The Elvis Presley Expert Blog featuring World renowned Elvis Presley Expert, Author, Collector and Historian Jeffrey Schrembs
Friday, September 20, 2013
The Elvis Presley Expert: Where Elvis went to school
The Elvis Presley Expert: Schools attended by Elvis Presley: TUPELO, Mississippi: 1941 Elvis enrolled in Lawhon Elementary School (Elvis was 6 years old) Milam Junior High School MEMPHIS TEN...
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
The Elvis Presley Expert Blog: Lets start collecting (of quality) items about Elv...
The Elvis Presley Expert Blog: Lets start collecting (of quality) items about Elv...: Congratulations on your desire/intent to start, continue, etc. collecting Elvis Presley Memorabilia! We have been collecting “all thin...
Lets start collecting (of quality) items about Elvis Presley
Congratulations on your desire/intent to start, continue, etc. collecting Elvis Presley Memorabilia!
We have been collecting “all things Elvis” since 1970 and have in excess of 100,000 individual Elvis Presley items. However, the “beauty” of collecting Elvis Presley items is that (a) it is never boring (b) new things are always forthcoming (c) there are so many categories – sub categories to choose from and (d) there are many “resources” to turn to for questions/fun/advice/etc.
Whatever your “passion” is, for Elvis, odds are that you can find it on Online sites including http://www.ElvisCollector.info (which we highly recommend and we THANK Online sites including http://www.ElvisCollector.info for being a part of the “Worldwide Elvis Presley Community”) such as books, photos, DVDs, records, cd’s, etc.
We have always taken the position that “quality trumps quantity”. Now, that may sound “hypocritical” coming from a collection in excess of 100,000 but hey…we have been doing this NOT as a “revenue stream”…but from the heart.
Desiring full disclosure “yes” we do offer, through our Online sites including http://www.ElvisCollector.info Store “ElvisCollectorWorldwide” some wonderful items, but they are offered “from one fan to another” and is a very personal endeavor indeed.
Here are some “guidelines” that may save you some time, money, and minimize any (potential) aggravation:
Photos – Do yourself a favor and check out anything/everything (available on Online sites including http://www.ElvisCollector.info thankfully) by Ed Bonja. Also, check out KingCandids. Both of these sources hand personal, first hand, and ongoing relationships with Elvis during his lifetime. Elvis was the most photographed person…ever so there are so many options in this category but (again) when you have the combination of QUALITY, as you do with Ed Bonja and KingCandids, you are “ahead of the game” (so to speak).
Memorabilia – Paul Litcher is a WONDERFUL source at ElvisUnique. Paul is an ELVIS AUTHORITY and has been for many years now. We are eternally thankful to Paul Litcher as we have used his books, starting in the 70′s, as a “bible” for cross referencing/authenticating Elvis Presley Memorabilia.
Autographs – PLEASE ensure that only after you have “crossed all of your T’s and dotted all of your I’s”, concerning Elvis Presley, before you ever start to TRY to collect/invest in this “category”. There are a few, in our opinion, “legit” sources for “authentication” (including but not limited to the aforementioned Paul Litcher) concerning Elvis’ autographs (excluding any photographs that were issued/imprinted with salutations such as “Sincerely, Elvis Presley – which was very common with RCA, Boxcar, Colonel Parker, etc.).
Records – Our priority would be 78′s followed by 33′s LP (stands for Long Play) followed by 33′s followed by 45′s followed by CD’s followed by cassettes followed by 8-tracks. Our “time frame” priorities would be 1954-1959, then 1969, then 1970-1973, then 1967-1968, then 1960-1962, then 1963-1966, then 1977, then 1976, then 1974, then 1975. But, again, you should “follow your heart” OR in this case “ear” for what YOU like.
Books/DVD’s/CD’s – It may not be “cool”, according to some but there is nothing “wrong” – and everything “right” about going against the grain, but your local Library is a GREAT place to start. Several of our Libraries offer, in addition to books of course, the ability to check out (for weeks at a time) DVD’s and CD’s about Elvis Presley. When you find the items that you “can’t live without”, and we CAUTION you here because it may be that everything you hear/read about Elvis you “can’t live without”, then (a) confirm that you have the monetary means – without harming your financial resources – FIRST and FOREMOST and if so then (b) go to Online sites including http://www.ElvisCollector.info – do a product search – and then buy it! If you find an item you really want, but it is just a bit out of your budget, then see IF the Seller allows you to “make an offer”. If so, then make sure that you review the shipping/handling charges, and disclosures, in addition to the price itself.
