Rarely Seen Vintage Photos of Elvis Presley

For Elvis Presley, childhood and adolescence were difficult and often involved working to help the family with finances. He picked up music early from local gospel groups and picked up the guitar when he was only 11 years old.

These shots of The King haven’t been seen by many – so check them out!

Elvis in the army

Elvis Presley is seen wearing his Army uniform at Company “D” 1st Battalion 32nd Armor, barracks area, Friedberg, West Germany.

Interview with The King

“In 1957, my husband, Norm, was a disc jockey at CKDA, a radio station in Victoria, British Columbia,” says Elsie Pringle. “Before he was inducted into the Army, Elvis Presley scheduled one last show in Vancouver. The big night arrived, and I was fortunate enotugh to get backstage as Norm interviewed ‘The King.’”

The boy next door

“My husband and I were moved to Memphis, Tennessee, in 1955. The following year, my sister, Beverly, or Bunny as we called her, came to stay with us after the birth of our first child,” says Lorraine O’Brien. “We learned that Elvis and his parents lived only three blocks from our apartment. When she was done helping me with the baby, Bunny would ride her bike over to Elvis’ house. Gladys Presley was a true southern woman and she always invited my sister in for a soda. Within a year, Elvis bought Graceland and moved out of the neighborhood.”

All shook up

Betty Vickers snapped a photo of Elvis signing autographs after his show at the Polk Theatre in Lakeland, Florida, in 1956. She and her husband, Vic, bought the tickets for $1.50 each.

Love Me Tender

“In 1956, I got the chance to spend a few days with Elvis Presley while he was making his first movie, Love Me Tender, with Debra Paget. I was a reporter then, and my assignment was to interview with rock n’ roll sensation,” says Jules Archer.

Aloha From Hawaii

Elvis Presley’s charity concert, Aloha From Hawaii Via Satellite, was screened in more than 40 countries to an audience of hundreds of millions on Jan. 14, 1973.

Elvis’ first guitar

Gladys Presley helped her son, Elvis, buy a guitar in Tupelo, Mississippi, when he turned 11.

Burning Love

Joanne Beers shared this snapshot of a memorable encounter with the rock n’ roll legend.

Can’t Help Falling in Love

Teens like Marilyn Walter worshiped Elvis Presley when he changed the music scene over 60 years ago.