Pin Up: When Elvis Presley Profited From Being Cancelled

Heartbreak Hotel was Elvis Presley's first million-selling record in and in 1956 it topped the Billboard charts for seven weeks and the Country and Western chart for seventeen, "The King" had arrived.

The classic blues single about a man committing suicide by jumping from a hotel window gave Elvis his first gold-record and spent a total of 27 weeks in the charts. His manager, "Colonel" Tom Parker, went about promoting America's next superstar in waiting.

He booked Elvis on the biggest TV shows and made him the highest-paid on-screen star, and Parker was ahead of the times with his marketing techniques.

What would now be called "diversifying your portfolio", think a musician bringing out a clothing label, a fragrance, or some headphones, Elvis agreed to become an actor. Although he was supposed to star in serious films, his shrewd manager saw the chance of cross-promoting Elvis' singles with his movies.

Parker also struck a $40,000 deal (around $430,000 today) with Hank Saperstein to turn Elvis into someone who didn't just promote brands but was the brand. There were 78 types of Elvis charm bracelets, and Elvis record players, by the end of 1956, they had made $22 million (just over $200 million today).

But, it wasn't all plain sailing for the duo, there was a backlash against Rock n' Roll with fears of corrupted youth and race-mixing causing panic in suburban America.

The art-form Elvis so skillfully co-opted was a black invention, American Blues with an electric guitar, bass and drums, combined with Elvis' perceived sexualised performances, didn't sit well with parents of 1950s teenagers.

Headlines such as "Daughter Wants to See Elvis? Kick Her in the Teeth!" by the Vancouver Sun and "Rage Over Elvis Presley Is a Bit Sickening" sneered Frances Melrose's article in the Rocky Mountain News.

In some sections of the US media, Elvis was cancelled, but of course, The Coronel wasn't about to miss out on the backlash of his hip-thrusting, heartthrob and decided to engage in "short selling."

He profited from the bad press Elvis was receiving, the mantra "all publicity is good publicity" didn't start with Elvis and Parker, but they reaped benefits by manufacturing and selling "I Hate Elvis" and "Elvis is a Jerk" badges and pins.

The pair profited directly from the hostility Elvis received and naturally, his target audience still adored him. You have to tip your hat to Parker; it was the 1950s equivalent of posting a deliberately controversial, attention-seeking update on social media and being paid for the "hate-clicks" fifty years before anyone knew what they were.

When the 1960s rolled around, Elvis was drafted into the army alongside the people who were buying his records. Upon his return to the mainstream world, things had skipped a beat somewhat, Dylan had gone electric, and a new wave of British bands set the tone for the remainder of the decade.

It was after Elvis' death in August 1977 the waters became murky, it was rumoured that Parker was aloof during the time and was more focused on tying up the finances, and even getting Elvis' parents to sign over the rights to his work during the funeral.

There were disagreements and court cases between Parker and the Presley estate in the 80s, but relations thawed when Parker was invited to the United States Postal Services unveiling of an Elvis stamp in 1993 and events in Memphis hosted by the family.

Parker died of a stoke in Las Vegas, Nevada in 1997 aged 87, his funeral was held at the Hilton Hotel and was attended by Priscilla Presley.