REGIONAL EVENTS
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Bendigo is about to be all shook up !
Created in partnership with Graceland , Bendigo Art Gallery is set to host Elvis : Direct from Graceland between 19th March and 17th July . Executive PA Magazine finds out more about this exclusive exhibition , which will explore the extraordinary life and style of Elvis Presley
One of the most iconic public figures of the 20th century , Elvis Presley ’ s influence on music , design , art and pop culture was profound . Arguably the single greatest influence on the history of modern men ’ s fashion , he ’ s still constantly referenced and re-mixed by designers and celebrities today .
This exhibition , direct from the Graceland archive , features a wide range of costumes and ultra-cool outfits , as well as vintage memorabilia , and treasured items from his beloved home .
Fashion highlights will include Elvis and Priscilla ’ s wedding outfits ; the repurposed ’ 68 Comeback Special costume he wore to meet President Nixon ; the diamond-encrusted Maltese cross necklace designed by Linda Thompson , plus a dazzling array of Vegas jumpsuits . You ’ ll also find personal treasures , such as his gold telephone , his karate gi , his first grade crayon box and the bongos Priscilla gifted him in 1959 , marking their first
Christmas together .
During the exhibition , the tourism industry will be creating a ‘ Viva Bendigo ’ program of events and experiences to celebrate the king . From movie and dessert nights , ‘ burning love ’ special menus and ‘ blue suede choux ’ pastries to rock ‘ n ’ roll trivia nights and bright , light city activations , Bendigo will be the place to be . S
To view the Viva Bendigo program , including accommodation options , visit www . bendigotourism . com or call the team at Bendigo Visitor Centre on 1800 813 153 . Alternatively , follow @ explorebendigo on Facebook or Instagram
Bendigo is a 90-minute drive from Melbourne airport , and between 90 and 120 minutes via V / Line trains from Southern Cross Station in Melbourne . Bendigo Airport Service operates the Bendigo shuttle bus to and from Melbourne Airport offering several services per day . QantasLink operates daily between Bendigo and Sydney airports .
Elvis Presley : A brief history
From a humble childhood on the poverty line in small-town Mississippi , Elvis grew up immersed in the rich and diverse music cultures of the Deep South . Fast forward a couple of decades and , only two years after cutting his first single at the legendary Sun Studio in Memphis , Tennessee , he ’ d signed a major record deal and shot to super-stardom virtually overnight – something never been seen before .
In those early , heady years , he purchased Graceland – his private retreat – and created the haven he would never sell , despite his everincreasing fame over the following two decades .
In a time before celebrities had teams of personal stylists , Elvis carefully crafted his own look , borrowing from eclectic sources to perfect a groundbreaking new look . Decked out in threads from the ultrahip Lansky Bros . store in downtown Memphis , and complete with slick coiffed hair and black mascara , Elvis ’ appearance was as sensational as his music . His audacious style evolved over the decades , from the soft trousers and argyle socks of his youth to the leather rocker vibe of 1968 to the flamboyant bling era in the 1970s .
Auutmn Issue 2022 | Executive PA 43