No highway through Graceland - IT'S OFFICIAL

[Getlo]

Taking the advice from Lakeisha yesterday, I decided to do some research myself into the claim that there was once a plan to bulldoze Graceland and replace it with a highway.

Below is an email I just received from EPE themselves, via my inquiry to the Memphis Chamber of Commerce.

Some may think that myself, Suzan, King Creole etc are being petty when asking for proof of such outlandish claims. That is not the case. It's just that it's bloody frustrating when people post such claims without any evidence whatsoever to back it up ... and even more frustrating when people say they "read it on the internet".

So, here you go:

September 28, 2007:

Hello,

I have a minor question that I hope someone from the Memphis Chamber of Commerce can clear up for me.

When Graceland was opened to the public back in 1982, several "sources" have claimed that one of the reasons for this was to save the house from being bulldozed by the city as it wanted a highway to be built on the site of Elvis’ former house.

So, can you tell me: is there any truth to this? Was the idea of Graceland being bulldozed for a highway ever considered, even remotely?

Many thanks,

xxxxxxxxxx
Sydney AUSTRALIA.

And the reply:

xxxxxxxxxx,

I can assure you that at no time was there a plan to bulldoze Graceland to make room for a highway. HWY 51 already ran in front of the home at the time of Elvis’ death in 1977 and continues to be a bustling thoroughfare here in Memphis, carrying thousands of cars each day.

Thanks for allowing us to clear up this misconception based on your "sources".

All my best,

Kevin Kern
Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc.
Media Relations Manager

[marijaep]

Taking the advice from Lakeisha yesterday, I decided to do some research myself into the claim that there was once a plan to bulldoze Graceland and replace it with a highway.

Below is an email I just received from EPE themselves, via my inquiry to the Memphis Chamber of Commerce.

Some may think that myself, Suzan, King Creole etc are being petty when asking for proof of such outlandish claims. That is not the case. It's just that it's bloody frustrating when people post such claims without any evidence whatsoever to back it up ... and even more frustrating when people say they "read it on the internet".

So, here you go:

September 28, 2007:

Hello,

I have a minor question that I hope someone from the Memphis Chamber of Commerce can clear up for me.

When Graceland was opened to the public back in 1982, several "sources" have claimed that one of the reasons for this was to save the house from being bulldozed by the city as it wanted a highway to be built on the site of Elvis? former house.

So, can you tell me: is there any truth to this? Was the idea of Graceland being bulldozed for a highway ever considered, even remotely?

Many thanks,

xxxxxxxxxx
Sydney AUSTRALIA.

And the reply:

xxxxxxxxxx,

I can assure you that at no time was there a plan to bulldoze Graceland to make room for a highway. HWY 51 already ran in front of the home at the time of Elvis? death in 1977 and continues to be a bustling thoroughfare here in Memphis, carrying thousands of cars each day.

Thanks for allowing us to clear up this misconception based on your "sources".

All my best,

Kevin Kern
Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc.
Media Relations Manager

Getlo,

Thank you for that :notworthy Now, that's a proof (y)(y)(y)


Marija

[Rover]

Thanks for taking the time to mail them and everything :)
It sounds weird now that I think of it...destroying Elvis' house? Only over a few dead fan bodies...

[keke23]

Maybe you should have done a local research by Memphis library on stories actually written in the 80's instead of emailing the *****s at EPE who are known to lie to the fans to protect their own butts.

Of course they're gonna say this aint true....that's EPE.

But whatever.....believe what you want. You're goin to anyways.

[Getlo]

Maybe you should have done a local research by Memphis library on stories actually written in the 80's instead of emailing the *****s at EPE who are known to lie to the fans to protect their own butts.

Of course they're gonna say this aint true....that's EPE.

Plus, Kevin Burns wasn't even with EPE back then so how would he know? Oh that's right....HE WAS TOLD TO SAY THAT.

But whatever.....believe what you want. You're goin to anyways.


Oh, give me a break ... just give it up, will you? You were wrong! Accept it!! (n)

Why don't you take the time to post references from your sources ... or is that too much trouble?

[keke23]

I'm just gonna add....if anyone wants to know the truth about what went on with Graceland after Vernon died and before it opened and why....then next time you're in Memphis, go to the public library and do a research on it.

It'll be in the archives.

[Getlo]

I'm just gonna add....if anyone wants to know the truth about what went on with Graceland after Vernon died and before it opened and why....then next time you're in Memphis, go the public library and do a research on it.

It'll be in the archives.


Post it HERE if you have it ... prove your case!

