Over 200 Elvis Items Up for Auction | ABC30 Fresno

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By ABC30

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Temperature is rising at Leslie Hindman auctioneers just west of the loop. This is final setup day for an Elvis Presley memorabilia auction that will knock your blue suede shoes right off your rock 'n rollin feet.

"I'm amazed by it. We have more interest in this auction than any auction we've had in five years," said Leslie Hindman with Leslie Hindman Auctioneers.

What makes this Elvis collection so special is that it all belonged to a man named Gary Pepper. And Gary Pepper had a very special friendship with Elvis Presley.

"He was one of Elvis's best friends. He was a guy who had cerebral palsy and started his first fan club and they were friends all of their lives."

All of these items were collected by Gary Pepper or given to him by Elvis. Some are worth a lot of money, others worth very little. There are many simple snapshots taken at parties, even photos of Elvis playing football. There is no other Elvis collection like it.

"This collection has the best story behind it. Even the original photographs were taken by Gary with a Polaroid Elvis gave him to take pictures," said Hindman.

Elvis died in 1977. Gary Pepper died three years later and he willed the collection to his long time nurse who is now selling.

Going up for auction: Elvis albums, photographs, autographs, Elvis clothes, and most of all, a hunk of Elvis hair. "This hair was given to Gary Pepper after a haircut Elvis had when he went into the army."

Suspicious minds might doubt that it's the real thing. But you can see for yourself starting Friday when the doors open to the public. The auction is Sunday at noon.