European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - October 17, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse Race and the Ems Presley Sld Cnoc in Memphis. Tenn., la a big wrist attraction tar those who Paye to the men they Call ote King. What Price ame one wonders As the bus traverses the 50 Yards across Ems Presley Boulevard past the Stone Lence through the musical Gates and up the sloping Green Lawn studded with great Oaks and Magnol As. It would do the pages of anybody s. Gracious living proud. What was Elvis really really really like people Buzz As they stand before Grassland s while columned Groen Shull ered two storied. Colonial facade in he could sure As Heck sing. He could sure Lurn a \ crowd to silly pully. But what was he really behind the curled lip the Promise them anything eyes so Many perceptions of him. So Many stories about the wild Wacky Lacky goings on. Ii those Waits could but speak. It s almost Asil those who paid their s7.50 expect his House to whisper at Leas a few of the secrets of what he was really really like. Bought in 1957 when Elvis was 22-years-old or $100,000, Graceland was once 20 Miles South of the ally. Since then it has been surrounded by sputtering globs of traffic and stretches of loss that stately Fried Chicken and hamburger emporiums Gas stations and used oar Lols. Just to the left As one enlers the foyer is the dining room thai is almost dwarfed beneath a huge gloaming Crystal chandelier. Elvis sat Al the head of the table says Tho guide not to demonstrate that he was King of Iho House but so he could Walch the to positioned in a Corner behind the table. Elvis usually did t eat dinner till 9 p.m., noles the guide prime Lime. To the right of the Entrance is the combination living music room with in s 15-foot sofa 10-foot Coffee table and 24-karal, Gold Seal grand piano Given to Elvis by his wife Priscilla. The piano seat is pos lined so that Elvis could Walch to Asho sat. There s a Large stained Glass Peacock pro Minally displayed and there Are also Many mirrors. Indeed one sees oneself reflected Mirror Splon Dorod glory wherever one looks. There Are mirrored ceilings Walls of mirrors even be mirrored staircases. Who wanted All the mirrors someone asks. Elvis did hurry people hurry urges the guide babbling info Malion by Rote prodding Gawker along As one Lour group crushes into another. Tho selected Lew rooms one is allowed to see in the 23-room mansion Are not All that big but rather Low ceiling de affairs giving off a cozy Quality. And a strangeness. Like the dimly lit Pool room that is covered Wall and Selling by More than 350 Yards of dark plaid Cotton fabric with pleats. Elvis idea says the guide. Me saw it in a Magazine or movie or something and said Thal s what he wanted. On the Green Felt of the table there s still the Gash Elvis made with his Slick trying to make a trick shot. Across the Hall is the to and movie room sporting big Blue couches with yellow and White pillows Blue and yellow Walls and More mirrors on Walls and ceilings there s a Small bar a Juke Box and three to sets Side by Side so the King could Walch three football games All at once. The rooms on the second floor including Elvis bedroom bathroom and office Are not for viewing As is the space still occupied by an aunt and Uncle. One com that is Lor viewing is the Jungle room said to have been designed by Elvis to resemble his beloved Hawaii done in greens and Browns Lea luring a huge Cypress chair with very Long arms and what seems to be the face of an unhappy ape on the Back some snide people have said that Elvis Interior decorator did t like him and there have been numerous cynical jokes about Graceland As a Monument to graceless decor. But Heck tire As Tho Good of boys would say they had fun. Out Back under the Carport is his 1955 Pale Pink Cadillac his 1975 Black Ferrari his Pink jeep from his movie Blue Hawaii his Dune buggy snowmobile motorcycles and two spend Ferous Slutz Blackhawk from Torino Italy the Interior of one of them lined with Gold said Lobo the last car Elvis Ever drove. Visitors Are also shown the racquetball court and trophy room the Little kidney shaped swimming Pool and the stable and romping grounds for the King s horses. Beyond the Pool in the Small Garden beside a bubbly Fountain where his grave ties next to those of his Molher and lather the debate Over what Elvis was really like in life and if he is really really dead flares Forth frequently. One could easily get carried away. Could easily conjure up some ghostly presence roaming the rooms and grounds of Graceland As night creeps on. Maybe searching Lor his lost guitar. People keep saying they have seen him. In and out of the flesh. Thai s what people say. Potuto in a scene from the 1963 movie it happened at the world fair. Tober 17,1988 now you can charge your Blue suede shoes by Jeffrey Goldberg tile Washington Poste Lvis the Man Tho legend the credit card. In s finally happened. Unable to satiate the King s legions of fans Wilh sweat stained scarves plastic statues and Elvis dishes the Graceland Empire s marketing wizards have come up with another Way to leave his lans All Shook up the Elvis Mastercard. The card is being test marketed to a select group of �00,000 by the Memphis based Leader Federal savings & loan through Signet banking corp. Of Richmond va., a major credit card Backer the card s promoters said they Hope it will Spur millions to say charge it to the oleic Las say the Market is Ripe for an Elvis card. Imagine the reactions when you present this extraordinary card when entertaining shopping or travelling said Jack Soden an official Wilh Elvis Presley enterprises inc., which runs Graceland Presley s Home in Memphis Tenn. Everybody today seems to have Green cards Gold cards even Platinum cards. But you. Can carry the most unique card Ever Stacey Sheppard Graceland s marketing director predicted that the card which depicts a love me tender Era thin Elvis singing in front of a Wurlitzer Jukebox will soon be extremely it la be a Slaius thing to do Sheppard said. For those who May debate just How in Elvis paraphernalia is Graceland officials Are urging lans to sign on for charitable reasons an undisclosed percentage of membership fees and Revenue will be donated to the Elvis Presley memorial foundation which they say supports children s organizations and offers scholarships to music students. The card which carries a 17.88 percent annual percentage rate on unpaid balances and an annual membership fee of $36, is part of the rapidly growing Affinity group Market credit cards targeted to specific interest groups from pro football fans to environmentalists. But credit card Industry analysis said the Elvis card is the first personality card in the Affinity Market for people who have a common interest whether it s Elvis or the Chicago bears or Iho Sierra club it s a Way to get their said Ann Morgan Moore president of synergies pics research corp., an Atlanta financial services firm docs the new Elvis card mean the country will be inundated with credit cards memorializing dead singers a Jimi Hendrix visa or a Sid vicious diner s club card probably not. But Moore said some performers have the pull to Olfer their own card. A Bruce Springsteen card could definitely attract tha baby Boomers Moore said. Stilt in is unclear whether hard Core Elvis fans will Lake to the new card. Billie Lejeune president of Iho then now and forever Elvis Presley fan club of Memphis Tennessee inc., said the King stands or Many things but not for a $3,500 line of credit. Elvis in the epitome of the american dream Lejeune said. He was a father figure to some he was a Little boy to others for some he represented the Ideal husband Lor their daughter he was t just some product still Lejeune said she May sign up for an Elvis card. I for one Don l buy everything put out on Elvis. I m Picky and choosy. But i la take a look she said. And Wilh speculation Rife that Elvis is still with us a key question needs to be asked would a use the Elvis Mastercard in he were have according to Gail Brewer Giorgio author of the supermarket bestseller is Elvis alive the answer is no. If he is indeed alive he s using a different name and does t want to draw attention to himself Brewer Giorgio said. Besides he was known never to carry around Cash or credit the stars and stripes Page 15
