Elvis Presley’s own blue suede shoes sold for near $150,000 at an auction.
The “king of rock and roll,” wore the footwear on and off stage during the 1950s, including during his appearance on the Steve Allen television show, where he sang Hound Dog.
Presley gave the size 10.5 shoes to his friend Alan Fortas after he was called up to join the U.S. army.
The singer had acquired them after performing Blue Suede Shoes by Carl Perkins on his debut album, Elvis Presley.
Auctioneers Henry Aldridge & Son in Devizes, Wiltshire held the sale on Friday. Andrew Aldridge said prior to the event the shoes “are as iconic as they can be.”
“Blue suede shoes, Hound Dog, these are things that you think of immediately when you talk about Elvis Presley, they almost transcend popular culture.
“They are just an exceptional piece of showbusiness, music and popular culture memorabilia.”
Aldridge noted the shoes have an unbroken provenance line – chronology of ownership – from Presley to the present day.
“When Elvis was joined up for the American army he had a get together at Graceland,” he revealed. “Elvis called some of these people upstairs and was giving away some of the clothes he didn’t think he’d need or want when he came back from the army.
“The gentleman concerned was Alan Fortas, he was Elvis’s branch manager and a friend of his.”
The shoes have been on display in various museums in the intervening years.
Aldridge indicated the shoes had also been verified by Jimmy Velvet, a close friend of Presley and a leading authority on the singer.
“That night Elvis gave me these blue suede shoes size 10 1/2. I’ve owned these all these years,” said Fortas who was close enough to the star to become the manager of the northern Mississippi Circle G Ranch which Presley owned for a few years in the 1960s.
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I looked up the height of Elvis to see how it was proportionate to his 10.5 shoe. He said he was six foot, but it was reported he often wore lifts in those blue suede shoes-which I’m sure you’re aware of!. 🙂
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He wore lifts? Never knew that. Those are pretty nice shoes, even if they were not famous, they are cool on their own.
Which brings me to a question: Dodie, do you have any tips on how to clean suede? I have red suede slippers lined with creamy sheep wool, and both materials need a good cleaning, but I sure can’t see throwing them in the washing machine. Help.
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https://www.wikihow.com/Clean-Suede-Shoes
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Thank you so much!
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