I was 18 when I wrote this article back in 1993 for The Elvis Beat #4, my official Elvis Presley Fan Club newsletter.
A week earlier, the world had counted down the seconds to midnight and the beginning of the new year. Now, they were counting down once again to 12 AM (Central Time) and the official release of the Elvis stamp in Memphis.
At Elvis Presley Plaza, across the street from Graceland, thousands of fans, who were already in line to purchase the stamp, loudly chanted the remaining seconds.
At midnight, a new day had dawned. It was finally January 8, the 58th anniversary of Elvis’ birth and the day that the Elvis stamp would go on sale.
As fans anxiously awaited their turns to purchase the stamp, a ceremony was taking place across the street at Graceland. 800 fans, community leaders, politicians, and the ever-present news media were gathered to watch.
US Postmaster General Marvin Runyon presented Graceland the original artwork of the Elvis stamp, which will go on display. Priscilla Presley then spoke to accept, on Lisa Marie and her children’s behalf, a special sheet of commemoratives the Postal Service traditionally gives to the family of a stamp honoree.
Priscilla said, in part, “Like all of you here tonight, I feel that if ever there was an entertainer who deserved to be honored with a stamp, unquestionably, it would be Elvis Presley. What he contributed to our music and our culture was enormous and is worthy of the greatest respect and appreciation. He was a brilliant artist and he was a good man.”
She continued, “I want to thank all of you loyal fans and, of course, the US Postal Service for making this stamp possible. Thank you, Mr. Runyon, for these beautiful commemoratives for Lisa and her daughter, Danielle, and her new little son, Benjamin. Lisa was going to send a note of acknowledgment but, instead of sending an acknowledgment, I think maybe it might be better if she thanked you in person. So, I’m very happy to introduce to you, Lisa Presley Keough.” Priscilla stepped aside.
There was a moment of stunned silence and then a roar of applause as Lisa Marie appeared for the first time ever to address her father’s fans.
Lisa Marie said, “I’m very honored. Thank you very much. I’m happy to be here to accept this for my father. It’s a great acknowledgment, and I really appreciate it. And I speak on behalf of him, my family, and myself. Thank you.” Although she seemed understandably nervous during her speech, she later appeared more at ease as she posed for pictures for the press, flashing a smile that was very reminiscent of Elvis.
After Lisa Marie’s speech, seven minutes of fireworks choreographed to Elvis’ recordings of “Return To Sender” and “An American Trilogy” lit up the sky over Graceland.
Later that day, Elvis fans who were unable to be in Memphis flocked to their local post offices to buy the stamp. At many post offices, Elvis imitators sang to fans as they waited in lines.
Normally, 150 million stamps are printed for a US commemorative stamp. Half a billion Elvis stamps were printed, easily breaking all previous records. Within a few days, most post offices around the nation were completely sold out of the stamps, making them the most successful in history. The Elvis stamp is to make one last appearance in June at post offices as part of a booklet featuring several other music stars.
