Posted December 22, 201014 yr By Keith Terry of the KearneyHub Newspaper - Nebraska dated 22nd December, 2010. The Elvis Presley contagion infected America in the mid-1950s, and Kearney contracted the fever. By late 1956, Elvis had recorded and released several tunes — including “Heartbreak Hotel,” “Blue Suede Shoes” and “Hound Dog” — that established him as The King among his devotees. At The World Theatre that year, a film starring Bill Haley & The Comets showed Nov. 17, and although not in it, Presley got top billing. For half an hour leading up to the flick, his music was played on the movie-house sound system and 20 of his records were given away. Two weeks later, he debuted there in “Love Me Tender,” 250 autographed photos of him were distributed, and an 8-foot-tall photo of the man was purchased by seven young women in an auction. On Dec. 14, The King’s music again preceded someone else’s film, his records were handed out and there was an Elvis impersonation contest on stage. They were even impersonating him in 1956!!! Brian :D
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