Biography

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1935 - 1957

December 31, 1956
The front page of The Wall Street Journal reports that in the past few months Elvis merchandise has grossed $22 million in sales.

Elvis ends the pivotal year of his career, when regional popularity gave way to unprecedented national and international fame. The year of 1956 has seen the beginning of Elvis souvenir merchandising, the beginning of a successful movie career, huge record sales (five number one singles on the pop chart, two number one albums on the pop chart, and other hits), history-making television appearances, record-breaking personal appearances and more.

Elvis has become the primary symbol of the new youth culture in America. He has also become one of society’s most controversial figures. His unique blending of white country and gospel music, black R&B and gospel, white pop music, his particular brand of charisma and talent, and the resulting success and controversy, have helped him greatly to begin, without premeditation, a cycle of change in music and pop culture and the mores of American society. Nothing will ever be the same for Elvis Presley or for the world.

January 6, 1957
Elvis makes his third and final appearance on Ed Sullivan’s Toast of the Town Show. It is for this appearance that Elvis is seen only from the waist up. It’s funny that after all of his television appearances the previous year, such censorship comes at this time. It is particularly amusing that this guideline remains in place during Elvis’ performance of the gospel standard, Peace in the Valley, one of five songs he performs on this Sullivan appearance. Ed Sullivan himself helps diffuse some of the controversy surrounding Elvis when he comes out on stage to thank Elvis and tells the studio audience and millions of American television viewers that “this is a decent, fine boy” and what a delight he has been to work with when appearing on the show. Ed Sullivan is the most influential person on television audiences and one of the most powerful people in the television industry at the time.

Personal appearances, recording sessions, record releases, controversy, and publicity continue.

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Too Much

January, 1957
Elvis begins production of his second movie, Loving You. Elvis also begins dying his hair black.

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		Loving You
		Teddy Bear
		Hot Dog
		Mean Woman Blues

February 3, 1957
The New York Times runs a story entitled, "Presley Records a Craze in Soviet Union." Elvis records are not legally available in the Soviet Union. The article tells of bootleg recordings being cut on discarded X-ray plates and being sold in Leningrad on the black market for fifty rubles (about twelve and a half dollars) each, a lot of money at the time.

March 1957
Elvis buys Graceland Mansion for himself, his parents, and his paternal grandmother to live in for $102,500. It will be ready for them to move into on May 16th, 1957. Elvis doesn't spend his first night in Graceland until June 26th, 1957.

April 1957
While touring with his show, Elvis performs outside the United States for the first time when he appears in Canada: two shows in Toronto on April 2 and two shows in Ottawa on April 3.

May, 1957
Elvis begins work on his third motion picture, Jailhouse Rock for MGM.

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		Jailhouse Rock
		(You're So Square) Baby, I Don't Care
		Treat Me Nice

July 9, 1957
Elvis' second motion picture, Loving You, premieres in Memphis. It opened nationwide on July 30 and was on the Variety’s National Box Office Survey for 4 weeks peaking at #7. Elvis skipped the premier but took Anita and his parents to see a private midnight screening. Hit records include the title song and the classic smash "Teddy Bear".

Traveling, touring, record releases, and personal appearances continue.

August 31, 1957
Elvis performs in Vancouver. This is the third Canadian city he has performed in, and marks the last time he will perform in concert outside the United States.

September 27, 1957
Elvis returns once more to the town of his birth to perform. This time it is a benefit for the proposed Elvis Presley Youth Recreation Center in Tupelo, Mississippi. The grounds include Elvis’ birthplace home. He will donate regularly to the center for the rest of his life. (The center is still used by the general community today. The birthplace home is open for tours, and there is a small museum and a memorial chapel.)

October 17, 1957
Jailhouse Rock, Elvis’ third motion picture, premieres in Memphis. Jailhouse Rock opens nationally on November 18 and peaks at #3. It was #14 for the year, and by 1969 its earnings in the US and Canada were roughly comparable with those of The Wizard of Oz. The title song is a smash hit. Years later, this film will be considered one of Elvis’ best acting performances, surpassed only by King Creole, which is to follow in 1958. Jailhouse Rock will come to be considered the ultimate classic of all “rock opera” movies, and the "Jailhouse Rock" production number in the film is to be recognized as the grandfather of pop/rock music videos, a music format to become widely popular by the 1980’s.

November 10, 11 1957
Elvis performs shows in Hawaii for the first time. This would also be his last public appearance before entering the army.

December, 1957
Elvis and family enjoy their first Christmas at Graceland and Elvis officially receives his draft notice, a day he has known would be coming soon.

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