Elvis Presley photographs show a slice of history: Elvis at 21

On two separate occasions in 1956, for no more than a week in total, in March and from June 29 to July 17, RCA’s New York studio asked Alfred Wertheimer to accompany Elvis Presley on tour as his photographer.

The idea was to take promotional shots, but freelancer Wertheimer recorded Presley’s meteoric rise from almost obscurity to ultimate stardom in that pivotal year. With unprecedented access to Elvis Presley, Wertheimer took photographs from backstage, on-stage, in a recording studio, relaxing, touring on the train from New York to his home in Memphis, and at home.

It was the year that Presley recorded “Don’t be Cruel” and “Hound Dog,” as well as “Love me Tender.” It was also a time before he was hounded by fans, where he could walk into the train station and along the streets without an entourage.

Fifty-six black-and-white photographs are on exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra, from December 7, 2013 to March 10, 2014. The exhibition was developed by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES) and the Govinda Gallery, sponsored nationally by HISTORY.

Entitled, Elvis at 21, it is Elvis Presley at 21 years of age, during a television appearance on the Jimmy and Tommy Dorsey’s Stage Show on March 17 and The Steve Allen Show on July 2, rehearsals, and a recording session on July 3. They show the moments when a screaming audience of 3,000 are clapping and photographing Elvis the Pelvis gyrating on stage to his rock’n’roll songs, the seductive moments in a prelude to a kiss with a woman he invites to eat at a diner, and the quiet contemplative moments when he is on his own, playing gospel in a rehearsal hall.

It is a stunning collection, superbly exhibited.

http://www.portrait.gov.au/site/

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