Elvis Presley, at age 21, broke tv data together with his first look on “The Ed Sullivan Present” on this present day in historical past, Sept. 9, 1956.
Elvis — alongside together with his well-known “gyrations” — had been banned beforehand by Ed Sullivan from showing on his present.
Nonetheless, after a number of of his rivals noticed huge rankings when Presley appeared on their exhibits, Sullivan reconsidered his ban, stated the Historical past Channel’s web site.
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Sullivan signed Presley to a three-appearance contract, paying the rock star $50,000. This was an “unprecedented” payment on the time, famous the Historical past Channel.
Adjusted for inflation, that contract could be value greater than $500,000 in 2023, in accordance with the web site Inflationtool.com.
Elvis Presley’s look on “The Ed Sullivan Present” in Sept. 1956 was watched by 60 million viewers — over 80% of complete variety of TV viewers in the US. (CBS by way of Getty Pictures)
Presley’s look on “The Ed Sullivan Present” was watched by 60 million viewers, making it the most-watched tv broadcast of the last decade, stated the Historical past Channel.
The 60 million determine was equal to 82.6% of the full variety of tv viewers in the US.
Presley carried out three of his songs, “Do not Be Merciless,” “Hound Canine” and “Love Me Tender,” in addition to Little Richard’s “Prepared Teddy.”
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Whereas “The Ed Sullivan Present” was based mostly in New York Metropolis, Presley was in California capturing his first film, “Love Me Tender.”
So he carried out remotely from Los Angeles.
Presley informed the screaming viewers that showing on “The Ed Sullivan Present” was “in all probability the best honor I’ve ever had in my life.”
Elvis performed his new tune “Love Me Tender” on “The Ed Sullivan Present” in September 1956. (CBS by way of Getty Pictures)
He then debuted “Love Me Tender,” saying it was “fully completely different from something we have ever carried out earlier than.”
The only for “Love Me Tender” was the primary in music historical past to promote over 1,000,000 copies previous to its launch, stated Selection.
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On the time, Presley was notorious for his hip-shaking strikes whereas performing, incomes him the nickname “Elvis the Pelvis.”
These strikes have been thought-about too “vulgar” for the Fifties audiences.
Presley’s dance strikes elicited “1000’s” of complaints to “The Ed Sullivan Present” — prompting this system to movie him solely from the waist up for his remaining look. (CBS Picture Archive/Getty Pictures)
Regardless of these fears, Elvis’ efficiency was broadcast from head to toe, and never minimize off on the waist, stated the Historical past Channel.
“When it was over, dad and mom and critics, as standard, did a variety of futile grumbling on the vulgarity of this unusual phenomenon that should in some way be reckoned with,” stated a reviewer for Time journal.
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The phenomenon was finally reckoned with, in a manner: On Elvis’ third and remaining look on “The Ed Sullivan Present” on Jan. 6, 1957, he was shot solely from the waist up, in accordance with the web site ElvisBiography.
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This was on account of “1000’s of complaints” Sullivan acquired after Elvis’ first two appearances.
