You may recall my review of the new Elvis – Direct From Graceland exhibition at Arches London Bridge last year.
It’s the third time a large collection of the personal effects of Elvis Presley have come to London, with around 400 objects on display.
Now, to celebrate the exhibition’s extension to 1 Sep 2024, a new and limited VIP experience has been launched for the Elvis fan who wants to get up close and personal.
VIP Curator Talk
Angie Marchese, curator of Elvis – Direct From Graceland and Vice President of Archives & Exhibits at Graceland, has worked at the organisation for 34 years, starting as a tour guide.
She probably knows more about the life and work of Elvis than he did himself, and has worked closely with his daughter Lisa Marie, and now his granddaughter Riley Keough, to keep the legacy of ‘The King’ alive.
The VIP Curator Talks are currently booking for three more dates in March (tonight, 29, 30, at 6pm). The cost is £200 per person.
They include entry to the exhibition, a free drink, the talk itself with a chance for questions, and a very special White Glove Experience.
Items in the event
For the committed or superfan of Elvis, this is definitely something you should consider, especially the chance to handle the items and hear about some of the stories about them.
Some items in this very exclusive event are unique to this experience and will not be included in the exhibition, so it is your only chance to see them up close.
These include the famous 1975 TCB (“Taking Care of Business”) ring, Elvis’s gold plated (!) social security card, the key to the Stutz Blackhawk car, and a beautiful gold coin necklace.
Coming into the exhibition is the soft leather guitar case seen on the Ed Sulivan Show (6 Jan 1957), the red vest worn in the ’68 Comeback Special, the 1974 Grammy Award for ‘Best Inspirational Performance’ , and the diamond/ruby ring seen in Elvis On Tour (1972).
How was the experience
The usual VIP White Glove Experience (£125pp) allows you to hold the Gold Microphone and Gold International Belt that are a permanent part of the exhibition.
This limited-time VIP experience has a wider range of items available to hold personally, plus the expert insight into each piece. You don’t get the shop credit, but if you are coming to this, you have probably visited before.
The Curator Talk assumes some prior knowledge of Lisa, Riley, Vernon (Elvis’s father), Ginger (girlfriend), Jerry (Jerry Schilling, Memphis Mafia member), Scotty (Moore, member of Elvis’s 1950s band), Wink (Martindale, 50s DJ) and more.
It’s about getting as close to Elvis as you can and getting an insight into the life beyond the fame, bling, and glamour.
It’s an exciting event for those who have already done the other things available associated with this exhibition, with plenty of photo opportunities.
Takeaways from the talk
Vernon Presley kept everything from receipts to labels so everything in the archive can be fully documented and authenticated.
The guitar case & black leather suit (from the ’68 Comeback Special) need to be regularly oiled.
Ginger Alden, Elvis’s last girlfriend, still has the 11 carat diamond from the TCB ring – the ring now has a cubic zirconia replacement.
Elvis wore the decorated leather belts ‘around the house’ – we saw a white one the same as the red one seen in Elvis: That’s The Way It Is rehearsal footage.
Elvis owned more than 70 pairs of sunglasses, and those here are gold-plated, with a slight prescription lens. They will become part of the regular VIP White Glove Experience.
Elvis had long fingers so he could wear big rings but also wore band aids and curled his fingers when performing so fans couldn’t pull them off.
Elvis had size 12 feet, a 28-inch waist in his jumpsuits, and was 6 feet tall.
The gold coin necklace from 1974 was purchased by Elvis and often worn with the Maltese Cross gifted by Linda Thompson, Elvis’s girlfriend from 1972-76.
The Stutz car was the last car Elvis drove, in which he was photographed shortly before his death in 1977.
The TCB ring was placed on his finger in his coffin and removed before it was sealed for burial.
Priscilla Presley, Elvis’s former wife, donated her half of the wedding silver, which had been split at their divorce, to the Graceland Archives.
Lisa Marie Presley’s archive is currently with Graceland and being sorted and catalogued.
The Graceland upstairs shag pile carpets have dry rot and need to be taken up – this was not allowed in Lisa’s lifetime.
Riley Keough has plans to keep Elvis relevant to future generations, building on the success of the Baz Luhrman film, Elvis (2022).
How do I book
You can book now for the VIP Curator Talk at Elvis: Direct From Graceland – tickets here.