Elvis Presley’s private jets – the Lisa Marie and Hound Dog II – are going up for auction.
The Lisa Marie, named after his daughter, was bought by Elvis Presley in 1975 and refurbished to include a master suite with full-size bed and conference room.
Neither plane is airworthy but has been on display at Graceland for more than 30 years for fans to tour.
They are being auctioned off by Julien’s by sealed bids.
Elvis Presley bought the Convair 880 jet in 1975, two years before his death, and spent about $300,000, refitting it and renaming the Lisa Marie. It also features a bathroom with gold taps and a stereo system with 50 speakers.
The tail is adorned with Elvis Presley’s trademark TCB for Taking Care of Business.
The last flight it took was to transport his former wife Priscilla Presley and actor George Hamilton to his funeral.
It was sold by his father, Vernon, in 1978, and had two owners before being bought by a consortium in a joint venture with the owners of Graceland to allow it to be displayed at the tourist hotspot.
The agreement with the owners and Graceland expires in 2015.
The Hound Dog II, a Lockheed JetStar, was bought in 1975 as a stopgap while the Lisa Marie was being prepared. It arrived at Graceland in 1984.
The planes are being sold as one lot, with the option to buy land next to Graceland to display them, independent of the Presley Museum.
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Lisa Marie Presley, daughter of late music legend Elvis Presley, has been hiding a secret former job… selling fish and chips from a mobile van in East Sussex, UK.
Since Lisa Marie Presley, 44, moved into a $14 million home in the village of Rotherfield back in 2010, it’s fair to say she has fully immersed herself into local life.
And she was so keen to learn about the British way of life that she swapped Hollywood for haddock and spent a day serving up fish and chips to locals.
Kim Scales, owner of Mr. Chippy and landlady of village pub The King’s Arms, said: “It was when she first moved to the village about two years ago. She is really interested in who people are and wanted to know all about our lives and how we live.
“We own the pub and a mobile fish and chip van, but she said she’d never heard of anything like it, and said she wanted to work on it.
“She got on there with her son, but we were all laughing because not one of the locals realized who it was. She served one local double fishcake and chips and he didn’t have a clue that she was Elvis Presley’s daughter.”
Lisa Marie Presley has been hiding a secret former job selling fish and chips from a mobile van in East Sussex
Lisa Marie Presley is said to be a huge fan of traditional English food, and loves nothing more than fish and chips and a pint of Guinness in The King’s Arms.
Kim Scales added: “She loves fish and chips and drinks and eats in the pub all the time. She’s partial to a pint of Guinness, too!
“It was nice for her to have that normal experience. She’d have never been able to do that in LA. She doesn’t come down here all glammed up, she’s just herself and always mingles with the locals in the pub.”
[googlead tip=”vertical_mic” aliniat=”drapta”] The previous week (from August 9 through August 16) was “Elvis Week” 2011, anevent that commemorates Elvis Presley’s death on August 16, 1977, at 42.[googlead tip=”lista_mica” aliniat=”dreapta”]
This annual celebration has begun in 1982 when Graceland estate has been opened to visitors. Since then hundreds thousands of persons have travelled there.
Thousands of people went to Memphis on Monday to attend a midnight candlelight vigil, the keystone of “Elvis Week”, at Graceland.
About 20,000 fans from all over the world (including England, Germany, Japan) flocked together at Elvis Presley‘s home. They processed through the familiy cemetery. At the meditation garden, they kneeled, or quietly sang, they left flowers or others tributes on the King’s graveyard. “The Twelfth of Never” (by Johnny Mathis), was the theme song for this year, signifying the unceasing love for the King of Rock and Roll.
Kevin Kern read a message from Lisa Marie Presley, Elvis Presley‘s daughter:
“Dear Friends, thank you so much for being here and continuing to honor the legacy of my father. Your ongoing love and support mean very much to me and my family. My father always said he had the best fans in the world, and he was right. The fact that you are here to celebrate his life 34 years after his passing is a testament to that. I hope you’ve enjoyed our new exhibits at Graceland and I look forward to being involved personally with a very special exhibit called ‘Elvis Through His Daughter’s Eyes’ opening in the Spring of next year. Before we know it, it will be Elvis Week 2012, which as you all know as the 35th anniversary will be special time. I look forward to being there with you, my mother and entire family.
Thank you all and I’ll see you next August.”
Fifty five years passed since the first two Elvis Presley‘s albums were released.[googlead tip=”patrat_mic” aliniat=”dreapta”]
Elvis Presley in Las Vegas 1971
The music producer Ernst Jorgensen launched a five-CD RCA/Legacy box set “Young Man With the Big Beat” on Monday at Graceland to celebrate the King’s breakout year. The CDs feature interviews, remastered rare live recordings, unpublished live songs, recording-session outtakes.
In 1956 Elvis Presley’s “That’s All Right, Mama” (1946 blues number, Arthur Crudup’s “That’s All Right”, turned later into a professional platter) set the teen-agers on fire. “Heartbreak Hotel “, “Blue Suede Shoes”, “I Forgot to Remember to Forget” were some of the song which Elvis interpretation made to reach the top of audience.”Bossa Nova Baby” hit the top in 1963.
“In the Ghetto”, issued in 1969, reached number three on the pop chart. Another hit singles were “Suspicious Minds”, “Don’t Cry Daddy”, “Kentucky Rain”.
In 1970, “The Wonder of You” was released and it was a number one in UK and on top in US.
Unfortunately, in his late years Elvis has suffered from glaucoma, high blood pressure, liver damage, and an enlarged colon, a possibly caused, and aggravated by barbiturates and Demerol addiction.
On August 16, 1977 he was found unconscious on his bathroom floor. Elvis Presley was officially pronounced dead at 3:30 pm at Baptist Memorial Hospital.
