"The hottest artist in the record business today" - May 1956

[Mister Moon]

I just love this photo.

I saw it reproduced for the first time in the booklet that was enclosed within the "Elvis Aron Presley" 8-LP set, back in late 1980 (that was over 37 years ago - scary !).

The earliest photos we have of Elvis holding the gold record for "Heartbreak Hotel" were taken April 14, 1956, during the "I Want You, I Need You, I Love You" recording session in Nashville. Later that same day, a few more photos were taken back home in Memphis, at the 1034 Audubon Drive house, showing Elvis with his parents and Dewey Phillips, holding the gold record.

The image used for this cover of "The Cash Box" was probably taken May 4, 1956, during Elvis' two-week residence at The New Frontier Hotel in Las Vegas.

I like Elvis' facial expression. It shows true happiness from a guy who had recorded his first single less than two years ago. This image also marks the end of The Hillbilly Cat (the "underground hero", as Peter Guralnick would put it), and the birth of Elvis, the superstar.

560526.jpg

[cadillac-elvis]

And didn't Milton Berle once again present him with something similair, ie. an award for Heartbreak Hotel on June 5th?

[Mister Moon]

And didn't Milton Berle once again present him with something similair, ie. an award for Heartbreak Hotel on June 5th?

From memory, that was the "Triple Crown Award", for the record having been number one on three specific charts, but I should look it up for further details.

[Matt Helm]

i like your sentence Mister Moon ....I like Elvis' facial expression. It shows true happiness from a guy who had recorded his first single less than two years ago. This image also marks the end of The Hillbilly Cat (the "underground hero", as Peter Guralnick would put it), and the birth of Elvis, the superstar....Wonderful words , thank you! Matt

[Mister Moon]

It was indeed "The Billboard"'s Triple Crown Award that was presented to Elvis by Berle on June 5, 1956 :

Triple Crown Berle.JPG

This award had been introduced the year before by "The Billboard", and the first act to receive it were The McGuire Sisters :

550326.JPG

[cadillac-elvis]

And didn't Milton Berle once again present him with something similair, ie. an award for Heartbreak Hotel on June 5th?

From memory, that was the "Triple Crown Award", for the record having been number one on three specific charts, but I should look it up for further details.

Yeah, I knew it was something similair. that's the one. thanks.

[Ben]

Something about this photo tells me it's not Vegas. It seems later than that but it'd be odd to get an award for HH in the latter half of the year.

[Private Presley]

1956 April 14 HH Gold Award.jpg

Elvis holding his Heartbreak Hotel Gold Record on April 14, 1956 at RCA Studio at 1525McGavock St.

1956 June 19_HH Award.jpg

Elvis at Audubon on June 19, 1956

1956 July 4 HH Award.jpg

Alfred Wertheimer photographing the award at Audubon on July 4, 1956. Wertheimer can be seen on the reflection.

[Mister Moon]

Something about this photo tells me it's not Vegas. It seems later than that but it'd be odd to get an award for HH in the latter half of the year.

Ben, did you read the caption and the issue date on that front cover ?

Also, Freddy Martin was on the same bill as Elvis during those two weeks (we can even see what's probably part of his orchestra behind the group), and both RCA Victor executives and both radio personalities appearing in the photo alongside Elvis, Parker and Martin were all from the West Coast (closer to Vegas than the East Coast).

[Mister Moon]

1956 April 14 HH Gold Award.jpgElvis holding his Heartbreak Hotel Gold Record on April 14, 1956 at RCA Studio at 1525McGavock St.
1956 June 19_HH Award.jpgElvis at Audubon on June 19, 1956

1956 July 4 HH Award.jpgAlfred Wertheimer photographing the award at Audubon on July 4, 1956. Wertheimer can be seen on the reflection.

Beautiful photos, PP. Thank you. The second one is new to me.

Here are the three April 14, 1956 photos at Audubon with Vernon, Gladys and Dewey (with thanks to blogger Ana Fernández - see link below) :

Elvis Gladys Vernon Hotel Gold Record.jpg

Elvis Dewey Gladys Vernon Hotel Gold Record b.jpg

Elvis Dewey Gladys Vernon Hotel Gold Record.jpg

http://50sspirit.blogspot.com.es/2009/04/april-14-1956-gladys-love-smith-dewey.html

[Colin B]

Heartbreak Hotel Photo Caption.JPG

Awarded to him for selling a million copies, surely ?

[Private Presley]

Here is another pic of Freddy Martin and Elvis.

1956 may 4_Freddy Martin_Hal Maag_Elvis.jpg

[Mister Moon]

That's brilliant, Private Presley. It's the first time I see an alternate of the "Cash Box" image.

Thanks !

[Jukebox]

I like Elvis' facial expression. It shows true happiness from a guy who had recorded his first single less than two years ago.

About the cover photo for The CASH BOX magazine in original post...

No doubt Elvis was truly happy at the moment the pic was taken, but what Elvis' smile really shows is that the photographer instructed everyone to smile big for the camera, "Say cheese!" ... It's evident in the forced toothy smiles by at least 5 in that photo.

[cadillac-elvis]

It looks like the guy on the left is the only one looking into the lens of the photographer. everyone else is looking to the right of elvis, into another camera I would say.