TOO MUCH MONKEY BUSINESS: The Elvis Forum

NBC Studios, Burbank 1955.

NBC-TV Milton Berle - Comedy
June 5th 8.00 to 9.00pm (Est)
Elvis Presley - the new singing sensation
Debra Paget - who will sing and dance
Arnold Stang - as Francis (comedian)
Irish McCalla - who plays in the Sheena series
Les Baxter and Orchestra - with his No.1 hit 'The Poor People of Paris'
Barry Gordon
Victor Young conductor
Sponsored by RCA



1. Arnold Stang, Irish McCalla, Milton Berle, Barry Gordon, Elvis, Debra Paget, Les Baxter.

Barry Gordon was seven years old when he entered the ranks of the record industry, singing the novelty hit "I'm Gettin' Nuthin for Christmas" (1955). Gordon followed this triumph with "Rock N Roll Mother Goose," which was no chart-buster but did land him a spot in the 1956 Frank Tashlin-directed feature The Girl Can't Help It, though his song was cut from the final release version, he can be seen as a wise-beyond-his-years paper boy, ogling Jayne Mansfield as she swivels by. By the late 1950s, Gordon was best known for his guest appearances on The Jack Benny Program, expertly impersonating that series' venerable star. Gordon has carved himself a niche as one of the busiest and most versatile voiceover artists in the TV animation industry, Barry Gordon is a past president of the Screen Actors Guild.


2. Barry Gordon



3. Irish McCalla the exotic looking star the of TV series 'Sheenah Queen Of The Jungle' jokes with Elvis Presley backstage.

The guests on Berle's show attended several days of rehearsals in preparation for the live broadcast but Presley was unable to attend the first day because he was performing somewhere on the East Coast. Debra Paget was also appearing on the show, and when Elvis arrived she and Irish sat out front in the audience with all of the dancers to watch as he came in. Irish's immediate impression was that he didn't look any different from the guys back home in Nebraska where she grew up ("I thought he was another 'in-joke' or something.") When Presley smiled, however, she saw something boyish and shy in that smile that reminded her of James Dean and she said that it made her want to "ruffle his hair". When the music started and Presley began singing Irish turned to Debra Paget and said, "It's a good beat, but what's he singing about... a hound dog?" Paget, obviously a fan, was entranced and replied laughingly, "Who cares!" Irish said that it was obvious to her even then that Presley could sing the first page of the dictionary and the girls would still go wild. Over the next couple of days she got to know him better and learned to love the rhythmic music and Presley's voice as well. She was somewhat astonished and delighted when Presley told her that he was a big fan of hers because he had seen Sheena on television ("I showed him Tahitian dancing and how it differed from his rock and roll. He was a real nice kid"). Irish also remembered that the dancers were all over him and he loved it.



4. Irish McCalla and Elvis backstage.



4a. Colonel Tom Parker speaks to Elvis during a break in rehearsals. Irish McCalla is sat behind Elvis




PHOTOGRAPHER: Stewart Sawyer

June 5th 1956
N.B.C Studios, Burbank, California
Musicians
Guitar: Scotty Moore
Bass: Bill Black
Drums: D.J. Fontana
Vocal: Elvis Presley
Back up Vocals: The Jordanaires - Gordon Stoker, Hoyt Hawkins, Hugh Jarrett, Neal Matthews

Released on RCA 'A Golden Celebration'

"His performance of 'Hound Dog' on the June 5th 1956 edition of 'The Milton Berle Show' stands out as one of the greatest moments of his whole career, Elvis in his prime".*

'HOUND DOG'



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'HOUND DOG'


It is worth noting that even allowing for different angles from the still photographer and the NBC TV Camera, Photos 5/6/7 do not match the original NBC TV footage. The other photos are inconclusive
Elvis' hair falls out of place after seventy seconds so all the above photos must have been taken within this time frame as his hair is neatly placed. Elvis' black collar looks to be different in the photos and footage for the majority of the time. The conclusion I can make at this time is that the above photographs are from the 'dress rehearsal' performance, still on the 5th June 1956, and not from the actual broadcast. There are images contained in the book 'Shock, Rattle and Roll' book by Ger Rijff, Trevor Cajiaho and Michael Ochs which show Elvis in rehearsal for the 'Hound Dog' number in non-broadcast clothes.

