Beneath the bustling London Bridge station, the new Direct from Graceland: Elvis exhibition offers a captivating glimpse into the life and times of legendary rock and roll musician Elvis Presley. From personal mementoes to stage costumes, the exhibition meticulously traces Elvis’s evolution from a young boy in Tupelo to the global superstar he became.
Curated by Graceland in partnership with KMJ Entertainment and hosted within Arches London Bridge, the city’s newest exhibition, performance & culture destination, the journey begins with artefacts from Elvis’s humble beginnings, offering visitors a glimpse into his childhood and early influences. Items such as family photographs, school memorabilia, and his first guitar showcase the roots of his musical talent and the foundation of his iconic career.
Moving through the galleries, visitors encounter artefacts that highlight pivotal moments in Elvis’s career. From his breakthrough recording sessions at Sun Records to his electrifying performances in Las Vegas, each display provides a window into the life of The King. Iconic costumes, stage props, and rare recordings offer a multifaceted view of Elvis’s artistic evolution and enduring impact on popular culture.
One of the exhibition’s highlights is a gallery dedicated to live performances. Here, visitors can immerse themselves in the energy and excitement of Elvis’s concerts. From the iconic ’68 Comeback Special to the historic Aloha from Hawaii broadcast, the exhibition showcases moments that cemented Elvis’s status as a legendary performer.
To learn more about the process of creating this authentic and immersive experience at Arches London Bridge, we spoke to Stuart Galbraith, CEO of KMJ Entertainment, the parent company of Kilimanjaro Live Ltd, and Liz Koravos, managing director of Arches London Bridge.
Direct from Graceland: Elvis
Direct from Graceland: Elvis features over 450 artefacts. These are sourced directly from the archives of Graceland and many have never left the Memphis mansion.
“The galleries cover his childhood and early career, through to Elvis’s mania, as well as looking at different aspects of his life, such as Elvis the movie star, Elvis the fashion icon, and Elvis the father,” explains Koravos.
“Then we go into a huge gallery space devoted to live performance, looking at the ‘68 Special, Aloha, and Las Vegas. Then, we cover Hollywood and his fun press conferences. Here we get an insight into his sense of humour and authenticity. We also have loads of his famous outfits from those press conferences.”
At the end of the exhibition, visitors enter an immersive space:
“It’s a 270-degree show with a 12-minute tribute to his live performances. That’s an emotional moment for many visitors because of their connection to him. Everyone has an Elvis story or connection, some memory that triggers those emotions.”
Finally, guests can visit the shop, which features a range of official merchandise direct from Graceland.
An enduring IP
Speaking about the everlasting appeal of Elvis, Koravos explains:
“I think it’s his voice and music that appeal to people. You still hear his songs everywhere you go. His voice is beautiful and unique, and I think it forms the soundtrack to many people’s lives.
“This exhibition taps into that for many visitors. And then, for the younger generation, who might not have all those memories, it’s forming those new memories, so his legacy carries on.”
With such a wildly popular IP, it could have been a daunting prospect to do it justice:
“There are so many Elvis fans, especially in the UK, which has some of the biggest fan clubs outside of the US. People are so passionate about it that everything you do has to be authentic and genuine. There’s no fudging or getting anything past them. But the fans have just been so supportive because they’re looking at the real deal.
“Everything we have is authentic. For instance, the outfits on display are the things he was actually wearing. And that proximity to them lights up those fans.
Galbraith also highlights the involvement of the Elvis fan club in training staff:
“We brought the fan club presidents in to train and brief the staff because they know more about Elvis than anybody else in the world.”
A commitment to authenticity at Direct from Graceland: Elvis
This commitment to authenticity is central to the exhibition’s success. Working closely with Graceland’s team, the organisers ensured that every artefact and detail reflected Elvis’s true essence. The exhibition’s partnership with Graceland provided access to knowledge and resources, ensuring that every aspect of his life and career was accurately represented.
“Graceland has been brilliant to work with,” says Galbraith. “Angie Marchese, the head curator there, lives, eats, sleeps, and breathes Elvis and gave us so much information.”
Given the extent of Elvis’ legacy and the breadth of the Graceland collection in Memphis, deciding what to include in the exhibition was a challenge in itself. According to Koravos, the team needed to tell a story with the artefacts they chose to display to create a cohesive guest experience:
“That goes back to the partnership with Graceland. We worked extremely closely with them; the exhibition is called Direct from Graceland because it literally is. It was through them and their team that the visitor journey was put together. Each item forms part of that journey. So, there isn’t anything that’s just in there because it’s glitzy. We’re educating the visitors about something they might not have known.
“We’re telling the story of Elvis’s life, who he was behind the scenes as a man, a father, and a husband, and who he was on stage. That’s an enormous story to tell. We bring in the objects and artefacts that support it, and then we tell it in several different ways because people absorb those stories differently.”
Engaging diverse audiences
Direct from Graceland: Elvis offers various levels of engagement to cater to diverse audiences. Casual visitors can enjoy the displays and the immersive finale. At the same time, fans can delve deeper with audio guides and a VIP “white glove” experience, allowing them to handle Elvis’s personal belongings under expert guidance.
