59 years ago today, Elvis Presley made his second appearance on “The Ed Sullivan Show.” It was the first time he was on the show with the eponymous host present, as Sullivan was recovering from a car accident. Charles Laughton guest hosted that show.
On the October 28, 1956 show, Presley performed “Don”t Be Cruel” and “Love Me Tender.” And he played a four minute-long version of his hit “Hound Dog.” (That September, he had performed a one minute and seven seconds version of the song on the show.)
At both his first and second appearance on the show, audiences went wild for his gyrating hips. It was at his third and final appearance on the show, in January 1957, that he was famously taped and photographed from the waist up only.
Before his first appearance on “Ed Sullivan,” the host had vowed to never allow Presley on the show. Sullivan wouldn”t consider putting the rock “n” roll star before a family audience, but he changed his mind after Presley”s appearance on Steve Allen”s show crushed Sullivan”s in the Sunday night ratings.
The same day Presley taped his second appearance on the show, a 40-foot-tall figure of the rock “n” roll idol was unveiled at the Paramount Theatre in Times Square to promote the upcoming release of his movie “Love Me Tender.”
Other notable October 28 happenings in pop culture history:
• 1950: “The Jack Benny Program” premiered on CBS, following his radio show that launched in 1932.
• 1963: The 100th episode of “The Andy Griffith Show” – in which Briscoe Darling kidnaps Andy”s Aunt Bee in an attempt to court her – aired on CBS.
• 1963: The Beach Boys” “Be True To Your School” single was released.
• 1974: Rhonda married Joe Gerard, eight episodes into “Rhonda,” the spin-off of “The Mary Tyler Moore Show.”
• 1997: Dave Matthews Band”s first live album, “Live at Red Rocks” was released. Recorded at an August 1995 show at the famous Colorado venue, the album featured songs from their most recent album, “Under the Table and Dreaming” and DMB”s cover of “All Along the Watchtower.”
Birthdays: “Pretty Woman” actress Julia Roberts (turns 48 today), country artist Brad Paisley (43), “Pretty Little Liars” actress Troian Bellisario (30), “Modern Family” actor Nolan Gould (17), Olympian and reality star Caitlyn Jenner (66), “A.N.T. Farm” actress Sierra McCormick (18), rapper Frank Ocean (28), “Walk the Line” actor Joaquin Phoenix (41), “Doctor Who” actor Matt Smith (33)