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The late pop star Elvis Presley continues to be one of the most iconic names in entertainment history. The singer was a memorable part of the late actress Teri Garr’s career, who appeared as a dancer in multiple films of the King of Rock and Roll.

Elvis Presley in Charro! | Credit: National General Pictures

Garr, who would later become known for her work in movies like Tootsie, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and Young Frankenstein, once reflected on working in Presley’s movies, candidly stating it’s no secret that his movies were bad.

Teri Garr’s Candid Reflection on Elvis Presley’s Movies

After starting her career as a dancer in the 1960s, Teri Garr started landing opportunities in Hollywood and was soon starring as a dancer in a string of Elvis Presley movies, including Fun in Acapulco, Kissin’ Cousins, Viva Las Vegas, Roustabout, and Clambake.

Viva Las Vegas...

Teri Garr, who died on Oct. 29 at 79, was known for her roles in movies such as Tootsie, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and Young Frankenstein. But before she became a leading lady, she spent years as a bit player, landing small parts in various TV shows and movies throughout the 1960s. That included a string of appearances as a dancer in Elvis Presley movies, which she later admitted were not exactly Oscar material.

Teri Garr recalled working as a dancer in Elvis Presley movies Teri Garr | Stanley Bielecki Movie Collection/Getty Images

Garr trained as a dancer and landed a spot in the touring company of West Side Story when she was a teenager. In the early 1960s, she began working in Hollywood, appearing as a dancer in a string of Elvis Presley’s movies, including Fun in Acapulco, Kissin’ Cousins, Viva Las Vegas, Roustabout, and Clambake.

In a...

An auction house that sells Elvis Presley memorabilia, and also has ties to Priscilla Presley, has come under fire by Graceland executives questioning the authenticity of some of its items.

Joel Weinshanker, a managing partner of Elvis Presley Enterprises, recently expressed his concerns to NBC News over Gws Auctions, the auction house owned by Brigitte Kruse — who is also one of four people named in Priscilla’s lawsuit filed earlier this week alleging financial elder abuse.

Weinshanker told the outlet he first became suspicious of the auction house when he noticed a black grommet jacket, said to be worn by the legendary singer in 1972, listed for sale. However, he claimed the jacket was hanging in Graceland’s private collection.

“We know there was only one made, and guess what? We have it in our archives,” Weinshanker said. NBC News noted that it visited Elvis’ estate in Memphis and saw the jacket and its receipt.

When Elvis Presley went to the recording studio, filmed a movie, or took a vacation, his group of friends followed. They made up his entourage and did a variety of jobs for him, including simply providing him with company. They weren’t always supportive, though. When Elvis expressed interest in filmmaking, his friends rolled their eyes.

Elvis Presley’s friends didn’t care much about his film career

In 1964, Elvis started work on the film Roustabout. When he got to set, his entourage was with him. The film’s director, John Rich, did not appreciate their presence and tried to keep them away from the action. Still, they hung around the set, which Rich believed was a detriment to Elvis.

“I’m not one for fraternizing too much with the group around the players, but they were around quite a bit, and you couldn’t ignore them,” he said in...

All throughout his life, Elvis Presley sought a higher purpose and meaning. He turned to spiritual books and religious leaders for guidance but never seemed to reach the answers he was hoping to find. One religious leader he turned to was Daya Mata, the president of the Self-Realization Fellowship/Yogoda Satsanga Society of India. In their conversation, Elvis vented about some of the people in his life.

Elvis Presley discussed his entourage with a religious leader

When Elvis met with Daya Mata, she felt an immediate empathy toward him.

“He had done some reading. He was sinking,” she said in the book Careless Love: The Unmaking of Elvis Presley by Peter Guralnick. “Here was someone who had everything the world could offer, [but] it didn’t satisfy him. There was still an emptiness, and the only way to fill it was to turn within.”

(L-r, standing) Billy Smith, Bill Morris, Lamar Fike,...

It’s hard to think Elvis Presley‘s Graceland home might not be the iconic historical spot it remains today if his father, Vernon Presley, had his say. The Presley family might have settled in California rather than Memphis if the stately home hadn’t appeared on the market at the right time.

Elvis Presley’s home base could have been in California

According to a story published by The Dispatch, Elvis Presley’s father, Vernon Presley, would have liked to settle in California. Elvis worked so much in the Sunshine State that putting permanent roots down there made sense.

The Presley family lived on Audubon Drive in Memphis, but fans regularly besieged the home. The family needed privacy. Vernon reportedly was eyeing a move to the West Coast, as author Peter Guralnick wrote in the biography Last Train to Memphis.

However, a chance meeting changed all that. Virginia Grant,...

