First Arrival, Elvis sings a gospel song waiting for Steve Allen and his entourage to arrive for the Steve Allen Show rehearsal, New York

June 29th, 1956

Gelatin silver print

Al Wertheimer was an up-and-coming photographer who very early saw something special in Elvis Presley — the “Hillbilly Cat” from Mississippi. He traveled with him during 1956, capturing wonderful and intimate moments as Elvis hovered on the cusp of celebrity. The Wertheimer collection represents the only candid photos of Elvis—taken before the Colonel restricted access to the young singer. From backstage to onstage, from piano benches to Harleys, from his personal life on-the-the road to the public uproar of screaming fans, Wertheimer captures the essence of early Elvis.