StoryCorps

72 years and counting

Posted by webmaster@storycorps.net in Medford, Oregon on October 29, 2005.

It was a family affair at the mobilebooth when John and Marguerite Black, married for 72 years, were interviewed in Medford, OR.

Posted by webmaster@storycorps.net October 29, 2005 No Comments

Journey to Crater Lake

Posted by webmaster@storycorps.net in Medford, Oregon on October 27, 2005.

On a day off, mobilebooth facilitator Sarah Kramer traveled solo to one of the wonders of the world: Crater Lake, the deepest lake in America created by a volcano that blew its top 6,600 years ago. Her fellow facilitator, Karen DiMattia, stayed in bed.

Posted by webmaster@storycorps.net October 27, 2005 No Comments

Graceland & Graceland Too

Posted by webmaster@storycorps.net in Memphis, Tennessee on October 25, 2005.

The world’s number one Elvis fan, Paul McCleod, resides In Holly Springs, Mississippi, midway between the King’s birthplace of Tupelo, MS and the seat of his empire in Memphis, TN. Here, he has created Graceland Too, a tribute to both Elvis’ legacy and his own consuming obsession. Every surface of the house, also Paul’s home, is covered with some sort of Elvis memorabilia.

Paul has every Elvis record, including an extremely rare one which Bill Clinton tried to buy for $250,000, but his passion goes much deeper than the music. He is building an approximation of the Jailhouse Rock set in his backyard and has binder upon binder cataloguing every appearance of, or even passing reference to, Elvis in a TV show or movie. Beyond this, he named his son Elvis Aaron Presley McCleod and plans to be buried in a replica of the rocker’s famous gold suit.

Last week we visited Graceland itself: an emotional rollercoaster of a tour culminating with a visit to Elvis’ final resting place. On the off-chance that the rumors are true and that Elvis is still with us, we left him a StoryCorps brochure in case he wants to tell his story.

Posted by webmaster@storycorps.net October 25, 2005 4 Comments

Mississippi Industrial College

Posted by webmaster@storycorps.net in Memphis, Tennessee on .

Just south of the Tennessee border is Holly Springs, Mississippi. Upon pulling into town, we came across a trio of abondoned institutional buildings. Never ones to pass up a creepy, crumbling facade, we had to explore.