Some of Elvis Presley’s closest friends were members of his entourage. They traveled with him, served as bodyguards, and assisted him in times of need. In return, Elvis paid them and showered them with lavish gifts. While one of his longtime friends said this was a benefit of knowing Elvis, it was also something of a curse.

Elvis’ friend said the singer was both a blessing and a curse to know

Elvis watched a good deal of television in his lifetime. One of his favorite programs was a show called The Millionaire.

“Elvis was crazy about a TV show … called The Millionaire,” his friend Joe Esposito said, per the book Careless Love: The Unmaking of Elvis Presley by Peter Guralnick. “Each week an ordinary person with a problem answered a knock at his door to find a messenger in a suit who announced that he was presenting the person...

Upon entering Elvis Presley‘s Graceland home, one of the most stunning visuals is turning to the right, standing at the doorway to the living room, and looking deep into the music room. Something about those two rooms gives Presley fans a deep insight into how he lived and enjoyed his private time at the home. One of the most striking elements of the music room is its pristine white piano. That instrument was is important to Presley’s legacy and has a mythic story.

The real reason Elvis Presley’s Music Room piano is so essential to his legacy

An official YouTube video hosted by Graceland’s VP of Archives and Exhibits, Angie Marchese, focused on the piano’s history and why it is important to the King of Rock and Roll’s legacy. The piano has become an integral part of Elvis Presley’s Graceland home.

The entertainer...

Elvis Presley‘s Graceland home has become as iconic as the entertainer himself. The Memphis estate draws upwards of half a million people yearly to tour the residence and its expansive grounds. In 1957, Presley paid a considerable sum for the mansion. How much did he pay for Graceland? What is it worth today?

Elvis Presley paid 20 times more than the average yearly income for Graceland

According to the Census, the average median income for a home in 1957 was around $5,000. Elvis Presley paid 20 times more than that for Graceland when he put down $1,000 collateral on a purchase price of $102,5000.

Presley reportedly left it up to his parents, Vernon and Gladys, to find the family home with more property for both privacy and security. The family previously lived at 1034 Audobon Drive, and the property was easily accessible to fans.

Subsequently, Graceland was presented as an option for the family residence via real estate agent Virginia Grant,...

Elvis Presley’s music carried him to unprecedented levels of fame and success. He had 18 songs go to No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 and his albums sold rapidly. Just a few short years before his ascension to stardom, though, few people knew he liked to sing. Elvis said he even failed his music class in school.

Very few people Elvis knew loved music

Elvis grew up singing in church and around his home, but he didn’t speak of his hobby at school. He was quiet, so few of his peers knew much about him.

“I first realized that I could sing at about two years of age,” he said, per the book Careless Love: The Unmaking of Elvis Presley by Peter Guralnick, later adding, “People would listen to me around the housing project where I lived, [but at school] nobody knew I sang.”

Elvis Presley | Earl leaf/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images...

In the years of Priscilla Presley’s relationship with Elvis Presley, she dealt with constant, well-placed concerns about his infidelity. When they first started dating, Elvis’ girlfriend, Anita Wood, had the same concerns. She was aware that Elvis had met someone in Germany, and that this girl was sending letters to her boyfriend. Elvis told her that she had nothing to worry about, though.

Elvis told Anita Wood that Priscilla Presley shouldn’t concern her

When Elvis left for Germany with the army, he was dating Wood. They continued their relationship when he returned to the United States, after he met and began pursuing Priscilla. Wood discovered this after finding a letter from Priscilla.

“In the letter there was something to the effect of — ‘You need to call my daddy and talk him into letting me come over. I want to come really bad,’” Wood recalled, per the book Careless...

Elvis Presley’s career brought him immense wealth, but he spent money nearly as quickly as he earned it. He racked up expenses for fleeting hobbies and gifted friends, family members, and even strangers lavish presents. Elvis also turned his generosity on his fans. During one concert, he gave away so much expensive jewelry that he embarrassed his jeweler. This didn’t concern him much, though.

Elvis alarmed his jeweler when he gave a large amount of money to an audience

In the 1970s, Elvis thought the crowd at one show was a little too quiet. To win them over — and pitch them into the frenzy at which he liked his audiences to operate — he brought his jeweler onstage. Elvis began reaching into the case and handing out the expensive items inside, much to his jeweler’s horror.

“He started taking pieces of jewelry out of the case and going...

Elvis Presley’s dad, Vernon, was his son’s close confidante for years, dealing with the singer’s excessive spending, constantly present entourage, and childlike sense of fun. The last of these could have seriously injured Vernon. Each year, Elvis and his entourage had fireworks wars. Without realizing it, Vernon stepped into the middle of one.

