Elvis Presley’s Electrifying Ed Sullivan Debut That Shook America
Elvis Presley’s first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show was a seismic moment in American pop culture—broadcast on September 9, 1956, it marked the night rock ‘n’ roll officially invaded mainstream television.
Ed Sullivan had initially resisted booking Elvis, wary of his provocative hip-shaking style. But after Presley’s ratings triumphs on other shows, Sullivan relented and signed him for three appearances at a then-record $50,000 deal. Ironically, Sullivan wasn’t even present that night—he was recovering from a car accident, so British actor Charles Laughton introduced Elvis remotely from New York while Presley performed live from CBS’s Los Angeles studio.
0Elvis, just 21, opened with “Don’t Be Cruel,” followed by “Love Me Tender,” “Ready Teddy,” and “Hound Dog.” Despite concerns over his “vulgar” moves, viewers got the full Elvis experience—hip gyrations and all. His plaid jacket, confident swagger, and electrifying vocals captivated over 60 million viewers, making it the most-watched broadcast of the decade.This wasn’t just a performance—it was a cultural shift. Elvis didn’t just sing; he shook America awake.
Watch the magic.
The tomato behind The Three Tomatoes.
Cheryl Benton, aka the “head tomato” is founder and publisher of The Three Tomatoes, a digital lifestyle magazine for “women who aren’t kids”. Having lived and worked for many years in New York City, the land of size zero twenty-somethings, she was truly starting to feel like an invisible woman. She created The Three Tomatoes just for the fun of it as the antidote for invisibility and sent it to 60 friends. Today she has thousands of friends and is chief cheerleader for smart, savvy women who want to live their lives fully at every age and every stage. She is the author of the novel, "Can You See Us Now?" and co-author of a humorous books of quips, "Martini Wisdom." Because she's lived a long time, her full bio won't fit here. If you want the "blah, blah, blah", read more. www.thethreetomatoes.com/about-the-head-tomato
