Elvis Presley (1956) First Time On Ed Sullivan Show

You May NOT Know: Elvis’s hip-shaking antics had already stirred up controversy earlier in 1956, especially after his performance of “Hound Dog” on The Milton Berle Show, which featured some exaggerated bump-and-grind moves that sent conservative America into a tizzy. By the time he made his third and final appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show in January 1957, the backlash had reached a boiling point. 📺 Censorship in Action: - For that third appearance, Elvis was intentionally filmed only from the waist up to avoid showing his infamous gyrations. - His first two appearances in September and October 1956 did show him full-body at times, though the camera often cut to close-ups or obscured his lower half with props like his guitar or drum kits. - Ed Sullivan reportedly received 70,000 letters, with many viewers complaining about Elvis’s movements. The censorship was seen as a compromise to appease both fans and critics. Interestingly, some insiders later claimed the waist-up framing was more of a publicity stunt than a moral safeguard. Either way, it added to the mystique — and probably boosted ratings. #ElvisPresley #EdSullivanShow #LoveMeTender #HoundDog #DontBeCruel #ReadyTeddy #RockAndRollHistory #VintageTelevision #ClassicPerformance #1950sPopCulture #RetroVibes #KingOfRock #MusicLegends #NostalgiaTrip