This year marks the 70th anniversary of one of the most unforgettable moments in Jacksonville’s rock ’n’ roll history. On Aug. 10 and 11, 1956, a young Elvis Presley packed the Florida Theatrefor six sold-out shows and sparked a national sensation in the process.
Elvis’ hips were among his greatest assets, a weakness for his adoring fans — and, to puritans, a downright sin. In response to the social commotion, Jacksonville Juvenile Court Judge Marion Gooding had warned the young star not to gyrate or swivel his hips onstage, at least not within city limits, or risk arrest.
So Elvis came up with a cheeky workaround: instead of shaking his hips, he gave the crowd a suggestive little-finger wiggle, sending thousands of screaming fans into a frenzy
while keeping himself out of jail.
The unusual clash between a local judge, a young Elvis and his screaming teenage fans quickly made national news. Life magazine captured the moment, giving us a lasting look at Elvis, his fans and the frenzy surrounding his Jacksonville shows.
Seventy years later, here’s a look back at the images that captured the performance and the Elvis fever that swept through Jacksonville in August 1956.
See photos of Elvis Presley's performance at Jacksonville's Florida Theatre in 1956
Doris Alvarez is a Breaking and Trending Reporter for The Florida Times-Union. You can get all of Jacksonville’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday by signing up for the free Daily Briefing and News Alerts newsletters at jacksonville.com/newsletters
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: 70 years since Elvis’ provocative moves at Florida Theatre. See photos
