December 31, On this day in Elvis history

 

December 31, 1955

Elvis performed at the Louisiana Hayride, Municipal Auditorium, Shreveport.

AND

"I Forgot To Remember" hit #1 on the U.S. Country chart.
December 31, 1956

Elvis appeared on Dewey Phillips TV show, Phillips' Pop Shop, between 3.30 and 4.30 p.m.

December 31, 1958

Elvis received an other Christmas gift. This time from Tom Diskin. It was a book by Konstantin Stanislavsky. Much of the book,

 he said, might not interested Elvis but it supported Elvis' instinct, that great acting came from "be(ing) natural".

December 31, 1959

Elvis sent a telegram to his manager: " Please convey my thanks to the various groups in Memphis who have suggested a special

 homecoming for me when I return to Memphis. However, I wish to return to Memphis the same way that any other serviceman 

returns to his hometown without ceremony or fanfare, I served as they served and was proud to do it. Seeing the city of Memphis, 

my family, friends, and fans, will be the most welcome sight in the world to me. I appreciate their kind gesture. I know they will

 understand and I am glad you are in agreement with me on this. Best wishes to you and Mrs. Parker: From Dad, Grandma and myself."

December 31,1960             

Elvis' Christmas Album" re-charted at #33 in the U.S.
December 31, 1962

There was a big fireworks display at Graceland, followed by a party at the Manhattan Club for over 200 friends, family and fans.

December 31, 1964

Elvis rented out the Memphian for New Year's Eve.

December 31, 1965

Elvis gave a New Year's Eve party at the Manhattan Club once again for friends, family, and fans.

December 31, 1966

Again there were several horses bought today as an addition to the stable. Elvis held his annual New Year's Eve party at Manhattan Club,

 but he didn't attend himself, because there was not a parking place available.
His guests however enjoyed the catering by Monte's again as well as the music: Willie Mitchell and his band.

AND

"If Every Day Was Christmas" hit #9 in the U.K.

December 31, 1967

For the first time the New Year's Eve party was held at the Thunderbird Lounge on Adams Street, but again catered by Monte's. Elvis 

danced several times with Priscilla, including once on his request of Summertime.

December 31, 1968

For the second year Elvis' New Year's Eve party was at the Thunderbird Lounge.

AND

In the U.K., the TV special "Elvis" aired on BBC2-TV.
December 31, 1969

Elvis New Year's Eve party was held at TJ's, a new club in Memphis.

December 31, 1970

Elvis and the group went on a special tour at the FBI headquarters. Here Elvis expressed his admiration for J. Edgar Hoover to the FBI agent 

conducting the tour. Elvis also offered to serve in an undercover capacity in any way he could. On the agent's recommendation Director Hoover

 sent Elvis a note on January 4: "your generous comments concerning the Bureau and me are appreciated and you may be sure we will keep 

in mind your offer to be of assistance."
The group flew home to Memphis in a leased jet in time for the annual New Year's Eve party at TJ's.

December 31, 1971

Elvis hosted a small New Year's Eve party at Graceland, not at a local club like he had done in the past.

December 31, 1975

Elvis performed at the Silverdome, Pontiac, Michigan. Elvis and the Colonel earned more than $300,000 with this show, but the show itself was somewhat less of a success. Elvis ripped his pants and more generally speaking it was not his best show ever. Afterwards Elvis and the group flew home to celebrate New Year in Elvis bedroom.
They watched tapes of old Monty Python shows.

December 31, 1976

Elvis performed at the Civic Center Arena, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This show was very different from the other New Year's Eve shows. Elvis was at his best. Probably due to the presence of Ginger, the 90 minute show was a big success. After the show Vernon told Elvis of the death of his cousin Bobbi Mann at 38, after taking an overdose of pills. The whole group returned to Memphis at 6.30 a.m.

Date:	31 Dec 1976
Time:	9.30pm
Venue:	Pittsburgh, PA. Civic Center Arena
Tickets:	16,409
Costume:	Phoenix (black) suit
Track list:	Also Sprach Zarathustra See See Rider I Got A Woman/Amen Love Me Fairytale You Gave Me A Mountain Jailhouse Rock O Sole Mio/It's Now Or Never My Way Funny How Time Slips Away Auld Lang Syne Blue Suede Shoes Trying To Get To You Polk Salad Annie [band introductions] Early Morning Rain What'd I Say Johnny B. Goode Love Letters School Days Fever Hurt Hound Dog Are You Lonesome Tonight? Little Sister Unchained Melody Rags To Riches Can't Help Falling In Love
Recordings:	Auld Lang Syne New Years' Eve Rags To Riches Rockin' With Elvis New Year's Eve
Photos:

 

