In January of 1920 the New York Times reported that management of the
new Auditorium and Ice Palace located in-town at 45th and Market St. in
Philadelphia had announced a tentative completion date and opening night
set for the following February 5th. With a rink that measured 220 feet
by 101 feet, it replaced an older "Ice Palace" that had burned down 19
years earlier, in 1901. Several colleges had applied for matches at the
new "Palace" which included Lafayette and Cornell.1 In actuality, the
Palace, built by
George F. Pawling, of George F. Pawling & Co., Engineers and
Contractors, opened to the public on February 14, 1920 and the first college
hockey game was two days later between Yale and Princeton.2
Philadelphia Ice Palace - 1921 from ad for Von Duprin
self-releasing Fire Exit Latches
courtesy eBay
It was renamed the "Arena" in 1925 by its new owner, Jules Mastbaum,
owner of the Stanley Company of America theater chain and then sold to
Rudy Freed and Maurice Fishman two years later. In 1929, Peter A.
Tyrrell became the Arena's boxing matchmaker and subsequently the
facility’s publicist.2 The Canadian-American Hockey League's (CAHL)
Philadelphia Arrows had been playing at the Arena for several years when
they were joined by NHL's Quakers in 1930. The Quakers played their
first game in the Arena on November 11, 1930. They found themselves
losers at the box office to the more popular minor league Arrows, mainly
because the Arrows won games, and by September of the following year the
franchise was suspended. Though the Arena was only ten years old it
could only seat about 6500 fans for hockey, had poor sightlines, and was
outclassed by the newer, larger rinks that housed the other NHL teams.3
Hockey at the Arena in Philadelphia
courtesy superstock.com
In 1934, when the partnership of Freed and Fishman was placed in
receivership the court named Tyrrell a friendly receiver-in-equity who
then became general manager.2 The Arena also saw regular use each
season for the Ice Capades and Ice Follies in addition to rodeos,
circuses, roller skating and other sporting events and spectacles. For
boxing and wrestling events it could accommodate about 10,000.
Ice Follies at the Philadelphia Arena
courtesy superstock.com
In the final year of the CAHL League, the Arrows played as the Ramblers,
renamed by their NHL parent club -- the New York Rangers. The Ramblers
also won Philadelphia's first professional hockey championship that
year, in 1935-36. The Ramblers folded in 1942 as a result of America's
entry into World War II, playing their final AHL season as the
Philadelphia Rockets.4
The 1930 CAHL Arrows - ca. 1929 Standing - Wrigley, Trainer; George Nichols, "Dee" Klein,
Lloyd Andrews, Moose Cahill, Frank Peters, Arthur Coulter, Herb
Gardiner, Manager. Seated - Clark Bradley, Vic LaPointe, "Morrie"
Roberts, Art Taylor, Roy Lassard
Prior to America entering World War II the Arena was the site of one of famed
aviator Charles A. Lindbergh's speeches before an America First
Committee Meeting, on May 29, 1941.5 Founded in September of 1940, the
America First Committee with over 800,000 members was the most powerful
isolationist group in the country who wanted to keep America neutral and
attempted to influence public opinion through publications and speeches.6
Lindberg, drawing on his experiences and observations during years
abroad in Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America, provided Americans
with a portrait of the war in Europe that differed substantially from the
one conceived by the Roosevelt administration and interventionists in
the United States. He saw a divided responsibility for its origins rather than an assignment of the total blame to
Hitler, Nazi Germany, and the Axis states and was skeptical of the
ideology and moral righteousness of the British and French. America
First was dissolved four days after the Japanese attacked
Pearl Harbor
on December 7, 1941.6
Roy Rogers Rodeo Philadelphia Program - 1947
courtesy Hydroponic
In January of 1944 television first came to the Arena when Philco
television station WPTZ, pioneers in the field of remote pick-ups,
concluded plans to pick up the Friday night wrestling matches with plans
later to pick up circus, rodeos, ice shows and boxing later in the
season when other events got going. Their technique at the time called
for a combination of radio to transmit the picture images and regular
telephone lines to carry the sound. In 1946 during Roy Rodger's Rodeo,
his third year of twenty at the arena, a performer died suddenly during
a show, unknown to the viewing audience.7 Billboard reported:
Girl Bronk Rider Dies At Rogers Rodeo, Philly
PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 21.——Jane Anne Greeley, 27, died suddenly at
the Philadelphia Arena Friday (13) night after she had ridden a bronk in
the opening performance of the Roy Rogers Rodeo. She collapsed near the
stables when she bent down to unfasten her chaps. A rescue squad, called
by police, applied artificial respiration for 20 minutes. More than
4,000 spectators at the show were unaware of what had happened.
Before the body was taken to Sidney, N.Y., for burial, a special
ceremony was held here Sunday (15) in her memory. Rodeo-mates filed past
her casket while her Palomino horse stood by with an empty saddle
embossed with her name. Roy Rogers and the Sons of the Pioneers sang
Round-Up in the Sky.
Billboard - September 28, 1946
In 1945, Walter A. Annenberg, owner and publisher at The
Philadelphia Inquirer purchased WFIL Radio in Philadelphia. It was an AM station that was experimenting with
FM, but mostly Annenberg was attracted to the fact that WFIL Radio
had the right to build a television station.8 In June of 1947 Annenberg bought the Arena though Peter Tyrrel
remained as president and general manager. He commenced building studio
facilities on the property adjacent to the arena to house all the
activities of WFIL television, AM and FM.7
On September 13th WFIL-TV debuted "regular" program service with the telecast of a Philadelphia
Eagles-Chicago Bears football game from Franklin Field and grabbed up
many of the events that the Philco station carried in the past.7 WFIL-TV became the 13th TV station on the air in the
U.S.8 By the
end of the year sales to sponsors became completely sold for its
schedule of major sporting events. WPTZ was out of the Arena.7 The
new building at 4548 Market Street was completed in 1948 and received a
major addition in 1952. It was one of the first buildings in the country
designed specifically for television broadcasting.
