Elvis Presley | LaCrosse Wisconsin | May 14, 1956

Reports from this La Crosse performance cause the editor of the local newspaper to complain to FBI director J. Edgar Hoover that from what he has heard Elvis' act consists of 'sexual gratification on stage'.

Without preamble, the three-piece band cuts loose. In the spotlight, the lanky singer flails furious rhythms on his guitar, every now and then breaking a string. In a pivoting stance, his hips swing sensuously from side to side and his entire body takes on a frantic quiver, as if he had swallowed a jackhammer. Full-cut hair tousles over his forehead, and sideburns frame his petulant, full-lipped face. His style is partly hillbilly, partly socking rock 'n' roll. His loud baritone goes raw and whining in the high notes, but down low it is rich and round. As he throws himself into one of his specialties - Heartbreak Hotel, Blue Suede Shoes or Long Tall Sally - his throat seems full of desperate aspirates ('Hi want you, hi need you, hi luh-huh-huh-huv yew-hew') or hiccuping glottis strokes, and his diction is poor. But his movements suggest, in a word, sex.

Elvis Presley May 14 1956, LaCrosse Wisconsin

He is Elvis Aaron Presley, a drape-suited, tight-trousered young man of 21, and the sight and sound of him drive teenage girls wild. All through the South and West, Elvis is packing theaters, fighting off shrieking admirers, disturbing parents, puckering the brows of psychologists, and filling letters-to-the-editor columns with cries of alarm and, from adolescents, counter-cries of adulation.

Elvis Presley & Bill Black May 14 1956, LaCrosse Wisconsin

-: In Fort Worth 16-year-olds have carved his name into their forearms with clasp knives (one did it four times), and an older woman was heard to plead with him: 'I've got my husband's Cadillac outside. Come with me?'

-: In Oklahoma City he was safely whisked away in a police car after his show, but a reporter who had interviewed him was mobbed by the stage-door Jennies. 'Touch him', yelled one. 'Maybe he's touched Elvis!'

Elvis Presley & Bill Black May 14 1956, LaCrosse Wisconsin

Heavy Beat. The perpetrator of all this hoopla was born in Tupelo, Miss, (pop. 11,527). His parents gave him a guitar before he was twelve. 'I beat on it for a year or two', he drawls. 'Never did learn much about it.' He learned to sing church hymns with a heavy beat, as Negro revival singers do, but gave no thought to a musical career. A couple of years ago, Presley, working as a truck driver, was seized with the urge to hear his own voice, took his guitar with him and made a recording in a public studio. 'It sounded like somebody beatin' on a bucket lid', Presley recalls. 'But the engineer at this studio had a recording company called Sun, and he told me I had an unusual voice, and he might call me up sometime.'

When the call came, Presley was overcome by the stiffness that still bothers him when he sings without an audience. The session was about to fizzle when he started fooling around with a rock-'n-roll beat, the same heavily accented style he uses today. Records started to sell, and Elvis set out to get himself a manager. The manager booked Presley with the words, 'He may not sound like a hillbilly, but he gets the same response.'

It was not long before the response was even better, comparable to Johnnie Ray or Frankie Sinatra, with girls snatching Presley's shirt, belt, shoes, and RCA Victor buying out his recording contract for $35,000. Elvis now nets $7,500 a week for personal appearances, will net more than $100,000 this year; he owns three Cadillacs and a three-wheeled Messerschmitt, plus a dazzling wardrobe.

Dodgem, Too. Last week his Heartbreak Hotel was the nation's No. 1 best-selling record, and Elvis Presley himself was appearing at Las Vegas' New Frontier and getting a taste of more adult audiences. There was little screaming to be heard, but some fully grown female listeners matched the star squirm for squirm. As for Elvis, he spent some of his offstage time amusing local showgirls, but most of it amusing himself in a small amusement park, where, for hours on end, he and his cronies rode the dodgem cars, having a wonderful time.

Elvis Presley LaCrosse Wisconsin

Elvis Presley LaCrosse Wisconsin

Elvis Presley LaCrosse Wisconsin

Elvis Presley LaCrosse Wisconsin

Elvis Presley LaCrosse Wisconsin

Articles about Elvis Presley Elvis Presley - Teeners' Hero - May 14, 1956 (Time magazine)

Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley Auditorium in St. Paul, Minnesota : May 13, 1956
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley May 15, 1956 - Ellis Auditorium

January 1956

TV Appearance = Elvis on TV | 1956 One incredible year !!!

