Elvis Presley/Music: Elvis Presley’s Owned Stage and Televis...

Hammer

£95,000

Elvis Presley/Music: Elvis Presley’s Owned Stage and Television Worn Iconic "Blue Suede Shoes", an iconic lot of showbusiness memorabilia that simply transcends 20^th century popular culture. Authenticated by Jimmy Velvet, Elvis’s close friend of 22 years and the world's leading Elvis authority.

"Elvis wore these iconic blue suede shoes during the 1950’s on and off stage. During his performance on the Steve Allen show, July 1, 1956, Elvis mentions wearing the shoes before singing “I Want You, I Need You, I Love You.” In 1958, the night before Elvis left for the Army he gave these shoes to close friend & entourage member, Alan Fortas. The heel of each shoe is stamped 'Nunn-Bush' and inside of each shoe is stamped 10-1/2 stating the shoe size. There is a lot of history wrapped up in these well worn blue suede shoes which are synonymous with the name Elvis Presley."

On July 1, 1956, Elvis sang “I Want You, I Need You, I Love You.” and "Hound Dog." to a real Hound Dog on N.B.C.-TV's The Steve Allen show wearing the Blue Suede Shoes.

Elvis mentions wearing the Blue Suede Shoes before singing "I Want You, I Need You, I Love You and also mentions the Blue Suede Shoes during the comedy skit with Andy Griffith during the show. All Images and Footage of this show are available to view on youtube. The shoes have an unbroken line of provenance since being gifted to Alan Fortes Elvis’s ranch manager by Elvis himself the night before his induction into the US Army when he gave away a number of his unwanted clothes prior to joining up.

The lot is accompanied by three documents illustrating their history:

An Elvis Presley Museum letter of authenticity to Daniel Johnson hand signed by Jimmy Velvet.

An Elvis Presley Museum certificate of authenticity hand signed by Jimmy Velvet who was Elvis' friend of twenty two years and the Founder and original President and CEO of the world famous Elvis Presley Museum all those years ago.

A letter From Alan Fortas, Elvis' close friend and ranch foreman at Elvis' Circle G Ranch, which reads in part:

“I also appeared with Elvis in many films as an extra. I was also with Elvis in the concert in the round segment for the famous 1968 NBC "Comeback" special. The night before Elvis' army induction here in Memphis. Elvis had an all night party at Graceland. Afterwards we went to the Rainbow roller rink. When we all got home Elvis called some of us upstairs and was giving away some of his clothes he didn't think he would be wearing or wanted when he came back from the army. That night Elvis gave me these blue suede shoes size 10 1/2. I've owned these all these years”