ELVIS IN PORTLAND 1957

Elvis held a massive half-hour television and radio press conference at the Multnomah Athletic Club before to his show at Multnomah Civic Stadium. Portland, Oregon. September 2, 1957.

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Before donning his gold lamé jacket to enter the stadium, Elvis appeared impeccably dressed in black slacks and shoes, white shirt with handsome black and silver tie and stickpin, and a suave, light blue dinner jacket.

Following the press conference, Elvis, Scotty Moore, Bill Black and DJ Fontana performed a show, their last stop on a five-city tours. It was their second tour that year.

The more than 14,000 crazed fans who attended the show would yell and chant: ‘We want Elvis! !We love Elvis!

Elvis was able to complete a forty-minute show only after police put down conditions of serious fans disturbance.

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Elvis was dazzling, writhing on stage. Elvis in his gold jacket, with lapels embellished with rhinestones, cast a spell and wowed his fans. A frenzy, ecstasy and deafening screaming took over the show, until it became an outburst of uncontrollable emotions when at the end of the concert he performed ‘Hound Dog’.

The “Portland Journal” the day after the show described the show thus: “A golden suit, a guitar that had been frequently played, and the sideburns of the most charming, twirling, and simply impressive rock.

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The allure of rock and roll that once changed this world was dropped directly on thousands of hysterical Portland teenagers Monday. How they loved Elvis! “

With each concert, with each performance, Elvis was forging the history of music and the socio-cultural history of America. Young people now had a reference in the artist who would become the cultural icon of the 20th century. The star that revolutionized the United States and spread his message around the world.

In the following video you can see the arrival of Elvis in Portland and the press conference: