By Scott A. Grant
mail@floridanewsline.com
Elvis Presley’s concert at the Florida Theater in Jacksonville in August 1956 was embroiled in controversy before it even began. Elvis, whose hip-gyrations and pelvic thrusts earned him the nickname “Elvis the Pelvis,” was under attack nationally for corrupting the morals of America’s youth.
Judge Marion Gooding, under pressure from civic groups, was determined that the young people of Jacksonville would not be corrupted. Gooding summoned Elvis and Colonel Tom Parker to his chambers and informed them he was placing an injunction on Elvis’ hips. There would be no salacious displays at the Florida Theater. Gooding also told the emerging superstar that he would be in attendance at the show to make sure Elvis complied and if he didn’t, he was going to throw the singer in jail.
This was Elvis Presley’s third performance in Jacksonville in 18 months. At the end of his show at Wolfson Baseball Park on May 13, 1955, Elvis announced “Girls, I’ll see you backstage!” Hundreds took him seriously and poured out of the stands chasing the King and ripping off his shirt. The event is sometimes remembered as the first riot at a rock & roll show.
The night of the performance, Judge Gooding was in attendance with his two teenage daughters. Some say that he was just looking for free tickets. Elvis hid behind a piano for most of the show and did not wiggle his hips. The judge and his daughters enjoyed the show immensely and even laughed when Elvis dedicated the song “Hound Dog,” to Judge Gooding. By many accounts, Elvis and the judge remained friends for the rest of their lives.
At the Florida Theater show, Presley also performed the song “Heartbreak Hotel.” That song was written by Jacksonville native, Mae Boren Axton. Elvis was backed that night by the Blue Moon Boys, a trio featuring stand-up bass player Bill Black. The Bill Black Trio would return to Jacksonville on Sept. 11, 1964, as an opening act for The Beatles. Bill Black passed away a year later. Paul McCartney still owns Black’s stand-up bass.
Elvis would not return to Jacksonville again until 1972. He did two shows at the Coliseum and stayed at what is now the Hilton Hotel downtown. He stayed in Room 1010, which was exclusively reserved for his use and was known as the “Elvis Suite.” He stayed there all four times he performed in Jacksonville. The room had a big brass bed, blackout curtains, and was remembered as being “somewhat gaudy.”
Scott A. Grant is a local historian and author. By day he is a wealth manager at Standfast Asset Management. He welcomes your comments at scottg@standfastic.com
