December 1999

Events teem with spirit of holidays this weekend Date: 12/4/99 Category: News Page: B3 LARRY AULT ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE **STATE EDITION** Devotees of holiday events have a full schedule to choose from this weekend in central Arkansas, thanks to a full slate of Christmas parades and the annual holiday lighting ceremony at the state Capitol. The Capitol ceremony will begin at 5 p.m. today with Mickey and Minnie Mouse from Disney World capturing the spotlight. Other guests include Matthew Midyett, 10, of El Dorado, youth representative of Easter Seals, and Connor Thompson, 6, of North Little Rock, child representative of Easter Seals. A special guest will be Oneta Hayden of Raytown, Mo., a former Little Rock resident who turned on the Capitol lights in 1949. Mitzi, Breezy and Jennings Osborne, who donated this year's lights, will also attend. So will the famous ducks of Memphis' Peabody Hotel. An estimated 3 million lights will decorate the Capitol and its grounds this year. Additions include 18 recently refurbished horses from the "Over the Jumps" Carousel that operated at Little Rock's Fair Park for many years. The lighting caps the annual downtown Big Jingle Jubilee Christmas Parade, which will begin at 4 p.m. This year's parade is sponsored by the Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau's "Big on Little Rock" program and SunCom Wireless Network, along with help from the Downtown Partnership of Little Rock. Ninety-seven entries will participate in the parade, which begins at Second and Broadway, travels south to Capitol Avenue and ends at the Capitol in time for the lighting. The parade will feature more than 30 floats sponsored by local corporations and community groups. Helping kick off the parade will be the of ficial grand marshals, who include the cast from the Arkansas Repertory Theatre's production of A Christmas Carol. The parade will conclude with a float, sponsored by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, carrying Santa and Mrs. Claus. Today's first parade in the capital city -- southwest Little Rock's 22nd annual Christmas procession -- is to begin at 11 a.m. The parade will travel down Geyer Springs Road from Interstate 30 and end at McClellan Community High School. Jacksonville's Christmas parade, highlighting local residents' creativity, is to start at 1 p.m. Teams of judges will begin working two hours earlier, critiquing each entry by appearance, performance and originality. Points will be given for use of this year's theme, "The 12 Days of Christmas." At 2 p.m. Sunday, the North Little Rock Christmas Parade will begin at Pershing Boulevard and wind toward downtown, going south on Main Street and ending at the Mercantile Bank at East Washington Avenue and Broadway. In Maumelle, residents will participate in the city's first tree-lighting ceremony from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Sunday at Lake Valencia behind the Maumelle Public Library -- a day after the library's "Trim the Tree" open house from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Saturday. Besides singing Christmas carols at the ceremony Sunday, residents can take photographs with Santa and drop off donations for Toys for Tots. Next weekend Sherwood's annual Christmas parade will be held on Kiehl Avenue at 2 p.m. Dec. 12, featuring the theme "Christmas through the 20th Century." Two miles south of Perryville, one mile off Arkansas 10, the Living Nativity will be held from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. Dec. 10-11 at Heifer Ranch in five drive-by segments featuring live characters and the animals of the ranch.

Parade canceled in downtown LR by bad weather But morning start for event on southwest side beats rain Date: 12/5/99 Category: News Page: B1 LARRY AULT AND MARK MINTON ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE CORRECTION 120699 James Vandiver is chief of the state Capitol police. A story Sunday identified him incorrectly. Looming bad weather prompted sponsors to cancel the Christmas parade Saturday in downtown Little Rock and disrupted the holiday lighting ceremony at the state Capitol, but a few hours earlier the seasonal floats rolled as expected in southwest Little Rock and Jacksonville. At the Capitol, Secretary of State Sharon Priest abruptly ordered the Christmas lights turned on nearly half an hour early in a move to clear the crowd after a tornado was reported in Saline County. The tornado remained unconfirmed Saturday night, but concerns about severe weather confounded Little Rock's holiday plans from the start. First, organizers called offthe city's annual Christmas parade. Then they had to change their plans for the Capitol lighting ceremony, bringing the pre-lighting festivities, which included appearances by Mickey Mouse and the Jennings Osborne family, inside the Capitol instead of holding the events outside as planned. The last-minute changes created confusion. As the crowd that formed outside the Capitol for the 5 p.m. lighting ceremony waited for the lights to go on, many spectators apparently were unaware that officials did not plan to pull the switch until about 6 p.m. -- at the end of a festive pre-lighting program that was taking place inside. While a standing-room only crowd inside the building watched the program unfold live and on a big-screen television screen set up in the rotunda, spectators outside stood behind barriers placed at the foot of the Capitol steps, waiting for the lights to go on while anxiously scanning the skies for the approaching storm. A few raindrops fell, lightning flashed and about 5:30 p.m., a representative from the secretary of state's office announced from the steps that the crowd should take shelter because of lightning. Few heard him. Inside, the program was proceeding on schedule -- until police officials monitoring the storm heard reports of tornadoes in Saline County and sent word to Priest, about 5:40 p.m., to throw the switch immediately so the crowd outside would disperse. Interrupting the program, Priest led a quick countdown, and the switch was thrown. "We've got some folks outside, and we've got a tornado," Priest explained to the crowd under the rotunda. "For their safety, we're going to go ahead and throw the switch." Oneta Hayden, a Missouri woman selected to turn on the lights because she flipped them on 50 years ago as a child, never got the chance. The lights went on, and shortly after driving rains hit and the crowd outside was gone. Inside, the festivities continued, with a walk-through by four of the famous Peabody Hotel ducks from Memphis, who waddled a lap in the rotunda, and a warm welcome for the Osborne family, who provided some 3 million lights for the Capitol. There also were special appearances from Mickey and Minnie Mouse, among other notables. At the end of it all, the weather was so threatening that Priest asked the attendees to stay until the storms passed. "Would everybody please stay in the building until we tell you it's safe to leave?" she asked. Organizers improvised to extend the program, entertaining the crowd with Christmas carols. Little Rock Police Chief James Vandiver recommended the crowd stay because of the tornado reports, saying it would be unwise to send traffic toward Saline County. The southwest Little Rock parade fared better, beating the line of thunderstorms with hours to spare, thanks to a starting time of 11 a.m. Two hours later, on the other side of the river, Jacksonville's 42nd annual Christmas procession won the race against the elements as well, proceeding along Main Street despite blustery, overcast conditions and a few raindrops. The parade started up Main with a Jacksonville police car and a procession of firetrucks and ambulances in the lead. Close behind were state Rep. Pat Bond, D-Jacksonville, and Pulaski County Judge Buddy Villines, who threw handfuls of candy out the windows of a silver sedan, sending children scrambling. The procession went on for more than an hour, and by the time it ended, more than 200 entrants had passed the reviewing stand -- Cub Scouts, beauty queens, floats, marching bands, dancers, Shriners in go-carts and 21 honking Volkswagens rolling under the banner of the Central Arkansas Volksfolks, whose slogan was "Bugs, Not Drugs." At the end of the line, Santa Claus passed in a white Chrysler LeBaron GT convertible. In southwest Little Rock, sponsors said weather concerns played a role in the area's 22nd annual parade, probably reducing the number of participants and affecting the size of the turnout. Some of the spectators who lined Geyer Springs Road near McClellan Magnet High School carried umbrellas. Light rain fell in parts of the city late Saturday morning, but it spared the parade. A crowd of youngsters and adults gathered along Geyer Springs as the parade began with the blue lights of the patrol units of the Little Rock Police Department clearing the road of regular traffc. One couple wandered up from a parking lot and after seeing the blue lights in the distance asked if a traffc accident had occurred. The couple, after being told the blue lights meant the Christmas parade was about to begin, stayed and watched for the next hour as the procession rolled by. Another man arrived with his video camera to shoot home movies of the last Christmas parade of the 1 900s in southwest Little Rock. Even though the sky was cloudy, temperatures remained in the 60s. Vendors walked up and down the parade route selling cotton candy, and Little Rock firefighters riding by threw hard candy to the pavement for children. A few offcials, such as Priest and state Rep. Jim Lendall, D-Mabelvale, waved at the crowd from passing cars. A Brownie troop rode in style in a Central Arkansas Transit Authority trolley-style bus. Parade coordinator Sharrell Tate said the procession was shorter than usual, thanks to an expected conflict with the downtown parade and the Capitol lighting ceremony. Little Rock City Director Joan Adcock said the parade was shorter by 10 to 15 floats. Even so, she said, "we're pleased with it. I think maybe we had more people watching."

Let there be lights Date: 12/7/99 Category: News Page: B5 Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/MICHELLE POSEY An employee for Jennings Osborne strings lights on a frame for a giant Christmas tree Monday afternoon in Little Rock's Riverfront Park. The tree will be a part of the Osborne Family lighting display.

Riverfront light display Date: 1 2/10/99 Category: News Page: B4 Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/STEPHEN B. THORNTON Paige Tucker of Bryant walks through Little Rock's Riverfront park Thursday night after Christmas lights were switched on during a ceremony that included Jennings Osborne, who sponsored the light display, and Mayor Jim Dailey. The free display will remain in the park through the first week in January.

Events teem with spirit of holidays this weekend Date: 12/3/99 Category: News Page: B2 LARRY AULT ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE Devotees of holiday events have a full schedule to choose from this weekend in central Arkansas, thanks to a full slate of Christmas parades and the annual holiday lighting ceremony at the state Capitol. The Capitol ceremony will begin at 5 p.m. Saturday with Mickey and Minnie Mouse from Disney World capturing the spotlight. Other guests include Matthew Midyett, 10, of El Dorado, youth representative of Easter Seals, and Connor Thompson, 6, of North Little Rock, child representative of Easter Seals. A special guest will be Oneta Hayden of Raytown, Mo., a former Little Rock resident who turned the Capitol lights on in 1949. Mitzi, Breezy and Jennings Osborne, who donated this year's lights, will also attend. So will the famous ducks of Memphis' Peabody Hotel. An estimated 3 million lights will decorate the Capitol and its grounds this year. Additions include 18 recently refurbished horses from the "Over the Jumps" Carousel that operated at Little Rock's Fair Park for many years. The lighting caps the annual downtown Big Jingle Jubilee Christmas Parade, which will begin at 4 p.m. This year's parade is sponsored by the Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau's "Big on Little Rock" program and SunCom Wireless Network, along with help from the Downtown Partnership of Little Rock. Ninety-seven entries will participate in the parade, which begins at Second and Broadway, travels south to Capitol Avenue and ends at the Capitol in time for the lighting. The parade will feature more than 30 floats sponsored by local corporations and community groups. Helping kick off the parade will be the of ficial grand marshals, who include the cast from the Arkansas Repertory Theatre's production of A Christmas Carol. The parade will conclude with a float, sponsored by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, carrying Santa and Mrs. Claus. Saturday's first parade -- southwest Little Rock's 22nd annual Christmas procession -- is to begin at 11 a.m. The parade will travel down Geyer Springs Road from Interstate 30 and end at McClellan Community High School. Jacksonville's Christmas parade, highlighting local residents' creativity, is to start at 1 p.m. Teams of judges will begin working two hours earlier, critiquing each entry by appearance, performance and originality. Points will be given for use of this year's theme, "The 12 Days of Christmas." At 2 p.m. Sunday, the North Little Rock Christmas Parade will begin at Pershing Boulevard and wind toward downtown, going south on Main Street and ending at the Mercantile Bank at East Washington Street and Broadway. In Maumelle, residents will participate in the city's first tree-lighting ceremony from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Sunday at Lake Valencia behind the Maumelle Public Library -- a day after the library's "Trim the Tree" open house from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Saturday. Besides singing Christmas carols at the ceremony Sunday, residents can take photographs with Santa and drop off donations for Toys for Tots. Next weekend Sherwood's annual Christmas parade will be held on Kiehl Avenue at 2 p.m. Dec. 12, featuring the theme "Christmas through the 20th Century."

