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Moyion pictures had already beckoned this infriguing new star, Elvis screen tested with Paramount in Hollywood in April 1956 and signed a seven-year movie contract. He shot his first movie in August on loan-out from Paramount to Twentieth Century Fox. Entitled "Love Me Tender"' it premiered in November 1956 at the Paramount Theather in New York City and became a smash hit along with the title song.
Meanwhile, Elvis continued to perform and make personal appearances all around the United States. His audiences grew bigger and bigger, wilder and wilder, increasing his fame. Colonel Parker developed souvenir Elvis merchandise including t-shirts, hats, belts, purses, jewelry, stuffed hound dogs, even a cologne. Elvis fans created pandemonium wherever he appeared. On January 6, 1957, two days before his twenty-second birthday, Elvis made his third and final appearance on "The Ed Sullivan Show". This was the famous "waist-up" camera angle, censoring Elvis' controversial pelvic and leg gyralions Ironically, Ed Sullivan himself helped to diffuse some of the controversy when he said on the air "this is a real decent, fine boy" and he had " never had a pleasanter experience on our show with a big name then we've had with you. You're throughly all right," High praise indeed for the boy from Memphis, pursuing his American dream with a unique musical blend of white country and pop, black rhythm & blues, and gospel, delivered with talent, credibility, and enormous charisma.
For Elvis, dubbed by fans and media as the King of Rock & Roll, 1957 was another banner year. He continued touring and performing all over the United States, including Hawaii, plus five shows in three Canadian cities. That year he also filmed and released his second and third movies, " Loving You" and "Jailhouse Rock" with accompanying hit soundtrack recordings. In between career commitments, Elvis managed to return to Memphis long enough to purchase Graceland in March 1957.
Celebrating his first Christmas at Graceland that December, Elvis received his official draft notice from the United States Army. His induction was postponed just long enough for him to complete filming his fourth motion picture, "King Creole", considered to be his finest acting performance. He co-star Walter Matthau once said "He was an instinctive actor ... he was very intelligent ...he was not a punk. He was very elegant, sedate, and refined, and sophisticated." Elvis' star shone brightly over acting, singing, recording, and live performances. His next role, however, required only United States citizenship and "basic training".
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