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1034 Audubon Drive
Memphis, TN
The house at 1034 Audubon Drive in Memphis that Elvis
would later purchase - ca. 1954
Handwerker Family Photo © Jeanne Handwerker Brink
By March of 1956 when the big money started coming in Elvis purchased his
first home, not far from his then current residence at 1414 Getwell
Road.
Next to Graceland it has become one of his more well known residences. It
is a single family four bedroom, two and 1/2 bath ranch style house with a car port built in
1954. It is located in Memphis east of downtown in a quiet residential
neighborhood south of Audubon Park and Park Avenue at 1034 Audubon
Drive. According to
Peter Guralnick in
Elvis Day by Day,
it was purchased for $29,500 from the Welsh Plywood Corporation on March
12, 1956.
The house at 1034 Audubon Drive in Memphis that Elvis
would later purchase - ca. 1954
Handwerker Family Photo © Jeanne Handwerker Brink
The home was originally built for, and owned, by Ruth and Howard
Handwerker for their family.
Simple in design, the landscape was initially unfenced and was as
accessible to area fans as was he at the time. Because of his schedule
though it would be awhile before he got to spend a single night in it.
When he was at home though it was not uncommon for fans to visit and
congregate at times to the inconvenience of the neighbors. As his
popularity grew he and his family were photographed there often, by the
local press as well Phil Harrington for Look
Magazine, Marvin Israel for
Seventeen, Al Wertheimer during his visit in
July of 1956, and Lloyd Shearer in August
of 1956 for Parade Magazine.
Elvis' house at 1034 Audubon Dr. in Memphis - 1956
Photo courtesy web
Christine Todd said her driveway was directly across the street. She and other community members watched him evolve into an icon.
After he started making movies he entertained guests there from
Vegas show girls to movies stars like Natalie Wood and Nick Adams.
Neighbors said they couldn't cross the street without a police escort
for most of the 13 months Elvis resided in the quiet neighborhood.1
Scotty with what appears to be Elvis' 1956 Plymouth wagon at the Audubon Dr. home - 1956
Photo © Saralyn
Epstein Singer
Larry Busby, owner of Front Street Deli, said he began his business
endeavors with Elvis' move to the neighborhood. "We didn't realize the
enormity of Elvis Presley, but we figured it out quickly… when you
couldn't get through Audubon Drive with a car," said Busby. He said he
began charging fans $1 to park in his driveway and front yard while his
father was at work, but was unceremoniously shut down when his dad came
home early one day and couldn't park.1
Vernon and Gladys Presley in the carport with the 1956
Harley, 1954 Series 62 and 55 Fleetwood 60
Photo courtesy web
Barb Metz-Steiner, former neighbor, said she had the best seat any
girl of that time could've asked for — her bedroom faced the home. "I
could lay in my bed, look out my window and keep track of what Elvis was
doing," said Metz-Steiner. "He was just the cutest thing and the biggest
flirt I've ever known." 1
Elvis preparing to take a ride while neighborhood kids watch in the
driveway -
May 1956
Photo by Marvin Israel © Lawrence Israel courtesy "Elvis
Presley 1956"
Beverly N. Lowe from Memphis remembers, my great grand father William
E. Nickey moved on to Audubon Dr. after Elvis was already living on the
street. He lived there until 1960. Elvis' house was 3 houses down toward
Park. My grandfather took me to visit several times during that period.
I was much taken with the music note fence and kept asking if I could go
to the Fair, because I thought there must be some kind of carnival down
the street to have music notes on the fence. When I ask my great
grandfather's nurse who lived over there she said kind of scornfully"
Oh, just some musician!" I wanted badly to go there even though I had no
idea of who Elvis was at the time. It just looked like a fun place. I
was around 3 at the time. I've of course regretted that I did not get
over to Elvis' house when I was 3!
Elvis driving out of the not yet walled or gated driveway -
May 1956
Photo by Marvin Israel © Lawrence Israel courtesy "Elvis
Presley 1956"
Just over a year ago
while researching the 1955 performances at
Messick High School the boys played in support of
Bob Neal's son, I was greatly assisted in part by members of its
alumni group. Several months ago I noticed many of them
reminiscing about the appearances there and also his early residences,
including the one at Audubon Drive which several frequented. I decided to include
a few of their posts here:
Elvis with fans in the driveway at Audubon Dr. - June 1956
Photo by Bob Williams Ger Rijff
Garnet Bridges - Someone said earlier they couldn't remember Bob Neal's sons names. One was named Tony, don't remember the other but the last name was Hobgood. They came to school selling 8x10 black and white autographed pics of Elvis for $1. and I didn't buy one. How many times have I kicked myself.
Someone ought to get Ardath Werne Michaels to tell her tales of Elvis, also Angie Stamson Baker. She was friends with Elvis cousin and went to his home. Ardath had some stories about the old Rainbow Swimming Pool and the juke box with
Elvis.
