Rare Elvis artifacts featured in Graceland auction during Elvis’ birthday celebration
by Associated Press
Tuesday, December 19th 2017
Rare Elvis Artifacts to Be Featured in Upcoming “Auction at Graceland” During Elvis’ Birth. PHOTO: MGN
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — After the record-breaking auction during the 40 th anniversary Elvis™ Week this past August, there will be another opportunity to own a piece of music history as highlights of the rare Elvis Presley™ artifacts to be included in the upcoming “Auction at Graceland” were announced today along with registration information and catalog ordering details. The auction event will be held during Elvis’ birthday celebration at Graceland on Saturday, January 6, 2018 at 1:30 pm Eastern / 12:30 pm Central.
Fans and collectors from around the world are expected to participate on-site and online in this extraordinary auction of Elvis Presley memorabilia, featuring artifacts that have been thoroughly researched and certified by Graceland Authenticated. All auction items will be offered from third-party collectors.
None of the items included in the auction will come from the treasured Graceland® Archives. The mansion and all artifacts in the Graceland Archives continue to be owned by Lisa Marie Presley and are not for sale. Every lot in this auction is accompanied by a letter of authenticity from Graceland Authenticated.
The auction will be held in the theater at The Guest House at Graceland ™. Online registration and bidding now open is open at GracelandAuctions.com.
The official print catalog for the auction, featuring over 200 pages of full-color images and detailed descriptions for all auction items is available for order. This exclusive catalog offers an up-close look at these special pieces of Elvis history and is a wonderful collector’s item. The auction catalog is available at the Graceland Official Online Store as a pre-order item.
Select artifacts will be on display at the Elvis Presley’s Memphis ™ exhibit complex at Graceland now through Jan. 4 during opening hours and on Friday, Jan. 5 from 10 am until 8 pm Central in the Rock conference room at The Guest House at Graceland.
Among the 271 lots included in the Jan. 6 auction, notable items:
An Impressive Diamond and Platinum Ring Gifted to Linda Thompson from Elvis Presley, Estimate $30,000-40,000. This spectacular, diamond ring is a clear example of Elvis’ generosity with its multitude of gorgeous, round, brilliant cut diamonds in a circular design intertwined with exquisite tapered baguette diamonds in a platinum setting.
Elvis Presley Owned and Worn TCB Necklace Gifted to Dean Nichopoulos, Estimate $20,000-30,000. Dean Nichopoulos is the son of Elvis’ physician Dr. George Nichopoulos and was gifted this TCB necklace by Elvis.
Elvis Presley’s Grand Prix Chrome “TCB” Sunglasses with “EP” on the Bridge – Gifted to Ed Parker and Shown in His Book Inside Elvis, Estimate $20,000-30,000. These Grand Prix-style sunglasses are another gift Elvis chose to bestow upon his close confidant, karate instructor, bodyguard and friend Ed Parker. Elvis enjoyed gifting Ed with tokens that contained their shared initials such as these stylish spectacles.
1954 Elvis Presley Earliest Known Concert Performance Poster – Eagle’s Nest, Estimate $15,000-20,000. The Eagle’s Nest was one of the first paying gigs for Elvis and the very first consistent venue at the start of his career. Elvis performed at the venue 16 times in 1954. The Eagle’s Nest was where Elvis initially gained notoriety among the teen crowd and where his unique style began to flourish. Famed Los Angeles radio personality Brian Berne, who owned this item previously, has said he considered the poster to be one of the true “Holy Grails” of concert posters.
“TLC” Necklace Gifted by Elvis Presley to Dr. Nick’s Wife Edna Nichopoulos – Given on the Day He Received His “Ten Most Outstanding Young Men Award,” Estimate $15,000-20,000. On January 16 th, 1971, Elvis gave the wives of his entourage gold TLC necklaces which were a version of the TCB necklace he would give to those in his inner circle. One of Elvis’ proudest moments was the day he received the U.S. Jaycees “Ten Outstanding Young Men of America” award and it was fitting that he would want all his friends and their wives to share in his joy with this token of appreciation for their contributions to his achievement.
Elvis Presley’s Leather Rocking Chair from the Jungle Room at Graceland, Estimate $10,000-15,000. The original man cave! Prior to the 1970s, the jungle room at Graceland was referred to only as the “den,” and it differed in decoration from the way fans know it today. This leather rocking chair was Elvis’ favorite in this earlier rendition of the room, and he would often relax seated in this regal rocker in his spare time.
