy can't talk his way into a bedroom it can't be done lol :P

Haha. Great point.

[StewartGilliganGriffin]

Haha. Great point.

And ya wanna hear some irony? Elvis and Slick Willy were/are both A Hunk A Hunk of Burnin Loves

[jerryvr]

37 years ago today..

[findadeathaddict]

37 years ago today..

Actually it's tomorrow

[findadeathaddict]

August 16, 1977 - Elvis Presley died 37 years ago today.

[gradpig]

[Zoe_Zeppelin]

Rest in peace Elvis Presley

5298754.jpg

http://www.graceland.com/connect/gracelandcam.aspx
http://www.elvis.com/graceland/graceland_cam.aspx?to

There was a candlelight vigil to mark the 37th anniversary of his passing last night. You can watch it again here.
http://www.graceland.com/news/detail.aspx?id=7516

[jerryvr]

Actually it's tomorrow

It was the 16th in my timezone

[Tiffany]

Very interesting story about Lisa M. NOT being his daughter

http://www.inquisitr.com/1413867/lis...sley-daughter/



PS I want this book!
http://www.amazon.com/The-Death-Elvi...ds=elvis+books

[findadeathaddict]

It was the 16th in my timezone

I AM and idiot!!!!!!!! Sorry!!

[findadeathaddict]

Very interesting story about Lisa M. NOT being his daughter

http://www.inquisitr.com/1413867/lis...sley-daughter/



PS I want this book!
http://www.amazon.com/The-Death-Elvi...ds=elvis+books

LMP looks like he spit her out of his ass. She is most definitely his child.

[StewartGilliganGriffin]

LMP looks like he spit her out of his ass. She is most definitely his child.

My first thought too. It's like if you put them side by side at the same age they could literally pass as identical twins. Of all the people to make that claim about Elvis and Lisa Marie would be the last people you'd accuse. And what would be the point? lol Would it be against the rules to say that might have been the dumbest "article" I've ever read? If it is let me know and i'll delete this bit.

[findadeathaddict]

My first thought too. It's like if you put them side by side at the same age they could literally pass as identical twins. Of all the people to make that claim about Elvis and Lisa Marie would be the last people you'd accuse. And what would be the point? lol Would it be against the rules to say that might have been the dumbest "article" I've ever read? If it is let me know and i'll delete this bit.

Really dumb. I agree. LMP and EAP look like twins. Period. If she isn't his child then I'll kiss your ass.

[StewartGilliganGriffin]

Really dumb. I agree. LMP and EAP look like twins. Period. If she isn't his child then I'll kiss your ass.

Ok now I have a vested interest... Off to Graceland to prove that chick is NOT Elvis' daughter lol

[Tony Trout]

Lisa Marie IS definitely Elvis's daughter. No if's, and's or butts about it.

The idiots who write these articles should be sued by EPE!!

[findadeathaddict]

Ok now I have a vested interest... Off to Graceland to prove that chick is NOT Elvis' daughter lol

I am going next week! WOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOO. I am soooooooooooo excited.

[StewartGilliganGriffin]

I am going next week! WOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOO. I am soooooooooooo excited.

Sweet!!! You'll love it. See the Lisa Marie if you can... it's worth the extra money... unless it's just crazy prices. I think that was the best part of the tour. You'll be surprised at just how small the house is. I was.

[findadeathaddict]

Sweet!!! You'll love it. See the Lisa Marie if you can... it's worth the extra money... unless it's just crazy prices. I think that was the best part of the tour. You'll be surprised at just how small the house is. I was.

Oh I'm taking the VIP tours - I'm doing it ALL! Go big or go home, lol.

[StewartGilliganGriffin]

Amen!!