Elvis could have hurt his dad with explosives

Each New Year’s Eve and Fourth of July, Elvis bought fireworks to set off at Graceland. Typically, he and his entourage would fire them at each other as if in battle. Elvis bought many supplies for these “fireworks wars,” including small explosive pellets that, unfortunately, looked a lot like M&Ms.

“They were things that you threw on the ground and they would explode. Or you would put them under someone’s feet, and when they stamped on them, they would explode,” bodyguard Red West...

In Elvis Presley’s early years of fame, he used his money to purchase things like go-karts, fireworks, and roller skates. Some people close to him wondered if he was using his new wealth to enjoy experiences he missed out on as a child. He could be quite reckless with his new toys, though. His bodyguard recalled the injuries everyone got from fireworks, including a time Elvis nearly blew his head off.

Elvis Presley nearly hurt himself while using fireworks

Every year, Elvis purchased fireworks to set off at Graceland on New Year’s Eve and the Fourth of July.

“When Elvis first took over Graceland there was a ritual that every New Year and every July Fourth, he would put on these fireworks displays,” bodyguard Red West said in the book Elvis: What Happened? by Steve Dunleavy. “Actually, they weren’t so much displays as they were fireworks wars.

Elvis Presley’s mother died shortly before the father of his friend, Red West. Both men returned to Memphis to mourn their parents. West said that the loss of Gladys Presley was extremely hard on Elvis given the closeness of their relationship. Still, Elvis made a point to be there to support West in his grief.

Elvis Presley supported his friend not long after his mother Gladys died

While Elvis was in basic training, he received word from his father that his mother’s health had taken a sharp downturn. He returned to Memphis to see her but, shortly after his arrival, she died of a heart attack.

West, who knew the Presley family well, tried to take emergency leave to pay his respects. While his commanding officer did not approve this, West soon learned that his father was ill. His commanding officer granted him emergency leave and, when he arrived in Memphis,...

Elvis Presley‘s “Don’t Cry Daddy” is one of the most moving ballads of his comeback era, up there with “Kentucky Rain” and “Always on My Mind.” The song’s famous writer said that the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll sang the song for his father, Vernon Presley. In a weird career move, the tune was released alongside another song with a completely different tone and style.

Elvis Presley’s ‘Don’t Cry Daddy’ was written by a country star

Mac Davis was a country singer most known for his hit “Baby, Don’t Get Hooked on Me.” He also wrote tunes for other artists. The tracks he co-wrote included Bruno Mars’ “Young Girls,” Avicii’s “Addicted to You,” Weezer’s “Time Flies,” and Elvis’ “Don’t Cry Daddy.”

During an interview posted to Elvis Information Network, Davis remembered introducing “Don’t Cry Daddy” to the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll.

In 1958, Elvis Presley’s mother, Gladys Presley, died of a heart attack. Elvis and Gladys shared a uniquely close relationship, and her death came as a terrible blow to the young singer. According to those who knew him, Gladys’ death seemed to fundamentally change Elvis as a person. His bodyguard Red West believed Elvis’ life may have taken a completely different direction if Gladys hadn’t died.

Elvis Presley’s life changed after his mother’s death

In the summer of 1958, Gladys Presley’s health took a downturn. Doctors discovered she had hepatitis and, after a hospital stay, she died. This came as a horrible shock to Elvis. He and Gladys had been extremely close in her lifetime, with both of them even believing they shared a psychic connection.

Gladys, Elvis, and Vernon Presley | Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

In the years after Gladys’ death, Elvis changed greatly. While this...

Elvis Presley and his mother, Gladys, had a strikingly close relationship. Even Priscilla Presley, Elvis’ only wife, believed Gladys was the true love of his life. Gladys was extremely protective of Elvis and bristled against the criticisms he faced early in his career. Here’s what she said to people who suggested Elvis’ act was vulgar.

Elvis’ mother bristled against criticism of her son

Elvis was his parents’ sole child, and his mother was quite protective of him. He never spent a night away from home until he was an adult, and both mother and son believed they shared a psychic connection.

According to Priscilla Presley, Gladys protected Elvis against all forms of criticism.

“But from the beginning Elvis had insisted: ‘I just want to read positive reviews. I don’t want to hear any negativity.’ As a teenager he’d been shielded by Gladys from criticism,” Priscilla wrote in her book Elvis and Me.

One of Elvis Presley’s longtime friends and bodyguards got to know the singer’s family well over the years. West worked as Elvis’ bodyguard long before the singer had the need or means to hire more people. His parents were glad about this. According to West, they seemed to have the psychic ability to tell when Elvis was in trouble. Elvis shared similar abilities.