Elvis Presley Signed Title to His Circle G Ranch, Estimate $10,000-20,000. During a horse-buying excursion in Mississippi, Elvis spotted a 65-foot, white cross overlooking a manmade lake on a beautiful piece of land. Elvis proceeded to knock on the door and purchased “Twinkletown Farm” from the owner that very day. Elvis renamed it “Circle G Ranch” for Graceland. The property soon became a retreat for Elvis and his entourage where he could escape the pressures of Hollywood and superstardom.
Elvis Presley’s Personal Massive Wooden Desk from His Home Office in Palm Springs, Estimate $10,000-20,000. While Colonel Tom Parker and his father, Vernon, generally took care of business dealings, Elvis always had his own office where he would often read or review his concert schedule. This desk is from Elvis’ private office in his Palm Springs home.
Elvis Presley Owned 1922 Colt “Police Positive” .32 Caliber Revolver with Ornate Engraving and Ivory Inlaid Grip by Edward H. Bohlin – Gifted to Tour Promoter Tom Hulett, Estimate $5,000-10,000. The striking revolver with custom, ivory inlaid grip by famed craftsman Edward Bohlin, was gifted by Elvis to Tom Hulett who, with Colonel Tom Parker, managed Elvis’ live performances in the 1970s.
Elvis Presley performed twice in S.D. the year of his death
Published 11:13 p.m. CT Jan. 1, 2018
The King was coming.
The King of Rock ’n’ Roll, Elvis Presley, was coming to perform in the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center in Rapid City to celebrate its grand opening.
“Saws were buzzing, special lights positioned, stage sections assembled and concession items stockpiled at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center last week,” read an article by Jeri Gulbransen in the June 19, 1977, Rapid City Journal. “And the flurry of activity is scheduled to increase Monday and Tuesday in preparation for the grand opening concert starring Elvis Presley on Tuesday night.”
Presley was born to Vernon and Gladys Presley on Jan. 8, 1935, in East Tupelo, Miss. He recorded his first single, “That’s All Right” on July 5, 1954, and was an international sensation by 1956. By the time he came to Rapid City in 1977, reviews seemed to focus more on Presley’s weight and sometimes bizarre behavior than on his singing. But to Gulbransen, Presley still wore the crown as the King of Rock.
“Elvis Presley sang, swiveled his hips, played the guitar, threw scarves, cracked a few jokes and gave the capacity audience at the grand opening of the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center their money’s worth Tuesday night,” Gulbransen wrote of the June 21, 1977, performance in a review headlined “There’s no doubt about it – Elvis is still ‘king.’”
More than 10,000 people, most of them purchasing tickets for $15, attended the concert. Backstage, Rapid City Mayor Art LaCroix presented Presley with a plaque thanking him for giving the inaugural concert, and young Monique Brave gave Presley a hand-beaded medallion of life. He also received a T-shirt promoting the Boys Club Rent-A-Kid program.
But while Presley was presented with gifts, he arguably gave the audience more: seeing and hearing what Gulbransen described as a super performer in action.
“From ‘Jailhouse Rock’ and ‘Are you Lonesome Tonight’ to ‘If You Love Me Let Me Know,’ Elvis gave old favorites and newer songs a real crooning treatment.
“Although the gyrations that helped boost Elvis to popularity with teenage girls in the ‘50s are fewer and farther apart, the voice that continued to sell gold record after gold record sounded even better in person,” Gulbransen wrote.
The show in Rapid City, along with a show in Omaha, was recorded by RCA and CBS for a planned television special.
On June 22, 1977, a day after the Rapid City show, Presley performed at the Sioux Falls Arena.
“With a voice as distinctive as has ever blistered a concert hall, Elvis and his backup performers presented the capacity crowd of 8,189 with hand-clapping spirituals, down home country and western tunes full of cheatin’ hearts and the obligatory Presley standards like “Jailhouse Rock,” “Teddy Bear” and “It’s Now or Never.” And the crowd loved it,” wrote Sioux Falls Argus-Leader Entertainment Editor Hugh O’Gara.
The one-hour performance by Presley produced a display of pyrotechnics unrivaled since the Fourth of July as fans lit the Arena with flashbulbs, O’Gara wrote.
Fans rushed the stage clamoring for the blue scarves Presley tossed from around his neck and presented him with roses.
This was the second concert that Presley had played in Sioux Falls in less than a year. The King’s first concert in that city was on Oct. 18, 1976. Presley arrived on his private jet, and he and his entourage occupied the top three floors of the Holiday Inn City Centre.
O’Gara wrote of the 1976 concert, “Presley, fighting middle age spread and losing, is still as flashy, magnetic and outrageous as he was in 1957 when he appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show … from the waist up.”