Articles about Elvis Presley Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley RCA's McGavock St Studio | January 10 and 11, April 14, 1956
Elvis Presley Photos 1956 business contract signed by Colonel Parker and Elvis for The Elvis Presley Show
Elvis Presley Video Elvis Presley The Dorsey Brothers Stage Show | January 28, 1956 TV Appearance

Articles about Elvis Presley What is an Elvis Presley?

February

Elvis Presley Video Elvis Presley The Dorsey Brothers Stage Show | February 4, 1956 TV Appearance
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley, Scotty Moore and Bill Black | February 9, 1956
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley Backstage February 10, 1956
Elvis Presley Video Elvis Presley The Dorsey Brothers Stage Show| February 11, 1956 TV Appearance
Elvis Presley Video Elvis Presley The Dorsey Brothers Stage Show | February 18, 1956 TV Appearance

March

Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley 1956 | March/June/July
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley's 1956 Home | 1034 Audubon Drive, Memphis, TN

Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley The Lousinana Hayride | March 10, 1956
Elvis Presley Video Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley The Dorsey Brothers Stage Show | March 17, 1956 TV Appearance
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley singing and playing gospel music | March 17, 1956
Elvis Presley Photos Jimmy Dean and Elvis Presley on the Jimmy Dean WMAL-TV Show, March 23, 1956
Elvis Presley Video Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley The Dorsey Brothers Stage Show | March 24, 1956 TV Appearance

April

Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley The Milton Berle Show | April 3, 1956 TV Appearance
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley Arena | San Diego | April 4, 1956
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley Wichita Falls, Texas | April 9, 1956
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley Fair Park Coliseum, Lubbock, TX | April 10, 1956
Articles about Elvis Presley Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley RCA's McGavock St Studio | January 10 and 11, April 14, 1956
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley San Antonio | April 15, 1956
Articles about Elvis Presley Elvis Gives Out With Crazy Cool Interview | April 17, 1956
Articles about Elvis Presley Elvis thrilled Tulsa teens at fairgrounds April 18, 1956
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley Oklahoma City | April 19, 1956
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley April 20, 1956 | North Side Coliseum, Forth Worth
Articles about Elvis Presley Elvis Presley, New Singing Find, Booked Into New Frontier | April 21, 1956
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley at The New Frontier Hotel | From April 23, 1956
Elvis Presley CD, Book and DVD Reviews Review | Elvis Presley at The New Frontier | Las Vegas Sun | April 26, 1956
Elvis Presley CD, Book and DVD Reviews Review | Elvis Presley at The New Frontier | Las Vegas SUN | April 28, 1956

May

Elvis Presley CD, Book and DVD Reviews Review | Elvis Presley at The New Frontier | Las Vegas SUN | May 1, 1956
Elvis Presley CD, Book and DVD Reviews Letter to the editor | Las Vegas SUN | May 12, 1956
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley Auditorium in St. Paul, Minnesota | May 13, 1956
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley May 14, 1956 | LaCrosse Wisconsin
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley May 15, 1956 | Ellis Auditorium
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley Detroit, MI. Fox Theater May 25, 1956
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley Columbus, Ohio | May 26, 1956
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis, Scotty, Bill and DJ performed two shows at the UD Fieldhouse in Dayton | May 27, 1956
Elvis Presley Photos
Elvis Presley Dayton, Oh., as Elvis left for Memphis | May 28, 1956
Elvis Presley Video Elvis greeting fans at Los Angeles Airport, 1956

June

Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley 1956 | March/ June/ July
Elvis Presley Photos Carl Perkins and Elvis Presley swap autographs, Memphis | June 1, 1956
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley Arriving in Oakland | June 3, 1956
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley In Concert | Oakland California | June 3, 1956
Elvis Presley Photos The Milton Berle Show Los Angeles | June 5, 1956 TV Appearance
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley June 7, 1956 | Long Beach Municipal Auditorium
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley June 8, 1956
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley | Wink Martindale Show | June 16, 1956
Articles about Elvis Presley Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley MP3 Audio Elvis Presley Video Elvis Presley Interview with Wink and Sandy Martindale
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley and Red West at Elvis' 1034 Audubon Drive House | June 14, 1956
Elvis Presley Photos Vernon, Gladys and Elvis Presley sing at the piano | 1034 Audubon Drive House | June 17, 1956
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley and Barbara Hearn | June 19, 1956 | Fairgrounds Amusement Park, Memphis
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley and Barbara Hearn at Elvis' 1034 Audubon Drive House | June 19, 1956
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley with Susan Hayward | June 28, 1956
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley Mosque Theater, Richmond, Va | June 30, 1956

