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Vacation Elvis Style - Part 11 / 13
MISSISSIPPI
It all began in Mississippi. Vernon Elvis Presley and Gladys Love
Smith, both born in Mississippi, fell in love and on June 17, 1933
they eloped to Verona, Mississippi where they were married. On
January 8, 1935 their twin sons Jesse and Elvis were born at their
modest two-room home in Tupelo, Mississippi. Sadly, Jesse was
stillborn, however, his younger brother (by 35 minutes) Elvis would
go on to become a legend in his lifetime and well beyond.
Today you can plan on visiting the birthplace home as well as a
museum and chapel built nearby to
honor the memory of Elvis Presley.
While visiting Tupelo you also might wish to visit some of the other
Elvis-related locations. Elvis went to East Tupelo Elementary
School for grades 1 - 5. Today it is called Lawhon Elementary
School. He attended Milam Junior High for grades 6, 7 and part
of 8. (Please remember these are operating schools and
as such you must receive permission from school administration in
advance to go inside.) Elvis and his family attended the First
Assembly of God Church in Tupelo. Tupelo Hardware is where his
mother purchased for Elvis his first guitar.
The Tupelo Fairgrounds is where Elvis performed on 10/03/45,
9/01/55, 9/26/56 and 9/27/57.
Visit https://www.tupelo.net/ for help in planning your visit to
Tupelo.
Another Mississippi venue is Beldon High School Gym where he
performed on 6/15/55.
Biloxi's Slavonian Lodge was the site for a show on 6/26/55 where
Elvis, as well as singer Marty Robbins, helped dedicate the lodge's
new air conditioner. Elvis did a benefit at the Community
House for the Doll and Toy Fund of the Lion's Club and the "Daily
Hearld" on 11/06/55. This building was destroyed by Hurricane
Camille in 1969.
At nearby Keesler Air Force Base, Elvis performed shows on
6/27-28/55 and 11/7-8/55 at the Airman's Club.
This is also where he met his one-time girlfriend June Juanico.
In Booneville he did a benefit for the Kawanis Club at the Northeast
Mississippi Community College Auditorium on 1/17/55. On this
occasion "Booneville Banner" published the first "front page" story
about Elvis and his career.
In the town of Bruce, Elvis performed a benefit for the senior trip of
the Senior class of '55-'56 on 6/14/55.
The show took place at the Bruce High School Gym.
In Clarksdale Elvis performed at the City Auditorium on 1/12/55,
3/10/55 and 9/8/55.
He performed a benefit for the Jaycees in Corinith on 1/18/55 at the
Alcorn County Courthouse Assembly Hall.
He sang again in the Meeting Room of the Courthouse on 4/7/55.
In Grenada he performed on 4/20/55 at the American Legion Hall.
He had a show on 9/9/55 at the McComb High School Auditorium.
In Meridian on 5/25/55 he attended the Jimmie Rodgers Memorial
Celebration and performed at the American Legion Hall.
The next day 5/26/55, he rode in the parade and performed at the
Junior College Stadium.
On 2/7/55 Elvis performed at the Ripley High School Gym for the
benefit of their Senior class.
Elvis performed at a benefit in Jackson at the Mississippi State
Fair Coliseum on 5/5/75. The benefit was for the victims of
the McComb tornado which struck on 1/9/75. Elvis raised
$35,000 for the cause and stayed at the Hilton Hotel while in town.
He returned to perform at the same venue on 6/8-9/75. On 9/5/76 he
performed at the Mississippi State Fair Civic Center. Prior to
going on stage, then Mississippi Governor Cliff Finch,
presented Elvis with a plaque naming him to the Mississippi Hall of
Fame.
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