TOO MUCH MONKEY BUSINESS: The Elvis Forum

I have put some newspaper items and dates together.
Note: The dates only reflect the publishing date of the Newspapers.

Thorpe Will Direct Elvis Presley
Los Angeles Times - Feb 26, 1957
Director Richard Thorpe has been selected to guide Elvis Presley in Jailhouse Rock his picture for MGM

Elvis Presley Signs New Movie Contract
The Sun - Feb 26, 1957
Memphis Tenn Elvis Presley rock n roll singer agreed today to make a movie for Metro Goldwyn Mayer starting May, said his manager Tom Parker.


Robert E. Relyea: We tested four actresses for the role of Peggy, the beautiful businesswoman; Judy won the audition, despite interference from her annoying husband, the French ballet dancer Gregory Lafayette. Richard Thorpe had enough of Lafayette's meddling after ten minutes and had him physically thrown off the lot, telling Hollywood, the guard at the Thalberg gate, "If you ever see this man again, shoot him! So the husband wasn't seen after that and the romance between Elvis and Judy devolved quickly. It was an intense affair, Elvis grew to love her deeply.**




A good quality version of Barbara Lang and Elvis at MGM studios. Looking at the background, there is some kind of sheet with dates and productions. The list starts in January 1957, and has three dates in March.

'
Elvis Presley visits the MGM lot with Barbara Lang and fans before starting work on Jailhouse Rock.'




HOLLYWOOD - Rock n Roll singer Elvis Presley seems well acquainted already with his new screen sweetheart, blonde Barbara Lang with whom he will start his next movie early in May. Presley paid a special visit to the studio to meet Barbara before leaving on a personal appearance tour of the South and Midwest. ‘United Press Telephoto

As mentioned previously on this message board, Elvis was at the end of the production of 'Loving You' for Paramount Studios. These stills of Elvis at MGM would have been taken between Monday March the 11th - Friday 15th of March 1957. Elvis would have also done some publicity shots for the picture, and he also visited actress Lizabeth Scott's home with Dolores Hart, for some more promo shots before leaving for Memphis by train on Saturday the 16th of March.


Singer Elvis Presley's sweetheart in his next movie will be Barbara Lang. Presley will start work on the picture in Hollywood.


Elvis Presley is welcomed by the MGM messenger girl corps.


As for Barbara's opinion of Elvis - well, she admits he gets acquainted quick! A slight alternative to the first photo provided.


Cropped Wire Photo


Full length version of photo above.







Los Angeles Times - Mar 31, 1957
MGM also recently moved into the setup with a picture carrying the title Jailhouse Rock soon to be made this according to Elvis has upped his price.

Los Angeles Times - Apr 5, 1957
Jailhouse Rock which Richard Thorpe will start directing May 15 with Elvis Presley starred - Thorpe is flying to Madrid for two weeks shooting on 'Tip on a Dead Jockey'.

Los Angeles Times - Apr 8, 1957
Additional films being prepared for early starts include 'Jailhouse Kid' starring Elvis Presley.

The Milwaukee sentinel April 23rd 1957


Los Angeles Times - Apr 26, 1957
Elvis Presley returns from his tour, just completed after Loving You at Paramount grossed $308000 after taxes. He will report to Director Richard Thorpe and Producer Pandro S Berman ...The new Elvis Presley film at MGM will be called "Treat Me Nice," because that is one of his seven new songs that is expected to be a humdinger in sales. So after a peculiar evolution beginning from 'Jailhouse Rock' which was changed to 'The Jailhouse Kid' and briefly to 'The Hard Way' this is the star s third screen effort finally has a name.

New York Times - May 2, 1957
The studio has not decided whether to name the picture "Jailhouse Rock" or “Treat Me Nice." In--any event Richard Thorpe will be the director.

New York Times - May 2, 1957
Judy 'Tyler, a night-club singer who recently completed her first movie, will have the lead, opposite Elvis Presley in the picture he will make for MGM.

Elvis Picks Broadway Beauty for Film Lead
Chicago Daily Tribune May 3, 1957
Many actresses were tested at Metro for Elvis Presley's leading lady in "Jailhouse Rock," but the boy with the sideburns picked a Broadway girl, Judy Tyler. Richard Thorpe directs and I hear Barbara Lang the blonde, previously mentioned as Elvis possible co-star...

May 6, 1957
Vaughn Taylor will portray the calculating manager of Elvis Presley In Jailhouse Rock

The Pittsburgh Press May 7th 1957


Los Angeles Times - May 14, 1957
Grandon Rhodes veteran character actor will portray the father of Judy Tyler in Jailhouse Rock which stars Elvis Presley at MGM

The Dispatch May 15th 1957


Los Angeles Times - May 18, 1957
Jim Kaufman all star basketball player will be seen as the closest friend of Elvis Presley in Jailhouse Rock at MGM.

Reading Eagle May 19th 1957


Chicago Tribune - May 21, 1957
ELVIS PRESLEY’s pretty visitor while he was in the hospital was Anne Neyland, a former Miss Texas, who got a Metro contract.

Los Angeles Times - May 24, 1957
Hugh Saunders has been secured from the New York stage by Director Richard Thorpe as the penitentiary warden in Jailhouse Rock with Elvis Presley at MGM.

Times Daily - May 31, 1957


Los Angeles Times - Jun 1, 1957
Richard Thorpe director happened to hear them tuning up between scenes There is ample reason for Miss Tyler's singing since she appeared in ' Bop Girl Goes Calypso'.

Sarasota Journal - June 6, 1957



A slight alternative to the one of Anne Neyland and Elvis, as they look over the script of 'Jailhouse Rock’. Date 6th June 1957.

Los Angeles Times - ProQuest Archiver - Jun 6, 1957
Elvis Presley stopped playing with teddy bears since Lee Gordon sent him a live baby kangaroo from Australia. He's trying to break it to a leash

The Miami News June 7, 1957


Park City Daily News - June 7, 1957


Times Daily - June 7, 1957

This cutting actually mentions that the photo was from 'Thursday' (6th of June) so it's now possible to date this photo.

The Reading Eagle - June 9, 1957
The parlay pretty unknown Anne Neyland has made of her dating Elvis Presley, besides sitting on the set of his picture,’ Jailhouse Rock’, every day, she now has snared a long term contract plus the femme lead in 'Jailhouse', no other starlet can make this claim, not Natalie Wood, Yvonne Lime nor the multitude who have dated Elvis, they received headlines, nothing more.

The Deseret News June 12th 1957


Miami News - June, 12 1957


Fans Send Strangest Presents To Presley By Lee Belser
Miami News - June, 14 1957



Wire - Memphis Zoological Garden' gratefully accept the gift of one wallaby kangaroo from Elvis Presley, Memphian’s are justly proud of both Elvis and their zoo. The animal should be sent to the above address in care of the director.*

June 11th 1957 “The Wallaby was shipped off to the Memphis zoo marked 'Elvis Presley's own Wallaby, mascot for JAILHOUSE ROCK-MGM'.*




Claire Bloom's A Of 'Young' Mr. Presley
Ottawa Citizen - June 26, 1957





Poster for the picture 'The Brothers Karamazov' starring Claire Bloom and Yul Brynner.


Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - August 15th 1957
Anne Neyland blasted Elvis Presley when he phoned her from Memphis at 5 a.m. after a night out on the town.


Cutting regarding Judy Tyler's passing and how MGM changed the use of publicity stills with Elvis.


Thanks Davide

**Not so quiet on the set
*Trude Forsher Diary