Like the man himself said, "It never ceases to amaze me, baby ..." :lmfao:

[marijaep]

Maybe you should have done a local research by Memphis library on stories actually written in the 80's instead of emailing the *****s at EPE who are known to lie to the fans to protect their own butts.

Of course they're gonna say this aint true....that's EPE.

But whatever.....believe what you want. You're goin to anyways.

They won't do that to Graceland.......there are no doubts now.
We have evidence.
Just give up...yes..like Getlo said.
Destroying Graceland is not a small thing.
They wouldn't lie for that. If you know what i mean...

At the end.....The fans won't let them destroy it :D:D:D

[keke23]

Getlo, I'm not gonna argue with you and the only reason I responded was because you tried to make me out to be a liar and personally targeted me in your original post.

But I am gonna defend myself and stand behind what I have personally read and heard from others in this town that you or anyone else on here hasn't because you don;t live here to know what goes on or what did go on here.

Plus, your email to them didn't even mention the fact that the city wanted to buy it. You never mentioned the fact that the plan was to build a interstate connection from Memphis International to EPB, which is HW51 and this was why the city wanted the land.

So you can believe EPE, a company who don't give a **************** about the fans views, and continue to believe that their word is the holy grail. But if you really wanna know the facts, then do the research the next time you're in town to worship Elvis, then you will see I'm right.

[keke23]

They won't do that to Graceland.......there are no doubts now.
We have evidence.
Just give up...yes..like Getlo said.
Destroying Graceland is not a small thing.
They wouldn't lie for that. If you know what i mean...

At the end.....The fans won't let them destroy it :D:D:D

No, not now, since it's a national landmark. But back before it ever opened to the public and had struggles financially to keep it up....it was in jeopardy and that was what I said all along.

Had Cilla never opened it....then it probably wouldn't be here today. That's just a fact.

[Getlo]

But if you really wanna know the facts, then do the research the next time you're in town to worship Elvis, then you will see I'm right.


Fine. We'll all just wait around until I save up enough money in a few years to go back there.

Or ... you could put your money where your mouth is, drive the short distance to the Chamber yourself, type up the info (or find an internet link) and post it on here.

And I did not call you a liar: I included you in a select group of people who post claims on here without references ... a book ... a net link ... anything.

Is anyone else on here just completely bewildered by this response ... or is it just me? :blink::blink::blink::blink::blink:

And let me be clear here. I am perfectly prepared to be corrected on this - or any - issue. It's just that I fail to see the logic in you asking me to do the research to prove your side of this debate! :blink:

[Johnny]

Boy - I didn't bother reading her post all the way through - not after reading basically this: "I was told by an anom" ..etc.

But wasn't there a link sometime ago to YouTube, which was a news report about the City Council wanting to buy Graceland and open it up as a museum -- they did know that it would be a cash cow.

And isn't it funny that some people here would belive politicians but not EPE - heck, I would rather put my faith in EPE than any politicians! :)

By the way, thanks for clearing this up Getlo

[franny]

Thanks, Getlo for taking the time to ask and post it on here!
I never thought a highway would be in place of Graceland...:lol:

I don't think anymore proof is needed! (y)

franny

[ksimms2]

well since Getlo is only one providing proof Lakeisha, we have to believe him. By all means, please post your proof via article, link or whatever and show your side.....since you live there (lucky you, by the way) should be easy for you I'd think.....? Interesting debate we got going here.

[franny]

Getlo has proof straight from EPE, I think that says it all! (y)

I am open to other proof, if there is any...

franny

[marijaep]

Getlo has proof straight from EPE, I think that says it all! (y)

I am open to other proof, if there is any...

franny

Yes Franny,

me too :D(y)

[keke23]

I just asked my source, my friend who has ties to a city council member and he told me that he would check into this and get back with me.

For what it's worth, he said he didn't know of any highway plans to include tearing down Graceland.

[Getlo]

Well, isn't the internet a great thing? I suppose I've contradicted myself here, but I ended up doing Lakeisha's work for her ... and contacted the Memphis Library myself. Now, I hope the question I asked here was clear and unambigious enough.
Or perhaps I should get on a plane to Memphis, check the records myself, make copies, photograph them fly back to Australia, then post what I have seen, then get the records verified by a notary public ... etc
I am just blown away by this whole thing. Let this be an end to the matter once and for all.


September 28, 2007:

Hello,
I am hoping you can help me with a small question.
Do you have any records in your achives that support the claim that the city of Memphis ever considered demolishing Graceland sometime in 1982 or thereabouts to make way for a highway?
This would've happened around the time the house was open to the public, and some sources make this claim. I have already received a response from Elvis Presley Enterprises in the negative, but I need a response from the horses mouth as it were.
Apparently, this may be listed under "Graceland Highway Project" or something like that in your archives.
Or the suggestion may have been made at a council meeting or something.
Thank you for your help in advance.
xxxxxxxxxx,
Sydney AUSTRALIA.