In July of 1952 a fire at the arena that started in an outside storage
shed spread to the roof and burned a hole in it. Though thousands of
dollars worth of equipment, including a sectional basketball court and
1,500 folding chairs, were destroyed in the fire service was not
interrupted since no events were scheduled until fall. That October,
Annenberg's paper, the Philadelphia Inquirer announced that they would
stage what they called the First Annual Rhythm Dance at the Philadelphia
Arena in December. It was essentially a four and a half hour charitable
event targeting teen-agers with area teen-age dance bands, composed of
members under 20 years of age, battling it out to record for RCA, the
final judging televised on WFIL-TV.7
The announcement coincided
with the debut of Bandstand,
produced and broadcast from WFIL's studio next door. Initially a radio
show on WFIL hosted by Bob Horn, it replaced a show called Parade of
Stars,
which essentially resembled MTV in that
it mainly featured short musical films of pop stars. Bandstand
debuted on Monday, October 6, 1952 hosted by Horn with sidekick Lee
Stewart where they
talked, played records and aired a few publicity interviews. A year
later, Stewart was removed from the program, the music took to the foreground with local neighborhood kids dancing in
front of the cameras to top-40 records. In
July of 1956 Dick Clark, already on staff at WFIL, replaced Horn as
host.8
Daily News - April 1, 1957
courtesy Free Library of Philadelphia
Ad for contest to meet Elvis host by Bandstand
-
April 2, 1957
Philadelphia Inquirer ad courtesy Free Library
of Philadelphia
In April of 1957 Elvis, Scotty, Bill and DJ, along with the Jordanaires,
completed their first of three short tours that year with four shows in
two nights at the Arena. They had started in Chicago and had played
shows in St. Louis, Fort
Wayne,
Detroit, Buffalo,
Toronto and Ottawa.
Ads in the Inquirer plugged a contest run by Bandstand for a
chance to meet Elvis when he performed in town, though he was not
scheduled to appear on the show. Not everyone, as evident, were
fans. An article that appeared in the Daily News on the day of the
first show described a "reputed" plot by college students to cut his
hair:
Dear Elvis: We Foiled a Hair Raid
Memo to Elvis Presley:
You were going to lose your well-preserved hair tonight. All of it,
Even those dreamy sideburns.
But you're safe now. Thanks to the Daily News. Our reporters
unearthed a dark and devious plot that, if successful, would have
made Yul and Zsa Zsa (no mean baldies themselves) more than
envious.
The self -appointed barbers were to be 15 University of
Pennsylvania undergraduates. Five were girls, obviously no fans of
yours.
The hair raid was scheduled for sometime during the night, after
you finished up at the Arena. The best considered time was 3 to 5
a.m. THE PLOT was well laid, the Daily News learned. Even the
first contact with a representative of the clippers' syndicate was
a dark, dank mystery. It took place on the Penn campus behind
Houston Hall just .off 36th St.
The mystery man delivered the startling news from behind a bush. No
one saw his face. Only when he mentioned your name could the
reporter detect a glow --of hate.
Subsequent contacts were equally devious. But the details weren't.
These guys and gals had it in for you, but good. Had been planning
the whole thing since they first learned you were coming to Our
Town for two days.
The way they had it fixed they weren't "all shook up." Sure you've
heard that phrase before. We have, on juke boxes.
THE PLOT details go something like this:
The gang of 15 are Penn freshmen. The fellows are
members of the same fraternity; the gals belong to the same
sorority.
The idea first was breached by some upper classmen who also think
you have little talent.
(You're weak out there, Elvis. You ought to do something about it.)
The initial plan called for four guys to rush you from different
angles while you're holding forth on the Arena bandstand. They were
to shear off as much hair as they could and take off. THIS, HOWEVER, was discarded as too risky.
They decided on a more elaborate scheme. Four students were to rent
a room on the same floor of your hotel. The five gals were to
engage a room on another floor. Two freshmen were to join them
there, stage a mock riot to divert the attention of hotel officials
and any police assigned to guard you during your stay here.
With all this commotion going on, the boys on your floor would be
joined by four others sneaking up the back stairs or on a
self-service elevator.
The eight either planned to pick the lock on your door or break it
down, Four of the eight were described as husky-lads. Their job: to
hold you down and keep you from sounding an alarm.
The others had five minutes, plus sharp shears and clippers, to
make you the latest convert to the baldy craze.
The phone would be ripped out. You were to lose your clothes to
discourage pursuit. THEY WERE to bring along a bag to cart off your wavy locks.
The hair was to be offered to gals on the campus anxious for a fond
remembrance of your more hirsute personality. For a fee, of course.
There was no mention or what would be done with the money.
Reasoning behind the shearing session:
It would be a great thing for the fraternity; get it some
publicity. Also it sure would be a wild time.
We're sure. Elvis would sure be wild.
Philadelphia Daily News -
April 5, 1957 courtesy Free Library of Philadelphia
The appearances were covered by the three Philadelphia newspapers: the
Daily New, The Inquirer and Bulletin.
Press Conference:
High School Reporters Keep Their Poise Interviewing Elvis
By CAROL GELBER
ELVIS PRESLEY, sharply dressed in black and wearing spotless
all-white shoes, met the press Friday day night at the Arena — but
in a way he never had
before.
The sideburned singer. wearing a big gold medallion that "some
little gal gave to me," was interviewed by a dozen high school
reporters from this area, aged 14 to 18.
