This is the show that introduced the world to Elvis Presley.
Dave Marsh, in his insightful musical biography Elvis, writes about the moment Elvis Presley burst upon the American scene via The Dorsey Brothers Stage Show on January 28, 1956. “In his first appearance on the Dorsey Brothers’ TV show, the young singer rocked the world”. Marsh described Elvis’ startling rendition of Heartbreak Hotel and concluded, “He owned the song and he owned the crowd”.
March 17, 1956
Photo Credit: elvispresleymusic.com.au
After 17 months of personal appearances all over the south […], Elvis […] made his first appearance […]. Those shows were broadcast, live, from the CBS Studios in New York City. Young Elvis The Pelvis’ first appearance […] was followed by 5 others throughout the next 2 months until the 24 of March, 1956.
That was a surprising find. Everyone always refers to when Elvis was on Ed Sullivan. He was there in September 1956 but, these appearances pre-date that show. And, no one ever mentions it.
He was a really good actor with a manager who was short-sighted. He was offered A Star Is Born role in the mid-seventies… but the Colonel didn’t think it was enough money. It would have helped his career at the time. He wanted it bad.
Wow. Imagine him against Streisand instead of Kristofferson. Boggles the mind. That is right up there with imagining Tom Selleck instead of Harrison Ford for Indiana Jones.
July 4, 2019 at 12:37 AM
Cool.
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July 4, 2019 at 1:11 AM
I was sure this was an obscure, early show…until Elvis popped up. I learned something new!
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July 4, 2019 at 2:00 AM
WOW! knowing history is so amazing!!!
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July 4, 2019 at 2:28 AM
I agree.
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July 4, 2019 at 6:40 AM
I always wondered where Elvis got his break. Thank you.
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July 4, 2019 at 4:37 PM
That was a surprising find. Everyone always refers to when Elvis was on Ed Sullivan. He was there in September 1956 but, these appearances pre-date that show. And, no one ever mentions it.
Glad you enjoyed!
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July 16, 2019 at 10:43 PM
This is when Elvis was great… before the movies.
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August 31, 2019 at 12:17 AM
He was stunning. He blew everyone’s hair back, much like The Beatles eight years later.
I’ve seen some of his dramatic movies. He was a damn fine actor.
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August 31, 2019 at 12:29 AM
He was a really good actor with a manager who was short-sighted. He was offered A Star Is Born role in the mid-seventies… but the Colonel didn’t think it was enough money. It would have helped his career at the time. He wanted it bad.
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August 31, 2019 at 1:16 AM
Wow. Imagine him against Streisand instead of Kristofferson. Boggles the mind. That is right up there with imagining Tom Selleck instead of Harrison Ford for Indiana Jones.
The ‘Colonel’ was an ass.
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August 31, 2019 at 1:19 AM
I would have loved to see it. You never know…it could have prolonged his life because he planned a diet and a work out routine.
Yes he was…
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