23rd November 1956, Friday

Post by **Graeme** » Mon Nov 30, 2015 7:47 pm

Yesterday << 23rd November 1956, Friday >> Tomorrow

Originally Sidney Fields of the New York Daily Mirror had interviewed Galdys and Vernon. The interview was syndicated and appeared in other publications later on, one of which was the Canadian newspaper the Winnipeg Free Press, this is a copy of the page in small format on the respective publication. This is a link to read a transcript of the original publication content from 23rd September 1956, Friday

Query:- Was this the first time the youngest known photo of Elvis was first published?

silverwings · Post by **silverwings** » Tue Dec 15, 2020 7:09 pm

: Photographer ~ Lew Allen

A young amateur photographer who worked for his high school newspaper, was invited to photograph Elvis Presley at the Cleveland Arena, Ohio. A labor strike at the three major newspapers in Cleveland that day meant that the then 17 year-old Lew Allen was the only photographer at the show.

Private Presley · Post by **Private Presley** » Wed Nov 24, 2021 5:37 am

November 23, 1956

In 1956, Elvis Presley was on the cusp of super-stardom. Elvis embarked on a four city tour that led him to Cleveland, Ohio on November 23. 1956. However, the three Cleveland daily newspapers were in the midst of a strike due to a contract dispute with the Cleveland Newspaper Guild. And the three dailies were still on strike on Elvis’ concert date.

However, the strike proved fortuitous for a 17-year-old boy from Cleveland. Needing press coverage, Presley’s record label called around to local high school newspapers and connected with Lew Allen, a 17-year-old student at Heights High in Cleveland Heights. Lew Allen, the photographer for his Heights high school newspaper, "The Black and Gold," and yearbook, was the only "professional" photographer at the show. He had an all-access pass to “The King” himself. Allen’s camera captured a youthful Presley backstage at the Arena, enjoying affection from his fans, and on stage, performing his early hits.

“He was a nice guy, he was a sweetheart” says Allen of his chance encounter with rock royalty, Lew Allen shot a total of 27 photos, of which his school newspaper only published one. Allen believed the images from that night were nothing special, and stored the negatives in his basement for 40 years.

Allen went on to attend the Rochester Institute of Technology where he trained under famed photographer Minor White and he later took photos of other major Rock n' Roll stars from the 1950s - including The Everly Brothers, Bobby Darin, Buddy Holly, Dion and many more.

Allen’s nephew Bob Shatten found the rare photos and encouraged his uncle to share what are now lauded as some of the most important examples of early Rock and Roll photography. Allen’s photos have now been shown around the world, and an exhibition in Liverpool, England ultimately led to a book collaboration with Mike McCartney, brother of another music legend, Paul. The book of Lew Allen’s photos entitled “Elvis & The Birth of Rock” is one of the most sought after books on Elvis’ early years.

Today, Allen knows just how rare his experience with the legendary musician really was; “It was something that happened to me, by accident. And I loved it and it made a big difference in my life.”