Light spectacle glows with festive spirit 'Field is my easel,' says designer who illuminates nights Date: 12/24/99 Category: News Page: B1 KENNETH HEARD ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE LEACHVILLE -- Picasso had oils to portray his stark, angled characters. Monet worked with muted watercolors for pastoral settings. M.C. Escher sketched his drawings of spatial relationships with graphite pencils. For his holiday mosaics, Tom Flowers uses Christmas lights. Lots of them, too. Two point two million of them in fact. Twenty-two thousand strands of lights and 600 miles of extension cords snake their way across the 92-acre estate of cotton magnate Charles "Boe" Adams, who lives two miles east of Leachville, a Mississippi County farming town of 1,743. Figures wrapped in lights are illuminated sequentially by a computer to give the appearance of ice skaters gliding on a frozen pond. In another display elves appear to play tennis as a large ball bounces in from a nearby cotton field. Elsewhere, a cross-country skier negotiates a hill, and Santa's factory pumps out toys. "The field is my easel," Flowers says. It's a showcase of Christmas lighting, a beacon on northeast Arkansas' horizon -- literally. The lights can be seen from the Missouri state line about eight miles to the north. Like the opening of an art gallery, people have flocked from miles to experience the vista of lights. "We're basically amateurs," Adams says, clearly enjoying the attention the displays are attracting. "It's all trial and error. I want something, and Tom draws it out. We plan what we want to do, and then we do it." . . . The man who strings 2.2 million lights across 92 acres of a lush garden estate has three words of advice to Christmas lighting wannabes: "Keep it simple," Flowers says as he drives around Adams' property earlier this week to check the displays. While most the lights are extravagantly assembled, a lone cross sits in a field away from the rest of the splash of lights. The cross is Adams' favorite. It cost $3. "I've always loved Christmas lights," he said. "I do this to bring a lot of joy to the people." This is the fourth year Adams has invited the public to tour his property during the holidays. Each year the Christmas montage has grown, both in size and in the number of visitors. Adams first only lighted the boulevard to his home. Then Flowers added snow scenes the second year and assembled animated displays the third year. But for 1999 Adams wanted to go all out. "Boe came to me this summer and said, 'I don't want people to just say, 'Wow!' I want them to say, 'Wow, wow, wow!"' said Flowers, who works as Adams' landscaper the rest of the year. Twenty people were needed to set up this year's displays. They began working on the production in October. It takes nine transformers and 4,000 amps of power to light the series of displays. An average home uses roughly 200 amps. Adams won't divulge how much he spends a year on the display, nor will he say how much he pays for his electricity. "It's a lot," he assures. Two days after Christmas, Flowers and his team will take the entire display down and store it. . . . The tour begins each night about 10 minutes after sunset and is free. Motorists are asked to donate to the Leachville Goodfellows, an organization that provides food and clothing to the needy. Flowers said he expects to collect more than $40,000 this year. Traffic was backed up for two miles on Arkansas 77 to the Leachville Phillips 66 station last Sunday as motorists drove through the three-quarter mile stretch across Adams' property. As many as 100,000 people will see the lights this year, Adams says. "We've had people come from all over," City Treasurer Treasa Austin said. "Boe's brought a lot of publicity to this town." Known for its peaches, Leachville may soon have a twin-billing claim to fame. SwihartPeach Orchard has long been a landmark in the small town. People travel from miles around each summer to pick and buy the juicy crop the orchards produce. "I told Boe that this thing is going to outgrow Leachville," said Bob Roe, a retired Leachville resident. "It's headed in that direction. He said he'd scale back if it got too big, but this is what we're known for now." Don and Shirley Dickinson made the 20-mile trip from Paragould on Monday to see the lights. They went to Opryland in Nashville last week, but it didn't compare. "They've got nothing like this in Nashville," Don said. "It's worth the