Elvis Presley | Ottawa Canada | April 3, 1957

The night before in Toronto, Elvis wore his full gold lamé suit for the last time. The photos below show Presley wore only three elements of the gold suit in Ottawa - jacket, belt, shoes. Elvis chose not to wear the tie and pants from the gold suit. On Elvis' next tour to the Pacific Northwest in late summer, he would discard the gold shoes as well. The 'King' arrived in Ottawa on April 3, 1957.

Elvis Presley | Arriving at Ottawa's Union Station on the morning of April 3, 1957

Elvis arriving at Ottawa's Union Station on the morning of April 3, 1957.

Elvis in his car after arriving at Ottawa's Union Station on the morning of April 3, 1957.

From the City of Ottawa web site

Perhaps there was no greater pop-culture event in Ottawa during the 1950's than the Elvis Presley concerts held at the Auditorium in April 1957. Presley embodied the spirit of rock n' roll, a new phenomenon unfamiliar to adults. His presence in the city sent thousands of teenagers and young adults into fits of impassioned hysteria.

The 'King' arrived in Ottawa on April 3, 1957. Teenagers traveled from as far as Montreal to attend the shows. A special train, nicknamed the 'Rock N' Roll Cannon Ball' was packed with over 500 concert-goers. When Presley stepped onto the stage, the audience of over 9,000 were so loud it was almost impossible to hear Presley singing. The fans were in a frenzy of Elvis worship: 'some wept, some moaned; some clutched their heads in ecstasy; everybody screamed, stamped, clapped hands, flailed arms, one person got down on all fours and pounded the floor'. The police were out in record numbers because there was concern that the screaming fans would rush the stage. Elvis Presley was a controversial entertainer because his ‘suggestive' pelvis thrusting and dance moves scandalized many parents and authority figures. The Notre Dame Convent, viewing Presley as immoral and un-Christian, forbade its students from attending the concert. Eight students were expelled after going to see the King, and controversy gripped the city. The nuns later nullified the expulsions, but at least half of the girls remained enrolled in different schools.

Elvis Presley definitely made an impression on Ottawa.

 Elvis interviewed by Ottawa's CKOY, Mac Lipson April 3, 1957 (05:29)

 Latest Audio (and video) updates courtesy of  Elvis Presley MP3 Audio Central.

Elvis in his car after arriving at Ottawa's Union Station on the morning of April 3, 1957.

Teenagers traveled from as far as Montreal to attend the shows. A special train, nicknamed the 'Rock N' Roll Cannon Ball' was packed with over 500 concert-goers. When Presley stepped onto the stage, the audience of over 9,000 were so loud it was almost impossible to hear Presley singing. The fans were in a frenzy of Elvis worship: 'some wept, some moaned; some clutched their heads in ecstasy; everybody screamed, stamped, clapped hands, flailed arms, one person got down on all fours and pounded the floor'. The police were out in record numbers because there was concern that the screaming fans would rush the stage.

Elvis Presley | Ottawa Canada | April 3, 1957

Elvis posing backstage at the Auditorium in Ottawa : April . 3, 1957.

Andrews Newton, who was the official photographer when Presley's stage show came to Ottawa on April 3, 1957. At the time, Newton was the proprietor of Newton Photographic Associates, located at 326 Wilbrod Street in Ottawa. The images below come from the afternoon press conference.

Elvis Presley Ottawa Canada : April 3 1957 Press Conference.

Elvis Presley Ottawa Canada : April 3 1957 Press Conference.

A backstage picture from April 3rd 1957, at Elvis his side is Arni May.

Above, is a backstage picture from April 3rd 1957, at Elvis his side we recognize Arni May.

Arni was a well known drummer in the Ottawa jazz circuit for almost six years when the chance of a lifetime came along. Elvis came to town and wanted him as his drummer. At the time Arni was only 20 and Elvis 22, as you can imagine he was pretty nervous when he met Elvis. But Elvis greeted Arni as a friend, as if they knew each other already. May performed two 45-minute sets with him at Ottawa's Auditorium on April 3, 1957. Later he recalled; 'When it was over, all that was left were memories that would last a lifetime'. Arni didn't want to cash the cheque he received from this performance, he wanted to keep it as a souvenir. But he had to, he didn't have enough money to pay the guys in his band. 'I spent the day with him, and I'm telling you, he left an impression with me that I'll just never forget. He was a first-class gentleman'.

