Happy Birthday Elvis!

Today would have been Elvis Presley's 75th birthday. His life was cut short at the young age of 42 when he passed away in August of 1977.

Spokane was fortunate enough to welcome Elvis to town three times in his career where he played at Spokane Memorial Stadium and at Spokane Coliseum.

During Elvis' first visit in 1957, he stayed at the Davenport Hotel. At the young age of 22, he played to a crowd of thousands (at the Spokane Memorial Stadium) made up mainly of young teenage girls.

An article written September 6 of 1957 published in the Spokane Chronicle posed the question: "Is it right or necessary for Spokane or any community to condone an entertainment spectacle based on vulgarity?" Oh, what would Elvis say now!

Elvis played in Spokane in April of 1973 as well as April of 1976 at the Spokane Coliseum. All shows were sold out.

Here are some photos from the 1976 show and as you can see, the girls still loved him!

Here is a link to the article from 1957: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=N5cSAAAAIBAJ&sjid=9PYDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5659,1291858&dq=elvis+spokane&hl=en

If anyone has an Elvis in Spokane story, we would love to hear it! Please feel free to post comments about your experiences. Thank you to Elvis for entertaining us for many, many years!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpzV_0l5ILI

New World War II Memorabilia Displays

WWII Servicemen crossing the street in front of The Davenport Hotel

The Davenport Hotel welcomes two new displays to Mezzanine and Palm Court Grill display cases. These display cases are constantly being changed to keep things "fresh" at the hotel. Gonzaga University was kind enough to lend the Davenport Bing Crosby memorabilia through the Holiday Season, but a new year calls for a new display!

The cases are now filled with amazing artifacts from World War II which are on loan from the Inland Northwest Living History Group (INLHWG). The idea for the display presented itself when The Davenport's Tom McArthur was chatting with his friend Russ Cameron at The Post St. Ale House. Russ Cameron's father served in WWII and had a box full of different items from that time period. Russ is also involved with the INLHWG.

Tom had mentioned to Russ that he had an old photo from a 1943 Life Magazine that pictured soldiers napping in the Davenport Hotel Lobby. Louis Davenport was known for letting soldiers nap in the lobby during World War II. Later, it was discovered that one soldier who napped in the lobby was Army Air Corpsman Walter B. Worthy who is the father of present day owner of the Davenport Hotel, Walt Worthy.

WWII Soldiers sleeping in The Davenport Hotel Lobby

Russ and Tom decided this was great way to incorporate a little hotel history with world history and show appreciation for all the men and women who serve our country. With help from the INWLHG last night, they filled up the Elizabethean Room with hundreds of memoribilia and picked out the best items to put on display.

Here are photos of some of the items:

Breakfast rations included crackers, gum and cigarettes!

Miscellaneous Items such as Flag that was sent home in lieu of a soldier

Marine Corp Uniform

Also on display is an "Ike" uniform designed by President Eisenhower.

An vintage typewriter and radio. Many letters are on display as well including one written on August 15,1945 declaring "Oh Happy Day the war is over!"

Victory mail, various letters and an old newpaper declaring "Peace!"

Thank you to everyone who helped contribute to these fascinating display cases. A special thanks Inland Northwest Living History Group. If anyone has any questions regarding the items on display, please email inwlhg@yahoo.com

And thank you to everyone who has served our country and to all who is currently serving our country!

DO YOU HAVE A STORY OF SOMEONE WHO NAPPED AT THE DAVENPORT HOTEL DURING THE WAR? We'd love to hear it! Please email sberl@thedavenporthotel.com with your story!