July

Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley 1956 | March | June | July
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley Hudson Theater | New York City | Steve Allen Show | July 1, 1956 TV Appearance
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley RCA Studio One, Memphis, Tennessee | July 2, 1956
Elvis Presley Photos
Elvis Presley On The Train to, Memphis, Tennessee | July 3, 1956
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley Russwood Park, Memphis, Tennessee | July 4, 1956
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley St. Joseph's Hospital Memphis Tennessee | July 5, 1956
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley Ocean Springs, MS. | Thursday, July 12, 1956
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis performs with The Statesman Quartet at Ellis Auditorium | July 27, 1956
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley Water Skiing | Biloxi July 31, 1956

August

Articles about Elvis Presley Who The Hell Is Elvis Presley? By Leonard Bennett Cabaret, August 1956

Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley Love Me Tender Movie Set Photos
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley Olympia Theater, Miami, Florida | August 3, 1956
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley August 5, 1956 | Tampa Florida
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley Florida Theatre St. Petersburg | August 7, 1956
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley Jacksonville, FL. Florida Theater (3 shows per day) | August 10-11, 1956
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley August 7, 1956 | Candid Photos
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley at the Knickerbocker Hotel, Hollywood | August 18, 1956
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley Love Me Tender Recording Sessions | August 24, 1956
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley August 31, 1956 | On the set of Love Me Tender

September

Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley The Ed Sullivan Show 1956-1957
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley September 1-3, 1956 Recording Sessions
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley First Appearance | The Ed Sullivan Show | September 9, 1956 TV Appearance
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley Asleep In Flight | Back To Memphis September 23, 1956
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley September 26, 1956 | Tupelo, MS. Mississippi-Alabama Fairgrounds
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley wearing the new 'Elvis Presley hat', backstage in Tupelo, September 26, 1956
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley at the Mid-South Fair | Memphis September 29, 1956

October

Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley October 5, 1956
Elvis Presley Photos
Elvis Presley Cotton Bowl, Dallas | October 11, 1956
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Elvis Presley October 18, 1956
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley October 19, 1956 | Assault Charge
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley The Ed Sullivan Show Rehearsals | October 26-28, 1956
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley The Ed Sullivan Show | Dress Rehearsals | October 28, 1956
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley The Ed Sullivan Show | Press Conference | October 28, 1956
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley gets his Polio Shot | October 28, 1956
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley The Ed Sullivan Show | October 28, 1956 TV Appearance
Elvis Presley Photos Natalie Wood and Elvis Presley outside the Hotel Chisca | October 31, 1956

November

Elvis Presley Photos Elvis | Toledo | November 22, 1956
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley Cleveland Arena, Ohio | November 23, 1956
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley E.H. Crump Memorial Football Game | November 30, 1956

December

Articles about Elvis Presley What is an Elvis Presley?
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Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley December 11, 1956 | Mobbed by fans in Memphis after running out of gas
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley's Last Louisiana Hayride Performance | December 15, 1956
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley Touch Football | Dave Wells Community Center | December 27, 1956

1957

Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley The Ed Sullivan Show | His third and final Appearance | January 6, 1957 TV Appearance

 DVD. Elvis Presley The King of Rock 'n' Roll

The Movies Of 1956

Elvis Presleys Movies 1956, Love Me Tender, Twentieth Century Fox

The Movies In Photos

Elvis Presley Photos Love Me Tender

CDs | DVDs | Books

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Official Elvis Presley WebShop | CDs, DVDs, LP Records, Books, Elvis Memorabilia | ElvisPresleyShop.com

Elvis Presley Photos

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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.

Tupelo's Own Elvis Presley DVD Video with Sound.