And there’s no two ways about it: The youngsters gave him the
business. Questions were quick and to the point.
True, there was a gag of incredibility when Elvis himself, preceded
by five tough-looking protectors, actually strolled into a room
backstage set aside for the interview, which preceded his first of
two evening shows. The singer concluded his two-day engagement here
last night, presenting his fourth and final performance before
leaving for hi palatial new home in Memphis. Tenn.
But after the initial shock of his preview - there was no
introduction — the youngsters snapped back quickly for their school
paper interviews.
BEFORE Elvis showed up for the interviews, some of the teenagers
had confided that he was the "most." Others said he’s fading. One
said "I like Pat Boone."
But the teen-age reporters showed no undue emotion when they came
face to lace with their idol: no worshipful attitudes.
Elvis interviewed by high school
reporters backstage at the Arena - April 5, 1957
Photo source David English
HERE are some of the things the so-called neophyte reporters got
the 22-year-old singer draped comfortably over a chair, to tell
them:
Question: What did you think of your movie “Love Me Tender?"
Answer: It was pretty humble. Acting’s not something you learn over
night. Ah knew that picture was bad when it was completed. Ah'm mah
own worst critic. But mah next picture is different. Ah know I done
a better job in it. It’s called "Loving You" and it's gonna be
released August 1.
Q. Do you think rock 'n' roll will last?
A. It's sure gonna take something mighty good to replace it. Maybe
Ah won't be around forever, but rock 'n' roll is here to stay for
awhile.
Q. Do you think rock 'n' roll is causing juvenile delinquency?
A. No music can do that. It’s from something else. lf there's riot
or some trouble, rock ’n' roll has nothing to do with it.
Q. What's your favorite record?
A. "Don't Be Cruel."
Q. What do you think calypso?
(This was obviously a touchy subject. Elvis looked to one of his
managers for the go-ahead. He got it.)
A Calypso's good. Who am Ah to say it's not?
Q. How long do you plan to keep your hair that way and what do you
think of boys and girls who cut their hair the same way as yours?
(This from Linda, one teenager who could hardly be classified as
non—partisan. She was wearing a Presley haircut, sideburns and
all.)
A. Wahl, Ah like to think people would wear their hair the way they
want to. But for my next picture Ah have to get a crew cut 'cause
it's a prison picture.
(Chorus; Oh, Elvis, don't get your hair cut!)
Q. When will you be drafted? How long will you serve?
A. Everyone thinks Ah've been drafted already but Ah haven't. Ah
only passed the physical. But A’m not definitely going in. If Ah do
go in Ah’ll serve two years. But Ah'll continue making records.
Q. What are your most memorable high school experiences?
No answer from Elvis.
Q. Well? Didn’t you have any?
A. Well, it wasn't a very exciting life. A few dates maybe.
Q. Did you ever go steady? (This from a girl 17, who does.)
A. Yes, Ah went steady twice. Once for two years even.
Q. What do you think of Ivy League clothes?
A. Ah wear them all the time. (Laughter).
Q. Are you going to appear on television anymore, even though they
only show you above the waist?
(Once again a look at his manager). A. Ah dunno.
(He shrugged).
Q. Are you nervous now, before a show?
A. Ah’m always nervous before s show. Right now Ah have a real bad
cold so it’s worse.
Q. How did you rank in your high school class?
A. Rank? Watta ya mean?
Q. You know, what were your marks?
A. Oh, a C-plus or B-average. (Smiles from the students.)
Q. Is it true you can’t get married before you're 23 — that it’s in
your contract?
A. No. Ah can get married whenever I want.
Q. (From a pretty blonde). What do you think of Natalie Wood?
A. She is a girl no different from anyone else. That’s what all the
stars are like - the same as everyone else.
One of his boys told Elvis the interview was almost over, that disc
jockeys, and reporters from the newspapers were waiting for him
outside.
There was time for one more question. It came from Rochelle.
"What are your plans for the future. Elvis Movies? Records?"
"Ah just take every day as it comes," Elvis told her. "Ah don't
plan too far ahead. There'll be record albums, of course, and
movies too. Don‘t know anymore; maybe Ah’ll go back to driving a
truck."
The interview was over. The teenage reporters had conducted
themselves admirably. But they are still teenagers: suddenly they
all surrounded him - even the boy who likes Pat Boone - and asked
him for his autograph.
He gave it. And then the high school press representatives went to
their auditorium seats — to hear Elvis Presley sing.
Philadelphia Evening Bulletin -
April 6, 1957 courtesy Ger Rijff's Long Lonely Highway
The Jordonaires and Al Dvorin onstage at the Philadelphia
Arena - April 5, 1957
Photo source David English
2,300
Fans, 130 Cops Turn Out for Elvis Here
By JERRY GAGHAN
There must have been about 60 of us (the President wouldn't have
drawn a bigger press conference) sweltering in a sideroom at the
Arena, waiting for Elvis.
In the auditorium a disappointing crowd of about 2300, )about
one-third capacity) was on hand for the first Philadelphia appearance
of the singer. What this audience may have lacked in size and maturity
it more than made up in noise and sustained frenzy.
The President couldn't have been given better security arrangements.
The photographers, newsreel cameramen, reporters and the TV and radio
interviewers first trooped to the Arena's publicity quarters. There
they were given personal cards to enable them to get past the gauntlet
of police guarding the conference room.
The police precautions were elaborate. Inspector Maurice Pilner had 65
foot traffic and highway patrolmen on hand. Capt. Harry Fox, of the
Juvenile Aid Bureau, marshaled a squad of 50 plainclothesmen and 15
police women in the hall.
