Elvis death recalled.

Press, 17 August 1981, Page 8

Elvis death recalled.

NZPA-Reuter Memphis Long lines of people stretched down the curving driveway at Elvis Presley’s Graceland Mansion yesterday waiting for a chance to stand at his grave nearby. At the small shopping centre across Elvis Presley Boulevard, those who had already made the pilgrim-, age, as well as those who were waiting to stand in line, crowded into the souvenir shops to buy Elvis T-shirts, Elvis ashtrays, Elvis seat cushions and even Elvis death certificates. ’•

Presley, who was 42, died four years ago at Graceland. His death was officially attributed to a heart ailment, but there have been published reports that the entertainer’s use of drugs contributed to his death.

Since then his gravesite, in

a garden near the mansion’s swimming pool, has attracted a steady stream of Presley fans, but at no time is the attraction as strong as on the anniversary of his death.

“We come every year at this time because we loved Elvis so,” said one woman in a car bearing California licence plates. “It’s our tribute to Elvis for the love he gave to us.”

Several others at the mansion said they went to Memphis each year to mark Presley’s death. This year’s observance included the sale of Elvis memorabilia removed from his former home in Beverly Hills.

The owner of the house, Carolyn . Artis, had goldplated pendants made from marble taken from Presley’s roman bath, and converted

the draperies into coasters. Bricks taken from the estate’s walls were affixed with gold-plated plaques attesting to their‘origin. The items were on display in Graceland’s racquetball court, but fans had to go across the street to buy one of the souvenirs at prices ranging up to $175. City zoning regulations barred commercial sales at the mansion, which is zoned for residential use only.

In downtown. Memphis, several hundred people toured an exhibit* of Presley memorabilia at the Cook convention centre where Elvis movies were shown throughout the day. At midnight, a candlelight service was planned on the grounds of Graceland to mark the anniversary of Presley's death.