Walter LeCroy, owner of Imaging Arts, and Rock and Read Books are pleased to announce the opening of a very special exhibit, “Elvis’s Mystery Kiss: From Charleston With Love,” on Friday October 7 at 5:00 p.m. The exhibit will feature a number of photographs taken from Alfred Wertheimer’s legendary portfolio, spotlighting Elvis’s date with Charleston’s Barbara Gray, the enigmatic girl from “The Kiss” photo.
The 24 digital images on display comprise half of the 48 pictures of Barbara Gray in the Wertheimer Collection of Photographs, taken in Richmond, Va., in June 1956, when 21-year-old Elvis Presley played the Mosque Theater. Alfred Wertheimer snapped the most famous of the photographs, "The Kiss," in a stairway at the Mosque. Mr. Wertheimer took the remainder of the photographs in the Jefferson Hotel and in the cab on the ride from the hotel to the theater. Barbara Gray was unidentified for 55 years, until journalist Alanna Nash, on assignment for Vanity Fair magazine, proved Gray’s identity in 2011.
Barbara Gray will be on hand to sign prints. A small print of “The Kiss” will be packaged in a deluxe slipcase with a hardcover first edition of Baby, Let’s Play House: Elvis Presley and the Women Who Loved Him, by Alanna Nash. Ms. Nash will also be present for the book signings. A limited number of signed books and prints are available for purchase.
What: Wine and cheese opening of photo exhibit “Elvis’s Mystery Kiss: From Charleston With Love,” and book signing of first edition copies of Baby, Let’s Play House: Elvis Presley and the Women Who Loved Him, presented in a deluxe slipcase edition with a photograph of “The Kiss.”
Who: Barbara Gray, mystery girl in “The Kiss” photo, Alanna Nash, author of Baby Let’s Play House: Elvis Presley and the Women Who Loved Him.
When: Friday, October 7 from 5:00 – 8:00 pm, Saturday, October 8 from 12:00 – 5:00, and Sunday, October 9 from 1:00 – 5:00.
Where: Imaging Arts, 175 King Street, Charleston (577-7501)