Elvis Presley fans in a long line are making the slow, solemn walk up the driveway of Graceland to pay their respects to the late singer on the 40th anniversary of his death.
Thousands of devotees of the rock ’n’ roll icon lined up for hours to save their places in the procession Tuesday night. They held candles and walked along the graves of Presley and his relatives at the Meditation Garden at Graceland, his former home-turned-museum in Memphis, Tennessee.
Priscilla Presley, the performers’ former wife, and Lisa Marie Presley, their daughter, thanked the crowd for their love and dedication.
Fans from around the world come to Graceland each year on the anniversary of Presley’s death to honour his life and career. He died in Memphis on August 16, 1977.
For the first time in nearly four decades, fans had to pay a fee to participate in the candlelight vigil, which runs into Wednesday. Fans were able to watch the vigil from the street in front of Graceland, free of charge.
Many fans are not happy.
Visitors who plan to attend the vigil beginning Tuesday night and running into Wednesday must have an Elvis Week Property Pass wristband to walk up the long driveway and past the graves where Presley and relatives are buried, Graceland told the Associated Press in a written statement. The $28.75 (Dh105) wristband also provides access to a new $45 million entertainment complex at the Memphis tourist attraction.
Graceland, operated by Elvis Presley Enterprises, says it anticipates large crowds and it has updated its security measures for Elvis Week, the annual celebration of Presley’s life and career in music and movies. “In order to keep everyone safe and ensure an enjoyable and meaningful event for all, we have worked closely with local, state and federal security authorities to establish new procedures that have been widely used across the US,” Graceland’s statement said.
A few Presley fans made a pilgrimage to Graceland the year he died, and they’ve continued coming ever since. Graceland says it averages 500,000 visitors per year from around the world, and attendance for this year’s vigil has been projected at 30,000 to 50,000.
The announcement surprised fans who didn’t know about the charge when they made plans to come to Elvis Week. Some reacted with angry messages on social media, saying they won’t attend another vigil.
Longtime fan Fred Schwarz of Springfield, Illinois, said Tuesday that he and his wife have been to several vigils and have enjoyed them. But not this year. He says fans should be insulted at the new charge.
“I looked forward to going down there this year, and they come up with all this,” Schwarz said. “I don’t want to even go to Memphis anymore. The people running that are not Elvis fans. They are in business. Corporations, they want the bottom line.”
Elvis Presley Enterprises was created by the Elvis Presley Trust to manage its assets, according to Graceland’s website. It was wholly owned by the Elvis Presley Trust and his daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, until 2005. Elvis Presley Enterprises is now majority-owned by Graceland Holdings, led by managing partner Joel Weinshanker. Lisa Marie Presley retains 15 per cent ownership in the company.
The new entertainment complex is part of a $140 million expansion, which also includes a $90 million, 450-room hotel that opened last year. The complex, featuring exhibits of Presley’s cars, clothing and other personal items, replaces the ageing buildings that housed the exhibits for years.
Access to restaurants, gift shops and an entertainment tent where people gathered before the vigil used to be free, though visitors still actually had to buy the food or memorabilia at the eateries and shops.
Now, access to them is included in the fee to enter the complex.
Cheryl Skogen, of Los Angeles, was third in line waiting on Tuesday morning for the vigil later that evening.
“I don’t think Elvis would like it if he knew the fans were charged to go up and see,” she said.
Some fans don’t have a problem with the charge. Joe Makowski, who saw Presley more than 80 times in concert and came to Graceland after Presley died in 1977, said it’s a good idea because of the cost of security. He also said these types of charges are seen at other tourist attractions.
“It goes along with the territory of the popularity of Elvis,” said Makowski, of St. Petersburg, Florida. “There’s a price for that as well, to accommodate all the people.”
News of the vigil charge also upset Anthony Stuchbury, of Bolton, England, who has been to Graceland more than two dozen times but did not come this year.
“I understand they are a business, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with them making money,” Stuchbury said. “But the current price-gouging situation has created so much friction, it’s even dividing fans.”
