1956: Elvis Presley’s very first movie, Love Me Tender, has its premiere at New York’s Paramount Theater.
The King’s part was originally very small, but was expanded as shooting continued to accommodate his growing popularity. Indeed, when the film opens, it is a 50-foot cutout of Elvis that is posted outside the theater.
[SPOILER ALERT]: In addition, test audiences were so upset when his character dies in the film, that additional footage of Presley singing the title tune over the closing credits are shot and inserted into the movie to placate his distraught fans.
