ELVIS PRESLEY banned peacocks from Graceland and banished them to Memphis Zoo after an incident involving The King’s famous Gold Cadillac. Elvis was a particular fan of peacocks
Elvis Presley was a big animal lover keeping horses and farmyard animals like chickens, ducks and even a turkey called Bow Tie. While a statue of St Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals, stands inside the Jungle Room to this day. But there were times when the critters became too much to handle, even if The King was fond of them initiall
Apart from his jumpsuit inspired by the birds, Elvis even had stained glass peacock panels designed for Graceland in 1974 by his girlfriend at the time Linda Thompson.
Elvis expert and archivist Angie Marchese shared: “There were actually some pet peacocks that ran around the property here at Graceland at one point.‘That was until they started seeing their reflection in the gold Cadillac and started pecking the paint off the car.”
According to the official Graceland website: “The stained-glass peacock panels between the Living Room and Music Room, as well as the stained glass around the front door and the stained-glass fixtures over the pool table in the basement were added to Graceland in October 1974.
“The work was done for Elvis by Laukhuff Stained Glass Company of Memphis for the cost of $9,345.”
#ElvisPresleyFans!
Graceland is very excited to offer, for the first-time ever, a limited number of Graceland Virtual Live Tours! Get tickets and more info here: https://t.co/g4epb50TZo pic.twitter.com/VHj7LwMZcq— Graceland (@VisitGraceland) January 14, 2021
Elvis Presley would’ve turned 86 on Jan. 8, and the King is having a bit of a moment again. Graceland is celebrating the rock legend in Memphis, Tenn., Jan. 7 to 9.
Adding to it all, Jon Bon Jovi just released a cover of Presley’s “If I Get Home on Christmas Day” as a holiday hit,
In 1957, the 22-year-old star bought Graceland for just $102,500 (which would be just shy of $1 million in 2020, (cheatsheet)
According to Celebrity Net Worth, at the peak of Elvis’ success, he would make $1 million per performance.
When Elvis died, he was only worth $5 million. Accounting for inflation, that would be around $21 million now ($21,484,158.42 to be exact). Of course, $5 million and $21 million are no small sums, but given that Elvis would make $1 million per performance, he should have been worth much, much more by the time of his death.
RELATED- Rock Wild Drug Stories 2: Elvis Presley
In addition to the ten drugs found in his system at the time of death, Elvis was known to have tried Dilaudid, Percodan, Placidyl, Dexedrine (a rare “upper,” then prescribed as a “diet pill”), Biphetamine, Tiunal, Desbutal, Escatrol, Amytal, Quaaludes, Carbrital, Seconal, Methadone, and Ritalin.
Elvis wanted a Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs badge. His wife, Priscilla Presley, explained, “With the federal narcotic badge, he could legally enter any country both wearing guns and carrying any drugs he wished.”
After telling Nixon his worried about drug cultures, Elvis asked the Nixon for a badge. Nixon promised he’d get him one, and Elvis, surprised that his plan had worked, got so excited that he hugged the president.
A few years later, Elvis, with his Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs badge still on him, died
