Okla-homey
9/9/2006, 06:34 AM
September 9, 1956: Elvis appears on Ed Sullivan's TV show
http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/9351/bbbbbelvis20on20the20ed20sullivan20showex8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Precisely 50 years ago tonight at 8:10 PM (Eastern) Elvis Presley sings "Don't Be Cruel" and "Hound Dog" in the first of three appearances on Ed Sullivan's immensely popular show Toast of the Town.
http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/6843/bbbbbedsullivantallre5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Ed Sullivan
Presley scandalized teevee audiences with his "suggestive" hip gyrations, and Sullivan had sworn he would never book the singer on his show. See kids, when Elvis performed, he did these wobbly hip thrusts and that was considered too hot for polite society and stuff...I know, pretty silly huh, given people like Shakira and Beyonce do that sort of thing on MTV while the kiddies watch as they eat their morning cereal and stuff.
Anyway, Presley's tremendous popularity and success on other shows changed Sullivan's mind. Sullivan knew booking Elvis would equate to huge ratings numbers and he was a bidnessman first and foremost.
http://img83.imageshack.us/img83/4069/bbbbbcolonelelvissullivanij0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
EP, "Col" Tom Parker and Ed backstage before a "really big shew."
Charles Laughton hosted the first show while Sullivan recovered from a car accident. Elvis' "Don't Be Cruel" and "Love Me Tender" were seen by about 53 million people, more than 80 percent of that evening's television audience.
http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/8462/bbbbbbbbbb20050910edsullivanshowelviskf3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
EP and his b/u singers, the "Jordanaires"
Elvis received a whopping $50,000 for the three appearances, which made him a household name–even among adults.
http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/2832/bbbbb121677248dd0ecc1b2amcd9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
That 1956 Sullivan show was broadcast from the same studio a certain intensely private Hoosier nightime talk show calls home these days.
http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/5069/insane7zobe4.jpg
http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/9351/bbbbbelvis20on20the20ed20sullivan20showex8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Precisely 50 years ago tonight at 8:10 PM (Eastern) Elvis Presley sings "Don't Be Cruel" and "Hound Dog" in the first of three appearances on Ed Sullivan's immensely popular show Toast of the Town.
http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/6843/bbbbbedsullivantallre5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Ed Sullivan
Presley scandalized teevee audiences with his "suggestive" hip gyrations, and Sullivan had sworn he would never book the singer on his show. See kids, when Elvis performed, he did these wobbly hip thrusts and that was considered too hot for polite society and stuff...I know, pretty silly huh, given people like Shakira and Beyonce do that sort of thing on MTV while the kiddies watch as they eat their morning cereal and stuff.
Anyway, Presley's tremendous popularity and success on other shows changed Sullivan's mind. Sullivan knew booking Elvis would equate to huge ratings numbers and he was a bidnessman first and foremost.
http://img83.imageshack.us/img83/4069/bbbbbcolonelelvissullivanij0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
EP, "Col" Tom Parker and Ed backstage before a "really big shew."
Charles Laughton hosted the first show while Sullivan recovered from a car accident. Elvis' "Don't Be Cruel" and "Love Me Tender" were seen by about 53 million people, more than 80 percent of that evening's television audience.
http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/8462/bbbbbbbbbb20050910edsullivanshowelviskf3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
EP and his b/u singers, the "Jordanaires"
Elvis received a whopping $50,000 for the three appearances, which made him a household name–even among adults.
http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/2832/bbbbb121677248dd0ecc1b2amcd9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
That 1956 Sullivan show was broadcast from the same studio a certain intensely private Hoosier nightime talk show calls home these days.
http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/5069/insane7zobe4.jpg