Elvis Releases ‘Jailhouse Rock’ on October 14 1957

This was a historic day in 1957 for  Elvis Presley.  October 14, 1957 is the day the classic, Jailhouse Rock, was released. The movie came out three days later. The song became Elvis' ninth US number one single and stayed on the Billboard chart for nineteen weeks!  But wait, there’s more!

The film clip from the movie where he sang the song is considered by many historians to be the first rock video ever.  I know, I can’t believe it either. Let’s all watch it.

I am not sure if I would call that a rock video. It looks more like a scene from a Broadway play.  In a rock video wouldn't the song be over modulated?  Why, in this video, I could actually hear the words.  And where was the electric guitar?  I guess the historians criteria is different for mine.

But I must say I liked it cause Elvis was just so Gosh Darn Cute!!!! He never stopped moving, but when he snapped those fingers, It just looked so awkward.

What I like even better is the Jailhouse Rock movie trailer, (they called them previews back then).  Some of the key phrases in the trailer, "Elvis In His First Big Dramatic Singing Role".  "Elvis With a Sock", (they meant he could fight). "Elvis With Amazing New Acting Power". I like that one, it sounds like he was a superhero.

Elvis plays Vince Everett, an ex con who becomes a  rock star.  Vince went to jail for killing a man in a bar fight.  The sentence was one to ten.  Vince served 14 months.

For playing the part of Vincent,  Elvis was paid $250,000, plus 50 percent of the movie profits. Total gross was $4 million. That seems like a lot of money for 1957.

Jailhouse Rock reached #3 in Variety's weekly list of top-grossing films. For the year 1957 it was ranked #14.

Check out this website for more facts about the movie.

This fact comes from just watching that preview.  That man was just so Gosh Darn Cute!