Elvis Presley

RCA TV Radio Model AS 059 Y (7 3/4 x 13 1/4 x 9 in.; 197 x 336 x 229 mm). Condition as expected, with a bullet hole and residual loose plastic pieces on the left screen. A larger piece of plastic appears to have been glued back into place near the RCA logo. Inscribed on the top by in pen, "To Lester, Next time open the gate faster! RCA will buy you another one! E.P." 

Vester Presley (with accompanying letter attesting to its authenticity)

"Next time open the gate faster!"

Elvis was notoriously trigger happy, and there are numerous anecdotes that have emerged over the years regarding his antics, specifically as they pertain to his longstanding hatred of singer Robert Goulet. The bad blood between the two singers has never been fully explained — some say it stemmed from a fight over Anita Wood, while others claim Elvis merely didn't like the way he sang. What we do know is that Elvis purportedly developed a habit of shooting out TVs whenever he saw Goulet singing.

Beyond his hatred of the Camelot singer, Presley had a habit of taking his frustrations out on appliances large and small — he even once shot a car when it wouldn't start. This mini RCA TV was gifted to his uncle Vester Presley (brother of Vernon), who was employed at Graceland as a security guard at the front gate. According to Vester: 

"RCA provided Elvis with many TVs at Graceland. I had a small one Elvis gave me to watch in the gatehouse. If Elvis didn't have his gate opener and you didn't open the gates fast enough he could lose his patience sometimes. One time I had strayed away from the gate to visit with a fan. Elvis pulled up and I didn't get the gate open fast enough to his liking. Once Elvis pulled into the driveway he came down and saw the TV on and thought I had been watching a show instead of watching for him. He pulled his gun out and shot my TV. He laughed and I laughed. The next day I took it into Graceland and put it on the kitchen counter. Elvis saw it and signed the top of it to me."