The “King of Rock and Roll,” Elvis Aaron Presley, was born on January 8, 1935, in Tupelo, Mississippi. Famous for his music, moves, and movies, Elvis is an icon worldwide. From his start in music to his untimely and early death in 1977, newspapers have graced their pages with images and stories of the rock star.
Teen Heartthrob
Elvis made quite the entrance to the music industry. Teenagers loved him, while their parents tended to be shocked by his performances.
“The Presley Crush: Teen Age Declaration of Independence” attempts to pin the blame for the fascination on adults with a picture of Elvis at a concert with his hundreds of fans. While “The Ramblin’ Rose” gives an account of one of his shows from the perspective of a fan who claimed, “and for this I paid two dollars to sit in the aisle??”
A Teen Photo Quiz from The Greenville Banner asked five local teens, “What About Elvis? Do you think the performances of Elvis Presley, the current youthful singing rage, should be banned for being too obscene?” Highlighting their pictures, the teenagers give their opinions…the verdict? Overwhelming in favor of Elvis and his moves!
Personal Life
Hearts broke around the world in 1967 when “Elvis Wed 21-Year Old.” The Dubois Courier Express featured a picture of Elvis and his long-time girlfriend, Priscilla Beaulieu, as they cut the cake after a Las Vegas ceremony.
Less than a year after getting married, Elvis and Priscilla welcomed a “bouncing baby girl” to their family. Lisa Marie was born on February 1, 1968, at Baptist Hospital. When asked his preference for a boy or girl when entering the hospital, Elvis said he would “be happy with whatever we get.”
Elvis purchased his famous abode, Graceland, in 1957 when he was just 22 years old. Even now, the site remains a popular tourist attraction. “Take a Tour of the American Dream – Graceland,” published in the Herald Tribune in 1999, gave a glimpse into the home of Elvis.
Rock and Roll Loses a Legend
When Elvis died in 1977, newspapers contained significant coverage of the life of the rock and roll great. Several examples of content at NewspaperArchive of the event:
The Waco Citizen Elvis Presley, Elvis Presley supplement
“King of Rock ‘n Roll is Dead at 42”
“Mystery of Elvis Deepened in Death”
“Elvis – The King is dead! Long live the King!”
Anniversary of the King’s Death
Decades since the death of Elvis in 1977, newspapers everywhere continue to pay tribute to his memory. To highlight the ten, twenty, and thirty-year anniversaries of the King’s death, here are three featured pieces of content at NewspaperArchive:
1987 – The Madison Capital Times included multiple articles and pictures to honor the King.
1997 – The Sun Herald celebrated twenty years of missing Elvis with an honorary page claiming “in the hearts and minds of many, The King Lives.”
2007 – The Indiana Gazette published “The Legend of Elvis is Still Growing” with incredible pictures to highlight the article.
Want to read more about the iconic Elvis Presley? Visit NewspaperArchive.com for a 7-Day Free Trial to find hundreds of articles about the King of Rock and Roll.
