Direct from Graceland: Elvis exhibition comes to London
Memphis is coming to the UK!
Direct from Graceland: Elvis, a major new retrospective exhibition exploring the life of Elvis Presley, will be the opening exhibition in October at the new arts and culture venue, Arches London Bridge.
All the way from the gates of Graceland the collection includes Elvis Presley’s instruments, stage outfits and personal belongings.
The Graceland Archive has assembled a collection which will explore Elvis’ career, larger-than-life persona, influential sense of style, life at Graceland, plus lesser-known aspects of his early years, hobbies and personal life.
The Direct From Graceland: Elvis exhibition will feature over 400 artefacts owned by Elvis Presley, direct from the icon’s Graceland home in Memphis, Tennessee - including his military uniforms, his TCB Super Trike Motorcycle and Ferrari Dino GT4, and an array of his famous jumpsuits – plus personal items like Lisa Marie’s baby clothes, Elvis’ first job application and the crayon box he took to school.
A special feature of the exhibition are candid photos and items from his largely unseen life away from performing on stage in Vegas, including the EP football team made up of close friends, his American Football uniform and his love of karate.
Direct from Graceland: Elvis, highlights:
Elvis in his stage outfit
Elvis in his Gold Suit
Elvis in his military uniform
Elvis personal gold telephone
Elvis' Karate suit
red MG automobile from Blue Hawaii
Elvis at Football practice
Elvis EP Enterprises football team
The collection will also feature the keys to Graceland, his gold microphone used on stage in Las Vegas, 1969. Some of the most recognisable items traveling from Memphis to London are one of the two jumpsuits he used for his 1973 “Aloha from Hawaii” television special and the cape he famously tossed into the audience at the end of the show. The “Aloha from Hawaii” special was the world’s first LIVE televised satellite concert, watched by a record 1.5 billion people.
Key periods in Elvis’ life and career will be covered in Direct from Graceland: Elvis, including his early years living in a ‘shotgun shack’ in Tupelo, Mississippi, his break-out Sun Studio hits, U.S. Army service, Elvismania that first swept America and then the world, his Hollywood movies, his unforgettable “’68 Special” performance, “Aloha From Hawaii” and the glamourous Vegas residency years.
Angie Marchese, Vice President Archives and Exhibits at Elvis Presley Enterprises, said:
'It is an amazing privilege to bring Direct from Graceland: Elvis to the Arches London Bridge. Curating this new exhibition exploring Elvis’ life and career for all Elvis fans in the United Kingdom is exciting.'
To get tickets to the event you can visit the Direct from Graceland: Elvis website.
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