Today in Elvis History

It's January sixth, and on this day in 1957… Elvis Presley made his third and final appearance on *The Ed Sullivan Show*, broadcast live from the Maxine Elliott Theatre in New York City. Wearing a velvet shirt and a gold lamé vest gifted to him by Barbara Hearn, Elvis performed “Don’t Be Cruel” and, at the network’s request, the gospel number “Peace in the Valley.” Due to ongoing concerns about his on-stage movements, CBS once again filmed Elvis only from the waist up. At the end of the program, Ed Sullivan praised the 22-year-old star, telling America, “This is a real decent, fine boy… We’ve never had a pleasanter experience with a big name than we’ve had with you.” After the show, Elvis boarded a midnight train back to Memphis.

It's January fifth, and on this day in 1955... Elvis's new manager, Bob Neal, flew from Memphis to Shreveport, Louisiana, to meet with *Louisiana Hayride* promoter A.M. “Pappy” Covington about securing key bookings for Elvis on the influential country and western radio show. Neal’s decision to take a flight—rather than spend twelve hours driving—signaled just how critical Elvis's rising momentum had become. With Scotty Moore stepping aside as manager to focus on playing guitar, this marked a pivotal turning point in Elvis’s early career as he began to move beyond regional fame toward national stardom.

It's January fourth, and on this day in 1957, Elvis Presley arrived at the Kennedy Veterans Hospital in Memphis for his pre-induction physical, marking a major step in his journey toward military service. Riding in his canary-yellow Cadillac Eldorado, Elvis was accompanied by dancer Dorothy Harmony and his longtime friend Cliff Gleaves. He passed the physical and was issued a Selective Service number, though no draft classification was assigned just yet. Later that same day, Elvis boarded a train to New York to prepare for his third appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show—balancing stardom with duty in true Elvis style.

It's January third, and on this day in 1967, Elvis Presley’s passion for horseback riding took center stage. What had started as a casual interest quickly turned into a full-blown obsession for the King and his inner circle.

That day marked a spree of purchases, from riding gear and equestrian apparel to horses themselves. Elvis bought his favorite palomino, originally named Midget’s Vandy, which he promptly renamed Rising Sun. He didn’t stop there—he also bought a horse for his father and added a Tennessee Walker to his growing stable, naming it after Robert E. Lee’s famous steed, Traveler.

With horses now dominating their downtime, Elvis and the Memphis Mafia visited the Memphian Theater just four times that entire month. For the rest of January, life revolved around the stables.

It's January second, and on this day in 1967, Elvis Presley and Colonel Tom Parker formalized a new agreement that redefined their business relationship. For the first time, the contract explicitly acknowledged that they were engaged in what amounted to a partnership or joint venture.

Under this new deal, Parker would continue to receive 25 percent of Elvis's guaranteed movie salaries and record company advances. But the changes didn’t stop there. The Colonel was now entitled to 50 percent of any profits or royalties beyond those base payments—meaning if a film or record overperformed, he got half the extra money. He would also take 50 percent of earnings from any special deals, including television appearances, promotional events, or endorsements.

It was a pivotal moment in Elvis's career—an agreement that would shape both the rewards and the restrictions of his professional life for years to come.

It's January first, and on this day in 1970, Elvis Presley rang in the New Year the way only the King could—with a private movie night. At the Memphian Theater in Memphis, he watched Patton for the first time. The film made a major impact on him—so much so that he memorized the powerful opening speech by George C. Scott. This kicked off a personal tradition of near-nightly private screenings, continuing through the early ’70s with his inner circle in tow.

And flashing back to 1959, another piece of the Presley puzzle fell into place. Elisabeth Stefaniak moved in with Elvis and his household—hired specifically to handle his ever-growing mountain of fan mail. With help from Red and Lamar, she quickly learned how to sign Elvis’s name—perfectly. It was one more step in managing the mania of being the King.