Elvis’ friend and bodyguard thought the Presley family had psychic power

West began working with Elvis early in his career. He grew used to dragging Elvis out of mobs of fans and other sticky situations. He also grew used to Elvis’ mother’s seemingly psychic ability to know when her son was in danger.

“There was always something very eerie about the things she would say like she was psychic or something like it,” West said in the book Elvis: What Happened? by Steve Dunleavy.

Elvis Presley spent his 41st birthday upset with his entourage. He took his group of friends and employees to Colorado for a ski trip and spent much of their time together in a miserable mood. After a disappointing birthday celebration, he scolded his friends. One bodyguard said he behaved like a spoiled child.

Elvis Presley spent 1 birthday terrorizing his entourage

After a draining run of performances, Elvis brought his entourage to Colorado for what everyone hoped would be a relaxing vacation. Instead, the trip was incredibly stressful.

“He took us to Vail, Colorado, for what he said was going to be a dream vacation,” bodyguard Sonny West said in the book Elvis: What Happened? by Steve Dunleavy. “Well, it was a nightmare. He was heavy into pills.”

(L-r, standing) Billy Smith, former sheriff Bill Morris, Lamar Fike, Jerry Schilling, Sheriff Roy Nixon, Vernon Presley, Charlie Hodge, Sonny West, George Klein,...

Visitors to Elvis Presley‘s Graceland home can see how the King of Rock and Roll lived. Entering the Memphis abode allows fans a glimpse into his personal history as they tour some of the home’s most iconic rooms. However, the upstairs remains off-limits to visitors and most staff. Only one person is allowed to maintain and preserve Presley’s bedroom; here are the details.

The 1 person allowed to preserve and maintain Elvis Presley’s Graceland bedroom

Elvis Presley’s Graceland has hundreds of employees working throughout the year. The home’s official website states that 350 people are on staff annually. That number grows to 450 during peak season.

Graceland jobs include ground maintenance, security, tour guides, bus drivers, sales representatives, and many behind-the-scenes jobs that keep the home operational for the millions of visitors who arrive yearly.

But even with that large number of staff roles, only one person...

While Elvis Presley did not seem egotistical in the early years of his career, his bodyguards said he became big-headed as time passed. Their once polite, easygoing boss became demanding and prone to anger. By the 1970s, everyone had to be very careful with the way they behaved around the singer. They shared why this was so sad to see.

Elvis began to seem big-headed as the years went by

While Elvis always had a bit of a temper, Elvis’ bodyguards rarely saw it in their early years with the performer. By the 1970s, though, they were well acquainted with his fits of rage.

“At first, man, we would only see flashes of those rages. But later on it was terrible,” his bodyguard Sonny West said in the book Elvis: What Happened? by Steve Dunleavy. “He would go into rages when things didn’t go his way. He would wreck...

Elvis Presley and his mom, Gladys Presley, were preternaturally close. Gladys would have done anything for her son, and Elvis did not like to be far from her. According to Elvis’ friend and future bodyguard, Red West, Gladys was more than just a mother to Elvis. When he referred to his family, he spoke only of her.

Elvis Presley ‘worshiped’ his mom

Elvis spent his childhood in his mother’s line of sight. He never spent the night away from his family’s home and Gladys was a constant companion.

“She just never let me out of her sight,” he said, per the book Elvis: What Happened? by Steve Dunleavy. “I used to get annoyed when I was little, but I later realized it was all because she loved me so much.”

Elvis Presley and his parents | Bettmann/Contributor via Getty

Gladys was the most important person in the early years of Elvis’ life.

Elvis Presley’s friends were often also his employees. The members of his entourage provided Elvis with company, but also filled roles such as road manager or security guard. They were willing to do whatever Elvis asked of them, but he wasn’t always an easy person to have as a boss or a friend. Elvis often flew into fits of rage that verged on violence. Afterward, he always tried to find a way to make it up to the target of his anger.

Elvis gave his friends elaborate gifts after flying into a rage with them

When someone did something nice for Elvis, he rarely said thank you. Instead, he would find them gifts as a way of saying thank you. These presents were typically expensive and elaborate.

“He likes to watch your reaction when he gives you something, but he doesn’t harp on it,” his bodyguard Red West...

Elvis Presley rarely went anywhere without his entourage. They traveled with him, protected him, and kept his nocturnal schedule. They also had to put up with his ever-changing moods. Elvis sometimes flew into rages, fired his gun at the television, and made outrageous demands. All of this seemed normal to his entourage until they talked to people outside of Elvis’ circle.

Elvis’ entourage realized they were not living normal lives

Elvis typically went to bed in the early morning, slept for roughly 14 hours, and woke up in the late afternoon. When he arose, he was often groggy and irritable, which meant everyone around him had to be on high alert. If he saw something he didn’t like on television while he ate his breakfast, he was likely to fire his gun at the screen.

The members of his entourage grew used to this behavior, even teasing Elvis about it.

Elvis Presley was surrounded by family when Priscilla Presley moved into Graceland. The Memphis Mafia and their families were ever-present within Graceland. His cousin Danny Smith, son of Billy Smith, had a front-row seat to life behind the mansion’s gates. In a new video, he reveals if Elvis’ mother, Gladys Presley, would have liked Priscilla Presley enough to allow Elvis to marry her.

Would Elvis Presley’s mother, Gladys, have liked Priscilla Presley enough for Elvis to marry her?

In a video posted to his YouTube channel Memphis Mafia Kid, Danny Smith answered a viewer question regarding Elvis Presley and Priscilla Presley’s relationship. A fan asked if Smith believed Gladys Presley would have liked Priscilla Presley.

Smith explained, “When I saw this question, I had my thoughts. From all the stories and stuff that I heard about Aunt Gladys.”

He continued, “However, I talked to Daddy and Momma about it.

Elvis Presley expected his entourage to do everything he asked them to at any time of day. He called them in the dead of night and expected them to go to him at the drop of a hat. He even pushed for them to do drugs with him. If anyone seemed hesitant, he watched them to ensure they swallowed whatever he wanted them to take.

Elvis Presley wanted his entourage to take drugs with him

Elvis Presley had many long days and kept nocturnal hours. In order to keep up with him, his bodyguards often had to take the same drugs Elvis used.

“There was no other way we could keep up with him,” bodyguard Sonny West said in the book Elvis: What Happened? “He would never get any sleep. Then comes six in the morning for an early call, and we would be beat. So he would give us...

Many people who got to know Elvis Presley found the constant presence of his entourage off-putting. Other celebrities found it odd that he was never alone, and members of his own band found the group intimidating. While Priscilla Presley liked the entourage, she didn’t appreciate the fact that their constant presence left her practically no alone time with her husband. The entourage sensed her frustration and believed she had it out for them.

Elvis’ entourage saw Priscilla Presley as a threat to them

After their wedding, Elvis and Priscilla left for their honeymoon at their Mississippi ranch home. They were not alone; several other members of the entourage were on the property with them. Priscilla, understandably, found it frustrating to share her honeymoon with her new husband’s friends. In turn, they blamed her for changing the dynamic of their group.

“[She was] conspiring with Vernon [Presley] to find a way to...

When Elvis Presley first burst onto the music scene, no other performer in history was like him. He became a sensation for his blues-based rock music and sexy onstage moves. However, the King of Rock and Roll claimed he was “tame” despite public uproar. He claimed, “All I did was just jiggle.”

Elvis Presley’s sexy moves caused an uproar in 1959

In the late 1950s, singers and musicians did little more than stand still when they performed for fans. There was very little suggestive movement during their concerts.

However, when Elvis Presley burst onto the music scene, he changed the trajectory for other performers coming after him. He moved his body to the melodies and sent fans into a frenzy as he swirled his hips, shook his backside, and thrust his pelvis toward the crowd.

Looking back on those earlier days in a 1972 press conference, Elvis reflected on how risque he once was.

One of Elvis Presley’s closest friends was Jerry Schilling, whom he met when they were both young. Schilling was a key member of Elvis’ entourage and was present for some of the most significant moments in Elvis’ life. Despite the closeness of their relationship, though, Elvis could sometimes push Schilling away. After an argument about rental houses, Schilling decided he needed time apart from the musician. He admitted that this wasn’t easy.

Elvis Presley’s friend said it was difficult to separate himself from the musician’s world

In early 1976, Elvis took his friends on a ski trip in Colorado. At the end of their rental period, he told Schilling to find them a new place to stay so they could extend their vacation. After three days of tireless work, Schilling brought everyone to their new accommodations. As he tried to fall asleep, though, Elvis called him and...

Elvis Presley’s manager, Colonel Tom Parker, was a controversial figure. While he helped launch Elvis’ career, he also stifled him in some ways. He controlled many aspects of Elvis’ life, including the dynamic of his entourage. After Elvis hurt himself in a fall, Parker stepped in. The way he handled the entourage left many of them frustrated.

Colonel Tom Parker laid down the law with Elvis Presley’s entourage

In the late 1960s, Elvis’ road manager, Joe Esposito, picked up the musician to go to the studio and noticed that he seemed unsteady on his feet. Elvis admitted that he’d fallen and hit his head on the bathtub, which Esposito believed was the fault of all the pills he was taking.

When Parker learned that Elvis had a concussion, he lashed out at the entourage, asking how they could have let this happen. Two days later, he called...

Elvis Presley‘s romantic history with Priscilla Presley began in the late 1950s and continued through the early 1970s. However, he appeared to rewrite history in a classic Graceland interview shortly after his Army release. Elvis seemed to recall his relationship with Priscilla in Germany to be shorter in time than it really was. Here are the details.

Elvis Presley discussed his relationship with Prisiclla in the first interview after his Army discharge

In 1960, Elvis Presley walked from the back of Graceland down a small path to a freestanding structure in the home’s backyard. That was his father, Vernon Presley’s office, where he gave his first full-length interview after his discharge from the US Army.

There, Elvis discussed leaving the Army behind, his plans for the future, and his romantic relationships. It was then he referenced Priscilla without mentioning her by name.

Elvis sat in Vernon’s chair...

Elvis Presley loved Christmas. Every year, he decked out his home of Graceland for the holidays and bought lavish gifts for his loved ones. The celebratory vibe continued into the new year, with Christmas decorations staying up until Jan. 8 – the King’s birthday. Those who were lucky enough to know Elvis said celebrating the holidays with him was an experience they’ll never forget.

Graceland was a ‘wonderland’ at Christmas Elvis Presley Christmas cards | Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

When Elvis returned home to Graceland for the holidays, he worked hard to create a feeling of Christmas magic. Every year, he would put up multiple trees, trade his home’s signature blue drapes for bright red ones, and line the driveway with sparkling blue lights. There was also a life-size manger and a large lawn sign reading, “Merry Christmas to All – Elvis.”

“Golly. it was almost like living in a fantasy world.

On Christmas in 1975, Elvis Presley took his friends and family up into his private jet. He had been upset all Christmas Eve, and his mood took an even darker turn the next day. His Aunt Delta began insulting his entourage, and Elvis did not handle it well. Even hours afterward, his friend said Elvis was so angry that he wanted to kick her out of Graceland.

Elvis Presley was not happy with his aunt on Christmas

Elvis spent much of Christmas Eve isolated in his bedroom after having a bad dream. In it, he dreamt that everyone who worked for him didn’t care about him for any reason “other than for their salary checks.”

The next day, he took everyone up in his jet, the Lisa Marie, and handed out gifts to his family and entourage. Suddenly, Delta began insulting everyone in his entourage, touching on the same fears Elvis had in his dream.

Elvis Presley adored the Christmas holiday season. It was a time for fun, excitement, family caroling, and over-the-top decorating. It was a month when Elvis relaxed and enjoyed his time off the road and in the recording studio. Graceland’s Christmas decorations typically remain until the first week of January. However, one year, Elvis’ dad, Vernon, left the family Christmas tree up until spring for one sweet reason.

Graceland’s Christmas decorations were important to Elvis Presley

Elvis Presley purchased Graceland, a 13.8-acre estate, for just over $100,000 in 1957. When he made the purchase, Presley was busy working on his second motion picture, Loving You.

Elvis placed a $1,000 deposit down as collateral. He quickly sought to secure the property with a stone wall and the home’s infamous music gates.

His first Christmas at Graceland was when Elvis began his over-the-top decorating. He purchased several large lawn decorations for the front...

In the middle of a ski trip, Elvis Presley’s friend, Jerry Schilling, grew frustrated with him. The musician had made a series of nonsensical demands and refused to explain them. When confronted about this, Elvis grew angry. Though he didn’t say anything to Schilling’s face, Elvis threatened to shoot him for saying anything.

Elvis Presley threatened violence against a friend

After their rental period on a ski trip ended, Elvis decided he wanted to extend the vacation. He instructed Schilling to find them new accommodations, which he did despite the last-minute notice. Once they had all settled into the new rental homes, an exhausted Schilling went to bed. At three in the morning, though, Elvis called Schilling to tell him he wanted to switch houses.

“He said he was coming over, so I moved into the small bedroom to give him the master bedroom,” Schilling said in...

Elvis Presley spent most of his adult life surrounded by his Memphis Mafia, a group of friends and employees who did everything with him. They followed Elvis on tour, lived at Graceland, and took vacations with him. While these men were all dedicated to the musician, they could still find him frustrating. One of his close friends, Jerry Schilling, recalled leaving a trip early after Elvis pushed him too far.

Elvis Presley made nonsensical demands of a friend

After performing an exhausting series of concerts, Elvis took an 18-person group to Colorado for a ski trip. He celebrated his 41st birthday and rode around on a snowmobile while everyone skied. Though the group was tired and frustrated, Elvis announced he wanted to extend the trip at the end of the rental period.

Schilling got to work finding them new accommodations at the last minute. When he finally did and got everyone settled in,...