Elvis Presley | Ottawa Canada | Evening Show | April 3, 1957

Elvis Presley : Onstage at the Auditorium in Ottawa : : Evening Show : April. 3, 1957.

Elvis Presley : Onstage at the Auditorium in Ottawa : : Evening Show : April. 3, 1957.

Elvis Presley : Onstage at the Auditorium in Ottawa : : Evening Show : April. 3, 1957.

Elvis Presley : Onstage at the Auditorium in Ottawa : : Evening Show : April. 3, 1957.

D.J. Fontana, Elvis, Bill Black and the Jordanaires onstage at the Auditorium in Ottawa : April. 3, 1957.

Elvis Presley : Onstage at the Auditorium in Ottawa : : Evening Show : April. 3, 1957.

Elvis Presley : Onstage at the Auditorium in Ottawa : : Evening Show : April. 3, 1957.

Elvis Presley : Onstage at the Auditorium in Ottawa : : Evening Show : April. 3, 1957.

Elvis fans at the Auditorium in Ottawa : April. 3, 1957.

Elvis Presley : Onstage at the Auditorium in Ottawa : : Evening Show : April. 3, 1957.

Elvis Presley : Onstage at the Auditorium in Ottawa : : Evening Show : April. 3, 1957.

High quality images of all of the above can be found in the book : Elvis In Gold by JAT Productions.

Gord Atkinson's interview with Elvis Presley

Gord Atkinson remembered Elvis unable to leave his dingy converted hockey dressing room because of the mobs outside the building, sitting quietly, eating a plain cheese sandwich, in between shows when he interviewed him before he introduced him onstage for the evening performance. Gord hosted a weekly program for teenagers CFRA called the Campus Corner where they had conducted a big rating contest to determine the most popular recording artist of the year and Elvis won by an overwhelming majority of votes.

After the interview Gord presented Elvis with a scroll on behalf of all the listeners of radio show.

After the interview Gord presented Elvis with a scroll on behalf of all the listeners of radio show.

A high quality image of the above can be found in the book : Elvis In Gold by JAT Productions.

Highlights from Gord Atkinson's interview with Elvis

Gord: Is this the first time you've been to Canada?

Elvis: Yes. it is my very first trip to Canada.

Gord: Pretty soon for any impressions. Do you have any, though?

Elvis: No. Yes. Well, I do. I was in Toronto last night and I was very much surprised at how wonderful the people are, how friendly, you know, in this part of the country.

Gord: They have certainly been waiting for you for a long, long time.

Elvis: I have been wanting to come up here. In fact, when I started looking at the tour, I said, by all means, I want to go to Canada. In fact, about a year ago, I tried to get them to book a tour up here, but I wasn't well enough known. A year and a half ago, everybody didn't know me well enough.

Gord: Sounds almost unbelievable.

Elvis: So they figured I wouldn't make enough money.

Gord: No doubt about that now.

Well, Elvis, you've certainly even topped the popularity Frank Sinatra had in his heyday.

This may seem like a foolish question; it seems an obvious answer; but have you, yourself, given any thought to what it is about you that has made you the phenomenal show business personality that you are?

Elvis: I sure have, In fact, only I don't like to figure it out because I am afraid if I find out what it is. I might lose it, so I just keep guessing myself

Gord: You just recently built a home?

Elvis: Well, I didn't build it. I just bought it. It's an estate (Graceland). It's about ten miles from where I live now (on Audubon Drive). We had to have a larger place because I have accumulated so much junk in the last two years I don't know where to put it.

Gord: Will you be living with your parents?

Elvis: Yes.

Gord: You are an only child, aren't you'?

Elvis: Yes, sir.

Gord: Do you have a girlfriend, may I ask?

Elvis: I don't have a special ... I mean, when I'm home I date a few different girls in Memphis, but I don't have any particular one.

Gord: Have you given thought to the fact some day you might decide that you'd like to get married?

Elvis: I probably will.

Gord: Do you think this would hurt your popularity?

Elvis: It probably will. I have no plans for marriage. I haven't met anybody yet.

Gord: What about your singing style. Would you say that you are an outgrowth of country music? Or the pop field? Or a combination of both?

Elvis: I guess I kind of like em both; more rock 'n roll than anything else.

