Elvis Presley: Graceland’s rigged pinball machine The King played with his Memphis Mafia | Music | Entertainment
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Elvis Presley purchased his Graceland home and grounds in 1957 for the cost of $102,000 at the time. That’s 10,000 square feet of mansion and 14 acres of land. But in 1975, The King made his final addition to the property when he had a private racquetball court built for an incredible $250,000.
Express.co.uk took part in a virtual live tour of the mansion earlier this year which included a look inside the racquetball building.
In the front room is a seating area with a bar that was always stocked up with lime Gatorade and Mountain Valley Spring Water.
Standing in this area, our tour guide archivist Angie Marchese, said: “Not only was it just a racquetball court, but it also was a place where Elvis could relax.
“One of my favourite things to show you guys in here is right over in the corner and that’s this pinball machine.”
READ MORE: Elvis Presley: Graceland unseen rooms – Inside the dog collars closet
Walking over to the game, Angie said: “If we had it plugged in [you would see that] it still works.
“It’s called Knock Out and I’ve been told it’s been rigged for the first player to always win.
“And, of course, Elvis also went first! How fun is that?”
Aside from the court itself, on the roof of the building is a jogging track, while the first floor features some changing rooms including The King’s own private bathroom.
Elvis’ shower looked more like a small walk-in wet room which included a bench and five gold-plated showerheads.
Also in the racquetball court building is the last piano Elvis played just a few hours before his death, which can be seen downstairs on the usual in-person tour.
Located in the lower lounge area, The King had sat at the instrument in the early hours of August 16, 1977, playing and singing Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain and Unchained Melody.
The first song features on The King’s 1976 album From Elvis Presley Boulevard, Memphis, Tennessee, while the latter is the opening track to his final record, 1977’s Moody Blue.
What turned out to be Elvis’ final live performance was witnessed by his last girlfriend Ginger Alden, cousin Billy Smith and his wife Jo.
The four had been playing racquetball together before heading back to the mansion around dawn.
Elvis saw his daughter Lisa Marie downstairs at the house and gave her a kiss goodnight, in what would be their last interaction while he was still alive.
Tragically, around that lunchtime, Ginger discovered The King had suffered a fatal heart attack on the toilet at the age of just 42.
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