European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - August 3, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse M Elvis first Home the House that father Presley built Byro Harrist associated press t n1 Roll. He tiny Wood Frame House in Tupelo miss. Has changed Lillic since that january morning in 1935 when Gladys Smillir p Esley gave birth 1o a son. A child Wilh music in his soul who grew up to become he King of Rock it was Elvis Presley s first Home and it looks about like in did Back Ihen says Janello Mccomb who first met Elvis when she was 14 annl to was a Only 2. It s still on the same Toun Dalion on tha red Clay today the restored House is a Centrepiece of the 14 acre Elvis Presley Park in this town of z5.000 people in Northeast Mississippi. Ii is surrounded by a youth Center swimming Pool Tennis courts picnic areas and a memorial Chapel. While it hardly draws the throngs that visit Presley s mansion. Graceland in Memphis Tenn Mccomb says last year the part was visited by 65,000 people and we re expecting 22 busloads of foreigners alone that will be Hara Lor the memorial of Elvis death on aug. 16." Mccomb chairwoman of the Elvis Presley commission says the Park was begun with funds generated when Presley played a Benefit concert at he Mississippi Alabama fair in Tupelo in 1957 she says the Presley House was nothing special at Lite Lime it was built ii was typical o the houses Here Thore was the bedroom with a bed Dresser old trunk radio and sewing machine and a Kitchen Wilh a table old refrigerator washstand and a tiny Back then he area was known As East Tupelo and Elvis Uncle Noah Presley was the mayor. The House just 30 feet by 15 eel was Buill in 1934 by Elvis father. Vernon his Uncle and his Grandfather at a Cost of $108. Vemon Prestoy kit food on the table working As a Day labourer. He worked at a Dairy with a wholesale grocery a lumber firm and As a Mccomb says. I do know thai he was one Heck of a Good Mccomb was 12 when Elvis was born. In a Small Village like this everybody knew everybody else. The same doctor that delivered him delivered Allol us. We lived about a mile away but we had friends up and Down dial Street in East Tupelo and we d go Over there o visit and we d go Over Lor Lent revivals and things like Elvis lived in the House until he was 3 years old. Ihen moved next door to his grandparents Home i m often asked if Elvis was a special child Mccomb says. I Don t remember him As boing Oul of the Ordinary. He was very Well mannered and totally engrossed in his Glenda Hinds 46, of Trumann ark., a recant visitor to he Park says she was raised on Elvis music i wanted to see his Birthplace. It s really a Nice Park we live Only Aboul 50 Minlea from Memphis and we be seen the Presley mansion there. I had seen pictures of the Presley Home in Tupelo so we decided to Stop by and go through Albert Lea Johnson 72, of Dadeville ala., who decided to tour is Park alter seeing a sign on the Highway says he would not describe himself As a Rock n Roll fan but to was a Presley fan i did like his music. It s Nice to see people care enough to preserve for nothing like Elvis fans not All of them Are nuts by Woody Baird associated press k Aren Loper wants people to know Thaimos Elvis tans Don t sport bejewelled jumpsuits or let stack of us Are just average everyday people she said from Houston where she presides Over the because of Elvis fan club one of 300 clubs around the world. White some of the faithful iry to took like Elvis Presley and May speak of him occasionally in worshipful tones she said Moat fans who visit his residence in Memphis tenn., regard the trips More As stamp collectors conventions than metaphysical retreats. Of course. There Are people among the Jans that Aro strange maybe Loper said bul let me Lell you to melting. I own a picture framing business and i go to framing conventions t can Point out some very Odd people at those she will join the thousands who will to in Memphis Lor the 1qth anniversary of the Singer s death on aug. 16. As with past celebrations More Tolian a Lew in the crowd can to expected to adorn themselves in Elvis finery and speak of their spiritual Bond with the dead Singer. Those Are the fans. Loper said whom reporters interview. We fans have gotten real upset Over the years Aboul How we Are portrayed she said. Unfortunately there Are Soma people Lor whom Elvis is their life. We Lalk about them ourselves just like you would. But Goodni knows if he makes their empty lives a Lillic Fuller then hat snot so Many entertainers attract a Radical fringe said Jack Sedan director of the company that manages Presley s Home Graceland. You find them everywhere Soden said bul it s not appropriate to say an Elvis fan is a Loper 42. Said she became a Presley fan As a teen Ager. We really have grown up with Elvis she said. He s been a part of our lives. Why throw away something that s been pleasurable her duties As president of the 200-member club include researching Presley s life and writing articles about him for the group s quarterly newsletter. It s a she said. There Are people during football season who live and die Lor football and they la look Al us and say i Don t understand " club members annual trips to Memphis on the anniversary of Presley s death Are a Way to meet other people Wilh a common interest Loper said with people a Lvi collect Stamps their friends Are going to get tired of listening to them talk about Stamps she said but once a year they can go to a 5lamp collectors can Vantin and a Tigris Sihu. We come to Memphis for the Fellowship she said. It s like a big family Elvis souvenirs anything and everything goes by Woody 8aird associated press porcelain hound dogs perched on cassette players of Elvis Presley recordings sell Lor $39.95. Salin jackets Cost More. But the Small vials of his sweat Aren t available at any Price Al the Graceland shops these Days. Under pressure from the Presley estate Elvis souvenir dealers have softened their act in recent years eliminating such hard Coxe tackiness As the purported sweat that hit the Market shortly after his death a decade ago. Nonetheless souvenirs abound Al the Wrinkel shops across the Street from the Singer s mansion. You can t go wrong if you Pul Elvis on a shirt or Mug or whatever you re coming up with said Carol Hopkins marketing manager for the Gracel Anri division of Elvis Presley enterprises inc., the company that handles Money ranking Lor the Singer s estate. 19b7 tourists spend $8 million to $9 million a year Al Graceland much of it on souvenirs. Special anniversary Salin jackets go for $54.95 to $124.95, the More expensive jacket is Gray with the slogan "10 years is forever stitched on the loll front. The Back sports a Mulli coloured stitched portrait of Presley standing Al the gales of Graceland. We re really proud of it Hopkins said of the Jackel ii turned Oul really the souvenir Buignet at Graceland takes up most of a 36,000-Square-foot shopping Center that also serves As a launch site for Lour vans taking visitors to the mansion. The Center contains eight gift shops controlled by the Presley Eulale which started cracking Down on souvenir bootleggers about five years ago. The estate has licensing agreements Wilh 100 companies marketing More than 200 Elvis items according to Jack Soden. Director of Graceland management who said that has improved the Quality of souvenirs. Licensed agents can sell Presley souvenirs wherever they want bul can Only Market items sanctioned by the estate. In Seemi like very Day that somebody comes to us Wilh an idea that hey would like to Hopkins said for Eiam Plo Elvis wine and liquor decanters Aro available Lor up to s300 along with ashtrays Salt shakers Leddy bears pictures and posters Caps bumper slickers records movies books and costume jewelry. Shoppers can pick from so styles of t Shirls most of our merchandise is Between $3 99 and the $25 Range Hopkins said. For what would have been Elvis 50th birthday in january 1965. Graceland managers approved the Sale of a $99 99 porcelain statue of the Singer with a Lapo player Lor a base. We sold All we had Hopkins said probably 500 the stars and stripes Page 15