Elvis Presley’s father, Vernon, was devastated by the death of his son. Though Vernon and others in Elvis’ life had been worried about him, his death still came as a shock. Vernon was deep in mourning and understood that many fans were, too. According to Graceland maid Nancy Rooks, Vernon Presley felt an obligation to Elvis’ fans in the days after his death.

Elvis’ father, Vernon, wanted to do something for fans after his son’s death

Ahead of Elvis’ funeral service, Vernon decided to host a public viewing of his body at Graceland. He opened the doors for thousands of fans to come pay their respects. While he felt this was the right move, Graceland security disagreed.

“Secretly they felt they needed to let Vernon know that it was not such a good idea to allow thousands of shocked and emotional fans to not only get onto the grounds of Graceland,...

Elvis Presley had a close relationship with his grandmother, Dodger, both as a child and an adult. He spent many days at her home when he was growing up, and she moved into Graceland with him after fame. He did not have the same type of relationship with his grandfather. Elvis used to avoid his grandfather throughout his childhood.

Elvis felt uncomfortable around his grandfather when he was a child

When Elvis was a child in Tupelo, Mississippi, he and his parents lived close to his grandparents. Any time he felt angry with his mother, he stormed over to his grandparents’ house.

“He was so cute,” Dodger said, per the book Inside Graceland: Elvis’ Maid Remembers by Graceland maid Nancy Rooks. “He used to get mad at Gladys for whatever reason and would walk over to my house. I always knew he was upset because he would be carrying some...

Elvis Presley rarely went anywhere without his entourage, a group of friends and employees who catered to his needs. Elvis was generous to his entourage, but he also had a temper. Everyone in his life also knew he was incredibly insecure. Elvis once witnessed two members of his entourage talking and assumed they were speaking poorly about him. When they wouldn’t admit to it, he threatened violence.

Elvis threatened his friend when he thought he was talking about him

One night, Elvis and his entourage had women over, and Elvis flirted with two different people.

“We had all been drinking a bit, so had Elvis,” his friend and bodyguard Sonny West said, per the book Careless Love: The Unmaking of Elvis Presley by Peter Guralnick. “Tuesday [Weld] and Elvis are on the couch and I’m talking to this girl. Elvis leans over and kisses her and says, ‘You’re really cute.

Elvis Presley‘s Graceland home in Memphis, Tennessee, is beautiful any time of year. However, it really comes alive during Christmastime. It was the King of Rock and Roll’s favorite holiday, and he spared no expense when decorating his home. However, did Elvis ever put up Graceland’s now-iconic Christmas decorations? His cousin Danny Smith weighs in.

Did Elvis Presley decorate Graceland for Christmas?

Christmas was the one time of year that Elvis Presley spared no expense to celebrate. He enjoyed giving gifts, the religious spirit of the holiday, and, of course, all the lights and sparkle that went with it.

In a video posted to his Memphis Mafia Kid YouTube channel, Elvis’ cousin Danny Smith discussed his love for the festive holiday season. He revealed if Elvis participated in decorating his beloved home for Christmas.

“The Memphis Mafia did not help with the decorations for Christmas,” Smith revealed.

Elvis Presley’s father, Vernon, worried that many people in his son’s life were taking advantage of him, including his fiancée, Ginger Alden. According to Graceland maid and cook Nancy Rooks, Vernon had never been fond of Alden. On the day Elvis died, Vernon told her she was no longer welcome at Graceland.

Vernon Presley clashed with Ginger Alden on the day Elvis died

In Aug. 1977, Alden woke up and realized Elvis was not in bed beside her. Though she wasn’t immediately concerned, she investigated and found Elvis unresponsive on the bathroom floor.

After paramedics rushed Elvis to the hospital, a devastated Vernon waited for news at Graceland. Alden was also waiting at the house, which Vernon evidently did not like.

Ginger Alden | Anwar Hussein/Getty Images

“Later that day, as I was standing, again, at the bottom of the stairs, Vernon was walking by as Ginger was coming down the stairs.

Toward the end of his life, Elvis Presley entered into a relationship with actor and model Ginger Alden. Though he proposed to her, their romance had its fair share of problems. Alden and Elvis fought often, and his family and staff never warmed to her. Elvis even complained about his new relationship with his ex-wife, Priscilla Presley. According to Elvis’ cook and maid, Nancy Rooks, it didn’t seem likely that the pair would ever tie the knot.

Elvis Presley didn’t seem ready to marry Ginger Alden

After Elvis’ death, Vernon Presley kicked Alden out of Graceland. When she left, Rooks noted that she only took a small overnight bag with her. Unlike Elvis’ past girlfriends, Alden had never moved into Graceland. This led Rooks and others to believe that the relationship wasn’t as serious as the proposal made it seem.

“A lot of people have asked me...

