| The music gate at Graceland® is a world unto itself. Prior to the 1970's, it was almost a ritual that Elvis would stroll or ride down |
| to the gate to address and exchange conversation with the crowds, often listening to their dreams and wishes, and sometimes |
| getting to know familiar faces enough to offer jobs or give away gifts. During the early years Elvis would stroll down to the music |
| gate with members of his entourage. As Elvis grew more popular, so did the crowds grow in excess to the point where it was at |
| most dangerous to be either Elvis or a fan. During the sixties, while Elvis was away filming, the crowds at the gate were well- |
| behaved and relatively less in number. After Elvis started his concert tours is when life at the music gate took a turn toward |
| en masse and eventually several guards had to be posted as diligent watchmen. The gate, men were relatives of Elvis such as his |
| uncle, Vester Presley and first cousin, Harold Lloyd. Two other reliables, Fred Stoll and Sterling Pepper, were not related. |
 Vester
Presley was perhaps the most loved of all the gate guards. A truly genuine, warm and lovable gentleman of sixty or so, always displayed kindness to fans and control, and quite often played the role of "psychiatrist" to some lovelorn or deeply agitated fans. |
| Today, the music gate at Graceland® has become a solitary shrine to Elvis Presley as fans from all over the world gather to pay |
| their respects, leaving the outside walls defaced with signatures and notes, even drawings. |
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