franny
02-17-2009, 04:00 PM
Elvismania!: While Beatlemania has been well recorded (largely thanks to the widespread use of audio-visual technology in the 1960s), Elvismania is not as well chronicled in the medium (due to the paucity of audio-visual hardware in the 1950s). Few audio-visual relics exist of the pandemonium and riots caused during many of Elvis’ early performances.
Where Elvismania has been recorded for posterity is in the many newspaper and magazine editorials and news stories of what ensued at an Elvis concert. That from mid 1956 the police required Elvis’ shows to be presented in a certain way resulted in a formal clause being included in the contract for each show:
Show to be presented in its regular presentation as per show police established on other appearances
http://www.elvisinfonet.com/image-files/rare_live50%20(92).jpg
One archive of such material is Lee Cotton’s sublime book, Did Elvis Sing In Your Hometown? EIN has taken several accounts from the book to highlight the extent of “Elvismania”:
San Diego, California – April 4, 1956: Long before the show started, a platoon of the Navy Shore Patrol and extra police units were called out to protect Elvis from the over-enthusiastic crowd. During the show, the roar of the crowd was deafening, and the young women were wound up to a frenzy by Elvis’ gyrations. At one point, he temporarily stopped the show in an attempt to get the crowd to return to their seats. Order was restored only after he said, “Sit down, or the show ends.”
Rumors that Elvis had been jailed following his performances in San Diego spread like wildfire and were reported as far away as Amarillo, Texas. What the press actually witnessed was a cordon of police officers escorting Elvis from the arena to protect him from his overzealous fans.
El Paso, Texas – April 11, 1956: As Elvis exited the building, it took ten policemen to hold off the wildly enthusiastic crowd. Even with the protection of the local police, Elvis was man-handled by the crowd. Later, he said, “one girl took a swipe at me and really clawed my side.”
Dallas, Texas - October 11, 1956: Cotton Bowl Stadium – Ninety-five policemen were hired for security to keep fans in check.
Louisville, Kentucky - November 25, 1956: After a blistering 35 minutes on stage, Elvis slipped out of the building unnoticed. His fans, not content to let him go so easily, stormed the stage. Some girls caressed the microphone he had used. Others rubbed their hands in the places he had stepped and then kissed the dirt. And, this was just the matinee!
Chicago, Illinois - March 28, 1957: When Elvis finally hits the boards, it was the first time he was wearing his famous $2,500 gold suit, designed by Nudie of Hollywood. ……..The effect on the crowd when the spotlight first illuminated Elvis in his shimmering wardrobe was sheer pandemonium as thousands of fervent fans made a mad dash for the stage……..He (Elvis) was able to hang on for an incredible 47 minutes, singing a total of sixteen songs, before a dozen young women climbed on stage, effectively putting a halt to the show. During the performance, firemen carried away thirteen girls who “swooned upon viewing their idol.” One distraught female struck an usher with her purse, sending him top the hospital with a suspected skull fracture. Another grabbed the edge of the stage with such determination that it took two policemen to pull her away.
Los Angeles, California - October 28, 1957: The first 20 rows of seats had been removed, placing the fans further away from Elvis. In addition, two dozen police ringed the front of the stage…….Finally, the audience of 9,200 got an eyeful of Elvis, wearing the gold jacket, white trousers, and a ruffled white shirt. Some fans closest to the stage may even have heard part the show. Their screams echoed two blocks away, according to Wally George, who reported on the affair for the Los Angeles Times, who wrote, “The impression upon walking through the audience was that of being on the edge of a volcano.”
Los Angeles, California - October 28, 1957: The police filmed Elvis’ show in response to concerns his act is lewd and corrupting teenage youth. (Source: Did Elvis Sing In Your Hometown?)
Where Elvismania has been recorded for posterity is in the many newspaper and magazine editorials and news stories of what ensued at an Elvis concert. That from mid 1956 the police required Elvis’ shows to be presented in a certain way resulted in a formal clause being included in the contract for each show:
Show to be presented in its regular presentation as per show police established on other appearances
http://www.elvisinfonet.com/image-files/rare_live50%20(92).jpg
One archive of such material is Lee Cotton’s sublime book, Did Elvis Sing In Your Hometown? EIN has taken several accounts from the book to highlight the extent of “Elvismania”:
San Diego, California – April 4, 1956: Long before the show started, a platoon of the Navy Shore Patrol and extra police units were called out to protect Elvis from the over-enthusiastic crowd. During the show, the roar of the crowd was deafening, and the young women were wound up to a frenzy by Elvis’ gyrations. At one point, he temporarily stopped the show in an attempt to get the crowd to return to their seats. Order was restored only after he said, “Sit down, or the show ends.”
Rumors that Elvis had been jailed following his performances in San Diego spread like wildfire and were reported as far away as Amarillo, Texas. What the press actually witnessed was a cordon of police officers escorting Elvis from the arena to protect him from his overzealous fans.
El Paso, Texas – April 11, 1956: As Elvis exited the building, it took ten policemen to hold off the wildly enthusiastic crowd. Even with the protection of the local police, Elvis was man-handled by the crowd. Later, he said, “one girl took a swipe at me and really clawed my side.”
Dallas, Texas - October 11, 1956: Cotton Bowl Stadium – Ninety-five policemen were hired for security to keep fans in check.
Louisville, Kentucky - November 25, 1956: After a blistering 35 minutes on stage, Elvis slipped out of the building unnoticed. His fans, not content to let him go so easily, stormed the stage. Some girls caressed the microphone he had used. Others rubbed their hands in the places he had stepped and then kissed the dirt. And, this was just the matinee!
Chicago, Illinois - March 28, 1957: When Elvis finally hits the boards, it was the first time he was wearing his famous $2,500 gold suit, designed by Nudie of Hollywood. ……..The effect on the crowd when the spotlight first illuminated Elvis in his shimmering wardrobe was sheer pandemonium as thousands of fervent fans made a mad dash for the stage……..He (Elvis) was able to hang on for an incredible 47 minutes, singing a total of sixteen songs, before a dozen young women climbed on stage, effectively putting a halt to the show. During the performance, firemen carried away thirteen girls who “swooned upon viewing their idol.” One distraught female struck an usher with her purse, sending him top the hospital with a suspected skull fracture. Another grabbed the edge of the stage with such determination that it took two policemen to pull her away.
Los Angeles, California - October 28, 1957: The first 20 rows of seats had been removed, placing the fans further away from Elvis. In addition, two dozen police ringed the front of the stage…….Finally, the audience of 9,200 got an eyeful of Elvis, wearing the gold jacket, white trousers, and a ruffled white shirt. Some fans closest to the stage may even have heard part the show. Their screams echoed two blocks away, according to Wally George, who reported on the affair for the Los Angeles Times, who wrote, “The impression upon walking through the audience was that of being on the edge of a volcano.”
Los Angeles, California - October 28, 1957: The police filmed Elvis’ show in response to concerns his act is lewd and corrupting teenage youth. (Source: Did Elvis Sing In Your Hometown?)