The conference room at the Philadelphia Arena
- April 5, 1957
courtesy
Keith Flynn
THE PRESLEY STAFF and hangers-on take it big; but the boy
himself is modest and winning. He came in garbed in the familiar jet
suit and black shirt open at the throat. He sat on a table, raised one
leg and wrapped his arms tightly about it.
"I haven't got to the point where I'm completely at ease with this
sort of thing," he said, looking at the press contingent.
A battery of hand mikes was shoved in front of his face to record
every word on tape. How did he feel about it all? "Well" he said (he
says "Well" a lot) "It was boom! Overnight. And here I am."
One radio gentleman asked him bluntly. Did he believe anyone would
come to see him five years from now? Elvis took no offense. "I won't
predict the future. They may not. People get tired of you. you don't
stay hot forever."
Elvis backstage with the press at the Philadelphia Arena - April 5, 1957
Photo source unknown
HE WAS ASKED about the story in yesterday's Daily News about
Penn undergrads plotting to clip his hair. "I read that and I don't
see no point in it all. They're college men-supposed to be tomorrow's
leaders. What are they trying to prove?"
Elvis backstage with the press at the Philadelphia
Arena - April 5, 1957
Photo source unknown
HE DIDN'T believe any form of music could cause juvenile
delinquency. "The kids might dance and yell a little, but they aren't
robbing anybody." Elvis doesn't mind the yelling. "It covers up the
mistakes I make."
Elvis most certainly wouldn't object to marrying one of his fans. "I
would just have to fall in love with somebody." What quality did he
look for in a woman? "She must be female, I guess."
Elvis, Jimmy Velvet and Ken Moore backstage in Philadelphia - April 5,
1957
Photo courtesy Ana Fernández Sangil
THE PRESLEY TOUR is covering eight cities and the singer is
getting a flat $120,000 for the 10-day jaunt.
Last night in Philadelphia was the first setback for the promoters,
who have already racked up grosses of $41,000 for a night in Chicago;
$53,500 for two shows in Detroit and $28,000 for a single performance
in St. Louis. They expect to recoup here with the two performances at
the Arena today.
The star was on 40 minutes, singing about a dozen of his hillbilly,
rock and roll and blues chants, and the bedlam never abated once.
DJ, Scotty, Jimmy Velvet and Bill Black backstage in Philadelphia -
April 5, 1957
Photo source David English
WHEN HE WENT into an arm-flailing, hip-wriggling,
floor-crawling finale with "Hound Dog," the hysterical mob broke out
of its seats. Fortunately, there were enough cops and plainclothesmen
guarding every aisle to get them all back again.
Personally, I like Elvis.
Philadelphia Daily News -
April 6, 1957 courtesy Free Library of Philadelphia
young fans, and mom, at Elvis' show at the Arena - April
5, 1957
Photo courtesy eBay
Elvis and Bill onstage at the Philadelphia Arena - April 5, 1957
Photo source unknown
Hysterical
Mob Drowns Out Elvis' Rock 'n' Roll Songs
By JAMES SMART Of The Bulletin Staff
Elvis Presley sang here last night. But nobody
listened.
The audience screamed, yelled, clapped. stomped and popped flashbulbs
at the Caruso of rock 'n' roll. Anybody who wanted to hear Elvis had a
pretty hard time.
The shrieking was so loud that there wouldn't have been an eardrum
intact if there had been a full house at the Arena, 46th and Market
Sts.
Less than half of the 6,500 seats were filled at each of the shows
last night, at 7 and 9 P.M.
Buttons Sell
Those who did come weren't buying. Vendors reported
a poor turnover of Elvis picture albums and scarves. They did only
slightly better selling "I Like Elvis" buttons. Even buttons inscribed
"I Hate Elvis" and the more succinct "Elvis is a Jerk" weren't moving,
the vendors moaned.
The crowd only wanted one thing - to see Elvis.
They screamed with cheerful vehemence for an hour's worth of
preliminary acts at each show.
They were whipped into a frenzy as each new introduction proved to be
someone other than their idol.
Then Elvis appeared, and tried valiantly to be heard over the bedlam.
Black Silk Suit
The former Tennessee truck driver was dressed in a
black silk suit, white shoes and socks and a black velvet shirt open
halfway down his bare chest, exposing a three-inch gold-and-silver
colored
medallion on a chain around his neck.
He told reporters the medallion was handed him by little girl in the
crowd at Ottawa. Canada, where he appeared last.
Elvis hung a "guitar over his neck. Then there followed a half-hour of
rubberlegged gyrations as he poured rock 'n' roll lyrics into a
microphone, thrusting arms and knees at the audience.
Every new gesture and wiggle brought a variance in pitch from the howl
of the audience, mostly young girls. It was rare that a word could be
discerned even by those standing only a few feet from the stage.
Staggers Around Stage
There were a few breaks when Elvis sang something
more sentimental, clutching the microphone close to his lips and
staggering around the stage.
Even when he recited tenderly a few lines of "That's When Your
Heartache Begins," he was drowned out by the crowd.
As he sang "Love Me," girls throughout the Arena stood up and
stretched out their arms toward the stage. Elvis grinned and kept
singing.
There was little disturbance, except for the earsplitting screaming.
Policemen stopped a few girls from rushing down the aisles on several
occasions. One girl in black slacks, bright red sweater and black
leather motorcycle jacket had to be led so the rear after neither
police nor her friends could restrain her from rushing forward, arms
outstretched.
The less violent beat time with hands or feet, or watched through
field glasses which were selling at $1 per pair.
Some held their hands to the sides of their heads as though the
ecstasy of seeing Elvis was sweetly painful. One girl stopped
screaming, sat down and wept quietly as Elvis concluded his concert
with "You Ain't Nothing but a Hound Dog."
Extra Police
There were more than 83 plainclothes policemen and
eight policewomen inside the Arena, and over 50 uniformed officers
keeping order outside and in the subway trains.
