ELVIS
at
21
New York to Memphis
title
ELVIS
at
21
New York to Memphis
In 1956 Alfred Wertheimer gave us an inside glimpse at Elvis’s public and private life through these unique photographs. The Smithsonain proudly displays this portrait gallery on the second floor of the museum as well as virtually on their website. I hope you enjoy this booklet about the gallery and Elvis in 1956
ELVIS
at
21
New York to Memphis
Stage Show at Studio 50 Alfred Wertheimer first met Elvis at his stage show 1956 when he was asked to photograph him for RCA’S POP RECORD DIVISION. He found in that first day that Elvis preferred the company of his fans and didn’t mind the closeness of people he liked. Luckily Albert started off on the right foot.
Elvis rehearsed for the stage show for around five hours, it was being broadcast live at eight pm and they could not prerecord because tape had not yet been invented.
While waiting to perform Elvis opened fan mail reading every page (some letters being six to seven pages) and then he shredded the mail stating that he knew what the letter said and it was no one else’s business.
Steve Allen Show Rehersal
Elvis sat in the corner playing gospel songs on the piano and avoiding conversation as he always did no matter the musical instrument if there was one lying around Elvis was sure to pick it up and play. The Steve Allen Show marked Elvis’s first acting debut with just a few “yup” “no” lines.
Mosque Theater richmond, virginia
After arriving in Richmond, Virginia Elvis met a waitress at the hotel luncheonette; Alfred didn’t remember her name so she is known as the woman from the luncheonette. Elvis and the woman spent the next two days together and then he was off again. However just as expected Elvis was charming and gentlemanly stealing yet another woman’s heart.
“I’ll bet you can’t kiss me, Elvis” “I’ll bet you I can”
Between the first and second show at the Mosque Theater Elvis was interviewed about his recent fame and the accusations that he was a bad influence on children while he sat at a drum set. He answered the questions casually and acted like he didn’t have a care in world playing the drums and recuperating between the crowds of screaming fans.
Hudson Theater new york city
New York to Memphis
Elvis sat on the train to Memphis with a little twenty dollar record player on his lap listening to his first three recordings “Hound Dog,” “Don’t Be Cruel,” and “Anyway You Want Me” for hours studying the way they would sound to his fans. He wanted to be sure they would hear want he wanted them to hear.
No one is sure where the panda came from but Elvis kept it by his side the whole way home, walking with it on his hip and sleeping next to it.
memphis
Back in his Family home Elvis took full advantage of riding his Harley, swimming in the families’ new pool, and showing his high school sweet heart Barbara Hearn his three new songs. They kissed and danced to his music before his concert that night at Russwood Park.
colophon The body text of this work is set in Cochin, a font created in designed by Georges Peignot in 1912. The title type is set in Trajan, designed in 1989 for Adobe by Carol Twombly. This book is for a Portrait Exhibit at the Smithsonian as well as a Virtual Exhibit on the Smithsonian’s website. Alfred Wertheimer took all photographs in 1956, giving a unique personal glimpse at Elvis’s public and private life. This work was written and designed by Kyrsten Boesch. Created in 2012