AP Television
Washington, DC - March 18, 2010
1. Tilt down shot of neon ''Elvis'' sign to workers finishing exhibit
2. Wide screen in auditorium, showing film of Elvis performing
3. Close-up newspaper headlines
4. Close-up Presley photograph
5. SOUNDBITE: (English) Ken Paulson, President, Newseum:
"You know, it is hard to imagine in an era of Lady Gaga, but this man stood on stage, shook his hips and startled America. "
6. Tilt up shot of jumpsuit from Presley''s 1973 Aloha from Hawaii TV concert
7. Various workers putting up photographs
8. Close-up record
9. Mid shot, Elvis performing
10. SOUNDBITE: (English) Ken Paulson, President, Newseum:
"The press coverage was highly critical. They talked about his threat to the morals of this country and how if this were not stopped young people would be subjected to all kinds of immoral thoughts and sexual thoughts."
11. Push in to newspaper headlines
12. SOUNDBITE: (English) Ken Paulson, President, Newseum:
"Now, the interesting thing about that is that until then he was a regional performer, he had been a truck driver, he was popular in maybe 3 of the 50 states and then suddenly overnight, you tell America this man is too dirty to be on stage, suddenly everyone looks and pays attention. The press may have turned him into the King of Rock and Roll."
Video exhibit, June 9, 1972
13. Mid shot of news conference Presley is giving in Madison Square Garden, in New York
AP Television
Washington, DC - March 18, 2010
14. SOUNDBITE: (English) Ken Paulson, President, Newseum:
"We''ve got a lot of rare archival photos of him sparring with the press and press conferences. They often asked Elvis''s personal feelings on political issues and he steered clear of it - which set him apart from his contemporaries like The Beatles. Elvis wanted to make music, he didn''t necessarily want to make headlines and he certainly didn''t want to make controversy, as ironic as that is from a man who was very controversial when he came on the scene."
15. Images from the exhibit of Presley shaking hands with President Richard Nixon
16. SOUNDBITE: (English) Ken Paulson, President, Newseum:
"Apparently, if you are the king of Rock and Roll you can get into the Oval Office on short notice. And that is what happened that day, there was actually Elvis fans inside the White House who made it happen. Elvis walked in, met Nixon and offered his services to help fight the war on drugs. Which obviously has more than a little bit of irony to it."
17. Various photograph of Nixon and Presley, FBI badge Presley requested
18. Close-up cufflinks Nixon gave Presley
19. Wide shot, Presley''s 1957 Harley Davidson Hydra Glide
20. Mid shot display
21. Mid shot people looking at display of when Lisa Marie Presley was born
22. Push into baby outfit
23. Footprints from ''Girl Presley'' that have never been displayed before
24. Various champagne bottle signed by Priscilla Presley
25. SOUNDBITE: (English) Diane Lewis, from Hattiesburg, Mississippi:
"Well, a couple of the items I''d never, that''s never been on display, the champagne bottle with Priscilla''s original signature, I liked the fact the ring receipt - that was all interesting to see, the cost, and of course there is several items here - even though I have been to Graceland, there are several items that are interesting."
25. Walking shot of Paulson in front of movie screen
26. SOUNDBITE: (English) Ken Paulson, President, Newseum:
"When Presley died in 1977 a photograph was taken of him in his casket at the morgue, I think it was about 17,000 dollars the National Enquirer paid for that photograph and it became their biggest selling issue to date. But you know, you talk about celebrity journalism and having no shame, we see a lot of it today, it really began in the Elvis 70s era and he was the victim of it."
27. Mid shot, National Enquirer newspaper front page showing the photograph of Elvis in casket
28. Mid shot, Elvis neon sign and poster
LEADIN
The hip-swinging, generation-defining career of Elvis Presley is the subject of a new exhibition in the US.
On show are rare possessions from the Presley estate, including his daughter''s footprints and a signed champagne bottle.
In what would have been Elvis Aaron Presley''s 75th birthday year, the Newseum in Washington D.C. is retelling the story of the music sensation as he was portrayed in the news media.
The exhibit examines how Presley''s music and physicality pushed the boundaries of U.S. mainstream taste and free expression.
Ken Paulson, Newseum''s President, says the young performer was controversial as soon as he landed on stage.
"You know, it is hard to imagine in an era of Lady Gaga, but this man stood on stage, shook his hips and startled America. "
Paulson says the exhibit traces Presley''s rise to prominence from a regional star to a global icon, who combined traditionally black rhythm and blues with white country music and a swivel of his hips, bringing teenage girls screaming to his concerts.
"Press coverage was highly critical, they talked about his threat to the morals of this country and how if this were not stopped young people would be subjected to all kinds of immoral thoughts and sexual thoughts." says Paulson.
It seems the negative press helped turn Presley into the "King of Rock and Roll".
The exhibit also shows rarely seen photographs and film footage of news conferences.
At a 1972 news conference in Madison Square Gardens, just before performing in four sell-out concerts, Presley avoids answering a reporters question about the Vietnam War draft.
"They (reporters) often asked Elvis''s personal feelings on political issues and he steered clear of it - which set him apart from his contemporaries like The Beatles," Paulson says.
There is also memorabilia from Presley''s notorious visit to the White House during President Richard Nixon''s tenure.
Without an appointment, Presley drove up to the White House gates and asked to see the president.
Within hours he was in the Oval Office offering his help in an anti-drug campaign and asking for a Federal badge to inspire him.
Not only does the exhibit show a photograph of the encounter, it also displays the badge and a pair of cufflinks Nixon presented to Presley.
Designed in conjunction with Elvis Presley Enterprises, the exhibit includes a number of rare objects from the vaults of Graceland that have never been publicly displayed.
The private memorabilia on display for the first time includes the footprints of ''Girl Presley'' as Lisa Marie Presley was known at birth, as well as a champagne bottle signed by the newly weds from the Aladdin Hotel - a gift for Presley''s parents.
Ardent Presley fan, Diane Lewis from Mississippi, delayed her return home by a day to get a sneak peak as workers raced against the clock to finish the displays in time for the opening.
Although she''s visited Graceland, Presley''s home, Lewis enjoyed seeing some of the personal artifacts for the first time.
Even Presley''s death foreshadowed a new era in tabloid news standards, Paulson believes.
"When Presley died in 1977 a photograph was taken of him in his casket at the morgue, I think it was about 17,000 dollars the National Enquirer paid for that photograph and it became their biggest selling issues to date. But you know, you talk about celebrity journalism and having no shame, we see a lot of it today, it really became in the Elvis 70s era and he was the victim of it."
The exhibit runs through to February 14, 2011.