And the reply: (there was no name attached to this email from MemphisPublicLibraryAskAQuestionService but the email reference given was lincref@memphislibrary.org).


Mr. xxxxxxxxxx:
Thank you for your question. We have searched our Memphis Information File but did not find reference to any plans to demolish Graceland nor did we find any information regarding a proposed highway for the Whitehaven area.
According to our file, thousands of tourists poured into the city to visit the home in August 1977 and they have been coming ever since.
The file suggests that the city was aware in the years following 1977 of the impact Graceland had on local tourism and it is doubtful that there was ever a serious discussion about tearing the home down, even if they could have mustered the political will to try.
We hope this answers your question and please let us know if we can be of further service.
(Transferred from Unassigned to History Reference.)

[Diane]

Sorry Lakeisha, I have trouble believing that Memphis ever considered bulldozing Graceland as you can imagine not just the US but the whole world would have come down on the city for an action like that.

Diane

[rocknroll]

Folks, no trying to call anyone out here (:D), but Lakeisha and her good buddy have been called out many times on other message boards to provide proof to the unbelievably outlandish claims they make and they have failed to do so 100% of the time. Take it for what it is worth. Like I said before, I just let them do the talking and you can judge for yourself.(y)

[Suzan]

Getlo, THANK YOU! :D:D:D:D:D
My how some statement's change when confronted w/truth.:hmm:
I did same thing, except w/the claim Sillerman plans to buy Zippin Pippin, thread is in this section of forum.:D:D:D:D:D That to proved to not be correct.:)
Kevin Kern won't even allow the person to get near Sillerman to even discuss it.lol
You hit the nail on the head rocknroll...also individual has dual id's...I thought that was not allowed on forum? I know I don't allow on mine.

[Suzan]

Something just came to me, why would EPE lie about this? If it were true (which it isn't, never was), wouldn't they say yes because then they would be even bigger heroes, you know, great PR, we saved Graceland from demo by the City????

[Getlo]

Lakeisha and her good buddy

They are one and the same person (same IP address, at least according to some on here. I've no idea what an IP address is, but it all sounds very official!).

Interesting that EP75 and Lakeisha are never here on the forum at the same time ...

I will be interested in their / his / her response to the outcome of the highway business.

[King_Creole]

... And The TRUTH shall Set You Free !!!

This thread made my nite folks !!! Thank You, Thank You, Thank You ...

I guess the proof is really in the pudding !!! LMIAO !!!

[Suzan]

An ip address comes from your computer, provided by your internet server, for example, my cable company (cable box) for the net gave me an ip address...meaning, if something should happen and my server is contacted, by that number they can tell who I am, where I am and so forth. Same thing can be done if u have a person's ip, you can look them up on the web.
I have info provided by another forum owner who has had problems w/this individual and banned them..showing this person logged in under 2 different names but same ip address.
And yes, very interesting never on at same time, or posting at same time, if such great friends, why wouldn't "he" be here assisting to show "she" is telling the truth?
Hi KingCreole.:):) Claim about Zippin Pippin proved to go nowhere as well...not heard hide nor hair from this individual who posted the info from their "source".

[marijaep]

... And The TRUTH shall Set You Free !!!

This thread made my nite folks !!! Thank You, Thank You, Thank You ...

I guess the proof is really in the pudding !!! LMIAO !!!

lol :lmfao: -------> King_Creole........you are really funny sometimes lol

[Natalie]

Well, isn't the internet a great thing? I suppose I've contradicted myself here, but I ended up doing Lakeisha's work for her ... and contacted the Memphis Library myself. Now, I hope the question I asked here was clear and unambigious enough.
Or perhaps I should get on a plane to Memphis, check the records myself, make copies, photograph them fly back to Australia, then post what I have seen, then get the records verified by a notary public ... etc
I am just blown away by this whole thing. Let this be an end to the matter once and for all.


September 28, 2007:

Hello,
I am hoping you can help me with a small question.
Do you have any records in your achives that support the claim that the city of Memphis ever considered demolishing Graceland sometime in 1982 or thereabouts to make way for a highway?
This would've happened around the time the house was open to the public, and some sources make this claim. I have already received a response from Elvis Presley Enterprises in the negative, but I need a response from the horses mouth as it were.
Apparently, this may be listed under "Graceland Highway Project" or something like that in your archives.
Or the suggestion may have been made at a council meeting or something.
Thank you for your help in advance.
xxxxxxxxxx,
Sydney AUSTRALIA.