Even Elvis, asked what he thought of the Philadelphia crowd, admitted
"They're kinda wild."
But wouldn't he just once like his audience to stop screaming and
listen to him?
"Ah likes things the way they are," he drawled. "It covers up the
mistakes."
The Philadelphia Evening Bulletin - April 6, 1957
courtesy Free Library of Philadelphia
Scotty, DJ, Elvis and Bill onstage at the Philadelphia
Arena - April 5, 1957
Photo by Robert Coldwell courtesy Ger J.Rijff Jan Van Gestel*
DJ and Elvis onstage at the Philadelphia Arena - April 5,
1957
Photo courtesy Elvis Album
DJ, Elvis and Bill onstage at the Philadelphia
Arena - April 5, 1957
Photo source unknown
Fans react to Elvis at the Philadelphia Arena - April 5,
1957
AP Photo by Bill Ingraham courtesy
The Telegraph
Scotty, Elvis, DJ and Bill onstage at the Philadelphia Arena - April
5, 1957
Photo courtesy eBay
Neal Matthews, Gordon Stoker, Elvis and Scotty at the
Arena - April 5, 1957
Photo source unknown
Gordon Stoker, DJ, Elvis and Bill onstage at the Philadelphia
Arena - April 5, 1957
Photo source unknown
Bedlam at the Arena
Elvis
Rocks, His Fans Roll
Elvis Presley made his Philadelphia debut last night by singing to
himself as several thousand teenage followers drowned out his voice with
frenzied applause for their idol's bumps and grinds. The man with the
runaway sideburns kept the bobby-soxers waiting nearly an hour while
chatting with the press in his dressing room before walking onstage at
the Arena to touch off an explosion of pent-up emotions that rocked a
considerable area of surrounding West Philadelphia.
CAMERAS POP AWAY
He was nearly blinded, however, when he threw his first half-nelson on
the microphone and more than 200 youngsters stood up in their seats and
banged away at him with flash cameras.
From then until he completed the first of two appearances last night it
was one continuous intermingling of squeals, screams and shrieks - all
in high C - foot stomping, hand-clasping and occasionally discernable
cries of "Oh, you, Elvis!"
Even the star’s popular :Heartbreak Hotel" was submerged in the frenzy
which gripped his audience, the majority of which was comprised of
girls.
Elvis and Bill onstage at the Philadelphia
Arena - April 5, 1957
Photo by Robert Coldwell courtesy Ger J.Rijff Jan Van Gestel*
Bill and Elvis onstage at the Philadelphia
Arena - April 5, 1957
Photo by Robert Coldwell courtesy Ger J.Rijff Jan Van Gestel*
Elvis, Scotty and DJ onstage at the Philadelphia
Arena - April 5, 1957
Photo source unknown
WHEREABOUTS SECRET
However, they seemed to like him. even though they couldn't hear him.
Elvis arrived in the city sometime during the day but his whereabouts
before 7 P. M. was a secret guarded by his manager, Col. Tom Parker, an
ex-medicine man.
Sixty reporters, photographers and radio men were on hand to greet the
22-year-old singer when he appeared at the Arena surrounded by four
outsize city detectives. Somehow, all crowded into the confines of the
dressing room where powerful Klieg lights were focused on an empty chair
while Presley waited outside the door biting his fingernails. He were a
black suit and open-neck black velvet shirt complemented by white socks
and while buckskin shoes.
FANS IMPATIENT
Finally, with the impatient wails of the rock 'n' rollers in the main
auditorium ringing in his ears and at least a dozen tape-recorder
microphones thrust into his face, the entertainer billed as "Mr.
Dynamite" settled into the empty chair for his interview.
"I don’t know,’ he said candidly, "whether I am going to last. My future
is uncertain but I simply take one day at a time and take whatever comes
with each."
As the 22·year·old ex-truck driver leaned forward to respond to
questions, a silver and gold medallion, roughly the size of a coffee cup
saucer, popped out of his shirt front. It hung from a golden chain about
his neck.
Elvis Is Greeted By Din, Squeals
GIFT FROM GIRL
"That?" he said. "It was given to me last Thursday night in Ottawa. What
its significance is I wouldn’t know?
The giver, he said, was a girl fan. This led to a question concerning a
possible romantic interest in his life. Elvis replied: "There is
none——period."
"However," he observed, “I have only one qualification for a wife. That
she be a female"
With reporters, detectives and press agents sweltering under the lights,
Presley halted proceedings to accept a small brown-and white teddy bear
from Jeanne Mount, 14, of 1717 S. 56th St.
“Thank you," he said as she thrust the toy into his hands.
He said his hobby is collecting stuffed animals and his collection now
numbers more than 200.
Among other things, Presley said he owned eight automobiles including
"three little o' bitty" sport cars, that he’s always nervous onstage and
that he spends most of his leisure time on the road watching TV and at
home "shooting pool with my Pappy."
The Philadelphia Inquirer - April 6, 1957
courtesy Free Library of Philadelphia
The reviews for the second night's show were as follows:
Inquirer Ad - April 6, 1957
courtesy Free Library of Philadelphia
Neal Matthews and Elvis onstage - 1957
Photo by Harris Radin source David English
Elvis
Egged at Arena- 'Gittar' Gets the Yolk
While teen-age girls went to the Elvis Presley show
at the Arena last night to shout, squirm and gyrate, four Villanova
University male students attended for still another reason—to pelt the
performer with eggs.
Lt. John Ford. of the Juvenile Aid Bureau, said Presley was doing a
number at 9:40 P. M, when a barrage of eggs sailed toward the stage.
There were no direct hits.