The three South Dakota shows all seemed to follow the same pattern: performances by Presley’s band, a Gospel quartet, a comedian and a female trio, intermission and the arrival of Presley clad in a white gold-sequined jumpsuit.
The 1977 South Dakota concerts were among the last Presley gave. He died at age 42 in Memphis, Tenn., on Aug. 16, 1977. He still has a presence in the Mount Rushmore State, as a motorcycle belonging to The King can be seen at the Pioneer Auto Museum in Murdo and the National Music Museum in Vermillion preserves Presley’s C.F. Martin & Co.’s D-35 Dreadnaught guitar made in 1975 and played by him in 29 concerts between Oct. 17, 1976, and Feb. 14, 1977.
This moment in South Dakota history is provided by the South Dakota Historical Society Foundation, the nonprofit fundraising partner of the South Dakota State Historical Society at the Cultural Heritage Center in Pierre. Find more information at http://www.sdhsf.org. Contact info@sdhsf.org to submit a story idea.
My good friend, Claudia, wrote to tell me something very interesting which she learned. She said that she heard on Elvis Radio yesterday in order for the family to be buried at Graceland, it was required that people were allowed to show their respect. That’s why they have the walk-up for the fans in the morning and afternoon at no cost. It is a law in TN in order to bury loved ones on the property.
Neither Claudia nor I had ever known that before. So that is why it is offered for free to everyone…otherwise there would obviously be a charge for this too. Guess they finally decided that the candlelight vigil does not fall under this law and so this past August, for the very first time, there was “a charge to light a candle“.
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My good friend, Mike, sent me a group of photos of Elvis which I certainly enjoyed seeing. Among them was the below photo which I wanted to share because, once again, it is a good comparison with Jesse’s photo.
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SUNDAY, JANUARY 7, 2018
This is a really good brief documentary. I thank my friend, Jeannette, for reminding me to watch this and I really did enjoy it.
Elvis Presley – A Boy From Tupelo: A Short Film
ElvisPresleyVEVO
Published on Aug 18, 2017
Buy Elvis Presley – A Boy From Tupelo: The Complete 1953-1955 Recordings – https://Elvis.lnk.to/tupelo!sfilm About the album: Available as a 3CD deluxe box set and a digital collection, A Boy From Tupelo – The Complete 1953-1955 Recordings is the most comprehensive collection of early Elvis recordings ever assembled, with many tracks becoming available for the first time as part of this package and one performance–a newly discovered recording of “I Forgot To Remember To Forget.”
The above video is so appropriate for his birthday and I just love it. I also highly recommend the YouTube channel, Just Good Music from which this video is taken.
Earlier this afternoon, I was very pleased to see that there were so many visitors to my site from all over the world on Elvis’/Jesse’s birthday. My welcome and thanks to every visitor.
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This is a very interesting video with some very familiar people.
One of my wonderful friends, Lucilia posted her comparison photo of Elvis with Jesse on my Facebook timeline. I love it and wanted to share it here on my site as well. Big hug to Lucilia.
Wonderful work, Lucilia!
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TUESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2018
I have been very much looking forward to watching the HBO documentary which has been in production for some time now titled “Elvis Presley: The Searcher”. Finally today I came across a news article relating to it and learned the following: “Elvis Presley: The Searcher,” a three-hour documentary about Elvis that will premiere on HBO on April 14. The film takes the audience on a creative journey from the man’s childhood through the final 1976 Jungle Room recording sessions.”
I’ve been away from my computer all day, but I can’t let the day end without sharing this special memory of Elvis’ last birthday. I’ve shared it before, but it just seems like the right thing for January 8. Elvis is timeless. Elvis is ageless. But we all honor and give thanks for the day he was born. Happy Birthday, Elvis!
Elvis’ birthday was always a special day – not only to him, but to all of us. But his last birthday, January 8, 1977, was uniquely memorable and meaningful.
We were at Elvis’ house in Palm Springs, having a wonderful, carefree time, looking forward to the year ahead. The day before, Al Strada and a couple of the other guys had come up to me asking for a list of books that Elvis would like as a gift.
As always, Elvis and I were talking while I was doing his hair before everyone got together to celebrate his 42nd birthday. He had an air of optimism, even excitement, as he spoke about the coming new year and the many changes he planned to make in his life, both personal and professional. It was great to see him this way, and to feel his energy and enthusiasm for life.
After I finished doing his hair he put on his black suit – he looked fantastic. He turned to me with a glint in his eye and said, “This is my day, Lawrence, my birthday, and I get to do whatever I want. C’mon man, watch this!” He had a big smile on his face as he picked up the book The Prophet and a stack of money, motioning for me to follow him to the living room, where everyone was waiting.
