THIS WEEK IN ELVIS HISTORY: On 16/12/57 Elvis purchased an outdoor Christmas display for Graceland featuring Santa and his reindeer from Bain Sign Company of Memphis for $300. The display also featured the message "Merry Christmas to All, (signed) Elvis." Elvis used this along with lining his long driveway with strings of blue lights. His father Vernon noted that the driveway looked like a lighted airport runway and hoped airplanes intent on landing at the nearby Memphis airport wouldn't be confused and try to land at Graceland. Eventually, Elvis switched to leasing a Nativity scene and lighted aluminum trees for his front lawn Christmas display each year and continued to light the driveway. That tradition has continued during all the years that Graceland has been open to the public. A number of years ago, Graceland/EPE staff found the old Santa/sleigh/reindeer display stored in the barn and has added it to the front lawn decor at Graceland each holiday season since. When the company which Elvis, and eventually Graceland/EPE, leased the Nativity scene and aluminum trees from each year went out of business, Graceland/EPE bought the display to ensure continuation of Elvis's Graceland holiday traditions.
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