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Enter the Gates
The wall surrounding the estate of Graceland is made from Alabama fieldstone. It's sometimes reffered to as the "Graffiti wall" because visitors write sentiments to Elvis on it. A crew cleans the wall regularly with a pressurized water system. Allowing for a new round of messages.The wrought-iron gates at graceland among the most famous in the world show two guiter players and musical notes. Elvis used to wander down to the gates to sign autographs, pose for photos, and chat with fans. Now on each anniversary of his death thousands of fans gather at the gates to honor Elvis' memory and hold the Annual Candlelight Service.
Living Room
The bisque-colored living room wher Elvis' funeral was held has mostly white furniture with a long couch and two arm chairs. The long black gold glass coffee table matches the "sunburst" clock, hanging on the mirrored wall over the marble fireplace. An open doorway to the music room is flanked by stained peacocks.
Dining Room
For most of Elvis' time at Graceland, the dining room had blue, white and gold color scheme (as it is today) but in 1974 it was redone in red. Red curtains were also sometimes added at Christmas time. since this is where Elvis has the tree set up behind where he sat at the head of the table and in front of the picture window. Wall mirrors give the room a larger feel. Dinner at Graceland was usually served at 9 or 10 p.m Elvis nad his friends sometimes used the dining room to play poker.
The Music Room
In the gold-curtained music room stood a piano Elvis was a pianist as well as a guiter player and often entertained friends and family in this room. The wall mirror was moved here from the Presley's house on Audubon Drive where they lived before buying Graceland.
The TV Room
A total of 16 television sets were spread throughout Graceland at the time of Elvis' death. Three of them were wall-mounted in the TV Room, as Elvis liked to watch three sporting events at once. The TV Room also held stereo equipment. A built in jukebox played Elvis' collection of 45s. His album collection was also in this room, including gospel, R&B, country, pop, jazz, classical and opera. The hi-fi equipment in the TV room was wired to speakers throughout Graceland.
A panel near the bar opened to reveal a movie projector which was operated from an ajoining projection room. Elvis had a collection of feature films and home movies.
The room was decorated for the last time in 1974 with predominantly chrome and glass themes. On a wall painted in yellow, white, and blue is a lightning-bolt design which Elvis used in conjunction with his TCB logo.
A vinyl yellow bar was used in entertaining company.
Home Office
The office with metal furniture was typical for the 1950s, was run by Vernon Presley with a staff of secretaries. It was largely used for household buisness and to answer fan mail.
Elvis had both green and red telephones throughout Graceland green for a multi-line system and red for an interdom system.
The Pool Room
Elvis bought the professional quality pool table about the time he bought Graceland. The cue stand is a converted Edwardian-style hat and umbrella stand. The stained glass lightshade over the pool table is Tiffany.
The walls of the Pool Room were decorated in 1974 with more than 350 yards of fabric.
Elvis' favorite games were 8-ball and Rotation a skilled player he more than held his own in competition with friends.
The Jungle Room
The jungle room is an add-on built in the mid-1960s. It started as a screening in porch then was closed in as a den, with paneled walls and carpeted floor and ceiling. They say Elvis spent 30 minutes picking out the furniture for the Jungle Room. The wood and fur armchairs reminded Elvis of Hawaii. A mirror has an exotic feathered frame. The wooden bar is carved in animal and totem figures. Elvis had an indoor waterfall built out of stone.
Because of the Jungle Room's great acoustics, Elvis used it as a reherasal room as well as for recordings. Including much of the material for the album Moody Blue
Trophy Room
Elvis originally stored his gold records in the TV Room. What became known as the Trophy Room was an add on patio, once used for parties and briefly as a "slot car" track toy racing cars. It was redone as a place to hold Elvis' awards and memorabilia and now consists of the Hall of Gold (with cases holding Elvis' gold records) a wall display, known as the time line, tracing Elvis' early years in photos and documents and the Big Room, which contains music and Hollywood memorabilia, Including clothing, scripts, guitars, keys to cities, letters, honorary badges, and guns.
Upstairs at Graceland
The large staircase off the hall under the cut glass chandeleir leads to Graceland's second story. Unfortunatly, Its off limits to visitors. If you could go up there you'd see Elvis' master suite, Including the bedroom, Wardrobe rooms, bath, and office, as well as Lisa Marie's bedroom and bath.
Smokehouse
During most of Elvis' time at Graceland, the historic brick smokehouse, once used to cure meats, was utilized for storage. For a short time, however Elvis and friends used it as a gun firing range, standing outside and firing at a target inside.
Racquetball Building
In 1975 Elvis constructed a 2,240-square foot Racquetball Building. A lower lounge has furniture a piano a half bath and a glass wall for viewing the racquetball court. An upper lounge has furniture, a pinball machine, a bar, and weight lifting equipment. Located upstairs is Elvis' private dressing room, with a shower, bath, Jacuzzi, and massage table, plus a second dressing area for friends (off limits to visitors).
The raquetball Building also has a special display area, with 110 gold, platinum, and multi-platinum albums and singles, posthumously awarded to Elvis on August 12 1992, the 15th anniversary of his death, by RCA and the recording Industry Association of America, In addition, RCA presented a nine-foot etched-glass trophy, recognizine Elvis as "The greatest Recording Artist of all Time"
The Barn
The beautiful wood barn now painted a stately white, was part of Graceland when Elvis bought the property. He used it as a stable for horses and mules.
His favorite horse was a golden palomino quarterhorse named Rising Sun. For a time,,"House of the Rising Sun" was written on the barn door. Another favorite was a Tennessee Walking Horse named bear.
© 1997 alfayez4@aol.com
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