“Will all you guys please leave me and the ladies alone; I want to talk to them for a while.” We all left, leaving our wives or girlfriends with Elvis. For the next forty-five minutes, he read to them several passages from The Prophet. Then he gleefully said, “This is my birthday, and what I want most is to give you all a gift.” As he handed each one a new hundred-dollar bill, he admonished, “Now you have to promise to spend this on yourselves, and I’m havin’ Robinson’s keep their store open late tonight just for you. No one’s gonna bother you; I’m sending security with you. So you all go and have fun for me on my birthday.”
So what does the man who has everything want for his birthday? If he’s Elvis…just the joy of giving to others.
Happy Birthday, Elvis!
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THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, 2018
Today I added a new photo to one of my early pages of my web site. For those who have not visited this page, you may enjoy checking it out as it does have some interesting material on it about Elvis’ interest in and activities involving law enforcement. It may hold some surprises for you.
Here is the photo which I just added. This one shows Elvis in 1977 wearing his jacket with the following title showing on his left chest…”DEA STAFF”.
Here is the link to my page on which I just added this photo:
Here is more about the upcoming Elvis documentary on HBO:
HBO Sets Dates For Elvis Presley Documentary
HBO has set premiere dates for several original projects, including an Elvis Presley documentary and a Flight of the Conchords special.
The network’s three-hour Elvis Presley: The Searcher documentary will debut April 14 and will offer viewers a journey from Presley’s childhood through his final 1976 Jungle Room recording sessions, the network said.
The documentary also features never-before-seen photos and footage from private collections worldwide, and includes an original musical score composed by Pearl Jam lead guitarist Mike McCready, said the network.
Elvis Presley couldn’t read music and had no formal training, but he was a student of music. Best known for accompanying his versatile baritone voice on a six-string acoustic guitar, Presley knew his way around four strings to lay down the electric bass part to the song “(You’re So Square) Baby I Don’t Care” for the Jailhouse Rock soundtrack. The new documentary for HBO, Elvis Presley: The Searcher, promises to explore his creative journey. The score was composed by Pearl Jam guitarist Mike McCready.
Elvis Presley: The Searcher is a three-hour, two-film presentation that includes interviews with Scotty Moore, Red West, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, and Priscilla Presley talking about the artistic and personal struggles that preceded Presley’s death in 1977. The documentary focuses on Presley the musical artist, from his childhood through the final 1976 Jungle Room recording sessions.
As previously announced by SXSW, Priscilla Presley, David Porter (legendary Memphis music writer and producer), Thom Zimny (director), Jon Landau (producer) and moderator John Jackson (SVP A&R, Sony Music) will discuss the film, the cultural impact of Elvis’ music and how that impact became the embodiment of rock’n’roll at the 2018 SXSW Festival in March.
The documentary will explore how Elvis was inspired by in black and white gospel music of Tupelo, Mississippi, and his early experience with African-American blues and r’n’b of Memphis. It will also track his evolution as an artist with Sun Studios producer Sam Phillips. When Elvis joined the army, most people thought rock and roll lost a voice, but Elvis Presley: The Searcher proves he didn’t stop learning his trade while serving in Germany.
The films will chart the creative highs and lows of his career in the 1960s, culminating in the triumphant ’68 special, and assess his performing career in the early ’70s. They include stunning atmospheric shots taken inside Graceland, Elvis’ iconic home. The documentary also features never-before-seen photos and footage from private collections.
Elvis Presley: The Searcher Release Date
RCA/Legacy Recordings, a division of Sony Music Entertainment, will release Elvis Presley: The Searcher, the musical companion to the HBO/Sony Pictures documentary, on Friday, April 6.
Elvis Presley: The Searcher debuts Saturday, April 14 at 8:00 p.m. ET.
The Making of ALOHA – 45th Anniversary Producer /Director Marty Pasetta talks about the making of NBC’s Aloha from Hawaii the first live concert broadcast worldwide via satellite starring Elvis Presley. The interview with Marty Pasetta was done in his home in Los Angeles on January 18, 2007 by Jeff Abraham for The Television Academy’s Archive Program.http://www.emmytvlegends.org/intervie…Marty Passetta Interview Footage by: Rob Salamanca Video Compiled by: http://www.facebook.com/TheSpiritOfElvisOfficial/
In the winter of 1968, Dr. Christiaan Barnard performed the second heart transplant, the Vietnam War raged on, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. continued to fight for civil rights and North Korea captured the USS Pueblo.
There is a new channel created on YouTube which is devoted to showing the process of creating comparisons of photos of Elvis to the photo of Jesse.
