Elvis Stamp In Germany 2010

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Elvis Stamp In Germany

 

 

 

When the first German Elvis stamp was issued in 1988, it was only available in West Germany due to the political situation of the German partition. Now the very first Elvis stamp will be issued since the German reunification. This amazing project is initiated and presented by well-known artist Carolin Okon. The  stamp is set for release on November 9, 2010.__

the top Elvis Presley movies based Top 20 box office rankings

 

Based on the Box Office Report database, the top grossing Elvis Presley movies based on the yearly Top 20 box office rankings were:

1. Viva Las Vegas (May, 1964, MGM), no. 11 on the list of the top grossing movies of the year in the U.S., $36,136,095
2. Jailhouse Rock (October, 1957, MGM), no. 12, $30,145,196
3. Blue Hawaii (November, 1961, Paramount), no. 13, $34,179,911
4. G.I. Blues (August, 1960, Paramount), no. 15, $31,588,275
5. Loving You (July, 1957, Paramount), tied for no. 15, $28,599,288
6. Girls! Girls! Girls! (November, 1962, Paramount), no. 19, $25,891,391
7. Love Me Tender (November, 1956, Twentieth Century Fox), no. 20, $33,620,639
8. Girl Happy (1965, MGM), no. 25, $21,375,238
9. Kissin' Cousins (1964, MGM), no. 26, $19,639,182
10. Roustabout (1964, Paramount), no. 28, $21,041,981_._,___

ELVIS'S NUMBER ONE RECORDS ON THE COUNTRY CHART

 

ELVIS'S NUMBER ONE RECORDS ON THE COUNTRY CHART   1. " Heartbreak Hotel " ( 17 weeks ) 2. " Don't Be Cruel " ( 7 weeks ) 3. " I Forgot To Remember To Forget " ( 5 weeks ) 4. " Hound Dog " ( 3 weeks ) 5. " I Want You, I Need You, I Love You " ( 2 weeks ) 6. " All Shook Up " ( 1 week ) 7. " Teddy Bear " ( 1 week ) 8. " Jailhouse Rock " ( 1 week ) 9. " Moody Blue" / "She Thinks I Still Care " ( 1 week ) 10. " Way Down " ( 1 week ) 11. " Guitar Man " ( 1 week )

Elvis Presley Enterprises products in 1956

  Over 78 Elvis Presley Enterprises products were manufactured in 1956. Some of these sold nationwide included bobby socks, combs, brushes, pillows,toy guitars, cologne, Plaster of Paris busts, jewelry, pencils, celluloid buttons and banners.
  The products were sold in the following stores throughout the United States in 1956:

Sears & Roebuck

Montgomery Ward

W.T. Grant

Woolworth's

AMC Stores

Macy's

Allied Department Stores

H.L. Green

Rexall

Whelan Drugs

  All purchases had to be paid for in cash and were non-refundable.

Howard Bell was the manufacturer of Elvis Presley Enterprises Merchandise for Special Products, Inc.

SOME ITEMS SOLD BY ELVIS PRESLEY ENTERPRISE IN 1956

 

1. The very first product produced By Elvis Presley Enterprises was a glow-in-the-dark photo that sold for $1.00

2. The second product was lipstick:

                                  Hound Dog Orange

                                  Heartbreak Pink

                                  Love-Ya Fuchsia

                                 Tender Pink

                                 Cruel Red

They were manufactured by Teenager Lipstick Corp. in Beverley Hills, Calif. and sold for $1.00 each

3. Elvis T shirts sold for $1.50 each

4. Elvis Doll $3.98.

5.Randolph Manufacturing Company produced Elvis sneakers. They came in a tan box featuring a large picture of Elvis holding a guitar on the lid and a cut-out portrait of Elvis with an autograph of Elvis on the bottom. 

6.Faith Shoe Company made the Elvis Presley Skimmer pumps in a variety of colors. The leather version was $4.99 and the cloth version was $3.99.

7 An automatic Elvis Presley 45 rpm Victrola ( model 7EP45) sold for $44.95. Included was an RCA-Victor triple pocket EP, Elvis Presley. This product was sold on a special easy payment plan of a dollar down and a dollar a week.

