Offered are Elvis Presley's 1956 blue suede shoes-perhaps one of the most iconic pair of shoes in entertainment history! We'll grant you Dorothy's ruby slippers, fine, but the offered shoes were worn by Elvis on his infamous 1956 appearance on The Steve Allen Show where he sang "Hound Dog" to an actual hound dog. And they are the only pair of Elvis Presley blue suede shoes with strong photo evidence supporting the fact that Elvis indeed wore them.
Elvis eventually gave the shoes to Memphis Mafia member and dear friend Alan Fortas. Fortas' accompanying signed letter reads in part:
The night before Elvis' army induction here in Memphis Elvis had a [sic] all night party at Graceland. Afterwards we went to the Rainbow roller rink. When we all got home Elvis called some of us upstairs and was giving away some of his clothes he didn't think he would be wearing or wanted when he came back form the army. That night Elvis gave me these blue suede shoes size 10 1/2. I've owned these all these years.
Photographer Alfred Wertheimer accompanied Elvis during his stay in New York and on his way home to Tennessee--his images of Elvis on the return train trip to Memphis are some of the most well-known in the young singer's career. Wertheimer was at The Steve Allen Show that day, and photographed Elvis backstage and during the show, where Elvis performed not only with the hound dog, but in another musical sketch with Allen. Elvis indicated that he was wearing blue suede shoes that night, telling the audience so before singing "I Want You, I Need You, I Lover You," and Wertheimer confirmed this fact in his later recollections. The published Wertheimer photos show shoes of this shape and indicate certain similar characteristics, but were never conclusive. However, photos only recently seen for the first time--outtakes from Wertheimer's archive--are much more telling. These new shots, details of which can be seen at left, show the white stitching on the top edge of the sole, the arrangement and location of the lace holes on the top of the shoe and the exact shape of the shoes' upper and heel. This is very strong evidence to support the offered shoes being the ones Elvis wore that night.
The shoes are also accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity from the Elvis Presley Museum signed by Jimmy Velvet which attests to his opinion that the shoes are authentic. The "Nunn Bush" "Clyde" model blue suede shoes present with moderate to heavy wear to the heels, soles and interior, but are not damaged. The suede uppers present in supple condition. The logo is stamped into the inner sole and heel of each shoe--the inner sole of each shoe also has the size "10 1/2" stamped into it. Excellent condition overall.