Elvis at 21, new york to memphis by alfred wertheimer. This edition comes in a clamshell box, with more pictures than the standard edition, signed pictures and contact sheets. Alfred wertheimer, a young new york photojournalist, was asked by elviss new label, rca victor, to photograph their new artist. The presentation of this exhibition at telfair museums coincides with the 60th anniversary of elviss first concert in savannah, which was held on june 25, 1956. With unimpeded access to the young performer, wertheimer was able to. New york to memphis by wertheimer, alfred abebooks. Elvis shows a lot of emotion in the photographs and they are inspiring. Sep 3, 20 the smithsonian traveling exhibition, elvis at 21, photographs by alfred wertheimer has been all over the country. These wertheimer classic images represent the only candid photos of elvis ever taken. Al wertheimer tells norman reedus and mark seliger about how he got his start as a photographer when rcas ann fulchino introduced him to elvis. How photographer alfred wertheimer captured elvis presley.
New york to memphis by alfred wertheimer goodreads. Elvis both famous pictures and some that have never before been published. Elvis presley lives on and on in the photographs of wertheimer, who captured the budding king of rock and roll in 1956 with close to 3,000 images, taken over a period of a week in which he stayed in close proximity to presley, traveling to new york, on the steve allen show, on a train to memphis, in richmond for a concert. Alfred wertheimer, a photographer who for a few fleeting days in 1956 captured strikingly intimate images of a 21yearold elvis presley just as he was becoming a rock n roll sensation. Elvis will never be photographed or documented in such a manner in his life time.
A cover of the collectors edition of the book elvis and the birth of rock and roll. In the introduction to elvis at 21, the book i had the pleasure of editing of alfred wertheimers photographs from 1956, i wrote that, it is hard to describe the magnitude of elvis impact at that time, but whatever it was and however you measured it, elvis and his music were wonderful. New york to memphis limited edition shown opposite, the latest photojournal from wertheimer is the standout book of its type in 2006 and one of the best elvis book releases in many years. The photographer alfred wertheimer passed away on oct. Wertheimers photographs of elvis are extraordinary and he appears almost ethereal, whether reading a newspaper while waiting for a cab, or washing his hands during one of his many train trips. Elvis and the birth of rock and roll image 8 the king of rock n roll is born. This book was a huge seller back in 1979 when al wertheimer published it. Alfred wertheimer chose to capture a 21yearold elvis presley on the threshold of super stardom not because he was a fan, but because he was a student of human nature, because he was curious and because, like elvis, he could be swept up by the purity of experience.
Alfred wertheimer was born in germany in 1930, in the spring of 1956, a series of commercial assignments for rca records led to a shoot of a newly signed singer named. Alfred wertheimer, early photographer of elvis presley. Elvis at 21 limited edition book by alfred wertheimer. Limited to 1,956 numbered copies and signed by alfred wertheimer. There were pictures of elvis performing on stage and on. After 1958 and elvis induction into the army, the world seemingly forgot about wertheimers magical photographs for nineteen years until aug 16, 1977. It was elvis presley, a name the 26yearold wertheimer did not recognize when he trekked down to new york citys studio 50 later to be named the ed sullivan theater to photograph presleys appearance on tommy dorsey and jimmy dorseys stage show. Elvis presley at 21 wertheimer limited edition book. New york to memphis insight editions, 2006, and elvis 1956. In 1956, photojournalist alfred wertheimer was hired by rca victor to shoot promotional images of a recently signed 21yearold recording artist presley, and his instincts to tag along with the artist after the assignment resulted in 56 striking images that provide an intimate look at elvis before he exploded onto the scene and became one of the most exciting performers of all time. They are a unique visual record of the most exciting and influential performer of our time.
Elvis at 21 is a collection of photographs by alfred wertheimer, who happened to be in the right place at the right time. In 1956, a twentyone year old elvis presley was at the beginning of his remarkable and unparalleled career and photographer alfred wertheimer was asked by presley new recording label, rca victor, to photograph the rising star. His work has appeared in publications including life, paris match and rolling stone. Alfred wertheimers photographs of elvis presley are a national treasure. Wertheimeralfred, a new york photographer whose photographs of a 21yearold elvis presley in 1956 are widely considered to be the definitive. Wertheimers photographs are collectively an artifact of our cultural history. New york to memphis limited edition shown opposite, the latest photojournal from wertheimer is the standout book of. Here is the deluxe edition of the elvis at 21 book from alfred wertheimer.
