It has been a one-off opportunity for fans of the King of Rock’n’Roll. Many of the 400 or so items that have taken centre stage in the UK exhibition had never left Elvis’s Graceland mansion since his death more than four decades ago. They were deemed so personal and precious that they were kept at the icon’s home in Memphis, Tennessee.
Yet they were finally brought to this country last year, as the UK had always held a special place in the singer’s heart. The items on display at Direct From Graceland: Elvis include his “man box” that he kept in his bedroom at Graceland, which has never been open to the public. It contains his aftershave, moisturiser, jewellery and black hair dye.
Angie Marchese, who has held the keys to Graceland for decades, says this box was special to Elvis’ daughter, Lisa Marie, 54, who was buried at the mansion after her death in January last year. The curator says Lisa Marie would hold it during moments of grief after her father’s death in August 1977. Also on show are the King’s prized Ferrari Dino GT4, his gold lamé suit worn in the 1950s, a gold-plated rotary dial phone from his upstairs bedroom and Lisa Marie’s baby clothes.
Other noteworthy items include the crayon box he took to school, the keys to Graceland, his first job application, his military and football uniforms, his TCB Super Trike motorcycle, his array of jumpsuits and the cape he famously tossed into the audience at the end of a show. Angie explains: “The UK wa.