Dave Ford Does Earth

Posted by Dave Ford

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Graceland

Elvis is a unabashed legend. He is a hands down, unmatched, bigger than life rock and roll superstar. If it was possible to combine the personas of Jimi Hendrix, Kurt Cobain, and Jim Morrison you still could not come close to matching the power and impact that Elvis has had on the world. To date he has sold 1 billion records. Elvis Presley brought rock and roll to the masses.

So, already being in Memphis the fab 5 had no choice but to visit Graceland.

The setting for the mansion owned by one of the most famous people to walk on planet earth was strange to say the least. The 100 acres that the grounds of Graceland sit on is seemingly in Middle America. There are middle class neighborhoods backing right up to the edge of the property on all sides. From the busy street (Elvis Presley Blvd) in front of the grounds you take in the outside wall (completely covered in graffiti) and the above ground power lines and telephone poles lining the streets (surprisingly the feel is very reminiscent of the neighborhood I grew up in Baltimore County minus the graffiti).

The setting is just the beginning of Bizzaro land. Graceland is a time capsule from 1974. I am not sure just how the stylistic trends occurred from this era but I am sure that there had to be some serious drug influence infused with the interior design. We were not allowed to videotape or use flash photography during the tour, hence the blurry photos.

This is Elvis’ living room as you walk in the front door.

The yellow and black of Elvis’ TV room are captured in the below picture. The king would watch three TVs simultaneously. Although its hard to tell, this room might have been the trippiest in the house. It was set of by a Gollum (or maybe it was just a weird looking monkey) statue on the table. We took a side bet among the crew about just how many women enjoyed the company of Elvis in the late night glow of the three TV sets.

Here are some interesting facts that I did not know about Elvis before this trip:

1. He had a racquetball court in Graceland

2. Elvis loved guns. He even had one made with a turquoise handle and his initials monogrammed on it.

3. Apparently Elvis loved to read and took notes on the pages of the books he read.

4. He had a very close relationship with his parents and they lived in Graceland with him.

5. Elvis loved karate. Furthermore, his karate master nicknamed him “tiger”

6. Elvis had two extremely pimped out planes that you can tour at Graceland.

7. Elvis’ great grandmother outlived him and his parents.

8. In Graceland there is a “jungle room” complete with green shag carpet on the ceiling.

The tomb of Elvis and his family are all on display at Graceland in the meditation garden.

Jess and the BV show stand in the “Fan Art” section of Graceland. We were all shocked about just how fanatical people are about the king. We stayed at the Heartbreak Hotel and it was full of people from the UK. For many people in the world it is a life mission to make it to Graceland. It is reminiscent of the once in a lifetime call to Mecca for the Muslims. I do not know if any of us really appreciate the magnitude of phenomenon of Elvis. I am sure our parents generation would have a much better handle on it.

Sidenote: The Heartbreak Hotel was a filthy hole and the worst hotel we have stayed in to date. The shower was disgusting and the people in our room before us had to have smoked upwards of 275 cigarettes.

The most amusing thing that happened to us involved this picture of Jess, Daddio, and myself in Elvis’ hall of gold records. I mentioned the strict security measures involving flash photography and videotaping in Graceland. Well, it all came crashing down due to this photo when I handed the BV show the camera and forgot to turn the flash off. The photo went off sending a bright flash bouncing off close to 5000 gold and silver records. The security guard screamed, the BV show screamed, and I think there is a good chance the ghost of Elvis screamed. Thankfully, no one was blinded.

NEXT STOP: Memphis to New Orleans and the Mississippi River

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