Elvis Presley’s Real Blue Suede Shoes Were Sold in an Auction
One of Elvis Presley‘s earliest hits was “Blue Suede Shoes” which has become a song synonymous with the King. At one time, Presley really owned blue suede shoes and wore them while performing the songs “I Want You, I Need You, I Love You” and “Hound Dog” on The Steve Allen Show in 1956. A few years later, when Presley was going into the U.S. Army, he gave the shoes to his friend Alan Fortas.
The size 10 and a half shoes were authenticated by the founder of the Elvis Presley Museum, Jimmy Velvet and recently sold in an auction for £120,000 (around $152,000). The bidding began at £55,000 (around $69,600) at the British auction house Henry Aldridge and Son and the shoes were snapped up pretty quickly.
Everett Collection
Included in the package with the blue suede shoes was a letter of authenticity signed by Velvet and a letter from Fortas, opening up about how he was gifted the shoes. He wrote, “The night before Elvis’ army induction here in Memphis, Elvis had an all night party at Graceland Afterwards we went to the Rainbow roller rink. When we all got home Elvis called some of us upstairs and was giving away some of his clothes he didn’t think he would be wearing or wanted when he came back from the army. That night Elvis gave me these blue suede shoes size 10 1/2. I’ve owned these all these years.”
Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images
In the same day, an outfit worn by Queen‘s Freddie Mercury in the music video for “I’m Going Slightly Mad” also sold in the auction for £197,000 (nearly $250,000). Could you see yourself buying memorabilia from a nostalgic artist if you had the extra cash? Let us know what you’d want to buy!
