Elvis Presley’s Hilarious Christmas Food Prank Stunned the Memphis Mafia
Elvis Presley loved Christmas but also had a devilish streak that presented itself during holiday gift-giving. The King of Rock and Roll once pulled a hilarious food prank that stunned members of the Memphis Mafia who were expecting gifts quite different than what they received.
Elvis Presley pulled a jaw-dropping food-filled Christmas prank on the Memphis Mafia
In a Gates of Graceland video, the home’s archivist Angie Marchese shared details of one Christmas when Elvis Presley decided to play a food-filled prank on members of the Memphis Mafia. It happened in 1972 when Elvis heard some men who worked for him discussing their Christmas bonuses.
Marchese said, “For Elvis at Christmas it wasn’t about receiving, it was about giving. It was about seeing the reaction on people’s faces when he would give them things.”
“Probably one of the best stories that I heard was the year that he overheard some of the entourage guys talking about their Christmas bonuses. So he went down the street and got them all McDonald’s gift certificates.” The certificates were worth 50 cents apiece.
After getting a kick out of the shock registering on his friends’ faces, Elvis went on to distribute the yearly bonus to his team. The joke was his way of pulling a fast one on his friends.
Elvis later received a letter from the manager of the McDonald’s thanking him for purchasing the gift certificates from the local eatery. It read, “It certainly was a pleasure reading of your recent practical joke in utilizing McDonald’s Christmas gift certificates.”
The letter continued, “I am happy that you felt that even though the value of these certificates was only 50 cents each, the quality of the product was good enough for your closest friends. It is my understanding that you occasionally stop at McDonald’s yourself, and we are happy to have you as one of our customers.”
It concluded, “If in the future we can be of any assistance in any personal charitable endeavor you take on, we will certainly attempt to fulfill any needs you may have.”
Elvis Presley celebrated Christmas with family and friends for days
According to Danny Smith, Elvis Presley’s cousin, a celebratory mood took over Graceland in the days leading up to Christmas. The King of Rock and Roll spent those days having fun with family and friends, with the celebration leading up to the wee hours of the morning on Christmas Day.
Then, most of Elvis’ inner circle would depart, leaving him and Prisiclla and later, Lisa Marie, to enjoy the holiday with their immediate family. Elvis deeply enjoyed this time of year and made it a point to ensure the Christmas holiday was memorable for those he loved.
Although Elvis was a great gift-giver, he wasn’t as interested in receiving them. Danny admitted on his Memphis Mafia Kid YouTube channel that family members typically purchased everyday items for the King of Rock and Roll.
“Believe it or not, we bought him your normal stuff. One year, we were excited because we bought him a new recliner. It was upstairs in his office. He kept it up there and used it.”
What was Christmas like at Graceland?
Elvis Presley ensured that Christmas at his Graceland home was a time of joy and happiness. After a year of hard work, it was a time for fun, good food, and generosity.
Elvis hosted the holiday every year, welcoming those who worked for him to enjoy the fruits of his labor. There was plenty of food, drinks, delicious desserts, and music in the home during that time, where visitors were encouraged to help themselves to however much they wanted.
The home was decorated for the holiday with festive red drapes, and poinsettia plants. Elvis also had two stunning Christmas trees in the dining room and living room.
The dining room tree was a traditional green, covered in family ornaments and tinsel. In the living room, a stark white tree with red balls added a festive touch to the room.
Elvis kept his Christmas decorations up through the beginning of January. They were taken down after Jan. 8, his birthday.
