Home Schooled at Graceland

We felt most welcome.

Over Parents Weekend in Memphis, my husband and I went to Graceland. Upon arrival we learned that it was home school day which brought out a big crowd, eager for learning about the King.

The Princess and the King

The business model at Graceland has been elevated to a fine art. Stand in line to get a ticket, which allows you to wait in an area teeming with gift shops. Then wait in the line to board a bus that will take you to the front door of the mansion. For the tour you are provided with an iPad on a strap, and a large headset. John Stamos was our “guide” and walked us through Graceland. Why John Stamos? Have they ever heard his bit in The Aristocrats? For a tour that is completely devoid of scandal and negativity, Stamos seems an odd choice for Graceland. His voice also bears an uncanny likeness to George Clooney’s.  Must be the universal sound of the extremely-good looking male.

Well done Graceland! This recorded package tour is excellent, it lets you go at your own pace which avoids bundling and crowding around a talking head. The information is interesting and the visuals are good. Nothing like the real visuals however…

The striking thing I noticed about the mansion is that Elvis found himself stuck in one of the worst possible decades for style, smack dab in the seventies. With all the money in the world at his disposal Elvis still could not break out of the thought that his “jungle room” would look best in green shag carpet on the floor and ceiling; that faux fur was appealing; that a room covered in 300 yards of busy fabric would be a nice game room; and that a porcelain monkey would be attractive addition to the coffee table in the TV room.

The monkey in the TV room.

But it’s not what’s on the outside that counts, right? It’s what’s on the inside. And Graceland is content rich. The trophy rooms are rich and deep truly astounding and deeply informative. 

Some trophy room!

If you go in knowing nothing about Elvis, you will not come out that way. Elvis’ early history, his gold and platinum records, his film career (31 movies); even his hideous Vegas outfits, and his astonishing good looks are wonders to behold.  And the tour builds to a great crescendo on the “racquetball court” which brings us to the tragic end of Elvis at age 42.

The racquetball court.

From there with many tear-filled eyes, we go to the meditation garden and the final resting place for the Presleys. Poor Jesse, Elvis’ stillborn twin brother; beloved parents Vernon and Gladys who had their own purple parent room at Graceland, The King, and the great survivor, grandmother Minnie May who outlived them all and died at 90.

The Presleys rest.

Elvis was never my guy. By the time I came alive musically I had John, Paul, Ringo and George and I eschewed Elvis. But thanks to Graceland I now understand that Elvis' musical contribution is undeniable.  And he was an amazing looking character. As my husband always reminds me, the Beatles wanted to be Elvis. Hence his regal title. And when many of the Graceland pilgrims got misty- eyed in the racquetball court and at the graveside, I wondered why there wasn’t a Graceland for John Lennon where I could wallow and cry. But Elvis has his; and the millions and millions of fans who come to see him are well served.