Elvis with fans on the patio at Audubon Dr. - June 1956
Photo by Bob Williams courtesy Ger Rijff
Elvis and fans in the carport and backyard at Audubon Dr. in Memphis - July 4, 1956
Photo ©, Al Wertheimer. All rights reserved.
Pat McDaniel - Elvis came to see Miss Kenner several times at Messick, seeking her advice.
John Green - I remember teachers walking out in protest of his wiggle and girls crying and screaming. Great time to be young!
Jeff Buchwald - The story goes that after one of the Messick performances, Miss Kenner said to him, "You sing well, young man, but you've got to stop all that shaking around!" to which Elvis answered, "It's what I do Ma'am."
Fans in the driveway at Audubon Dr. in Memphis - July 1956
Photo by Lloyd Shearer courtesy Ger Rijff''s
Memphis Lonesome
The walled but not yet fenced front yard at Audubon Dr. -
July 1956
Photo by Lloyd Shearer courtesy Ger Rijff's
Memphis Lonesome
Franklin Plunk - of course all of us our age has an Elvis story. I lived at 3886 Philsdale within eyesight of
Getwell location, we would see him at the service station, nice mannerly person would
invite us over to play pool. I was more impressed with Scotty Moore, he had a brand new style.
Patricia Cockrell Hill - I used to see Elvis riding around in the neighborhood a lot.
Gladys and Elvis in the pre expanded family room at
Audubon Dr. - July 1956
Photo by Lloyd Shearer courtesy Ger Rijff's
Memphis Lonesome
Debi Islaub Mann - I remember seeing him on his motorcycle with his entourage in the
Park Ave area. He always waved and roared off!!!
Karen Albin - He used to come into the record shop on Park in the
Park/Belz Shopping Center, talk to whoever was there and sign records.
Fans inside the, now fenced, wall collecting blades of
grass from Elvis' lawn - 1956
Life Magazine Photo source
Jon Reed
Elvis with his 1954 tour limo
and 1956 Harley in the carport at
Audubon Dr.
Photo courtesy Ger Rijff
Glenn Rose Franklin - I remember when he had the duplex on Getwell
close to your house with a small skill pool table...then he moved to
Audubon drive where we would talk after one of his road trips.
Elvis with a fan at the driveway gate
Photo courtesy web
Phyllis J. Southall - Pretty sure it was Getwell and Kimball.
Patricia Cockrell Hill - Right at Getwell and Kimball. They moved the house around on Kimball when they built, I think it was an auto parts store. It was in the 1400 block of Getwell. I lived at 1591 Echles just 2 blocks west and south of his house.
Elvis on his new 1957 Harley-Davidson FLH
in the rear driveway at Audubon Dr. - ca. fall 1956
Photo by Ted Bruehl
B. W. Barfield (Mr. B.) of the Memphis Harley-Davidson
Co. and Vernon at Audubon Dr. - ca. fall 1956
Photo courtesy web
John Earhart - The house was on the east side of Audubon and had a brick wall with a musical scale and notes between brick
columns. I wonder if the notes were from a song?
Patricia Cockrell Hill - I was close, the one
on Getwell was 1414 Getwell. The one on Audubon was 1034. My sister's
brother-in-law bought it after Elvis moved to Graceland.
Elvis at Audubon Dr. - Nov. 56
Photo courtesy web
John Earhart - My wife Kay used to live on Fizer Ave, about 5-7 blocks from Elvis's pre-Graceland home. They walked up to the side door in the carport as I recall and knocked on the door. A lady answered and when they asked if Elvis was home she said no and told them they better run along. That house was on the way between my home and Kay's.
Elvis talking to fans behind the fence from the front
yard at Audubon Dr. - ca. Jan. 1957
Photo courtesy web
Theresa Mormino - My sister was at Messick when he did and she has her year book with the picture in it.
One time, Barbara Fant and a bunch of us girls loaded up and drove to that pre-Graceland house and did the same thing. Knocked on the door and as I recall, Gladys answered and pretty much told us the same thing.
Elvis talking to fans behind the fence from the front
yard at Audubon Dr. - ca. 1957
Photo courtesy web
Ester Hardesty - True story. Walked to Elvis' house when he lived off Park Ave. in the Audubon Park area with some friends. We walked around to his back yard. We could see the family having dinner through a sliding glass door. By this time a crowd was gathering. Elvis picked up a Gallon size glass milk bottle and started to drink from the bottle. One of the silly girls in the crowd screamed (not me). At this point Elvis came out to talk to us. He got one of his motor scooters out and started taking everyone for a ride. As it started to get dark, his Mom came outside and told him he should stop the rides as there was no lights on the scooter. I was very disappointed as I never got to ride with him. He then started kissing all the girls before he went back inside. So, I am proud to say that I got a KISS on the lips from Elvis Presley. That was much better than a motor scooter ride. Oh yes, I did get some blades of grass from his yard as a souvenir.
