Elvis Presley | Fort Homer W. Hesterly Armory, Tampa, FL | July 31, 1955

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Elvis, Scotty and Bill performed at Fort Homer W. Hesterly Armory, Tampa, Florida on four occasions, the first on May 8, 1955 just five days before their appearance in Jacksonville where at the conclusion of the performance, Elvis announces to a good portion of the audience of 14,000: 'Girls, I'll see you backstage'. The response was a full--scale riot, with fans pursuing Elvis into the dressing room and tearing off his clothes and shoes. In the opinion of the Colonel's advance man, Oscar Davis, this was the point at which Colonel Parker was irrevocably sold on the growth potential of Elvis Presley.

During their second appearance at the Armory on July 31, 1955 the Colonel Parker hired local photographer William V. 'Red' Robertson to shoot a series of photos. One, commonly referred to as the 'Tonsil' photo, in a cropped version would later be used as the cover of Elvis' first Elvis Presley LP from RCA in 1956 and used extensively in newspaper and print to promote future shows. It also became a famous Hatch show promotional print. (Below)

By the time of their final two appearances at the Armory on February 19 and August 5, 1956, each of which followed recent television appearances Elvis Presley Video (The Dorsey Bros. Stage Show and The Steve Allen Show), they had gone from supporting act to headliner. DJ Fontana was now a regular member of the band and performed there with them also.

Robertson Or Popsie?

Resolving this apparent historical stalemate as to who took the famous photos, took a few phone calls, e-mails and faxes. But the facts are in.

'We were wrong', Guralnick says. Guralnick and Jorgensen relied on a credit line from the back cover of Presley's first album that reads 'Photos: Popsie'. Guralnick says they didn't know at the time what Robertson & Fresh was, and they could find no documents that would have disproved the Popsie credit.

Joe Tunzi, a music archivist and author of 20 books about Elvis, is adamant about the source of the photo: 'Forget about Popsie. Popsie did not take that photo'. Tunzi, who runs JAT Publishing in Chicago, says the credit line refers only to a series of four shots that were used on the album's back cover, not to the vibrant black-and-white cover photo. Though the photo used on the album cover has no imprint, Tunzi says it clearly fits into the sequence of shots by Robertson & Fresh.

Jorgensen agrees. 'You're right about the photos', Jorgensen wrote when contacted for this article. 'Robertson/Fresh took the front - Popsie the rest'. Read full story - Forever Elvis in Tampa.

Scotty Moore and Elvis at Fort Homer W. Hesterly Armory, Tampa, FL July 31, 1955
Scotty Moore and Elvis at Fort Homer W. Hesterly Armory, Tampa, FL July 31, 1955

The Poster

The Poster : Elvis Presley : Fort Homer W. Hesterly Armory, Tampa, FL : July 31, 1955

January 1955

Elvis Presley Photos Alvis Presley: January 5, 1955
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley on The Louisiana Hayride | January 22, 1955
Elvis Presley Photos Tyler | January 25, 1955
Elvis Presley Photos Backstage Gilmer | January 26, 1955
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley January 29, 1955 The Louisiana Hayride

February

Elvis Presley Photos Sun Studios | February 3, 1955 | Elvis, Scotty and Bill
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley February 6, 1955 | Memphis. Overton Park Shell
Elvis Presley Photos
Buddy Holly and Elvis Presley February 13, 1955 | Lubbock, Tx. Fair Park Coliseum
Elvis Presley Photos February 26, 1955 | Ad for Cleveland Concert on this date

March

Elvis Presley Photos Elvis, Scotty and Bill at Coley's Truck Stop in Dermott, AR | March 25, 1955

April

Elvis Presley Photos Bill Black, Royce Hanson Jr. and Elvis Presley Gladewater High School | April 30, 1955

May

Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley and Dixie Locke | Dixie Locke's Junior Prom | May 6, 1955
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley May 13, 1955 | Elvis with Mae Boren Axton
Elvis Presley Video Elvis Presley Photos Elvis with Jimmie Rodgers Snow in the parade | Meridian, Mississippi | May 26, 1955
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley Texarkana, AR | Friday, May 27, 1955

June

Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley Fair Park Coliseum Lubbock, TX | June 3, 1955
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley June 5, 1954 | Elvis Presley's Burnt out Cadillac
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley Big D Jamboree Dallas, Texas. Sportarium June 18, 1955
Elvis Presley Photos Scotty Moore, Elvis Presley & Bill Black Beaumont Texas June 21, 1955

July

Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley July 4, 1955 | Hodges Park | De Leon
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley Water Skiing McKellar Lake | July 1955
Elvis Presley Video Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley July 15, 1955 | Joy Drive-In Theatre Minden, LA
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley July 28 & 29, 1955 | Jacksonville, FL. Gator Stadium Baseball Park
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley Fort Homer W. Hesterly Armory, Tampa, FL | July 31, 1955

August

Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley Bryan, Tx., Aug 23, 1955

September

Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley and friends, backstage | Clarksdale, MS. City Auditorium | September 8, 1955
Elvis Presley Photos Gilmer | September 26, 1955

October

Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley The Cotton Club Lubbock, TX | October 15, 1955
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley October 18, 1955
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley Cleveland | October 19, 1955
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley Cleveland, Ohio | October 20, 1955

December

Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley New York | December 1, 1955
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley Swifton, AR | December 9, 1955
Elvis Presley Photos Scotty, Bill and Elvis onstage (in the ring) at Ellis Auditorium | Dec 19, 1955

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Elvis Presley Video Tupelo's Own Elvis Presley DVD

Never before have we seen an Elvis Presley concert from the 1950's with sound. Until Now! The DVD Contains recently discovered unreleased film of Elvis performing 6 songs, including Heartbreak Hotel and Don't Be Cruel, live in Tupelo Mississippi 1956. Included we see a live performance of the elusive Long Tall Sally seen here for the first time ever. + Plus Bonus DVD Audio.

This is an excellent release no fan should be without it.

The 'parade' footage is good to see as it puts you in the right context with color and b&w footage. The interviews of Elvis' Parents are well worth hearing too. The afternoon show footage is wonderful and electrifying : Here is Elvis in his prime rocking and rolling in front of 11.000 people. Highly recommended.

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