Elvis Presley at The New Frontier Hotel April 1956

Elvis Presley's first Vegas appearance at the New Frontier Hotel in April 1956.

Elvis at the New Fontier Hotel - 1956
Elvis at the New Fontier Hotel : 1956.

In April, Colonel Parker booked Elvis, Scotty Moore, Bill Black and D.J. Fontana for a two week engagement at the New Frontier beginning on April 23rd. The flyer for the Hotel advertised Freddy Martin and his orchestra, who were scheduled to do a stage show version of the Broadway musical Oklahoma!

Also on the bill were comedian Shecky Greene and as an added attraction, the 'Atomic Powered Singer', Elvis Presley. Since Nevada was the home of Atomic powered testing, Parker thought the name would be catchy.

On April 21, the Las Vegas Sun reported Link, 'The handsome 21-year-old rock 'n' roller's appearance in the latest Sammy Lewis production is considered to be the Las Vegas entertainment scoop of the year.

The young vocalist will be featured in one of the most lavish productions ever presented in the Venus Room, Lewis stated. Freddy Martin and his band, comic Shecky Greene, the Venus Starlets and a cast of more than 60 performers will make up the entertainment package'.

While Elvis was already becoming quite popular with teens around the country, he was not the typical Las Vegas Strip entertainer of the time and his shows were met with a cool reception.

After the first performance, at which the audience politely applauded, but showed none of the wild enthusiasm to which they were accustomed, Scotty, Bill and D.J. knew they were in for a long two weeks.

Scotty Moore and Elvis Presley Las Vegas 1956
Scotty Moore and Elvis Presley Las Vegas 1956.

Scotty, Elvis and the Freddie Martin Orchestra
Scotty, Elvis and the Freddie Martin Orchestra.

Bill Willard, a reviewer for the Las Vegas Sun Link newspaper, panned the performance writing, 'For the teen-agers, the long, tall Memphis lad is a whiz; for the average Vegas spender or showgoer, a bore. His musical sound with a combo of three is uncouth, matching to a great extent the lyric content of his nonsensical songs'.

D.J. Fontana said, 'I don't think the people there were ready for Elvis. He was mostly for teenagers, kids. We worked with Freddie Martin's orchestra and here we were three little pieces making all that noise. We tried everything we knew. Usually Elvis could get them on his side. It didn't work that time. The Colonel did a show for teenagers on Saturday, and it was just jam-packed, with everyone screaming and hollering'.

Elvis, Bill and Scotty performing in the Venus Room at the New Frontier.
Elvis, Bill and Scotty performing in the Venus Room at the New Frontier.

Willard may have captured the dismay that older Vegas audiences had with the young upstart, but Las Vegas resident Ed Jameson caught a vision of the future Elvis Link would have in Vegas. Penning a rebuttal to Willard's review, Jameson wrote, 'He is not a Rock 'n' Roller nor is he a cowboy singer. He is something new coming over the horizon all by himself and he deserves his ever-growing audience. Nobody should miss him.

Parents would do well to take their children to hear him. 

It would be a good way to get to know and understand your own kids'.

Between Shows : Freddie Bell and The Bell Boys

On their off hours the band did pretty much what they did in any town: they hung out in the bar. None of them were interested in the casinos. One night they all went out to check out the other acts on the strip. Performing at the Sahara lounge were Freddie Bell and The Bell Boys.  They had a hit in 1955 with a song titled Hound dog that also had been a hit for R&B singer Big Mama Thornton. When they heard them perform that night, they thought the song would be a good one for them to do for comic relief.

'We loved the way they did it', says Scotty. 'They had a piano player who stood up and played -- and the way he did his legs they looked like rubber bands bending back and forth. Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller wrote the the song for Big Mama Thornton, but Freddie and The Bell Boys had a different set of lyrics. Elvis got his lyrics from those guys. He knew the original lyrics but he didn't use them'.

Elvis' closing performance on May 6, 1956 was recorded and initially released on Elvis Aron Presley, the 8-record box set released in connection with Elvis' 25th Anniversary with RCA in November 1980.

Although Elvis would later visit often and make movies there, it would be at least 13 years before Elvis would perform on stage in Las Vegas again and by then it would be without Scotty, Bill and D.J.

Liberace, now performing at the the Riviera, attended one of the performances with his brother George. Afterwards they went backstage and they hammed it up for the press with Liberace borrowing Scotty's guitar.

Liberace hams it up with Elvis backstage at The New Frontier
Liberace hams it up with Elvis backstage at The New Frontier.

Relaxing by the pool between shows April 26, 1956
Relaxing by the pool between shows April 26, 1956.

Scotty, Elvis and the Freddie Martin Orchestra
Scotty, Elvis and the Freddie Martin Orchestra.

Articles about Elvis Presley Elvis Presley, New Singing Find, Booked Into New Frontier : April 21, 1956 Link
Elvis Presley CD, Book and DVD Reviews Review : Elvis Presley at The New Frontier : Las Vegas Sun : April 26, 1956 Link
Elvis Presley CD, Book and DVD Reviews Review : Elvis Presley at The New Frontier : Las Vegas SUN : April 28, 1956 Link

May

Elvis Presley CD, Book and DVD Reviews Review : Elvis Presley at The New Frontier : Las Vegas SUN : May 1, 1956 Link
Elvis Presley CD, Book and DVD Reviews Letter to the editor : Las Vegas SUN : May 12, 1956 Link

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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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

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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.