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CONCERT DETAILS: Tour Ref: 1954 Date: December 31 1954 Venue: NCO Club Red River Arsenal Location: Texarkana AR Showtime: Crowd: Show type: Ticket Price: ELVIS ATTIRE: Jacket: Pink Trousers: Pink Shirt: ELVIS ACCESSORIES: Tie: Shoes: Belt: MUSICIANS ATTIRE: Jacket: Trousers: Shirt: MUSICIANS ACCESSORIES: Tie: Shoes: Belt: SONGS - TRACKLISTINGS: Tweedle Dee CONCERT COMMENTS: This concert was rumoured to have taken place but no evidence has been found. CONCERT DETAILS: Tour Ref: 1955 Date: December 31 1955 Venue: Municipal Auditorium Location: Shreveport LA Showtime: (8:00 PM) Crowd: Show type: Louisiana Hayride Ticket Price: ELVIS ATTIRE: Jacket: Trousers: Shirt: ELVIS ACCESSORIES: Tie: Shoes: Belt: MUSICIANS ATTIRE: Jacket: Trousers: Shirt: MUSICIANS ACCESSORIES: Tie: Shoes: Belt: SONGS - TRACKLISTINGS: Heartbreak Hotel Blue Suede Shoes Peace In The Valley ARTISTS - OTHER ACTS: Johnny Cash CONCERT COMMENTS: CONCERT DETAILS: Tour Ref: On Tour number 18 - December 31st 1975 Date: December 31 1975 Venue: Pontiac Silverdome Location: Pontiac MI Showtime: (8:30 pm) Crowd: 60500 REVIEWS: Article *: VIDEO INFORMATION: Release: The Bob Heis Footage Length: Quality: ELVIS ATTIRE: Suit: Rainfall Belt: Original belt Cape: GROUP ATTIRE: Musicians: Red Suit TICKET STUBS: SONGS - TRACKLISTINGS: 2001 Theme C C Rider I Got A Woman - segued medley with - Amen Love Me Tryin To Get To You And I Love You So All Shook Up Teddy Bear - segued medley with - Dont Be Cruel Heartbreak Hotel One Night You Gave Me A Mountain Polk Salad Annie Sweet Sweet Spirit ( featuring The Sweet Inspirations ) Band Introductions Whatd I Say ( featuring James Burton ) Drum Solo ( featuring Ronnie Tutt ) Bass Solo ( featuring Jerry Scheff ) Piano Solo ( featuring Glen D Hardin ) School Day My Way ( stopped then restarted ) Love Me Tender Auld Lang Syne How Great Thou Art ( followed by a reprise of above song ) Its Now Or Never America The Beautiful Elvis introduces Charlie Hodge, Lisa-Marie and Vernon Presley Hound Dog Wooden Heart ( above song is just an excerpt ) Cant Help Falling In Love Closing Vamp CDS FROM CONCERT: Import CD Import CD CDRS FROM CONCERT: PICTURES FROM CONCERT: © © © © © George Hill © George Hill © George Hill VIDEO DESCRIPTION Description: Historical footage with so-so quality Quality:  Sound: Dubbed Shot by:  VIDEO FOOTAGE     video footage presented by Tomek Newspaper Articles CONCERT DATE: December 31, 1976. (9.30 pm) Pittsburgh, PA. Civic Center Arena. PITTSBURGH  Post Gazette:  Concert Draws 16,409  Elvis Rings In '77 At the Civic Arena  Mike Kalina  While Pittsburghers rang in the New Year Friday night in front of their TV sets with Guy Lombardo, 16,409 others Scorned 1977 with Elvis Presley at the Civic Arena. After three opening acts and a lengthy intermission, Presley unded on stage 35 minutes before midnight, but you would rethought the clock had struck 12. He received an ear-deafening ovation punctuated by thousands of blasts from flash bulbs and a� patchwork of "We-Love-You-Elvis" signs hoisted aloft. Presley had perhaps the most captive audience since Johnny Cash played Folsom Prison. And rarely did he lose his iron grip on the crowd during his 90 minutes on stage. Presley was much warmer than on his first visit here in mid 1973. This time he not only interacted with the crowd but he also even gave up the microphone for a minute or so to have a fan wish him happy birthday (actually, he will be 42 on Saturday) and happy new year. He also snapped dozens of gifts from those who had come to pay homage to him. He gave out 42 scarves and, believe it or not, even took requests. He also was in better voice on this Pittsburgh visit, singing surprisingly well and in a lower register that gave more im pact to his phrasing. He even ventured into difficult musical areas, hitting notes that could cause a mild hernia. And after they drew a good crowd reaction, he offered them in a reprise that was tantamount to masochism. His material offered few surprises and featured a mix of new material and the rock standards associateed with him ("Hound Dog," "Jailhouse Rock"). He seemed more comforta ble doing his newer material and handled it excellently. He also played the acoustic guitar (but not very well) and did a few songs while accompanying himself on piano. In this segment "Unchained Melody" was the standout. The old Elvis moves also were exhibited but by now are such a cliche that they were inadvertently humorous. Presley is not a young man anymore. His physique is starting to sag, his face his fleshy and pale, his eyes puffy, and when he tries to repeat moves he made on the Ed Sullivan show two decades ago, the effect is a self-paody. But the hordes of fans loved his every shake, rattle and roll and squealed with delight when vestiges of the old "Elvis the Pelvis" shined through. Presley surrounded himself with some of the finest musicians on the rock circuit today, including James Burton on lead guitar and drummer Ronnie Tutt, who is probably the best rock drummer in the world. In addition to a tight electric band, Presley was backed by the predominately brass James Guercio orchestra and 10 backup singers - including opening acts the Sweet Inspirations and the Stamps Quartet. Presley has a rapport with his musicians unlike any other star. They look as though they hold his every move in awe. If he casts a hard glance at one, the musician's face is glazed with pain. If Elvis smiles at him, the sideman's face lights up like a kid's on Christmas morning. Charlie Hodge, Presley's water- boy and scarfboy, related to the star like a stone quarryman relates to a sculpton To watch his interaction with Presley was worth the price of admission alone. At the stroke of midnight, the house lights went up and Elvis led the crowd in singing "Auld Lang Syne." There were some brief huzzahs from the crowd but in a few minutes Presley was back singing. Overall, it was a fine show, though Presley seems to have lost some of the spark that turned his concerts of yesterday into events. He worked hard, but underneath it all one could see that age is taking its toll on the singer. A change in style seems to be the logical career move for him - but Presley seems intent on showing the world that a middleaged man can rock and roll, too. A famous country artist once said that you can grow old as a country singer but not as a rock singer, Presley is trying to prove him wrong. But he's not succeeding.