BY DESIGN : A King’s Ransom? That’s All Right, Elvis
G oing, going . . . well, we’re not going to the Las Vegas Hilton on June 18 and 19 when Butterfield & Butterfield presents the largest collection of Elvis Presley memorabilia ever to be offered at auction. But we’ve sure been poring over the slick brochure touting its preview May 4 through 8 at the auctioneers’ Los Angeles showroom. Fascinating. How much would you bid on The King’s American Express card? His Mercedes Benz 600 limo?
SHE: OK, let’s say I had a mil to spend on Elvis retro stuff. What would I go for? The platinum and diamond wedding band from his marriage to Priscilla at the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas on May 1, 1967. How sad that Priscilla and Lisa Marie let it go. I know--now it belongs to ‘50s recording star Jimmy Velvet, founder of the Elvis Presley Museum Inc. But I’d give a million for it in a minute. (Priscilla and Lisa Marie: Buy it back!) It’s my kind of jewelry--perfectly simple and simply studded with diamonds.
HE: I agree with your exhortation to Priscilla and Lisa Marie, but for a different reason. I just don’t see the appeal of wearing jewelry or, particularly, clothes that some celebrity or other has worn. Every now and then, for instance, a dress that Marilyn Monroe wore on her honeymoon with Joe DiMaggio or something goes on the block, and a certain percentage of the population goes ga-ga.
When are we going to quit living vicariously through celebrities?
SHE: Hey, lighten up! You’re not even tempted to bid on Elvis’ royal blue good luck jumpsuit and signature concert scarves? Think of how cool you’d look at your rehearsals with the Pacific Chorale.
HE: Well, I couldn’t help but notice how much good luck it brought him.
Actually, there is one item in the lot that looks kind of appealing: an Elvis tour jacket. It’s red and black and looks just like a high school letterman’s jacket, with leather sleeves and a big script “Elvis In Concert” across the left chest. Worn by Elvis roadies. Cooler by far than anything my high school ever handed out.
SHE: I wouldn’t mind seeing his white leather concert belt under my Christmas tree. It’s medium-wide, shot with gold studs and red stones. Every couple of inches there’s a small gold medallion framed in gold rings. A double strand of gold chains accent the bottom. I’d sling it around a pair of blue jeans, toss on boots and a white T-shirt and beg you to take me on the Eagles reunion tour.
His famous glittered black and white Phoenix belt ain’t bad either. Talk about a fashionable rise from the ashes!
HE: Let’s see. Your waist is . . . how big? And Elvis’ waist was . . . HOW BIG? What are you going to do with the 15 yards of belt you’re going to have to remove to make it fit? Maybe you could convert the extra into a couple of shoulder harnesses for your car.
You also have to remember that these are not exactly daintily wide belts either. Elvis favored the kind of belts that could blot out the sun. They made those championship belts that prize fighters wear look sleek and tasteful.
One more thing: These belts are heavy. After an evening in one of them you can be pretty sure you’ll be about three inches shorter.
SHE: Never mind the details. I’m dreaming, remember? There’s a diamond, gold and enamel zodiac pendant that would make a great hood ornament. That’s one item I can pass on.
But there’s a tiny gold pendant I’d love--the one blazing the initials TCB (Taking Care of Business). I want it.
HE: First of all, I don’t think that pendant is tiny. Nothing Elvis wore was tiny. And the design is something a bit more than the initials TCB: There’s also what appears to be a two-inch lightning bolt attached. And it appears to be a really sharp lightning bolt. So bid on it if you must (bring lots and lots of money), but I don’t want to hear you walking around yelping “Ouch!” every 10 feet when the pendant digs in and takes care of your business.
Anyway, all this stuff is new Elvis, as opposed to old Elvis. And you remember how that battle came out with the stamp, right? How about selling off one of The King’s old Army shirts, with “Presley” on the chest? Or one of those cool nubby sport coats he wore when he was just starting out? Or a pair of two-toned loafers? Or a bottle of ‘50s-style hair goop?
Priscilla can keep the ring. I’ll max out my credit cards for an aloha shirt from one of those beach movies. That I’d wear.