Rock 'n roll is actually, you see, what put me over.

Gord: There are many people waiting to talk to you. I want to thank you so much. I have something here to present to you. It's a scroll from our program, called Campus Corner: It is a show that is presented each Saturday. It is a teenage show, if you can imagine. We had a popularity poll where the boys and girls on the station are voting and for the past year and a half you have been the

Elvis: Oh, that's great. Thank you very much.

Gord: Elvis, I wonder if you'd say something to all those fans right now.

Elvis: I would like to tell them how I deeply appreciate (this), and like I said before, I guess I've gotten more mail from Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal than any other place.

I've got more fan mail from right around this area than I have in anywhere in the United States.

Gord: That's wonderful. You will be . . .

Elvis (interrupting):

I am not telling that to you because I am here, but it is very true and that is one of the reasons why l always wanted to come up here; because I've gotten more letters from Canada than I can count.

Gord: That should make your fans here very happy.

It has been a sincere pleasure to be talking to you, Elvis Presley.

Elvis: Thank you very much.

Elvis Presley | Janet Fulton | April 3, 1957

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Interview with Elvis Presley : Press Conference Canada 1957

Elvis Presley Vancouver, Canada. Empire Stadium August 31, 1957

January 1957

Elvis Presley Kennedy Veterans Hospital | January 4, 1957
Elvis Presley January 6, 1957 | Warwick Hotel, New York
Elvis Presley The Ed Sullivan Show | His third and final Appearance | January 6, 1957
Elvis, Monday evening, January 7, 1957 following his last appearance on the Ed Sullivan show
Elvis Presley Elvis may move into Graceland Newspaper article | 1957

March

Elvis Presley displays the toy pistol that caused him some trouble | March 22, 1957
Pfc. Hershel Nixon and Elvis Presley shake hands | March 26, 1957
Interview Elvis Presley Fort Wayne, Indiana, March 30, 1957

April

Elvis Presley Buffalo, NY. Memorial Coliseum | April 1, 1957
Elvis Presley Maple Leaf Gardens Canada | April 2, 1957
Elvis Presley Ottawa Canada | April 3, 1957
Elvis Presley Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Sports Arena | April 5, 1957
Elvis Presley and Knox Phillips | Memphis, TN | Tuesday April 9, 1957
Elvis Presley with Yvonne Lime | Easter 1957
Elvis Presley New Music Gates at Graceland in 1957 | April 22, 1957
April 30, 1957 | Bill for Stone Wall Built at the front of Graceland

May

The Dog House That Frank Helped Build | May 17-19, 1957
May 1957 | The Jailhouse Rock Recording Sessions

June

Elvis Presley with comic Lou Costello and actress Jane Russell | Russwood Park | June 28, 1957

August

Elvis Presley Vancouver, Canada. Empire Stadium | August 31, 1957

September

Fans share their memories from the day Elvis played Tacoma in 1957
Elvis Presley Tacoma, WA. Lincoln Bowl (Matinee Show) | September 1, 1957
Elvis Presley Seattle, WA. Sick's Stadium (Evening Show) | September 1, 1957
Elvis Presley Multnomah Civic Stadium Portland, OR | September 2, 1957

October

Elvis Presley October 1, 1957
Elvis Presley and Joan Adams | Las Vegas, October 1957
Elvis Presley October 28 & 29, 1957 | Pan Pacific Auditorium

November

Elvis Presley Hawaii | November 9, 1957
Elvis Presley Hawaii | November 10, 1957
Elvis Presley Honolulu Stadium, Hawaii November, 10 1957

December

Elvis Presley WDIA Goodwill Revue | December 6, 1957
Elvis Presley December 16, 1957
Elvis Presley Graceland | December 20, 1957
Elvis Presley and Colonel Parker | Isetta Sports Car | Saturday | December 21, 1957
Elvis Presley December 21, 1957 | Evening | Ryman Auditorium, Nashville
Elvis Presley Hannerl Melcher | December 1957

Elvis Presley The King of Rock 'n' Roll

Elvis Presley Telegram to Young Fan

The Movies Of 1957

1957, Loving You, Paramount
1957, Jailhouse Rock, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

The Movies In Photos

Loving You
Jailhouse Rock

Video

Video | Amazing new Hawaii 1957 footage

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