Did you know Jacksonville’s Florida Theatre is behind one of Elvis’ most iconic looks?

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Florida Theatre, which has been anchored in downtown Jacksonville for practically a century, is behind one in all Elvis Presley’s most iconic appears to be like, however the man who would go on to be “The King” of Rock ‘N’ Roll nearly by no means bought the prospect to play on the Florida Theatre.

Elvis headlined six reveals on the iconic Jacksonville venue on Aug. 10 and 11, 1956, performing three concert events every day.

However there was an enormous risk earlier than Elvis might even sing his first observe.

Florida Theatre president Numa Saisselin stated the efficiency was earlier than Elvis was “The King” and it got here with immense stress.

“It’s well-known as a result of Marion Gooding, who was at the moment the juvenile courtroom justice in Jacksonville, summoned younger Mr. Presley to his workplaces and instructed him there can be no hip-swiveling and no suggestive physique actions,” Saisselin stated.

These are a few of the strikes that Elvis was identified for, even early in his profession, that bought followers riled up.

Advert

There have been reviews of followers dashing towards Elvis throughout a live performance in Jacksonville in 1955. They tried to tear off items of his garments.

Choose Gooding didn’t need a repeat of that.

He even threatened to arrest Elvis if he did the strikes and cost him with “impairing the morality of minors.”

Gooding and a member of a gaggle that petitioned to censor the efficiency have been in attendance for the primary present to verify Elvis didn’t cross the road.

“By all accounts, he stood heart stage proper on this stage and carried out his present straight. No transferring round,” Saisselin stated. “However Scotty Moore, one in all his band members, says that was the night time that he began to sneer as a result of he was so offended that he couldn’t transfer, that he developed that lip curl that we got here to know with Elvis.”

Elvis sang hits like “Hound Canine” and “Heartbreak Resort,” which have been launched earlier that 12 months.

“Heartbreak Resort” was written by native instructor Mae Axton and Jacksonville-based singer/songwriter Tommy Durden.

Advert

“‘Heartbreak Resort’ and ‘Hound Canine’ have been out however he had not been on the Ed Sullivan Present,” Saisselin stated. “So, he was well-known and nicely on his strategy to turning into Elvis in capital letters, however he was nonetheless somewhat little bit of a rustic boy from Mississippi.”

Elvis’ efficiency wasn’t the one iconic act to come back by way of Jacksonville through the metropolis’s 200-year historical past.

The Beatles carried out downtown practically a decade later at what was then the Gator Bowl. It was the primary built-in viewers within the venue’s historical past.

That stadium has since been demolished and changed by what’s now TIAA Financial institution Subject.