Christmas meant home and family and fun. With his success and the
purchase of Graceland in March 1957, Elvis soon had the pleasure
of turning his family home into a Christmas wonderland. Elvis
would stretch the season as long as possible, having his
decorations in place at Graceland just after Thanksgiving and
leaving them up until the day after
his birthday, January 8th
On Dec. 12, 1957 for $300.00, Elvis purchased from Bains Sign
Company the Santa and sleigh yard decorations with his message
to the world
"Merry Christmas to All, Elvis"
Inside Graceland the drapes were changed to red velvet. Holly
and poinsettias were everywhere. Adorned with red ornaments,
the beautiful white nylon Christmas tree rotated on its stand
and played Christmas carols. That year, Graceland took on an
added glow from some special visitors, Hannerl Melcher, Miss
Austria and her roommate Cathy Gabriel, Miss Ohio.
Christmas
1960
Elvis
added
the
nativity
scene
and
Christmas
trees
on
the
front
lawn,
plus
blue
lights
along
the
driveway.
It
became
a
Christmas
tradition
from
then
on,
with
a
Santa
and
sleigh
setup
going
into
storage.
His
father
joked
that,
with
the
long
driveway
lined
in
lights
and
airport
being
nearby,
pilots
might
get
confused
and
think
Graceland
was
the
place
to
land.
Christmas at Graceland
Christmas
at
Graceland
Vernon
Presley
play
Santa
for
Lisa
Marie
1968
Elvis had met both of these beauty queens in Las Vegas. Hanner
and Elvis had posed for a photo shoot in October. Fans know
the picture well of Elvis wearing a black leather jacket,
astride a Harley Davidson motorcycle with a lovely
platinum blonde.
Both Henner and Cathy posed with
Elvis at Graceland that Christmas, seated together on
the staircase in the foyer as he contemplated his
draft into the U.S. Army - a publicity shot that had
them looking at a calendar as they counted the days before
Elvis would have to report for duty.