Elvis Presley was close with his father, Vernon, but he relied more on his entourage. The musician rarely went anywhere without his friends and employees. Even Priscilla Presley said she hadn’t married a man; she’d married a group of people. Vernon Presley never fully trusted these men, though. He believed that Elvis’ entourage was taking advantage of him.

Elvis’ father thought the musician’s entourage was taking advantage of him

Elvis’ entourage was made up of his friends, but he relied on them and paid them for their work. Priscilla admitted that the salary was not very high, but Elvis made up for it in other ways.

“They’d ask him if he could help them out with a down payment on a house or the first and last months’ payments on an apartment,” Priscilla wrote in her book Elvis and Me. “Elvis always came through for them,...

Elvis Presley‘s cousin Danny Smith disputes Prisiclla Presley’s tearful truth shared during a new interview with Piers Morgan. Smith has a different opinion about Priscilla’s comments regarding Lisa Marie Presley and other aspects of life with Elvis Presley at Graceland.

Elvis Presley’s cousin sets the record straight about his feelings regarding Priscilla Presley’s comments

On his YouTube channel, Memphis Mafia Kid, Danny Smith discusses Priscilla Presley’s commentary to Piers Morgan and gives his point of view regarding it. Here’s what he had to say.

“Some of the going over about how close her and Lisa Marie were, there’s no doubt in my mind,” Smith said. “They were opposites.”

He continued, “They disagreed a whole lot. Now, that was from way back.”

“Nothing I’m fixing to tell you, Lisa didn’t already say herself. Lisa, if she would have had her way,...

Like many other celebrities, Elvis Presley had an entourage. They toured with him, lived with him, and served as dedicated employees. According to the other people in Elvis’ life, they were a little too devoted to the musician. One of Elvis’ backup singers said there was always a level of tension in the room when Elvis’ entourage was around. It wasn’t always clear if Elvis was aware of this.

Elvis’ entourage guarded him closely

Elvis’ piano player, Glen D. Hardin, described the entourage as a “silly boys’ club … Just one big party.” Others viewed it differently, though. Many members of the entourage had known Elvis for years and were willing to defend him by any means necessary. As a result, the musician began receiving assault and battery charges.

Though Elvis wanted them to protect him against assassination attempts, they also kept people in Elvis’ band away from him. Elvis...

Image Source: Getty / Charley Gallay

In the past two years, Priscilla Presley's life has been back in the spotlight. Between 2022 and 2023, not one but two films were made with Elvis Presley as the subject: Baz Luhrmann's Oscar-winning "Elvis" and Sophia Coppola's "Priscilla" - the latter of which is based on Priscilla's 1985 memoir, "Elvis and Me." The film stars Jacob Elordi as the King of Rock and Roll, with Cailee Spaeny portraying Priscilla from ages 14 to 27, the ages she was romantically involved with Elvis. "Priscilla" is a personal and intimate look at Presley's early relationship with and marriage to Elvis, which has often been overshadowed by the late singer's fame. "It's very difficult to sit and watch a film about you, about your life, about your love," Priscilla said during a September press conference at the Venice Film Festival "Priscilla" premiere (via Variety). "Sofia did an amazing job.

Elvis Presley’s entourage worked for him, but each of them was also a friend. He’d met some of them as children, meaning they had close relationships. He spent nearly all his time with his entourage and gave them presents whenever possible. Once, Elvis even gave his longtime friend, Jerry Schilling, a home.

Elvis Presley gave his longtime friend a house

Elvis met Schilling, a key member of his entourage, when they were children. He remained close to Elvis for years, even moving into his Beverly Hills home after his divorce. When Schilling began dating Myrna Smith, one of Elvis’ backup singers, he offered to move into an apartment. He worried about the way Elvis would react to the interracial relationship, but the musician insisted that he stay in the house. Schilling did, but he wanted a home of his own.

Jerry Schilling | George Rose/Getty Images

Eventually, Schilling...

The Thing (1982)A research team in Antarctica is hunted by a shape-shifting alien that assumes the appearance of its victims.Rating: 8.2/10Stars: Kurt Russell (MacReady), Wilford Brimley (Dr. Blair), Keith David (Childs), Richard Masur (Clark)Halloween (1978)Fifteen years after murdering his sister on Halloween night 1963, Michael Myers escapes from a...

Graphic: Images: IMDBThe Thing (1982)

A research team in Antarctica is hunted by a shape-shifting alien that assumes the appearance of its victims.

Rating: 8.2/10

Stars: Kurt Russell (MacReady), Wilford Brimley (Dr. Blair), Keith David (Childs), Richard Masur (Clark)

Halloween (1978)

Fifteen years after murdering his sister on Halloween night 1963, Michael Myers escapes...