Alfred wertheimer, famous for photos of elvis presley. Shortly after, the colonel restricted access to the young singer. With amazing unimpeded access to the young performer, wertheimer was able to capture the unguarded and everyday moments in elvis life during that crucial year, one. In 1956, a twentyoneyearold elvis presley was at the beginning of his. Wertheimers photographs of elvis are extraordinary and he appears almost ethereal, whether reading a newspaper while waiting for a cab, or. Photographs by alfred wertheimer welcome books, 2009. In 1956, freelance photographer alfred wertheimer was assigned to photograph a 21yearold singer that rca was promoting. Photos of a king in the making a new collection of photos by al wertheimer captures that moment in time when a young man from tupelo. It is one of the very few art books ive bought that i didnt balk at the retail price. Now available as a standard taschen edition, this collection brings together over 300 photographs of elvis.
I see i never posted a picture of the book, so here it is. He had been in declining health since a bad fall several months ago during a trip to germany for an elvis festival, said his book editor and. Alfred wertheimer obituary new york, ny new york times. Elvis and the birth of rock and roll image 1 alfred wertheimer.
T721 elvis at 21 photographs by alfred wertheimer asset type. In 1956, a twentyoneyearold elvis presley was at the beginning of his remarkable and unparalleled career and photographer alfred wertheimer was asked by presleys new label, rca victor, to photograph the rising. Finally, a book which does proper justice to the exquisite photographic images of the young king of rock n roll captured by alfred wertheimer in 1956. Fiftysix of werthheimers photos from this period are on display as part of a smithsonian institution traveling exhibition, elvis at 21. It was the year elvis released his first record, made his first tv appearance, and more and it offers a definitive visual portrait unavailable elsewhere. Elvis presley as youve never seen him before photo 6. New york to memphis and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Wertheimer said, at the end of this long narrow hallway was a small. If youre an elvis fan or know someone who is, elvis at 21 is definitely gift material. It is limited to 1500 copies and was released october 10, 2006 isbn. For a new generation of elvis fans, the book provides an inexpensive edition of. Perhaps you do not know the story of how he took over 3,000 photos of elvis in 1956. Elvis at 21 limited edition by alfred wertheimer in 1956, a twentyoneyearold elvis presley was at the beginning of his remarkable and unparalleled career.
From backstage to onstage, from piano benches to harleys, from ontheroad to screaming fans, elvis at 21 presents forty largeformat photographs that chronicle with cinematic luminosity, a. At one point during his shoot, wertheimer lost his subject. In 1956, a twentyoneyearold singer named elvis presley was at the beginning of his remarkable career. Alfred wertheimers stunning photographs, collected in this book for the first time, show elvis in 1956, at the turning point of his career.
The book is filled with images wertheimer captured on one of his first assignments as a photographer, for rca. Extraordinary in its intimacy and scope, alfred wertheimers elvis presley portfolio immortalized the singer on the brink of superstardom. This is basically a book of photographs, so there isnt a lot to say about it. Wertheimers photographs chronicle elviss dazzling emergence. In 1956, photojournalist alfred wertheimer was hired by rca victor to shoot. Wertheimers recollections of elvis, before he was elvis. What we have here are images of the man who fell to earth.
Elvis at 21 limited edition book by alfred wertheimer official. In fact it is easily the best designed and visually stimulating collection of the famous wertheimer elvis photos yet produced. Wertheimer was 26 when he was assigned to photograph the unknown 21yearold singer. Wertheimer snapped more than 2,000 images on his 10day assignment, and 56 are now on view in elvis at 21, a traveling exhibition that just opened at the national portrait gallery see a. Elvis at 21 alfred wertheimer exhibition 20 an ein. Elvis 1956 offers black and white photos by alfred wertheimer taken during the year elvis turned 21, and offer a fine visual record of a defining time for rock and roll. Alfred wertheimer is a new yorkbased photographer, best known for his photographs of elvis taken in 1956.
Wertheimer, 84, died sunday at his home in new york. Elvis presley was just 21 years old in 1956 and on the brink of stardom when alfred wertheimer was asked to follow the artist around and. Elvis at 21 alfred wertheimer photographer 1956 youtube. Elvis presley as youve never seen him before photo 5. These are the last images of elvis before his life was changed forever by television, gold records, and films. After 1958 and elvis induction into the army, the world seemingly forgot about wertheimers magical photographs for nineteen years until aug 16. At the time these photos were taken, he was a young 21yearold man, who had no idea of the fame that lay in front of him. He traveled with elvis from new york to memphis by train and produced a. Photographs by alfred wertheimer includes approximately 40 photographs printed from the original 1956 negatives under the supervision of the photographer. Wertheimer did a good job with compositions and tried to get as close to elvis as possible. Love this photobook, great images of young elvis made by alfred wertheimer.
Elvis at 21 is a photographic exhibition capturing elvis rise to fame in the year 1956, before security and money built walls between him and his fans. As sun records proprietor sam phillips said of the kind of music elvis was making, this is where. See more ideas about elvis presley, young elvis and elvis presley photos. Love this photo book, great images of young elvis made by alfred wertheimer.