This evening, for the first time, Elvis will appear on Ed Sullivan. It is a milestone not only in the change in music, but also the new movement towards youth culture and tv marketing. This first showing of Elvis on Ed Sullivan resulted in 60 million viewers tuning in.Ed Sullivan had initially said he did not want Elvis on his show. He did not approve of his overtly sexual stage moves and the music in general. And, what is interesting, is what turned his opinion is the beginning of that change to our now modern world: He wanted as many viewers as The Steve Allen Show, as they shared a time slot. Elvis had already been a guest on the Steve Allen show and when the numbers were in for the audience, Sullivan agreed.
It was decided that Elvis would make three appearances (one tonight, one on October 28, and finally, next year in 1957 in January) The fee for this was $50,000.00 Today, I am sure this seems a very small amount for a rock star, but you must realize the whole concept of this form of entertainment, mixed with media beamed into every home in America is a new idea. In today’s money that would be $350,000. Even that would be small for such a star these days. Money is beginning to talk. This is also an amazing amount when one considers two years earlier in 1954 Elvis was paid $10 to perform at the grand opening of the Lamar-Airways Shopping Center in Memphis Tennessee.
So, tonight at 8 pm EST, Elvis will appear on the Ed Sullivan Show. Ed will not even be hosting, as he had been in a serious car accident, so the actor Charles Laughton will host from the studio in New York City. Elvis, however, was in Los Angeles filming Love Me Tender.
After being introduced by Laughton, Elvis thanked him and then said, "This is probably the greatest honor that I've ever had in my life." Elvis then sang, "Don't Be Cruel" with his four back-up singers (the Jordanaires) followed by "Love Me Tender," which was the not-yet-released title track from his new movie.
This is the first song he performed, Don’t be cruel, though this is not from that performance but from the same year.
I only wish we could have just veered things a little different direction. Even poor Elvis will ultimately succumb to the very machine that made him. It seems this is the point when people are not just being used, as they once were in the beginning of the Industrial Revolution as simple slaves, but as the product themselves. This, of course, has culminated into our being walking billboards who advertise and sell to ourselves to the point that we are literally working to buy. If only I had a real time machine, but alas, I can but try to live on that old cusp of the new materialism and try to make small changes in my own life. We can’t erase the past but we do have control over our present and futures.
Until tomorrow, Happy Homemaking.
How very true.
ReplyDeleteOh, Elvis – I have to admit that I was a fan of him as a child, and I cried when he died 1977 (I was almost 14 years old). I could not believe that he would never sing anymore. I still like his music, and know all his old songs by heart. I have a CD in my vintage car and I sing loudly along with him - when I’m alone. When I need some up-tempo music for cleaning or if I’m just in a very good mood, then I put on Elvis from the fifties. My basement is full of vinyl records, I even have the blue Moody Blue record (his last) and some rare picture discs and very old singles. I know he started a movement, and I think it is so sad to know that he had all this success and every possibility in his life – but it all ended up killing him. I have read a book about him lately (I’ve read many books about him), in which there was a “life line”. Having read that life line I simply don’t understand he didn’t die before he did. He was being exploited ruthlessly by the Colonel and everybody else around him. He never had time to be together with his wife, his family and friends. No wonder when he finally had time with those he loved that he did silly things like buying a ranch and lots of horses to ride on, although he had no experience in such things. He bought expensive gifts for everybody – to compensate, I suppose. He was a sad destiny, but I do enjoy his music very much.
ReplyDeleteWishing you both a lovely weekend. :)