by Marshall Layne, August 16th, 1997
Memphians vividly recall quiet grief, bewilderment
When news services announced that Elvis Presley was dead around 4 p.m. on Aug. 16, 1977, all of Memphis stopped.
Children and teenagers who had been watching reruns of The Andy Griffith Show sat shocked and bleary-eyed as the bulletin flashed across the bottom of the screen.
Hundreds of cars flooded […]
by Whitney Smith, August 16th, 1997
Headsets guide visitors through the King’s domain
As thousands of Elvis Presley fans flocked to Graceland this week during the 20th anniversary of his death, the switch from personal tours of the house to recorded commentary is inspiring both praise and concern that the famous attraction has lost some charm.
After more than a decade of […]
by Kevin Robbins, August 16th, 1997
Multitides of forever-faithful lift candles, ‘transend time’
They love him tender. They love him sweet. And because he said so, they haven’t let him go.
They may never.
The faithful began settling the boulevard that bears his name a full 24 hours before the 1997 Elvis Week vigil began Friday night at Graceland.
As many as 30,000 to […]