Impressions from Elvis Presley’s Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee

[Frank Kalder]

~ Global Haplifnet [http://haplifnet.blogspot.com]

Elvis Presley’s Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee

Continuing to a preliminary travel report
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.usa/msg/b64a2612b81df3ed
M.K., e-glob, Washington (DC), provided unique impressions on her
Graceland visit.

> I was tired last night so gave up writing quite early
> here's a picture of the entry http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Graceland_front.jpg
>
> Here's a picture of the living room with the beautiful stained glass http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Graceland_living_room_1.jpg
>
> The next part of the house is where the family played and practiced music.
> Far less tame than the entrance.
>
> There is a great room with a pool table. Mirrored ceilings. Built in bar.
> Typical 60s sort of playroom for men. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzpYpms9_84
>
> Then there is the famous jungle room. I was envious because I always wanted
> a jungle room when i was a kid.
>
> Elvis had tons of green shag carpeting here and some
> really exotic furniture. A waterfall. This was my favorite room http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:GracelandJungleRoom.JPG
>
> Thereafter most of the buildings were dedicated to work. For example the
> garage was converted into an office for Elvis's dad who handled
> correspondence for him from that spot.
>
> Then, there is an absolutely huge warehouse like room full of corridors that
> contain every bit of movie memorabilia and awards that Elvis had
> accumulated. Many leather outfits. And outfits including the spectacular
> sequined jumpsuits. Apparently I have taste like Elvis. I bought these
> golden pants at Macy's a few days before we left. They are so reminscent of
> his one outfit. It is labelled Early 1956 outfit in this webpage http://www.galenfrysinger.com/graceland_costumes.htm
>
> I remember many years ago you mentioned your awe at the amount of movies
> that Elvis made. Here is the proof. Long walls and hallways covered full
> of movie posters, golden records, and any number of other types of awards.
> The walls also contain Elvis's humanitarian awards. He was apparently very
> generous and had quite a few such awards from various charitable
> organizations. They say he was proudest of these awards.
>
> A long time ago, I read a biography of Elvis.
> I had read that he wore mascara as even a young man.
> My friends and I enjoyed viewing all his photos in these warehouses and
> comparing which days he was wearing mascara and when not.
> It was also fascinating to note his physical transformation, including his
> size from willowy young man to sturdy middle aged man. Also, the change in
> hairstyle from a slick back rockabilly James Dean type hairdo to the
> emblematic pompadour with sideburns that Elvis impersonators tend to favor
> often. BTW Mardi Gras was rife with such impersonators.
>
> After you finished viewing this awe inspiring career memoriam, you could go
> out into the yard. where Elvis maintained a lovely serene meditation garden.
> He was buried in this garden http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Elvis%27_tomb.jpg
> next to his father and mother and brother who died when young.
>
> Here's a pretty good picture of the meditation garden from the opposite side http://microstar.net/pix2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=2242&g2_serialNumber=2
>
> Note again the beautiful iconic stained glass in the windows of the
> structure. Apparently this was imported.
>
> People leave all sorts of memorabilia and flowers at the grave sites. You
> can see the wreathes in this photo as well.
>
> Between this sculpture garden and the house is a large pasture that to this
> day contains horses. Elvis loved his horses and if I remember correctly,
> gave one to his wife as a gift one year.
>
>__
> Sing A Song For Them: b Jenny Lewis
>
> If you sing a song, sing a song for them
> If you sing a song, sing the song for them
> For the bats and belfry and the fairies on Main Street
> For the deadbeat daddies and the Boulevard freaks
> For the little girls with the carousel eyes
> And the brick-a-brak finding housewives, losing their minds
>
> Sing the song for them, if you sing a song
> Sing the song for them
> If you sing a song, sing the song for them
>
> To the never-made-its, and the unrecognized
> To the alley rats and the tenement flies
> To the weekend tweakers, the blond and the blind
> To the ex-thrill seekers in the methadone lines
>
> Sing the song for them
> If you sing a song, sing the song for them
>
> To who you are, and will never be
> To the shaking hand of the maker we’re all going to meet
> Sing the song for them
> If you sing a song, sing the song for them
>