So far there are 4 videos on the channel. I really appreciate that someone has taken so much time, effort and interest to create these comparison videos. I will include the link to one of the videos below. Also below is the name of the channel and the link to the channel.
If you enjoy seeing what this channel owner has done, please subscribe and give the videos some thumbs up.
My sincerest thanks to this video creator for investing so much thought into creating these comparisons.
I have set up this YouTube Channel, Elvis / Jesse Video Comparisons, for the sole purpose of creating and uploading video comparisons of known (stock) photographs of Elvis Presley and the photograph known as Jesse, which is the property of Linda Sigmon – https://lindahoodsigmonstruth.com/
Linda has kindly given me permission to use her photograph, which has enabled me to make these comparisons. All I ask is that you watch the videos with an open mind and make your own decisions. I also ask that you visit Linda’s website and read through the evidence she has, before forming any opinions. The videos are uploaded onto here with the permission of Linda Sigmon.
The only software that I am using is Paint shop Pro 7. I have not changed any of the images – other than to crop, rotate or mirror them. I have not “Touched up”, “airbrushed” or altered any of the faces of any of the photographs.
I have used Paint shop Pro 7 and Bandicam Free Video recording software to make this video. The photographs are Linda Sigmon’s Jesse Photograph and a stock photograph of Elvis from the internet. I cropped Linda’s original Jesse photograph, so that it just showed the face and shoulders, but left it the original colour. I then found a stock Black and White photograph of Elvis on the internet. I mirrored the photograph, so that it faced the same way as the Jesse photograph. I then cropped it, so that it just showed the face and was of similar size to Linda’s Jesse Photograph. I then rotated the photograph, so that it matched the orientation of the Jesse photograph. I then copied both of the photographs onto a new “white” blank image. I then used the Clone brush accessory, in Paint shop Pro 7, to select a point on the Elvis photograph. This allowed me to then copy the photograph over the photograph of Jesse. Whilst cloning the Elvis photograph over the Jesse photograph, I used Bandicam free video capture software to record in real time.
Below is a sneak preview from the upcoming HBO documentary “Elvis Presley – The Searcher” which will premier on HBO on Saturday, April 14th. It will air in two parts. This sneak preview played at the FedEx Forum in Memphis on August 16th, 2017.
The new YouTube channel, to which I introduced my visitors recently, has added several more new videos for our enjoyment. Below is my favorite of the new videos. My sincere thanks and compliments to the creator of these videos.
Elvis / Jesse Comparison 5 (See description below before viewing)
Another wonderful new comparison from our good friend at Elvis / Jesse Video Comparisons on YouTube. Again my sincerest thanks to this very dedicated and talented young man.
As I am certain many of my visitors will recall, I have tried, in vain, to get Facebook to do something to shut down the page titled “Evidence Elvis Presley Is Alive“. So, it appears that Facebook cares very little about the content of the pages on their site. This page has, for years, been lying about Elvis in ways which have been so disrespectful to him, his parents, and Jesse. They have also lied about me on occasion saying that I am a fraud, etc.
The following is their latest entry of lies. I share it here in hopes that it will spare someone from being taken in by this despicable garbage producing administrator of the page.
I do state unequivocally that the following did NOT come to them from Elvis who is Jesse.
You may recall that I discussed this page with Jesse previously and he wrote a letter for me to post saying that he was not in touch with anyone who is on the Internet but me.
I share his letter again:
If anyone else knows how to take action against the Facebook page “Evidence Elvis Presley Is Alive”, please do let me know on my Facebook page in a message. Or, please do take action yourself.
Here are just a few of the salacious lies which they have told about Elvis:
He was one of TRIPLETS born on January 8, 1935. They all survived…Jesse and “Clayton”.
There was a fourth brother born in the 1940’s…”Franklin”
Jesse did the rehearsal show for the Hawaii Aloha concert; Elvis did the actual show.
All 4 brothers sang and performed.
Pastor Bob Joyce is Elvis.
They operate on the premise that they are in touch with Elvis and he tells them things to post on their page and that Elvis endorses their page.
The sad part is that this page has a large following of about 25,000 poor misguided fans who actually believe this trash.
There is much more…but I think you get the picture.
Any action anyone can take may help to halt this nonsense.
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TUESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2018
I have spoken with Jesse tonight and he has given me permission to resume posting on here each time that he and I speak. I had chosen to discontinue that practice because of jealousy-fed attacks which took place against me last year.
He and I still generally speak every week or so…depending on his access to privacy to make calls.
We did speak tonight and he is fine. He sounded wonderful as always and is in good health. He told me once, years ago, that the only good thing about winter is football and so he has been enjoying the games leading up to the Superbowl.
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