About five of the eggs splashed on the stage. Another struck the gold
- clad performer's "gittar" which was on the floor.
The egg found its way inside the instrument and put it out of
commission for 10 minutes while musicians labored backstage to clean
it up.
Presley called the thrower an "idiot" and announced, "I'm ready for
him any time."
Ford asked the spectators where the eggs came from. Numerous fingers
readily pointed at the four students.
In the pocket of one, William Quinn, 20, of New York City, Ford said
he found a still unthrown egg. It was seized for evidence.
Quinn and his companions—_William B. Oates. 21, of Brooklyn; James
Stark. 20. of Greenport, N.Y.; and John Eidt, 20, of New York
City——were hustled out of the Arena and to the 55th and Pine sts.
station.
They were charged with disorderly conduct and will have a hearing this
morning before Magistrate William Cibotti.
RUNAWAY GIVES UP
Police handled still another case arising from the show, but this was
of an entirely different nature.
It seemed that Marion Shanhart, 14; of Rochester, N, Y., had $14 and a
yen for Presley. Leaving her home at 4 A. M., she arrived in
Philadelphia 13 hours later by
bus with just enough left to buy a ticket for the show.
After the show, she gave up to police. A policewoman called her
parents who arranged to get her this morning. She spent the night in
the Hearth, a girls' shelter, at 5th and Pine sts.
The Philadelphia Inquirer - April 7, 1957
courtesy Free Library of Philadelphia
Tossed
Egg Misses Elvis
Hits Guitar Player As Girls Scream
By JOSEPH BARRETT Of The Bulletin Staff
Elvis Presley, was throwing 5,329 people into a
frenzy at the Arena last night when and egg came sailing at him from
the balcony.
The egg missed him by a good three- feet, and landed with a splash on
the guitar of Scotty Moore, one of three instrumental accompanists.
Presley's sideburned face darkened into a frown, but he managed to
finish his song, "All Shook Up."
"He got egg on his guitar," Presley told the audience. "Whoever threw
that will never make the Yankees."
Screaming Girls Point
The master of the grind and the bump, by this time, appeared to be
"all shook up" himself a little.
Turning to the audience, he said again:
"Most of you people came here to enjoy the show. The guy who threw the
egg will never make it."
His blue eyes flashing, Presley turned toward the direction from which
the egg came and remarked with emphasis: "I mean it, Jack. We're just
trying to put on a nice show."
By this time, police were racing up the balcony, where a group of
screaming girls were pointing to four youths.
Biggest Crowd
"That's them! That's them!" the girls yelled.
The cops grabbed the four youths. One had an egg in his pocket.
Several other eggs were found trampled under their feet.
The four youths were hustled out of the Arena, at 46th and Market sts.,
and taken to the 55th and Pine sts. police station where they were
slated on disorderly conduct charges.
The egg throwing incident was the only unforeseen occurrence in
Presley's final appearance which drew the biggest crowd of his two-day
stand here.
More Couples Attend
By actual count, 5,329 people were in the Arena, which normally
accommodates about 6,500.
Last night's audience seemed to be generally somewhat older than the
fans who streamed into the arena on Friday and yesterday afternoon.
There were more couples on dates, and more parents with children. But
there was hundreds of teen-age girls, too, and they accompanied
Presley with customary ear-piercing shrieks.
For his final appearance, Presley, a one-time truck driver, wore a
gold braided jacket with white sequins on the cuffs, pockets and
lapels. He also wore a white, satin shirt, black pants and gold shoes.
Some Even Cry
As he strode onto the stage for the start of his performance, the
audience went wild with screams. Hundreds of camera flash bulbs went
off.
From time to time as Presley warmed up to his act, many of the girls
went into hysterics. Some burst into tears.
After the show ended at 10:15 P.M. about 20 policemen rushed Presley
off the stage and into a waiting automobile parked at the curb on 45th
st.
Fifty girls watched their idol being hustled into the car and fought
to get near him. They yelled and rushed the police, attracting groups
of other girls who came running.
As the car drove off, escorted by the police in another car, the mob
of girls gave chase. They ran for more than a block, then gave up.
Deny Egg Throwing
The four youths arrested in the egg throwing incident gave their names
as William F. Quinn, 20, and John E. Eidt, 20, both of New York City;
William B. Oates, 21, of Brooklyn, and James Stark, 20, of Jamesport,
Long Island. They said that they were Villanova University students.
All denied that they threw the egg, although Quinn admitted that he
carried an egg in his pocket, which the police found.
"We don't like Elvis," Quinn said. "But we went to see what he is
like. He is repulsive. He's alright for the teen-agers. The egg was
thrown from behind us. I think it came from some Penn students."
A policeman in the station house had a final say in the affair.
"The only thing I'm mad about," he said, "is that they missed Elvis."
The Philadelphia Sunday Bulletin -
April 7, 1957 courtesy Free Library of Philadelphia
Elvis
'Yeggs' Land Sunny Side Up
Four Villanova University students,
arrested on a disorderly conduct charge after they allegedly hurled
six raw eggs at Elvis Presley during an Arena performance Saturday
night, were released with a warning by Magistrate William A. Cibotti
at a hearing yesterday in the 55th and Pine sts. station.
The four, who were given a lecture on public behavior, are: William
Quinn, 20, of New York City; William B. Oates, 21, of Brooklyn; James
Stark. 20. of Greenport, N. Y., and John Eidt, 20, of New York City.
Police said the eggs missed Presley, but one "gummed up" the guitar of
an accompanist, causing a brief delay in the show.
The Philadelphia Inquirer - April 8,
1957 courtesy Free Library of Philadelphia
Man
About Town
By Frank Brookhouser
THAT GUITAR STRUMMING, hip-swinging,
hillbilly Elvis Presley left his imprint on the town over the weekend
and there was little doubt about where he stands with one segment of
out youthful citizenry.
