Le Morte d'Elvis

Another “Dead Week” has come and gone.  “Dead Week,” as it is referred to by “ordinary” (those citizens who somehow do not share the lingering grief and angst as others), is the annual week long collection of events throughout Memphis marking the death, of Elvis Presley.  Elvis died on August 16, 1977 reportedly of a heart attack while sitting on the toilet in his Graceland mansion.  The real cause of death was probably an overdose on a cocktail of prescription medications, but we don’t really talk about that in Memphis – it’s bad for tourism.  Of course, there are those in Memphis and across the country who insist that Elvis is not dead, frequently tickets are left at the “will call” window for Elvis at sporting and music venues.

Each year, thousands of visitors from around the world descend on Memphis, many come year after year, to participate in a week long montage of Elvis movie reruns, multiple Elvis impersonator (excuse me, that should be tribute artist) contests, tours of Sun Studios (the tiny recording studio where Elvis made his first record), tours of the 

Elvis Presley Statue Near Beale St. in Memphis

Graceland mansion, tours of his planes, and tours of just about any other place Elvis ever went to in Memphis.  The streets are filled with tour busses.  As the throngs wait to get into the Graceland grounds, they write their names and remembrances on the stone wall that surrounds the estate.  The Graceland Wall may actually rival the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem, literally and figuratively.  The week culminates in the night-long candle-light vigil which begins at the gate of Graceland at sunset and wanders through the grounds past the site, in the backyard by the pool, where Elvis and his parents are buried (for the record, I have never participated).  For a look at these “events” click here for the Elvis Week 2014 Survival Guide.  You may want to start planning your 2015 trip now!

So, another dead week has come and gone.  School is starting, the pennant races are in full swing, football season is only a week away, and the local TV stations have resumed regular broadcasting. Lest I seem ungrateful for all of the tourists who descend on our fair city and spend their money; as a tax paying citizen, I say, in the words of Elvis himself, “Ah, thank you.  Thank you very much.”

Well I gotta go and get ready for January – that’s “Birthday Week!”