The home at 1034 Audubon Dr. when Mike Hazen and Cindy Freeman owned it
- Aug. 2002
Photo © James V. Roy
The rear driveway and expanded living area where the patio was at
Audubon Dr. - Aug. 2002
Photo © James V. Roy
Elvis had several modifications done to
the home during his stay there. The carport became a garage with doors
in the front and back with the driveway extending through to the rear of
the house. The bricked patio became enclosed and part of an expansion of
the living room. He had fences and a brick wall installed and the
wrought iron gates and fencing, with musical notes encircled on a staff, on top of that. He also had a pool installed.
the front room just off the kitchen - Aug. 2002
Photo © James V. Roy
Elvis expanded the rear patio into this large family room at Audubon Dr.
- Aug. 2002
Photo © James V. Roy
The fireplace and den at Audubon Dr. - Aug. 2002
Photo © James V. Roy
By March of 1957 his popularity was such that he sought privacy and
found it, likely to the dismay of fans but to the relief of his Audubon neighbors, down highway 51 at
Graceland, which at the time was virtually "out in the country."
The Audubon Drive home was part of the purchase price and
became the home of Ruth Brown Moore who had sold him Graceland, built by her
husband in 1939 and named for her aunt Grace, the original owner of the
property.
They removed several layers of wallpaper to reveal what was no doubt put
in for Elvis - Aug. 2002
Photo © James V. Roy
The house had since sold about eight times at market value when it was purchased by Mike Freeman and Cindy Hazen,
co-authors of
Memphis-Elvis Style,
for about $180,000. While living in it they
attempted to maintain it and restore it to the look as when Elvis owned
it. They opened it to the fans at times and during the summer would host
pool parties during Elvis week. The musical notes on the fence had
at some point bee removed.
One of the bathrooms at Audubon Dr. - Aug. 2002
Photo © James V. Roy
In 2006 after a controversial ebay auction the house was purchased by
Mike Curb for $1
Million, whose
foundation among other things also owns RCA
Studio B. No longer open to the public it is overseen by the Mike
Curb Institute at Rhodes College. They've since repainted it to a color
similar to one when Elvis owned it, restored the brick facade and among the renovations, removed
the pool.
1034 Audubon Drive in Memphis - May 10, 2006
Photo © James V. Roy
Removing the pool at 1034 Audubon Dr. - 2006
Photo courtesy eBay
John Bass, the director of the institute said, As stewards of the house we look for interesting things to do with the house. It's sorta the history of Elvis without Elvis in it.1
The house at 1034 Audubon drive as it looks today,
musical staffs still in the fence but no notes - Sep. 30, 2011
Photo ©
Jon Reed
page added October 21, 2013
Special Thanks to the members of
Messick High School
Alumni Facebook group and Beverly N. Lowe for their input and allowing us to share some of their recollections
on this page.
1 according to or excerpt from
Elvis' former neighbors part of Rhodes College documentary By
Timberly Moore, The Commercial Appeal - January 15, 2013
The paperwork
Larry Moss was kind
enough to share copies of the documents he owns pertaining to the Elvis'
Audubon Drive home and are presented here:
The front page of the sales contract signed March 5, 1956
upon receipt of $500 deposit
© Larry Moss
Transcription of the typewritten terms is as follows:
March 5, 1956
Elvis Presley, Vernon Presley and wife Gladys Presley, parties of First part
Five Hundred & 00/100 ($500.00) by check
for property known as:
1034 Audubon Drive, Memphis, Tenn.
Attic fan, electric dish washer, garbage disposal, plumbing and heating system to be in good working condition. House to be free of termites.
House is to be given a thorough cleaning and floors cleaned and waxed and shined before purchasers move in.
Parties of First Part
Twenty nine thousand five two hundred fifty
($29,500.00) $29,250.00 E.P.
$7,000.00 cash to be paid at time of closing of which the earnest money is a part.
Purchasers to assume the existing first mortgage loan on the property of approximately
$17,500.00 $17,228.13 payable at approximately $160.61 per month which includes principal, interest, taxes and insurance. For the balance of the purchase price of $5,000.00, seller agrees to accept a second mortgage to be paid by the purchasers at
the rate of $250.00 per month plus interest at 5% until sum is paid.
Escrow Account of $335.75 to be refunder seller.
E.A.P
V.E.P.
G.L.P.
The back page of the sales contract signed March 5, 1956
upon receipt of $250 deposit
© Larry Moss
This is the Title insurance policy that was attached to the Sales
Contract
© Larry Moss
The title guaranty that the Presleys provided when the Audubon house was traded to Ruth Brown
Moore
towards the purchase price of Graceland.
© Larry Moss
section appended October 21, 2013
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