“The image is one thing and the human being is another...It's very hard to live up to an image, put it that way.”

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At the end of his life Graceland was red.

 After Priscilla left Elvis and Linda Thompson did the front formal rooms in red, red rugs, red satin drapes and distressed French provincial furniture with blood-red upholstery.

From Inside Graceland While Elvis Was Still There..

Curious what Elvis saw at Graceland? 
Upstairs bedroom window...

The Man Who Counts

Elvis liked this famous speech and had a framed copy of it hanging in his private office upstairs at Graceland:

The Man Who Counts

It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man tumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust, sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions and spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.

- Theodore Roosevelt

Reproduction  is granted, on condition of reference to the source: rareelvispresley.com

E  L  V  I  S '   B  E  D   R  O  O  M

How to get access to Elvis' bedroom at Graceland

Access to EP's bedroom is very high security. The only two people that have unlimited access is Pricilla, and Lisa. NO ONE ELSE.

Jack Soden, Angie Marchese (Archives Manager), the two that you would think have access, have to get permission, in writing, from either Lisa or Priscilla.

Here are the procedures to getting in EP's bedroom, as laid out to me by Angie:

1. Written memo to Jack Soden as to the reason for needing access with an approximate time needed in the room.

2. Memo is approved by Soden, and forwarded to either Priscilla's, or Lisa's reps.

3. Approved or disapproved by either, and sent back to Soden.

4. If approved Soden will retrieve the keys from Graceland Vault area. The door has two combos. One Soden has, and the other is the head of Graceland security (not affiliated with their uniformed guards.)

5. The persons, or persons approved to enter the bedroom are checked for cameras, and have listed on a memo pad, what they are bringing up, or from the room. If photos of an item in the room are made, then each photo is accounted for, and stored by Soden while the process is on.

6. Soden, or one of his security will escort the rep, usually Angie Marchese to the upstairs area and open the two locked doors.

7. The time Angie is in the room is timed, and documented.

As you can see getting access to the upstairs is, as Angie stated "an act of Congress." The upstairs carpet, and such is still the same, but most of the items (clothing, jewellery, perishables) have been removed inventoried, and stored.

Lisa does not stay in the room, her room is still there, but of course more update to her likings. She and Nicolas did not stay in the house, however there was a huge party there in Feb 2001. I saw the limos personally, and heard all the loud music, the scene was unreal! Lisa, and her mom can do what they please up there, and often do, and yes Lisa has had many visitors in her dad’s room.

BATHROOM CIRCA 1966

From Inside Graceland While Elvis Was Still There..