It’s been 11 years since he apeared live, but Elvis still packs them in.
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They are lining up at the Old Towne Mall in Torrance to see what is reverently referred to as “His Last Jump Suit,” a powder-blue creation trimmed in silver embroidery, polished silver studs and a 6-inch-wide belt.
The $3,500 custom-made jump suit, one of about 100 of Elvis Presley’s belongings on exhibit at the mall, unfortunately didn’t fit the “King of Rock ‘n’ Roll.” He had gained a good deal of weight since the original fitting, said Jimmy Velvet, president of the company that, with the blessing of the singer’s estate, operates Presley museums in Memphis, Nashville, Orlando and Honolulu.
A matching jump suit, in a larger size, was being made for Presley when he died Aug. 16, 1977.
This is the fourth year that the Elvis Presley Museum’s array of memorabilia has been on tour, and hundreds of thousands of fans nationwide have attended the show, Velvet said. The show continues at the mall today and Monday. Admission is free.
Although it has been nearly 11 years since Presley’s death, Velvet still wears a pendant that marks him as one of Presley’s inner circle. The pendant bears the initials TCB, which Velvet says stands for “Taking Care of Business” and was designed by Elvis. It identified friends and staff who were to be admitted backstage.
Elvis’ own diamond-studded TCB pendant is part of the show, as is a torn envelope that bears an explanation of the TCB philosophy in uneven handwriting that is said to be Elvis’ own. According to the explanation, TCB is a way of life that means “more self-respect” and “more respect for fellow man.” The script goes on to extol meditation, body conditioning and “freedom from constipation.”
Sealed in plexiglass cases and under a 24-hour guard at the mall are Elvis’ birth certificate with his name misspelled “Evis”; numerous gaudy rings and pendants and pictures of Elvis wearing them; sunglasses with the initials EP between the eyes; his American Express card; and the white hand-built sports car he drove off a bridge in the 1966 movie “Spinout.” Many items are shown with an Elvis Presley Museum certificate of authenticity.
The steady stream of visitors who attended the show included a number of avid fans, some of whom purchased key chains, T-shirts and posters bearing pictures of Elvis. Also on sale was “Love Me Tender” moisturizing bath lotion ($3.95), an original 45-r.p.m. recording of “Hound Dog” ($25) and a life-size cardboard stand-up of Elvis ($49.95).
Beryl Irwin of Lomita bought an Elvis shot glass ($4.95) as a memento of the singer she has admired for decades. She has most of Elvis’ records and tapes, she said.
At the mall, Margie McCormack of Redondo Beach reminisced about seeing Elvis perform at the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, Fla., in 1957, and Priscilla Lagas of Torrance said she is sorry she never got to see Elvis perform.
“I always kept saying ‘I’ll see him the next time he’s in town,’ and then he died,” she said. “So when Neil Diamond came to town a couple of years ago, I went. I realized if you have the opportunity to go, you’d better go because it could be your last chance.”
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