Direct From Graceland – Elvis Exhibition at The Arches

Elvis was a sensation across the world, he took the Memphis Blues of the African Americans and took it mainstream for everyone and, yet he kept it real, loving his mum, family and country. As you go into the exhibition you can see Elvis’ gold plated telephone from his bedroom, but also his Hai Karate and Brut aftershave. He was both extraordinary and, in his private life, ordinary and this exhibition helps us to get closer to Elvis the Superstar and Elvis the real man.

The Exhibition starts with Elvis’ parents and humble origins. His father worked four jobs to support the family and we are able to see a 1950s poodle motif handbag and velvet dress owned by his mother. A report on Elvis himself records that while “flashily dressed” and a “playboy type” he has worked hard for the last three summers and wants a job dealing with people.

We are taken through the early history with his manager and Sun Records documenting his meteoric rise with a chance to see gold records and rare vinyl. Money allowed him to get a better house for his family, Graceland, and Elvis’s personal house keys are on display. He spent his monies to take care of his family as he had promised before he made it. Also on display is an immaculate red MG sports car which he gave to his secretary showing he was generous also to staff.

His clothes in his ordinary life were surprisingly plain albeit with a few flourishes. His Karate gear is on display with Elvis Presley embroidered on the belt. I have been to Graceland and there were a lot of 70s style ornaments such as black and yellow glass clowns there. The only suggestion of that in this exhibition is a large coloured statue of Jesus which would be too gaudy for modern tastes. His wooden jewellery box with brass inlay which is on display empty  is surprisingly plain given the contents that is must have once displayed. Elvis’ onyx and diamond encrusted medallion bearing his name and a large gold metal belt with diamonds, rubies and sapphires are on display in another case. Elvis was a performer and he understood the need to stun on stage.

In this regard, and my favourite part of the exhibition, there is a large display of Elvis’s Stage jumpsuits and wide belts covered in studs and stones, sometimes precious, including the iconic American Eagle and a gorgeous undulating dragon. All the items in the exhibition are immaculate. How did Elvis keep his stage constumes so white? They look brand new. When I visited Graceland more than a decade ago there were no clothes on display other than some of Elvis’ army gear. Now apparently they have hundreds of stage suits and, even a hotel, as the Estate has acquired land around the surprisingly small original house and grounds. But if you can’t get there visiting this exhibition is a great start.

When I was a kid I watched all of Elvis’ films which were on every day in the School summer holidays and, in the exhibition, there is a whole section devoted to his Hollywood career including the iconic ‘Jailhouse Rock’.

I loved this exhibition. While the superstardom of Elvis is celebrated, his human qualities shine right through from the traces of Brylcream still evident on his comb, his dog eared wallet with a picture of himself with Lisa Marie as a child, to a record of Lisa Marie’s footprints from when she was born.

Dawn Osborne