8 Elvis adjustable photo rings sold for 49¢  at Woolworths and $1.00 at Nordstorms.

9. Red white and blue Elvis mittens sold for $1.50 a pair

10. Elvis wallets, in a variety of styles cost anywhere between 59¢ to $1.00.

11. Elvis Stationary sets sold for $1.00

12. Elvis scarves sold for $1.49

13.  7" bronze statues of Elvis with a guitar sold for $1.00 each

14. Elvis Rock -n-roll purse sold for $1.00

15 Pocket sized, battery operated Elvis personal fans sold for $2.00

16 Elvis jeans sold for $2.98

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Television appearance on the Jackie Gleason Show

On Monday, January 23, 1956, Elvis, Scotty, Bill and D.J. rehearsed in Memphis for their television debut. Elvis and the Colonel flew to New York on Wednesday the 25th. They stayed at the Warwick Hotel on 52nd Street. Scotty, Bill and D.J. drove from Memphis to New York and arrived on Friday, January 27th.  "Stage Show" was produced by Jackie Gleason and hosted by big band leaders Jimmy and Tommy Dorsey. The thirty-minute program aired on Saturday nights at 8:00 PM as a lead-in to Jackie Gleason's "The Honeymooners." Elvis and his band rehearsed at Nola Studios in New York on the morning of Saturday, January 28th. That night the show aired from CBS Studio 50. It was raining and the then-unknown Elvis Presley did not draw a large studio audience. Also appearing on the show were singer Sarah Vaughan and comic Gene Sheldon. Tommy Dorsey introduced Cleveland disc jockey Bill Randle, who, in turn, introduced Elvis to his first national audience by saying:  "We'd like at this time to introduce to you a young fellow who, like many performers - Johnnie Ray among them - came out of nowhere to be an overnight big star. This young fellow we saw for the first time while making a movie short. We think tonight that he's going to make television history for you. We'd like you to meet him now - Elvis Presley." Elvis wore a black shirt, white tie, dress pants with a shiny stripe, and a tweed jacket. He sang a "Shake, Rattle & Roll / Flip, Flop & Fly" medley and "I Got a Woman." The audience reacted with both shock and interest. The show received an 18.4 % ratings share while its competition "The Perry Como Show" on NBC received a 34.6% share. The option was picked up and Elvis appeared a total of six times on "Stage Show." For these appearances the band rented instruments in New York while Elvis associates Red West and Gene Smith transported the band's own instruments to the next concert appearance using a pink trailer that Elvis' father Vernon had built for this purpose. After the fourth "Stage Show" the rented standup bass that Bill Black had enthusiastically played had to be repaired. Bill had broken the neck, sound post and the back of the instrument. The repairs cost $32.96.  Elvis' sixth and final "Stage Show" appearance was on March 24, 1956. That night Carl Perkins was to have been on the opposing "Perry Como Show." However, Carl had been badly hurt in an automobile accident on the way to New York. That night on "Stage Show," out of respect for his friend Carl, Elvis refused to sing Perkins' "Blue Suede Shoes" as previously planned and instead sang "Money Honey."

1955 telegram to Elvis's manager, for Elvis's first television appearance

This 1955 telegram to Elvis's manager, Tom Parker, shows the compensation details for Elvis's first ever television appearance on the Jackie Gleason Show in January of 1956.

