News Item

Insiders Artifact: 1956 Tampa Daily News Article

August 02, 2012

This week's Elvis Insiders artifact is an article from the Tampa Daily News on August 6, 1956, after thousands of screaming fans packed the Fort Homer Hesterly Armory to see Elvis perform. The news clipping describes Elvis as "bringing the house down with every frantic breath." The writer refers to Elvis as a "21-year old contortionist whose singing style resembles a fast-moving tennis player." Of the three photos featured in the article, the first image shows thousands of teens who crowded the Armory for a chance to see the king, the next photo is a close up of several teenage girls in tears when Elvis left the stage, and the last image is a photo of Elvis in 1956. The writer says Elvis was saved from mobs of teenagers wanting autographs after Tampa police escorted him from the auditorium and describes the scene as a "hysterical Sunday afternoon." The article was kept in a scrapbook by the late Colonel Tom Parker and is among thousands of artifacts preserved at Graceland.

Each week, a rare or never-before-seen photo or document from the Graceland archives is added to the Elvis Insiders artifacts gallery. This gallery is exclusive to Elvis Insiders Basic and Plus members. Not an Elvis Insider? Learn more about becoming one!

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