New excitement is brewing over a major expansion to Elvis' birthplace in Tupelo, MS!
The Tupelo Convention and Visitors Bureau released a short film showcasing all of the places tourists can visit while in Tupelo, including the childhood home of Elvis.
In a recent article with the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, Dick Guyton, the Executive Director of the Elvis Presley Memorial Foundation said construction would be complete in time for the large crowd expected during Elvis Week.
The $6.3 million project will include a 125-seat indoor theater, a 75-seat amphitheater and a picnic area. The second phase includes 700-800-seat amphitheater, a new Elvis sculpture, a covered pavilion and a picnic area near the Elvis Presley Lake. Also, Elvis fans can look forward to having more parking as the plan will help accommodate twice as many visitors.
Jesse Garon in a MARKED grave in Tupelo???? Hmmmmmmmmmm
Hmmmm is right!! The film is sorta interesting, but it's all a bit "Drama School" and it is a pity they could not use Elvis' voice. On the other hand it may be a good thing, as that might authenticate this film. And all this unnecessary dwelling on Jesse Garon. From my researches whilst in Tupelo, Jesse was buried in the plain soil at the foot of one of his relative's graves, & of course there was never a marker. The main problem with this film is the dangerous mix of fact & fiction. ie Elvis was bought his first guitar the day after the devastating Tupelo Tornado?? April 1936?? etc. Hmmmm
To sum up generously, hardly a film for the fans...
Who can blame the Tupelo Chamber Of Commerce for doing this. Without Elvis who would visit this town? They've done their best I suppose. If they did nothing there would be those who would suggest that they did something like this for the visitors. Who knows where Jessie's grave is after all this time though? I hope they make that clear to visitors. As an aside it's very pretty girl in the film with more than a passing resemblence to a young Priscilla although the inference is that it's the ghost of Gladys. Good luck to them I say. 9/10 for effort.