drive over." Lots of visitors stop by the Phillips 66 station and convenience store in Leachville to ask for directions to the Adams estate. "I've never seen anything like that," Lorri Bates, a clerk at the store, said of the display. Bates has two children, and "we've gone three times," she said. "Once each for both of them and once for me." She said, "Everyone loves something different about it." . . . "Remember," Flowers said Tuesday, pausing for effect. "Less is more." He grinned for a moment as if pleased by divulging an ancient holiday secret. Then he spotted trouble. Within minutes of opening the estate to the throng of nightly motorists, Flowers saw that one of a series of ice skater displays on a large pond had fallen. Flowers grabbed his portable radio and summoned help. Seconds later, Manual Navarro slid into rubber waders, stepped into the chilly water and fixed the display. Traffic continued to back up on the tree-lined boulevard to Adams' home and spilled out onto Arkansas 77. Dressed in a toy soldier suit, R.D. Jackson waited for word to start allowing the motor procession onto the grounds. Flowers keyed his radio microphone and asked another worker about a missing star atop a gazebo. The star had been taken down for repairs and would soon return. "It's like this a lot now," Flowers said, the smile returning. Inside an offce building near the back of Adams' property, Kevin Cooper fiddled with a voltage tester and a tangle of extension cords. It's Cooper's first year to work on the lights. "It's great," he said. "I find myself nit-picking other houses' displays." . . . Unlike the lighting extravaganza of Jennings Osborne of Little Rock, who annually bathed his Cantrell neighborhood with millions of lights, Adams' Christmas exhibition is well-received. Osborne adorned his mansion yearly with as many as 3 million lights until the Arkansas Supreme Court ruled in 1995 that his bright display created a nuisance. Osborne now oversees lighting displays at Walt Disney World, the state Capitol in Little Rock and other Arkansas towns. But unlike Osborne's effort, the Adams lights are spread out over a wide area. And he has no neighbors close by. No one has complained about very much light. Born in Leachville, the 65-year-old Adams amassed his wealth in insurance, cotton and the stock market. He drew some scrutiny last year and statewide news attention when it was revealed he was one of six major contributors to Action America Inc., a political group that paid for speaking engagements, including some by Gov. Mike Huckabee. Adams donated $15,000 to the group from 1994-96. . . . Flowers doesn't bother decorating his Leachville home with Christmas lights. "We're doing it all here," he said. "Besides, we've bought up all the lights. I bet you can't find any around here anyway." While traffc slowly wended through Adams' property, Flowers was already planning next year's show. There's a large, open space on the eastern edge of Adams' property that begs for development. Flowers looked at the field, quickly darkening as daylight faded. "I see a mountain here," he said. "We can do that. We can elevate some lights to give it the appearance of a towering mountain." He paused again and looked around. "Who knows? Maybe next year we'll see a tractor there and a crop duster flying overhead." The artist is still at work. Map: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Adams Estate

'Tis the season For a fine time in rhyme Date: 12/24/99 Category: Editorial Page: B6 Christmas Eve is jingle time, Fit subject for a merry rhyme, With hearts lit up, and trees aglow, And Santa -- hold on -- what's this? -- WOAH! Here Santa sits, a sorry slump, "All hope is gone," he groans, "aww, grump!" Q: Dear Santa, why this Christmas funk? A: My sky-high scheme has gone ker-plunk! Q: Dear Santa, what idea's turned sour? A: My tallest dream: The Tinsel Tower. This swell arena, nothing lacks Except the sucker's fulla cracks. Q: Dear Santa, can't the tower be fixed? A: Wah! Rudolph tried, and still it's nixed. My elves pitched in, and still it leaks. The ceiling sags, the carpet squeaks. I tried myself to patch the walls, But still they droop, And hence -- my squalls. But then, he whoops a merry yelp: "Say! . . . maybe with a little help, We might yet have this building done In time for loads of Christmas fun. But who will hammer? Who will saw? Who, who in Arkansas, who, hah?" No sooner does he blab his need Than who should answer Santa's