“There are layers to it,” says Koravos. “You can come in as a casual visitor and look at the artefacts in the display cases, read a few text panels, watch the end show, go to the shop, and have a nice day out. And then, for the bigger Elvis fans, we offer the audio guide. This is another 90 minutes of content on top of the exhibition.”
“We don’t limit the time; visitors can spend 45 minutes in the exhibition or all day. We’ve had loads of visitors who come back three or four times. There is a lot of content, so they can come back several times and still get more out of it.
“Finally, for the real diehard fans, we have a VIP experience like no other. They can handle some of Elvis’s objects while wearing white gloves. They get an overview of object handling in a museum setting, and then they’re allowed to hold his 1969 International Hotel belt or his gold microphone from his Vegas performances. That is really special; we’ve had people in tears.”
An immersive experience
The experience culminates in an immersive projection:
“This is a montage of his iconic performances, intercut with some of the press conferences and iconic moments from his life,” says Koravos. “It’s the first place that you appreciate the scale of his performances. It puts the visitors in the front row and gives them that feeling of watching him perform. As a performer, Elvis was so incredibly authentic on stage. So, to show that in a big format right in front of people is really important in delivering the story.”
There is also a chance for guests to leave their own messages after the experience:
“We have a signing room where you can leave your tributes to Elvis. “At Graceland, they’ve got a wall outside that fans have been graffitiing on and carving their names into for generations. And so, we created a tribute to that. People have drawn sketches of Elvis’s profile and written little essays about what he means to them…”
“Lots of lipstick!” adds Galbraith.
“It’s a wonderful interactive element to allow people to say what he meant to them.”
Direct from Graceland: Elvis at Arches London Bridge
The venue, Arches London Bridge, is strategically located and provides a quirky backdrop for the exhibition.
As well as being the Elvis exhibition producer, KMJ Entertainment is also the venue operator. Galbraith envisions the venue becoming a hub for consumer-facing exhibitions and experiences, filling a void in London’s cultural landscape.
“We thought Elvis would be the perfect IP and exhibition to put us on the map. Liz and I spent five years looking for what we consider to be the best venue in the best location. We saw some great venues in terrible locations and vice versa. But we were looking for somewhere in zones one and two with high footfall. London Bridge station has 60 million people pass through a year. We’re also on an open-top bus route, which stops 200 yards from the front of the venue.”
“We wanted a way to present consumer-facing exhibitions that were different from the kind of factual shows you find in the big London museums. If you look around the world, most major cities have somewhere to host an Elvis exhibition, a Marvel Superheroes exhibition, or an immersive art exhibition. We felt that London lacked that kind of venue.
“Judging by the response we’ve had on Elvis and the inquiries we’ve now received, I think The Arches is going to be a huge success. It’s going to be full for many years to come.”
The venue consists of five oversized railway arches underneath London Bridge station, with an area of around 11,000 square feet.
“We are railway arches, so we’re not that black box,” says Koravos. “We’ve got character and can create a really cool visitor journey for all kinds of different content in here.”
Personal highlights
The pair reflect on some of the highlights of Direct from Graceland: Elvis and talk about their favourite pieces:
“The fact that we are displaying objects from his early life, like the box of crayons that he used as a kid while he was at school, shows you the depth of the collection,” says Galbraith. “And then, for me as a producer and a promoter, I’m fascinated by some of the very first contracts that Elvis signed. Looking at the historic nature of those contracts in terms of how little he was paid at the time, compared to how big he then went on to become, is interesting.”
Koravos adds:
“I love the 1969 International Hotel belt. It’s covered in 10 different animals and was made especially for him. The belt is solid silver and gold plated and encrusted in rubies and diamonds, with his name and the date on it. It’s stunningly beautiful. It’s my favourite object in the whole exhibition.
“Another favourite object is the display case that explores Elvis’ love of the police force. He was given an honorary badge and a blue light to put onto his car. He would pull people over in Memphis, and instead of giving them a ticket, he would give them his autograph. I love that story; it shows his sense of humour and generosity and how much he adored his fans.”
Extending Direct from Graceland: Elvis
The team has recently announced that the exhibition run is being extended due to popular demand:
“We’re now going to run through the summer until 1 September,” says Koravos. “The Graceland team have been back over to London to bring in new artefacts.
“So, we’ve been able to refresh the whole exhibition and add more iconic pieces, such as his Gibson leather name-adorned guitar cover that he famously performed with all the time in the 50s, his red waistcoat from the 68 Special that he famously wore on that TV show, and a whole lot more, including his gold aviator sunglasses, which will also be a part of the white glove experience.”
Direct from Graceland: Elvis stands as a respectful tribute to Elvis Presley’s enduring legacy. Through meticulous curation, immersive experiences, and unwavering authenticity, the KMJ Entertainment team, in partnership with Graceland, has crafted a memorable showcase that honours The King’s impact on music and culture.
As visitors journey through the life of The King, they’re not just spectators; they become part of the Elvis legacy—a testament to his enduring influence and cultural significance.
