Elvis of Memphis

Press, 20 September 1978, Page 13

Elvis of Memphis

WILLIAM SCOBIE

writes from Memphis

Tennessee

The $8 Gray Lines Elvis Memorial Tour makes an early start from the Memphis Holiday Inn. It’s going to be a long, gruelling, hot day for the pilgrims.

At least three-quarters them, sweating and fanning themselves and tugging at their double-knit slacks in the crowded bus, are women. Some are young, but most are approaching middle age — 42-ish, the age of Elvis Presley when he died, one year ago.

“Over there,” says the Elvis guide, an immaculate young blonde with a plastic card pinned to her chest that reads “Roxanne”,“is Nathan Novick’s pawnshop, where Elvis got his first guitar. He was just 11.” The amplified narration takes the votaries from shrine to shrine. Here is St Joseph’s Hospital, where Presley’s mother worked. Here’s his high school, the family’s old apartment on Exchange Street, the tailor’s shop (now abandoned) on Beale n treet where he bought his first suit of spangles.

There's Baptist Memorial I--ospital where doctors (""onounced Elvis dead. Down Elvis Presley Boulevard the bus passes only gas-stations and hamburger stands, and Roxanne goes into her Elvis trivia quiz. What was the name of the talentscout who first “picked up on” the young truck driver’s voice?

Everyone knows. “Marion Keisker ” Where did she find him? “At the Memphis Recording Service." What was he doing? "Making a $4 record for his Morn's birthday.” A lot of fans have taken this ride befor . It ends at the shrine of shrines, Graceland Mansion, where Presley’s poolsic': grave, smothered in gaudy wreaths, liefe out-

side the white-columned, plantation-style house. Here the king of rock and roll spent his last years.

Since Vernon Presley transferred his son’s remains to these grounds last October, almost IM people have passed through the gates —decorated with a musical motif

to pay homage. Not even a strike of city police and firemen in-Aug-ust, bringing power failures, looting and a weeklong curfew, could keep the faithful away.

Neon signs on the Memphis streets flash a message: “Elvis Lives.” The house where Presley was born in nearby Tupelo has been turned into a cityowned “non-profit” memorial.

It must be the only thing in Memphis that isn’t making a buck out of the late , singer.

At Graceland’s gate is his Uncle Vester, who watches the TV monitors in the guardhouse for vandals prying pieces from the "Wall of Love,” covered with scrawled messages of adoration from the 5000 to 10,000 daily visitors who queue patiently here each day in the humid heat. Uncle Vester’s book, “A Presley Speaks,” sells for $5, but the signed leather

edition (in gold gift-box with white nylon scarf resembling those Elvis threw to fans from the stage) costs $25. Across the way from Graceland is a shopping centre. Since last October, half the stores in it have become souvenir shops. The.e are Elvis ear-rings, Elvis scarfs, Elvis jumpsuits, Elvis dolls, facsimile editions of the “Memphis Commercial Appeal” (the city’s leading daily) for August 16, 1977 — the day Elvis died. There is a statuette of Elvis, which for $l5O, will dispense bourbon, while playing “Love Me Ten-

Presley dead is bigger business for Memphis than ever he was while alive. An annual Elvis Convention in a city auditorium is run by Ed Say, who charges tourists $3 each to traipse past booths selling yet more souvenirs and listen to pitches from people who once touched the hem of the King's gilded jumpsuit.

Charlie Hodge, “who 1 anded Elvis the mike on stage.” A karate instructor to whom a grateful Elvis gave a custom-built Cadillac. Chris Marshbn, “the world’s only female Elvis impersonator.” Chris says: “Vernon Presley saw. my act on TV and said it was in very good taste.” Doesn’t the family rebel, just a little bit, against t h e deification-com-mercialisation of Presley? “Young man,” said Uncle Vester, aged 65, “Elvis is feeding half of Memphis.” Thousands wait in line outside Graceland’s “musical notes gateway,” today and every day, dollar bills ’ i hand.

Yes, Elvis probably is “feeding half Memphis,” and the city is grateful to its most famous son. — O.F.N.S. copyright.