Elvis Presley was provocative, appealing, and too much for Ed Sullivan to handle. Ed Sullivan, the host of The Ed Sullivan Show, originally was against booking Presley as a guest until Presley’s guest appearance on Steve Allen Show boosted its ratings.
On this day, September 9th, in 1956, Elvis Presley gyrated his hips as he sang his hit single “Hound Dog” on stage at The Ed Sullivan Show. His aggressive dance moves were so controversial and seductive that his performance was questioned whether it was appropriate for the air. Nonetheless, his enticing dance moves caught the attention of over 60 million viewers giving The Ed Sullivan Show its best ratings.
Booking Elvis Presley at $50,000 for three shows could not have been a better investment for Ed Sullivan. Since September 9th, the show’s rating increased and became a major success.