Offered is one of, if not THE, most astonishing Elvis Presley signed pieces we have ever offered. This Lido nightclub program was signed by Elvis FIVE TIMES during an evening in the club during his famous trip to Paris while stationed in Germany during his Army service. Elvis boldly signed his name on the front and back of the menu in neon pink ink, just doodling really, before he realized it belonged to the wife of the music executive that had joined him in Paris that evening. He was mortified that he had defaced her keepsake, apologizing again and again to Daphne Boyd, wife of Aberbach Ltd. Managing Director, Franklyn Boyd. Boyd had been sent to Paris by his American bosses Julian and Jean Aberbach to meet Elvis when he arrived (the photo at right shows Boyd, third from the left, at the Lido with Elvis and his party). It is highly likely Boyd was sent at Colonel Parker's insistence to make sure nothing untoward happened during Elvis' leave from the Army.
The accompanying handwritten letter from Daphne Boyd retells the story nicely:
My husband, Franlyn Boyd, was a wellknown broadcasting singer with the BBC who whilst still singing joined the Aberbach Music Co. (London) as Managing Director. The company represented many American artists inlcuding Elvis Presley, In June 1959, when Presley was going to be on holiday in the Army, my husband was to fly out to Paris to meet him on his arrival. Unfortunately, my husband had a last minute recording session and missed the flight. It was then suggested that I go home, pack a bag and that we drive overnight to Paris. This we did and arrived in Paris and met up with Elvis and his firends. This particular night we went to the Lido. I sat between my husband and Elvis, who during the course of the evening, scribbled his name all over my programme. He apologised profusely! Unfortunately, I had to return to London as at the time I was working for Decca Records. My husband stayed in Paris for the next few days with Elvis and his friends. My husband also spent quite some time with Elvis in Germany and became very friendly with Elvis' [grandmother]. Sadly my husband passed away very suddenly in April 2007.
We were able to corroborate Daphne's retelling of the story and confirm that the program resided in the Boyd home for several decades by speaking directly with her son. Another interesting bit of confirmation comes in the biography of British pop singer, Cliff Richard, who Boyd managed early in Richard's career. By sheer coincidence, Richard was in Germany and visited Elvis' home to try to meet him on the very day that Boyd was in Paris with Elvis!. Richard's had no idea! The 16-page full-color program features an illustration of one of the club's famous dancing girls on the cover, while the pages inside show photos of several of the various entertainers (includng the topless performers that must have wowed the young soldiers!). The program measures 8 1/4 x 10 5/8 inches and presents with one small corner of paper loss but is otherwise in very well-preserved condition. Accompanied by LOA from Beckett Authentic and a copy of the book Elvis in Paris 1959.