And the reply: (there was no name attached to this email from MemphisPublicLibraryAskAQuestionService but the email reference given was lincref@memphislibrary.org).


Mr. xxxxxxxxxx:
Thank you for your question. We have searched our Memphis Information File but did not find reference to any plans to demolish Graceland nor did we find any information regarding a proposed highway for the Whitehaven area.
According to our file, thousands of tourists poured into the city to visit the home in August 1977 and they have been coming ever since.
The file suggests that the city was aware in the years following 1977 of the impact Graceland had on local tourism and it is doubtful that there was ever a serious discussion about tearing the home down, even if they could have mustered the political will to try.
We hope this answers your question and please let us know if we can be of further service.
(Transferred from Unassigned to History Reference.)


The whole idea is just absurd! Its funny more than anything. I do not believe it was EVER on the agenda nor have I ever heard of it. Demolishing Graceland?? ROFLMAO!!!!

[Rover]

What amazes me the most is...how can you people take this so seriously? It's just a detail about a highway. Graceland will never be destroyed, because of the fans, because of the money it makes. Maybe there was a vague project about that, maybe not, it doesn't matter since it will never come true!
No need to argue over something like this IMHO...

[Suzan]

It's not the detail, its more the fact this person makes these claims, says they got info from this source, that source, etc...it's a long story...:)

[presley31]

Thank you for this proof Getlo, the turth is here so no need in believing anything else.

[Donut]

There goes again the link about the talking about the city of Memphis buying Graceland already in 77 to open it to the public on the news.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wtatlq1-mA8

[Gerianne]

Thanks Getlo for getting the proof. I would find it very hard to believe that Graceland was ever considered for demolishing to make way for a highway. The fans would have gone crazy at that time if this had really come up.

Lakeisha, if you have your own proof that says otherwise, then print it here because no-one is going to believe you unless you do this.

[keke23]

An ip address comes from your computer, provided by your internet server, for example, my cable company (cable box) for the net gave me an ip address...meaning, if something should happen and my server is contacted, by that number they can tell who I am, where I am and so forth. Same thing can be done if u have a person's ip, you can look them up on the web.
I have info provided by another forum owner who has had problems w/this individual and banned them..showing this person logged in under 2 different names but same ip address.
And yes, very interesting never on at same time, or posting at same time, if such great friends, why wouldn't "he" be here assisting to show "she" is telling the truth?
Hi KingCreole.:):) Claim about Zippin Pippin proved to go nowhere as well...not heard hide nor hair from this individual who posted the info from their "source".

First of all, me and Jay proved we weren't the same person a long time ago at the E1 forum when we both happened to be on at the same time.

In fact, I posted pics of me when I modeled at both forums so everyone could see then what I looked like. And I did it against the law because I was under an out of court agreement in a case settlement that I wouldn't post any perosnal modeling pics of me for a 5 year period.

The reason for that was because I voided my contract illegally and was sued by my agency. There was too much drama goin on in my life for me to continue to model.

I was livin in NY at the time and travelin around the world. I was barely online at that.

Plus, Jay and I didn't get along at first. I mean, he had my back at times but he snapped at me once too. But we became friends because he saw how I was bein mistreated by certain ones as a black woman and because he was in an IR relationship as I am, it made him see things differently.

As for this "fake" IP address BS saga.....I don't know how they did it or how it happened, but I can assure everyone we aren't the same. Someone hacked into that site and fixed this fake page of info of all IP addressed and posted it on the E1 forum and claimed me and Jay were the same.

This same anonymous poster called Jay a straight up traitor after that too. So go figure.

I received many PM's at both sites, including this one recently, in support of what was goin on. Unfortunately, nobody had the guts to stand up for me on the forums in fear of bein banned for it.

Some told me that the collectors forum was a racist and biased place and that was why they never had my back or stopped the racial harassment. I even got called a monkey once and they did nothin. If that's not racism, then what is?:mad:

Susan, what you posted about me can be held against you in the court of law. Rather it's true or not, which it aint, it is still personal business posted on a public message board and it can be considered as slander and you can be sued for it.

So I advise you to watch what you post about me, or anybody else from now on, or you might wanna get a good lawyer. I'm serious too.:mad:

As for me.....this is it. I;m through with all the accusations against me and callin me a fraud and liar. I bet half the posters on this forum are the same persons as well, if that's the case with me and Jay.:hmm:

It's all propaganda and favoritism.