Elvis Grammy Awards

Grammy Awards Elvis received 14 Grammy nominations from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS). His three wins were for gospel recordings - the album How Great Thou Art (1967), the album He Touched Me (1972) and his live Memphis concert recording of the song How Great Thou Art (1974). In 1971, NARAS also recognized him with their Lifetime Achievement Award (known then as the Bing Crosby Award in honor of its first recipient). Elvis was 36 years old at the time. Six of Elvis' recordings, all of them his original studio masters, have been inducted into the NARAS Hall of Fame: Hound Dog (1956 recording, inducted 1988), Heartbreak Hotel (1956 recording, inducted 1995), That's All Right (1954 recording, inducted 1998), Suspicious Minds (1969 recording, inducted 1999), Don't Be Cruel (1956 recording, inducted 2002) and Are You Lonesome Tonight (1960 recording, inducted 2007). The Recording Academy's national trustees established the Grammy Hall Of Fame in 1973 to honor recordings of lasting qualitative or historical significance that are at least 25 years old. Many inductees are recordings that were created and released before the 1958 inception of NARAS and the Grammy Awards. Although Elvis won only three Grammy Awards, he was nominated several other times.  The following is a complete list of Elvis's Grammy nominations: 1959 1. Record of the Year - "A Fool Such As I" ( lost to Bobby Darin's, "Mack the Knife") 2. Best performance by a " Top 40 " Artist - "A Big Hunk o' Love " ( lost to "Midnight Flyer " by Nat King Cole ) 3. Best Rhythm and Blues Performance - "A Big Hunk o' Love" - (lost to Dianh Washington's "What a Diffference a Day Makes) 4.Best Album Cover - "For LP Fans Only" ( this was an art directors award and Col. Parker was nominated, lost to "Shostakovich:Symphony No 5 " ) 1960 5. Record of the Year - "Are You Lonesome Tonight? " ( lost to Percy Faith's "Theme From a Summer Place" ) 6. Best Vocal Performance, Male - "Are You Lonesome Tonight? " ( lost to "Georgia On My Mind" by Ray Charles ) 7. Best Performance by a Pop Singles Artist - "Are You Lonesome Tonight ?" ( lost to "Georgia On My Mind " by Ray Charles) 8. Best Vocal Performance - Male, Album - "G.I. Blues" ( lost to "Genius of Ray Charles") 9. Best Soundtrack Album or Recording of Original Cast From A Motion Picture or Television - "G.I. Blues " ( lost to Can- Can") 1961 10. Best Soundtrack Album or Recording of Original Cast From A Motion Picture or Television - "Blue Hawaii" ( lost to "West Side Story ") 1967 11. Best Sacred Performance -  " How Great Thou Art" WON 1968 12. Best Sacred Performance - " You'll Never Walk Alone" ( lost to Jake Hess's album " Beautiful Isle of Somewhere") 1972 13. Best Inspirational Performance - " He Touched Me " album - WON 1974 14. Best Inspirational Performance - " How Great Thou Art " ( this was a track from the LP "Elvis Recorded Live on Stage in Memphis")  WON 1978 15. Best Country Vocal Performance, Male - "Softly As I Leave You" ( lost to Willie' Nelson's, " Georgia On My Mind") 1980  Best Album Notes - "Elvis Aron Presley ( Lorene Lortic was nominated ) ( lost to Frank Sinatra's "Trilogy: Past Present and Future")

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Elvis Military service

Military service Rank and Insignia Date of Rank Private Drafted 24 March 1958 Private First-Class 27 November 1958 Specialist 4 1 June 1959 Sergeant 20 January 1960 3rd Armored Division On December 20, 1957, Presley received his draft notice. Hal Wallis and Paramount Pictures had already spent $350,000 on the film King Creole, and did not want to suspend or cancel the project. The Memphis Draft Board granted Presley a deferment to finish it. On March 24, 1958, he was inducted as US Army private #53310761 and completed basic training at Fort Hood, Texas on September 17, 1958, before being posted to Friedberg, Germany with the 3rd Armored Division, where his service took place from October 1, 1958 until March 2, 1960, Fellow soldiers have attested to Presley's wish to be seen as an able an ordinary soldier, despite his fame, and to his generosity while in service. To supplement meager under-clothing supplies, Presley bought an extra set of fatigues for everyone in his outfit. He also donated his Army pay to charity, and purchased all the TV sets for personnel on the base at that time. Presley had chosen not to join 'Special Services', which would have allowed him to avoid certain duties and maintain his public profile,  He continued to receive massive media coverage, with much speculation echoing Presley's own concerns about his enforced absence damaging his career. However, early in 1958, RCA Victor producer Steve Sholes and Freddy Bienstock of Hill and Range (Presley's main music publishers) had both pushed for recording sessions and strong song material, the aim being to release regular hit recordings during Presley's two-year hiatus. Hit singles—and six albums—duly followed during that period. Presley returned to the U.S. on March 2, 1960, and was honorably discharged with the rank of sergeant on March 5.Any doubts Elvis had about his popularity must have been dispelled as "The train which carried him from New Jersey to Memphis was mobbed all the way, with Presley being called upon to appear ... at whistle-stops" to placate his fans.