'I WANT YOU, I NEED YOU, I LOVE YOU'

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'I WANT YOU, I NEED YOU, I LOVE YOU’




18/19.Milton Berle presents Elvis with a 'Billboard' double Triple Crown Award for his RCA Victor recording of 'Heartbreak Hotel'.


19A/19B New


Milton Berle talks about Elvis http://odeo.com/episodes/22463332-Milton-Berle-on-Elvis


20. Original caption: Exchange rings. Los Angeles: Rock 'n roll singer Elvis Presley, newest idol of the teenage set, and Judy Powell Speckels, 24, former wife of sugar heir Adolph Spreckels, are objects of romantic gossip (June 7th). Presley, 21, and Judy are shown here after exchanging rings.
Judy Spreckels article about her relationship with Elvis http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/08/ ... 8434.shtml



'Shock,Rattle and roll' book by Ger Rijff, Trevor Cajiaho and Michael Ochs contains over 100 behind the scenes shots and is highly recommended.
Photo 1/19B is featured in 'Shock, Rattle and Roll' but is a larger image here.
Photo 5 was featured in 'Shock, Rattle and Roll' but has no effect and is uncropped
Photo's 7/8 feature in Shock, Rattle and Roll' but are uncropped and of improved quality
Photos 3/4/4a/6/9/10/11/18/19/19A/20 are not featured in the book 'Shock, Rattle and roll'.
Photos 12/13/14/15/16/21 are featured in the book 'Shock, Rattle and roll'.

Note: NBC used Colour Cameras for this broadcast -Burbank Studio 2 (Spring 1955)
Colour City, Burbank. RCA TK 40/41 Colour Camera's were used.

21. Debra Paget talking to Elvis during a break in rehearsals, with the RCA TK 40/41 Colour Camera in the background.


From TV camera to TV set - it's RCA all the way for Big Colour
When you sit enthralled at colour television, remember that it is brought to you on a full scale by RCA and NBC. The finest programs and television equipment - from camera to home receiver - bear the RCA hallmark of electronic quality and dependability.
Indeed, RCA pioneered and developed the compatible colour television system that lets you see colour and black-and-white programs on the same receiver. Thus an RCA Big Colour TV set is actually two sets in one.
Your RCA Victor dealer welcomes the opportunity to demonstrate colour television for you. You'll see exciting programs as you've never seen them before - in glorious colour that is so faithful you can tell the exact shade of your favourite star's eyes.
Colour television is one more achievement in "Electronics for Living," made possible by the work of RCA scientists at the David Sarnoff Research Center, Princeton, N.J. And even now, these scientists continue to explore other electronic frontiers that will make life easier, happier, and safer.
BIG COLOR - The Aldrich by RCA Victor. 254 sq. in. viewable picture area. "Color quick" tuning, so easy a child can do it, $495.

Dedicated March 27, 1955 with "Entertainment 55" (w/ Helen Hayes, Dinah Shore, Fred Allen, Judy Holiday).
150' by 90' by 50' high (12,600 sq. ft.) with 16 dressing rooms and 4 chorus rooms, ($3M B-T 4/12/54)


http://www.elvis-collectors.com/candid- ... elvis.html
Debra Padget Milton Berle and Elvis scene: http://www.debra-paget.com/debraandelvis.wmv
Debra Padget Interview: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kLLDOdH ... re=related

*Trevor Cajiao
http://www.ev1.pair.com/colorTV/TVcams-in-action.html

Thanks Davide