screed But Phil McMath, who pounds a nail, While Bob Brown hauls a handy pail Of putty, quick to Betsey Wright, And, my, is she a putty sight. Jay Bradford, with a mighty swwwww-ipe, Paints Santa's walls all candy stripe; Mark Pryor lays lineolum By rule of Santa's big red thumb; Richard Arnold, sweaty, grabs towel; Nick Wilson? He throws in the trowel. Jim Dailey bolts the seats in place; Jay Dickey fits a festive brace That makes the hot-dog stand complete. Ray Thornton stirs quick-set concrete, And builds new beams, a special treat: They keep the ceiling offthe street. "We're done!" cries Santa. "What a feat!! There's nothing more to say but -- EAT! Come, Kathy Wells, Tim Massanelli, Come, Fay Jones, and fill your belly." Jennings Osborne serves wassail, And ribs, and bibs and deep-fried quail. Slaw, beans, fries and chocolate pie, Plates heaped high as Red Hawk flies, Welcome all who've bent to task. Who's been good? No need to ask. Doyle Webb? Check. Blanche Lincoln? Yup. Bill Valentine? The butter's up. "It's time to open Tinsel Tower! Tell your friends that now's the hour, " Santa shouts, "All tell! All tell! Sharon Priest, run forth and yell. Houston Nutt, go deep, go deep. Rouse 'em from their yuletide sleep. " Tinsel Tower meets every test: Plumbing, wiring, all the rest. All but one, and this is it: "Say McIntosh, come pitch a fit," Says Santa. "See what you can do. This structure withstands even you." All doubt is out! All gloom is gone! As Santa welcomes Elton John, Hulk Hogan, Elmo, Grease on Ice .... He makes his list; he checks it twice, And saves a front-row seat or two For Big Bird, Jim Argue -- and you. O, what a hollyjolly thrill Is Lynyrd Skynyrd's tin-eared trill. Free Bird! Free beer! (Guess which is true.) No more is Santa feelin' blue. Now, Patrick Henry Hays is there, And full-strength Christmas fills the air. Q: Dear Santa, with your face all ruddy, Where is Andrea Hollander Budy? A: Hammering rivets. Q: And Buz Arnold? A: Hey, this grilling's getting darn old. Q: Are you certain things are right? A: "Merry Christmas to all, And to all a good night." Late Bulletin NORTH POLE -- Santa Claus today announced his plans to heap his sleigh and fly from roof to roof to roof, and land eight reindeer with an oof l Just one roof will St. Nick disown. Our sources say that roofs his own.

Blue, blue Christmas befalls Graceland Date: 12/26/99 Category: NWAnews Page: B5 EDITH STANLEY LOS ANGELES TIMES *NW EDITION* MEMPHIS -- Graceland is having a blue Christmas -- a really blue Christmas. The blue lights Elvis Presley chose to outline his driveway have been joined by 2 million more lights, mostly blue, that twinkle like stars in the night. For the first Christmas since Presley's death 22 years ago, something belonging to someone other than Presley has been displayed at his home. That someone is Jennings Osborne, known as the "king of lights" in his hometown of Little Rock -- a man with a serious (and, to some, bothersome) affection for illumination. Osborne arrived at Graceland in September with his designs. These were not ordinary Christmas lights Osborne wanted to use. He offered a 40-foot netlike wall of blue lights supporting the words "Peace on Earth" spelled out in golden lights. Then he planned to display large futuristic, sail-shaped Christmas trees made of blue lights and topped with golden stars. And why not little angels wearing gowns of blue lights and fluttering gold wings? Graceland, which is run by a trust, said OK. All of that can go out in the back pasture. But wait, he had an even bigger idea. How about a 100-foot tree of blue lights with a 12foot likeness of Elvis Presley on top? The figure would dance and play the guitar, and Presley's trademark of lightning bolts with the letters TCB ("Taking Care of Business") would shoot out from the figure's feet. The perfect spot for that, officials said, would be across from the mansion in the pl:~~n that houses the museums and gift shop. Osborne was relieved; he had worried about how Presley's fans would feel about this invasion of their hallowed grounds. "I didn't want to make anybody mad. I had enough when I had my lights on my house," he said. Osborne and his family created spectacular holiday decorations at their home from 1986 to 1993. Red lights covered their 22,000-square-foot house and spread out across the grounds. Christmas trees of lights towered 80 feet over it all. The display was so brilliant that pilots could spot it from the air