He doesn't occupy such a lofty position, however, with still another
branch-the members of the Germantown Boys Club. As part of the Boys'
Club Week activities last week, the organization polled 400 of its
members on their opinion of Presley.
Close to 75 per cent of the boys, who are from nine to 14 years old,
turned thumbs down on the national teenage rage. A few were undecided
about his virtues or vice versa. The rest approved.
Those who disapproved didn't hedge at all. Some of the comments:
"He's just a big boy who's never grown up," noted one 14-year-old. "I
think he wiggles too much and the girls are nuts to like him," said an
11-year-old. "He's a terrible singer," said a third. And perhaps the
unkindest cut of all: "He needs a haircut."
In Presley's favor, there were comments like these:
"He is just a young star-trying to put on a show." "He wiggles real
good." "He hasn't done anything to me, and its not wrong to make
money."
The Philadelphia Evening Bulletin -
April 8, 1957 courtesy Free Library of Philadelphia
Elvis
Assailed As 'Golden Calf'
A Philadelphia pastor had a word for Elvis Presley Yesterday: A Biblical
Golden Calf.
But he had more than just a mouthful for Presley's hero-worshipping
young followers. And for their parents, too.
The Rev. W. Carter Merbreier, pastor of St. Matthew's Lutheran Church,
628 N. Broad St.. was most articulate on the subject.
He observed, first-hand, Elvis' one-man. two-day "riot" at the Arena as
a delegate of the Police Juvenile Aid Bureau.
THE REV. MERBREIER was a bit unhappy about his seat. He was surrounded,
he reported, by a group of "nervous, giggling girls who went so far as
to even kiss the hand that shook the hand."
On teen-agers generally (those whose emotions he observed), the Rev.
Merbreier waxed eloquent. Ht saw them:
“Screaming, falling to their knees as if in prayer, flopping limply over
seats, stretching rigidly, wriggling in a supreme effort of ecstasy."
Juke like Moses coming down from Sinai and finding the children of
Israel in religious emotion before the Golden Calf.
TURNING to their parents, he had these words:
"To condemn these teen-agers is to more strongly condemn those idiotic
parents who would permit their children to participate in such an
emotional orgy.
"Indeed, any parent that would allow a daughter to leave the house
dressed, without regard for dignity and even morality, as were some of
these youngsters,
should have their heads examined."
THEN CAME the clincher--the Rev. Merbreier's estimate of Elvis'
performance. Said he:
"A mere flick of this boy's thumb increased a shattering sound which
seemed unincreasable. By leaning his body to the right or to the left,
he brought forth a new burst of frenzy. Every act and gesture of the
girls in the arena were, without question, forms of actual worship."
The Rev. Merbreier rested his case.
The Philadelphia Daily News - April 9, 1957
courtesy Free Library of Philadelphia
Several months later, WFIL talked the ABC Television Network into a
five week trial for Bandstand, commencing in August of 1957, as a summer
replacement show at which time it was renamed American Bandstand and was
an immediate national hit.8 The following year the Arena was purchased by a group headed by
Tyrrell. Elvis, Scotty, Bill and DJ would perform on two more
short tours that year and then Elvis was drafted.
Dick Clark on American Bandstand, Elvis in
Germany
Photos courtesy Dick Clark Productions and
MBC, EPE, Inc. - Interview courtesy KOOLFM
Elvis never formally appeared on any incarnation of Bandstand
though in early 1959, around January while stationed in Germany,
he conversed with Dick Clark over the phone for American
Bandstand. In the conversation Dick mentioned that in the
annual American Bandstand popularity poll the kids voted Elvis
the favorite male vocalist along with favorite record of the year for
1958. The show celebrated its second anniversary on ABC the
following August 5th with another phone call with Elvis on American Bandstand.
NY Times ad for 2nd Anniversary American Bandstand
broadcast - Aug 5, 1959
[Dick Clark] Hello, Elvis? Hello, Dick, how are you? [D.C.] Fine to talk to you. We've had a little trouble getting
through to Germany. But finally glad that we could make it. I guess the lines were. . . were kind of busy, uh? [D.C.] I imagine so, and I would imagine they' ve got you kind of
busy these days, don’t they? Oh yeah, well we're gettin’ ready for a big inspection. A new
inspection, so we’ve been workin’ pretty hard for that. [D.C.] Elvis, so many of us here are interested in your activities
and I think probably the big question on most people’s minds these days
are when and if and everything goes right, you’re out in February, what
will be your plans? Well as you know I have a contract with ABC. [D.C.] Uh-huh, the ABC Television Network. Yes, that's true. . for some television. I don’t know exactly what it
will consist of yet. I don't know what Colonel Parker has arranged. [D.C.] Um-mm. Or what kind of program [it] will be. And then I have the three
pictures to make; one for Mr. [Hal] Wallis, and then the other two for
Twentieth Century-Fox. [D.C.] Those are the three motion pictures? Yes, uh-huh. [D.C.] Elvis, I’ve got some good news. I imagine by now they've
passed the word along to you. With the latest RCA Victor recording out,
“[A Big] Hunk O` Love" and “My Wish Came True," you got yourself another
Gold Record to add to the collection. That's great, Dick. That sure is nice. I was surprised to hear it,
really. [D.C.] I’ll tell you what. We're gonna show it to the folks here on
American Bandstand, then I'll forward it down to Colonel Tom Parker, and
he can save it for you when you come back. Okay, that’ll be fine. [D.C.] Elvis, do you have any idea of how many Gold Records you have
now in your collection? To my knowledge, Dick.. .this one will make thirty-one, I think. [D.C.] Boy, that is a fantastic record. There's no getting away from
it. I’ll ask my daddy to go down and (laughs) and recount them to make
sure (laughs). [D.C.] (Laughs.) Well alright, we’ll get the latest count then. Yeah. [D.C.] Elvis, one more quick question that might interest the gals in
this country. I know probably you don’t have too much to yourself but
when you go out amongst the German people, what is the thing that
strikes you as most interesting? Are they very different than the people
back home? No. The main difference is naturally the language barrier there. It's
kinda hard to talk to most of 'em, especially older ones because a lot
of 'em don’t speak English at all and I don’t speak any German. [D.C.] How do you find the reaction of young people toward
you...mainly the girls? Do they know who you are and so forth? Well it's, ah (laughs), that's kind of a hard question. [D.C.] That’s real difficult. It’s a leading question, Elvis, because
I know, of course as I guess everybody else does, that they go pretty
crazy for you. Do you get along well with them? Yeah, I get along real well. Every day when I finish work and I come
in, well there's always a lot of people at the gate, from all over
Germany, you know. [D.C.] Uh-huh. And they bring their families. Especially on weekends, I have a lot
of visitors here from all over Germany. . .all over Europe in fact.