letter to MGM from Elvis and Colonel Parker

Elvis and Colonel Parker sent this letter to former MGM President, Robert H. O'Brien, to celebrate ten years with MGM, which all begin with Jailhouse Rock.

The Elvis Presley Appearances Ed Sullivan Shows on DVD

The Elvis Presley Appearances Ed Sullivan Shows on DVD Elvis Presley was paid $50,000, a huge amount for the time 9/9/1956 "Don't Be Cruel," "Hound Dog," "Reddy Teddy" and "Love Me Tender." 10/28/1956 "Don't Be Cruel," "Love Me Tender" and "Hound Dog." 1/6/1957 This is the only "above the waist" performance "Hound Dog," "Love Me Tender," "Heartbreak Hotel," "Don't Be Cruel," "Peace in the Valley" "Too Much" and "When My Blue Moon Turns to Gold Again."

Jim Carrey as ELVIS PRESLEY

Jim Carrey imitando a Elvis

Jim Carrey as Elvis

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2JXsTtN02U.
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Elvis pics

March 1956—The Pivotal Month
In the Career of Elvis

First of all, March 1956 was the month that Elvis first appeared on Billboard's Top 100 pop chart. On March 3, 1956, "Heartbreak Hotel" debuted on the chart at #68. It moved up the chart quickly, and by the end of the month it was inside the top 10 at #9 and on its way to #1. The flip side, "I Was the One" became Elvis's second chart song when it entered the Top 100 at #84 on March 10, 1956. By the end of the month, it had climbed to #25.

"Heartbreak Hotel's" chart appearance on March 3 began an unprecedented and record-breaking streak for Elvis on the Top/Hot 100. Starting that week, he had at least one title in Billboard's top chart for 136 consecutive weeks—over 2½ years! The streak included both sides of Elvis's first 11 RCA singles, 14 top 10 sides, and 7 #1 records. Elvis's name would not be absent from the Hot 100 until late September 1958, when RCA began increasing the interval between Elvis's single releases after he had entered the army.

 

Elvis's first LP released: March 23, 1956

As "Heartbreak Hotel" rushed up the singles chart in March 1956, RCA released Elvis's first record album, titled simply "Elvis Presley." "This young singer from the south is the latest performer to cash in on frenetic highjinks," read Billboard's review on March 14, 1956. "In this collection Presley works through a repertory that's a blend of hillbilly and rock 'n' roll, ranging from such contemporary classics as 'Tutti Frutti' to the Rodgers & Hart oldie, 'Blue Moon,' in which an echo effect and some falsetto piping almost succeeds in making the song unrecognizable."

A full-page in Billboard (another first for Elvis) on March 31 announced, "A Red Hot Star Is Born on RCA Victor Records!" The LP quickly rose to the top of the LP chart, where it stayed for 10 weeks. It became the first RCA album ever to sell over 300,000 copies on its initial release.

 

March '56 appearances: radio, TV, and tour shows

According to Scotty Moore, Elvis and the band were so busy on the road that they were oblivious to Elvis's records moving up the charts. The guys traveled to Shreveport on March 3, 10, and 31 to appear on The Louisiana Hayride radio broadcast. The March 31 show was Elvis's last regular appearance on the Hayride,. Colonel Parker bought out his contract with the show two days later.

Elvis also traveled to New York City in March for the final two of his six Saturday night network TV appearances on CBS's Stage Show. On March 17 Elvis sang "Heartbreak Hotel," which was just starting its run up the charts, and "Blue Suede Shoes." A week later he again performed his hit record, along with "Money Honey" from his soon to be released LP.