up to 80 miles away. The neighbors grew weary of gawker traffic jams and the loud music Osborne played from 40 loudspeakers. The neighbors went to court, declaring Osborne's display a nuisance. Eventually, the Arkansas Supreme Court ordered the display significantly reduced and told Osborne that if he did anything further to cause a nuisance, he would be fined $10,000. When a family arrived to see the lights a few minutes after the court's order, Osborne couldn't resist. He flipped the switch back on. "It was a quick $10,000," he recalled, not without pleasure. Today, one lonely angel cries outside his house. His lighting shows are spreading. A few years ago, Walt Disney World invited him to bring his lights to Orlando, Fla. Around Arkansas, the state Capitol and 32 other sites have been "Osborneized." And now Graceland. The Graceland display is behind the mansion in the pasture where Lisa Marie once played with her pony, Mariah. The blue angels hover not far from the Meditation Garden, where Elvis Presley, his mother, father and grandmother are buried. On a recent chilly evening, Presley's voice filled the air from a nearby public address system. "I'll be home on Christmas Day," he sang. "This is like walking in a winter wonderland," said Jeff Renk, a teacher and writer from Boise, Idaho. "It's so amazing. Nothing beats Elvis Presley singing soft Christmas songs. The angels are wonderful. This is what Christmas is all about." Ramona Davis of Nashville, Ind., did not share Renk's enthusiasm. "I loved the tour of the house, but I don't like the decorations. They should leave it the way it was."

Blue, blue Christmas befalls Graceland LR's 'king of lights' decorates mansion of late rock'n' roll king Date: 12/25/99 Category: News Page: B2 EDITH STANLEY LOS ANGELES TIMES MEMPHIS -- Graceland is having a blue Christmas -- a really blue Christmas. The blue lights Elvis Presley chose to outline his driveway have been joined by 2 million more lights, mostly blue, that twinkle like stars in the night. For the first Christmas since Presley's death 22 years ago, something belonging to someone other than Presley has been displayed at his home. That someone is Jennings Osborne, known as the "king of lights" in his hometown of Little Rock -- a man with a serious (and, to some, bothersome) affection for illumination. Osborne arrived at Graceland in September with his designs. These were not ordinary Christmas lights Osborne wanted to use. He offered a 40-foot netlike wall of blue lights supporting the words "Peace on Earth" spelled out in golden lights. Then he planned to display large futuristic, sail-shaped Christmas trees made of blue lights and topped with golden stars. And why not little angels wearing gowns of blue lights and fluttering gold wings? Graceland, which is run by a trust, said OK. All of that can go out in the back pasture. But wait, he had an even bigger idea. How about a 1 00-foot tree of blue lights with a 12foot likeness of Elvis Presley on top? The figure would dance and play the guitar, and Presley's trademark of lightning bolts with the letters TCB ("Taking Care of Business") would shoot out from the figure's feet. The perfect spot for that, officials said, would be across from the mansion in the plaza that houses the museums and gift shop. Osborne was relieved; he had worried about how Presley's fans would feel about this invasion of their hallowed grounds. "I didn't want to make anybody mad. I had enough when I had my lights on my house," he said. Osborne and his family created spectacular holiday decorations at their home from 1986 to 1993. Red lights covered their 22,000-square-foot house and spread out across the grounds. Christmas trees of lights towered 80 feet over it all. The display was so brilliant that pilots could spot it from the air up to 80 miles away. The neighbors grew weary of gawker traffic jams and the loud music Osborne played from 40 loudspeakers. The neighbors went to court, declaring Osborne's display a nuisance. Eventually, the Arkansas Supreme Court ordered the display significantly reduced and told Osborne that if he did anything further to cause a nuisance, he would be fined $10,000. When a family arrived to see the lights a few minutes after the court's order, Osborne couldn't resist. He flipped the switch back on. "It was a quick $10,000," he recalled, not without pleasure. Today, one lonely angel cries outside his house.

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