1956Newspaper Articles
CONCERT DATE: February 12, 1977 Hollywood, FL.
The Miami Herald
February 13, 1977
Elvis Croons - 14,700 Get All Shook Up
by Carl Hiaasen and Al Messerschmidt
HOLLYWOOD - Elvis Presley shook his hips, curled his lips and took 14,700 shrieking fans back through 22 years of rock 'n' roll history Saturday night at the Hollywood Sportatorium. Packed tightly into a white, sequined jump suit, the paunchy, 42-year-old Presley climbed on stage, slung a guitar over his shoulder and belted out "C.C. Ryder" as a galaxy of flashbulbs illuminated the huge auditorium and deafening screams overpowered the amplifiers. Moving with fewer of his legendary gyrations, Presley abandoned his guitar, tossed the strap to a wildly lunging crowd and told them, "You sure look like a great audience, Ladies and Gentlemen.". BUT AS FANS surged forward, screaming "Elvis, Elvis" waving banners and clutching Teddy Bears, some people were muscled out of their seats and dozens of fans stalked out the auditorium. After leaving, Mike Cossman of Sunrise fumed, "I haven't even seen the guy yet. He does not know how to put on a decent show." Others demanded their money back after being frustrated by surging fans who blocked their view and drowned out the music. Two wheelchair-bound fans from Fort Myers were asked by Broward sheriff's deputies to leave the frenzied Sportatorium for their own safety. A crying blonde, Kathy Herrmann of Miami Shores, had her thumb wrenched when another fan ripped away one of the autographed scarves that Elvis tossed to the crowd. Over the strains of "Jailhouse Rock" and 'Don't Be Cruel" fist-fights broke out near the stage as Elvis worshipers clambered over seats trying to get closer. Somewhere up front, where Elvis tossed the blue and white scarves to the ecstatic throng, was 15-year-old Vivian Hernandez who had waited three hours to be the first person inside the arena for Presley's first appearance in South Florida in seven years.
Courtesy of Juan Luis Gonzalez