While Elvis's Saturday nights in March 1956 were taken up with Hayride and Stage Show appearances, he continued his frenetic touring during mid-week. He played Memphis on March 9th, Atlanta on the 14th and 15th, Charleston on the 18th, Columbia on the 19th, Augusta on the 20th, Lexington on the 21st, Richmond on the 22nd, and Washington D.C. on the 23rd.

 

Elvis live in Lexington

The audience reaction to Presley's show at the YMCA arena in Lexington, Kentucky, on March 21 was typical at the time and demonstrated that Elvis's popularity had already exploded at ground level. "A whirlwind blew into Lexington last night," observed an unidentified reviewer in The Dispatch the next morning. "The whirlwind is Elvis Presley, 21-year-old singing sensation of the nation who has what many experts describe as the 'biggest drawing power in the entertainment world at present.' He had to be ushered from the dressing room by policemen who forced their way through scores of young girls seeking autographs, souvenirs or just a look at 'their boy.'"

According to the review, cries from the estimated crowd of 4,800 could be heard blocks away. "Elvis slouched his shoulders, wiggled them, spread his legs, wiggled them, and the sighs and cries grew even louder. When he talked it was louder cries. When he strummed his guitar the noise got louder and when he sang bedlam broke loose. Using all types of intricate motions as he delivered his songs, many of them top-selling RCA Victor hits, Elvis showed his audience what has gained him fame as the new 'bobby-soxers' favorite of the nation. Backed by a good band Elvis sang on, wiggled on and danced on. Young voices rang high from the audience—'Sing to me, Elvis,' shouted many a young miss."

After meeting Elvis at a pre-concert press gathering, the Dispatch writer described him as "a shy fellow who says he's ever thankful to the public for their 'taking him in.'" Elvis added, "I'll never forget the folks who have made this rise possible, especially my mom and dad. It just appears to be a dream to me. I hope I can continue to please the public."

 

Hollywood screen test: March 25-27, 1956

During the press conference, Elvis brought up still another significant event in his career during March 1956—his Hollywood screen test. Elvis told the assembled writers that he would soon be flying to the coast "to receive a screen test for a new Hal Wallis move, 'The Rainmakers,' (sic) starring Burt Lancaster and Kathryn Hepburn." Wallis had sent the script to Colonel Parker on March 7, and the Colonel turned it over to Elvis with the admonition, "Do not discuss this matter with anyone—not the boys in the band, the people at the Hayride, anyone, because this is private." Parker could not have been happy when he learned Elvis was discussing a possible role in The Rainmaker with local reporters. For the record, Elvis flew to Los Angeles on March 25 for a three-day screen test at Paramount Studios.

 

Colonel Parker takes control: March 26, 1956

Behind the scenes, March 1956 was also significant in Elvis's career because his professional relationship with Colonel Parker was finalized during that month. Early in March, Parker concluded contractural agreements that officially put an end to Elvis's relationships with former manager Bob Neal and tour organizer Hank Snow. Then on March 26 Elvis signed a formal agreement that made Colonel Parker his "sole and exclusive Advisor, Personal Representative, and Manager in any and all fields of public and private entertainment." For better or for worse, in March 1956 Elvis put complete control of his fledgling career in the hands of Colonel Tom Parker.

Elvis Presley's first Top 100 chart single, his first LP release, his final regular appearances on the Hayride and Stage Show programs, his ever explosive personal appearances, his Hollywood screen test, his agreement with Colonel Parker—all of them happened in March 1956. Certainly there were other key events in Elvis Presley's life, but no other single month in his 24-year professional career produced as many life-changing episodes. In March 1956 it must have seemed to Elvis Presley that all of his dreams were coming true at the same time.

Publicity For Gold Barbie

 

The 2011 edition of 'Elvis Barbie' doesn't go by unnoticed in the American press. Especially the black Elvis-style hair for the blondest doll ever, triggered the attention of collectors. This full page advertisement in the EW Guide will undoubtably boost the sales of 'black Barbie'. 

 

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