They come here and bring pictures and take pictures and everything.
[D.C.] Must be a fairly exciting thing that’s happened. Yeah it is. It's kind of exciting trying to keep up with that life
plus the Army life too, you know (laughs). [D.C.] I imagine. You're kind of a man torn between two careers, both
of which are very, very important. Elvis, I did want to thank you very
much for calling on this day. As you probably know, this is our special
anniversary day. Oh, well congratulations! How many years it make, Dick? [D.C.] And many, many thanks and we all look forward to your return. Thank you very much. You don’t know how I'm looking forward to my
return. [D.C.] Elvis again, thank you for calling...and bye-bye. Bye-bye, Dick.
courtesy "Elvis Word for Word" by Jerry Osborne
Elvis would return to Philadelphia to perform several
times in the '70s with the TCB band, but not to the Arena. Those
appearances however were a bit better received.
Tyrrell kept the Arena until retiring in 1965 at which
time it was sold at auction to James Toppi Enterprises, a sports
promotion concern. The year before, 1964, WFIL-TV had moved from their 46th
& Market Street location to new facilities in Philadelphia and production of
American Bandstand, along with Dick Clark moved from Philadelphia to the ABC
Television Center in Los Angeles. Clark hosted American Bandstand
on ABC until 1989.7
In 1967 the Spectrum in Philadelphia opened which became the new popular
venue for large acts and sporting events, though both Jimi Hendrix and
The Doors would perform at the Arena in 1968. The Arena had housed
numerous basketball and hockey teams through the years, but it was best was probably best remembered for
boxing. Sugar Ray Robinson, Joe Frazier, and Gene Tunney all fought
there.8
Posters for Jimmie Hendrix, and the Doors at the Arena -
Mar 31 and Aug 4, 1968
Ads courtesy Wolfgang's
Vault and web
In 1968, the FCC established a "one to a market" which effectively prevented companies from owning newspapers and broadcast outlets in the same market though several were "grandfathered" in. Unfortunately, Annenberg's cluster of the Inquirer, Daily News (purchased in 1957) and WFIL-AM-FM-TV, was not. In 1969, he sold the Inquirer and the Daily News and by 1971 after complaints from Pennsylvania Governor Milton Shapp against him, was forced by the FCC to sell WFIL and his other broadcasting
properties.7
Though the building fell out of popular use in the '70s it saw some life with championship wrestling matches, both for the NWA and the WWWF. Stan "The Man" Stasiak actually won the WWWF championship belt there in 1973, at that point the only time the belt ever changed hands outside of Madison Square Garden.2 In 1977 the building was again sold at auction and by 1980 had fallen into a state of disrepair.
In 1980, Mark Stewart, formerly the business manager for the head coach of the Philadelphia Flyers, in a money laundering scheme persuaded Larry Levin, who had made his millions in selling drugs, to purchase the Arena and the minor league Lancaster Red Roses of the Continental Basketball Association (CBA). He moved them into his new arena, renamed the Martin Luther King, Jr. Arena and named the team the Kings.9
At the end of the 1980-81 CBA season, the franchise and the arena had become a financial sinkhole. The team was sold and relocated back to Lancaster, Pennsylvania where it became known as the Lancaster Lightning. Lavin and his partners stopped giving money to Stewart who subsequently botched a plan to burn down the arena on October 4th. The blaze only destroyed the building’s roof. Damaged and vacant it sat unoccupied until August of 1983 when a second suspected arson finally burned the building to the
ground.9
Both Stewart and Lavin eventually went to jail, for numerous
offenses.9 Today the property at 46th and Market where the Arena once stood is now
a townhouse complex. The adjacent studio building has since seen other use uses.
All ads and articles courtesy of the
Free Library of
Philadelphia, except where noted. Special thanks to David English
for accumulating many photos of the Philadelphia appearance, several of
which were used here. *The proper Photo credit for these, where noted,
are courtesy David English.
All photos on this site (that we
didn't borrow) unless
otherwise indicated are the property of either Scotty Moore or James V.
Roy and unauthorized use or reproduction is prohibited.
Girl Bronk Rider Dies At Rogers Rodeo, Philly
2,300
Fans, 130 Cops Turn Out for Elvis Here
Hysterical
Mob Drowns Out Elvis' Rock 'n' Roll Songs
.jpg)
Bedlam at the Arena
Elvis
Egged at Arena- 'Gittar' Gets the Yolk
Tossed
Egg Misses Elvis
Elvis
'Yeggs' Land Sunny Side Up
Man
About Town
Elvis
Assailed As 'Golden Calf'
