Trivia Quiz - No.980 - Solved

[Mister Moon]

It's similar, but I don't think it's that one.

Maybe he was signing behind someone else's photo.

[Colin B]

It's similar, but I don't think it's that one.

Maybe he was signing behind someone else's photo.

13th January 1955 - comparison hybrid.JPG

His dark top & white collar match, but the white shoulder inset isn't seen

[Mister Moon]

It's similar, but I don't think it's that one.

Maybe he was signing behind someone else's photo.

13th January 1955 - comparison hybrid.JPG

His dark top & white collar match, but the white shoulder inset isn't seen

Right. And we're talking January 1955. I think not even the Lou Lowry portrait was available that early. My guess is that's not an Elvis photo.

[HillbillyCat]

It's similar, but I don't think it's that one.

Maybe he was signing behind someone else's photo.

13th January 1955 - comparison hybrid.JPG

His dark top & white collar match, but the white shoulder inset isn't seen

Right. And we're talking January 1955. I think not even the Lou Lowry portrait was available that early. My guess is that's not an Elvis photo.

The portrait was used just 10 days later for a newspaper ad:

(Source: https://www.elvisconcerts.com/earlyconc ... .php?id=69)

19550125-1955012301.jpg

The picture in Elvis' hand isn't particularly clear and it is also curved and therefore distorted. If you change the brightness and contrast a little, you notice that there is more skin than hair. Maybe it's because of the enormous headache I'm currently suffering from, but couldn't it be the following portrait taken on December 27, 1954, which was also used in newspaper advertisements at the beginning of January?

(Source: https://www.rrauction.com/auctions/lot- ... is-presley)

1954-12-27 Publicity Photo.jpg

(Source: https://www.elvisconcerts.com/earlyconc ... .php?id=59)

19550112-1955011201.jpg

By the way, here is a less cropped version of the Helena photo:

(Source: https://www.pinterest.es/pin/742179213611980181/)

1955-01-13 The Catholic Club Helena AR Backstage with fans.jpg

[Mister Moon]

Thanks, HC !

I finally got home after being out all day, with limited access to the forum, and have been able to watch the acetate video too.

Anyway, the portrait I was talking about is the second one you have posted, taken by Lou Lowry, and it indeed looks like it's the photo Elvis is signing. Amazing it could have been available for sale in such a short period of time.

I mentioned the possibility of being a photo by a different performer because I remember at least two examples of Elvis doing that, or kinda doing that - one from 1955 and one from 1956. So it wouldn't have been an unusual thing for him to do.

[Private Presley]

I have this as "probably" Oct 1954, maybe after his Louisiana Hayride appearance.

1954 Oct.jpg

This was the first promotion-photo Elvis used on ads for his touring.
To my knowledge it first appeared in Cash Box magazine on November 6, 1954.

Cash Box Nov 6, 1954.jpg

And the first ad with the photo

Ad for Dec 28, 1954 Hoedown.jpg

But in the picture frame at Audubon, his sideburns were shorter, so were they lengthened or shortened?

1956 July 4_Audubon with Barbara Hearn and Elvis.jpg

1954 Oct-short sideburns.jpg