[Burning_Love]

Whoaaaa Whoaaa Whoaaaa..this is a friendly site !!!

[rocknroll]

First of all, me and Jay proved we weren't the same person a long time ago at the E1 forum when we both happened to be on at the same time.

In fact, I posted pics of me when I modeled at both forums so everyone could see then what I looked like. And I did it against the law because I was under an out of court agreement in a case settlement that I wouldn't post any perosnal modeling pics of me for a 5 year period.

The reason for that was because I voided my contract illegally and was sued by my agency. There was too much drama goin on in my life for me to continue to model.

I was livin in NY at the time and travelin around the world. I was barely online at that.

Plus, Jay and I didn't get along at first. I mean, he had my back at times but he snapped at me once too. But we became friends because he saw how I was bein mistreated by certain ones as a black woman and because he was in an IR relationship as I am, it made him see things differently.

As for this "fake" IP address BS saga.....I don't know how they did it or how it happened, but I can assure everyone we aren't the same. Someone hacked into that site and fixed this fake page of info of all IP addressed and posted it on the E1 forum and claimed me and Jay were the same.

This same anonymous poster called Jay a straight up traitor after that too. So go figure.

I received many PM's at both sites, including this one recently, in support of what was goin on. Unfortunately, nobody had the guts to stand up for me on the forums in fear of bein banned for it.

Some told me that the collectors forum was a racist and biased place and that was why they never had my back or stopped the racial harassment. I even got called a monkey once and they did nothin. If that's not racism, then what is?:mad:

Susan, what you posted about me can be held against you in the court of law. Rather it's true or not, which it aint, it is still personal business posted on a public message board and it can be considered as slander and you can be sued for it.

So I advise you to watch what you post about me, or anybody else from now on, or you might wanna get a good lawyer. I'm serious too.:mad:

As for me.....this is it. I;m through with all the accusations against me and callin me a fraud and liar. I bet half the posters on this forum are the same persons as well, if that's the case with me and Jay.:hmm:

It's all propaganda and favoritism.

Absolutely typical.

There was nothing done illegal here by anyone.

Now, I don't really think Lakeisha and Jay are the same person, really, but they both do the same thing as far as posting rumors and obsessions as fact and never coroborating any of it with links to factual information.

If they just stop doing that, everything would be good.

[presley31]

Staying out of it..

[marijaep]

Whoaaaa Whoaaa Whoaaaa..this is a friendly site !!!

Ouch------------> true

[Rover]

Hey....I'm kinda new here, I haven't followed this argument from the beginning, but there's something I'd like to say:
I came to this forum because someone posted a link to rcb-world on the IMDB, when someone asked if there were any Elvis community. I said I had joined tcb-world, and someone answered:
"The TCB-World board is crap. All they do is argue and p!ss over each other. Unless you enjoy censorship and their prescribed point-of-view regarding anything Elvis, find someplace else to go. " (ok that was a bit troll-ish)
Yep, that's right, this forum has a bad reputation, and that is because of this kind of conversation. Of course everybody can't agree on everything all the time, but there are friendly and respectful ways to discuss about it. If someone talks bad about you, you ignore him or report him, that's how it works on the net if you want to build a good community. I haven't been here for long, but I've seen some really nice stuff here, the kind that made me proud to be an Elvis fan, so please don't ruin this. That was just my 2 cents, thanks for reading :)

[KPM]

Hey....I'm kinda new here, I haven't followed this argument from the beginning, but there's something I'd like to say:
I came to this forum because someone posted a link to rcb-world on the IMDB, when someone asked if there were any Elvis community. I said I had joined tcb-world, and someone answered:
"The TCB-World board is crap. All they do is argue and p!ss over each other. Unless you enjoy censorship and their prescribed point-of-view regarding anything Elvis, find someplace else to go. " (ok that was a bit troll-ish)
Yep, that's right, this forum has a bad reputation, and that is because of this kind of conversation. Of course everybody can't agree on everything all the time, but there are friendly and respectful ways to discuss about it. If someone talks bad about you, you ignore him or report him, that's how it works on the net if you want to build a good community. I haven't been here for long, but I've seen some really nice stuff here, the kind that made me proud to be an Elvis fan, so please don't ruin this. That was just my 2 cents, thanks for reading :)

Nice post(y)(y)

[Suzan]

K. whatever Lakeisha...proof in the pudding. Wonder where your friend is now?

[Sonny]

Keep it cool friends!!!

We don't wanna close another thread cause of this sillyness...

[Tommy]

I think you all got your answers time to stop with the personal attacks, please. No one is going to bulldoze down Graceland it's a National Landmark. The past is past.