As an adolescent, Elvis Presley would absorb the music of Beale Avenue and admire the fashions within the Lansky Brothers store. In fact shopping for tremendous garments was out of attain for the poor boy.
Born Jan. 8, 1935, in Tupelo, Mississippi, Elvis and his dad and mom moved to Memphis when he was 13. Cash was scarce however Elvis may dream.
Someday, Bernard Lansky noticed the teenager outdoors the window of Lansky’s on Beale. He invited Elvis in to go searching. “He mentioned, ‘I don’t have any cash however after I get wealthy, I’m going to purchase you out,’” Bernard recalled.
On the time, Lansky didn’t even know the younger man’s identify. His reply – “Don’t purchase me out. Simply purchase from me.”
That was the start of a protracted relationship. True to his phrase, Elvis did purchase a lot of his trend-setting clothes from the person who turned generally known as the “Clothier to the King.”
Whereas staying on the Peabody Lodge on my American Queen pre-cruise expertise, I loved wanting by way of the store and seeing the mementoes. Years again, I had been lucky to satisfy Bernard Lansky and listen to about his friendship with Elvis. Bernard died in 2012 at age 85.
8 Evening – Memphis to St. Louis – American Queen
Elvis’ first Lansky buy
When Elvis cashed his paycheck as an usher at Loew’s Theater, he made his first buy at Lansky’s – a $3.95 shirt. Later, for the junior-senior promenade at Humes Excessive Faculty, Elvis had the tailor create an outfit of black pants, pink coat and pink-and-black cummerbund.
Then got here the thrilling day when Elvis burst into the store and mentioned he can be showing on the Ed Sullivan Present. After Lansky had outfitted him, Elvis sheepishly admitted that he didn’t have the cash to pay for his fancy threads. “We had been the primary retailer to present Elvis a cost account,” Bernard mentioned.
Among the many standout outfits that Lansky’s provided Elvis with was his well-known gold lame jacket. Since transferring into the Peabody Lodge in 1981, Lansky’s has been a well-liked store with distinctive Elvis-themed clothes.
When Elvis died on Aug. 16, 1977, Bernard was in Dallas and hurried house as quickly as he heard the stunning information. He made the ultimate white swimsuit through which Elvis was laid to relaxation.
“I put him in his first swimsuit,” Bernard at all times mentioned. “And I put him in his final swimsuit.”
Photographs by Logan Peters
* A ebook about Bernard Lansky and Elvis is offered in Lansky’s store within the Peabody Lodge.
* Blue suede photographs are featured in Lansky Bros.
* Elvis-themed clothes is offered at Lansky Bros.
* An Elvis picture showcases a leather-based jacket at Lansky Bros.
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