When it comes to Elvis Presley books Alanna Nash, and the great books authored by her, is in a class all by herself. These books are a must for Elvis Presley fans worldwide and tells the (true) story of Elvis, onstage and off, and puts things into context. Sensationalism? What aspect of Elvis’ life wasn’t, whole and or in part, sensational?
Misc. – Anything by Marty Lacker is a MUST! Marty was Elvis’ best friend, co-worker, and just a wonderful asset who we are THANKFUL was in Elvis’ life and continues to share his experiences with Elvis fans. Priscilla Presley wrote an honest, heart-felt, and memorable book entitled “Elvis and Me”. June Juanica, who was Elvis love starting in 1955, also is a big THUMBS UP (both the book and the DVD). There are various books, etc. by the (renowned) “Memphis Mafia” but, in our opinion, the “best of the best” are those by Marty Lacker, Billy Smith, Red West and Sonny West followed by Joe Esposito then Jerry Schilling. Jerry was a friend of Elvis’ from Memphis and worked with Elvis for many years. Sonny West also is a great source as well. Lastly, Charlie Hodge (who has passed away sadly) left us with several “insightful” items as well as Lamar Fike (who also sadly has passed away).
The “hard truth” about collecting Elvis Presley items is that very few of us will ever have the “monetary means” to actually OWN things like Elvis jumpsuits, original jewelry, automobiles, personal effects, etc. But collecting Elvis memorabilia (again) should be “from the heart” and if it makes you happy, and it’s legal, then great. There are so many Elvis items available that one could NEVER own everything (contrary to what others have stated) and it would be (virtually) impossible.
Elvis left us (3) three decades of works (i.e. music, movies, etc.) so you have a lot of things to choose from.
Lastly, THANK YOU for being an Elvis Presley Fan. We have found that some of the best, most sincere and caring, people are proud to be Elvis Presley Fans and share our passion, insight, etc. via this blog and through http://www.ElvisCollector.info.
God bless and take care.
Your “friend in Elvis”,
Jeffrey Schrembs 2013 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
ElvisCollectorWorldwide
http://www.ElvisCollector.info
http://www.ElvisCollectorWorldwide.freeforums.org
Saturday, August 3, 2013
Elvis Expert Jeff Schrembs: Getting to, or do you already, know about Elvis Pr...
Elvis Expert Jeff Schrembs: Getting to, or do you already, know about Elvis Pr...: Elvis. His name "triggers" a flood of emotions, memories, thoughts, that is...never-ending. Elvis was the GREAT...
Thursday, July 25, 2013
The Elvis Presley Expert Blog: Graceland week in Memphis is coming - here is a lo...
The Elvis Presley Expert Blog: Graceland week in Memphis is coming - here is a lo...: Graceland was officially open to the public the first week in June of 1982 (being the 7th). It had been five years since I was last in ...
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
The Elvis Presley Expert Blog: Graceland week in Memphis is coming - here is a lo...
The Elvis Presley Expert Blog: Graceland week in Memphis is coming - here is a lo...: Graceland was officially open to the public the first week in June of 1982 (being the 7th). It had been five years since I was last in ...
Graceland week in Memphis is coming - here is a look back at the 1st one in 1982
It had been five years since I was last in Memphis, having drove from Kentucky after hearing the news of his passing on August 16, 1977 at the age of 42.
Even five years later there were so many unanswered questions and we still were dealing with the reality that such a man, such an entertainer, had been so unhealthy and wasn’t able to work though the depression, the dependency, and the tolls that each one put on Elvis the man – the father – the son – the employer – and even the entertainer. As fans we loved him nonetheless.
The crowds were from all over the world. With folded signs, overflowing flowers, and even giant cards where everywhere the crowd turned.
We all waited to start the tour that we had been reading about, hearing about, and planned. We didn’t have the internet or iphones but we had the post office and we had access to CB radios and boy did it help. Short wave radios were another tool to be used in our communication arsenal.
With the announcement of the EPE employee of ” welcome to Graceland Elvis Memphis home the tour will start in a few minutes”.
What was inside those walls? We knew abut the false walls. We knew about the secret driveway through the Church and we even knew about the “top secret” storage area on the Graceland grounds which was (a) not part of the tour and (b) never discussed by any staff.
TO BE CONTINUED
Jeff Schrembs
http://www.ElvisCollector.info
http://www.ElvisCollectorWorldwide.freeforums.org
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