Most people thing that Elvis Presley's first apperance on TV was on the Ed Sullivan Show on September 9, 1956. however, ardent fans know better. His first nationwide television debut occured on the Dorsey Brothers Stage Show on January 28, 1956 and he appeared on five successive shows each Saturday night. These shows really helped start the Presley career and helped "Heartbreak Hotel" easily reach the top of the charts.
As best as we cam determine, the HY Gardner TV interview which appears on this LP was made sometime between the last Doresey show, and August, 1956, the month he started filming Love Me Tender. Unfortuantly, the date is not known but nevertheless it is very interesting to hear a frank, candid, nervous, almost shy Elvis speak about his parents, marijuana, acting, etc. Definetly one of the rarest interviews so far to have been discovered. The actualy tape of this collection was recorded from a kinescope of a repeat of the show obviously aired while Elvis was in The Army. The quality, although not execellent, is still very listenable and should give fans an idea of the Elvis of 1956.
The TV Guide Presents Elvis interview is taken from a 45 RPM record issued in 1956 as a promotional record only. There is speculation that it was a "giveaway" in the TV GUIDE magazine but upon careful study of all TV GUIDES in 1956 we could not find any mention of such a record. There was a short interview in one of the issues and apparently this article was taken from the record. Many collectors value this record as the rarest Elvis record ever so the inclusion of it in its' entirey on this collection should be most welcomed to Elvis fans worldwide.
Elvis appeared on the Steve Allen Show on July 1, 1956. The show came from New York and was on NBC-TV. Besides singing "Hound Dog" and "I Want You, I Need You, I Love you" on the show, you also can hear the complete comedy routine that Elvis was a part of.
Upon his return from the Army, Elvis went into the Nashville RCA studios to record. Soon after this, in March 1960, he went to Miami Beach, Florida where he videotaped The Frank Sinatra Timex Special to be aired on May 12, 1960. The entire Elvis portion of this show is on this collection and will give fans a chance to hear El and Frank Do "Witchcraft" and "Love Me Tender" in a duet.
List:
Steve Allen TV Show - July 1, 1956
a. I Want You, I Need You, I Love You
b. Hound Dog
c. Comedy Sketch with Andy Griffith, Imogene Coca & Steven Allen
TV Guide Presents Elvis (interview)
a. "Pelvis" Nickname
b. Adult's Reaction
c. First Public Appearance
d. How "Rockin' Motion" Started
Hy Gardner Calling - From 1956 aired on WABD - TV, New York City
Frank Sinatra Timex Special - May 12, 1960
a. Fame and Fortune
b. Stuck On You
c. Witchcraft/Love Me Tender - duet with Sinatra
Copyright 1998.