April 6th in Elvis History

It's April 6, and on this day in 1956, Elvis made a monumental leap in his career by signing a three-picture deal with Paramount Pictures. In a press conference with producer Hal Wallis, Elvis’s future in film was solidified, though not without a twist. Wallis had originally proposed a seven-year contract with a starting salary of \$15,000 per film. However, Colonel Parker intervened, negotiating a deal that kept Elvis a free agent while committing him to just three films over the next seven years. The salary for these films would escalate dramatically—from \$100,000 for the first, to \$150,000 for the second, and \$200,000 for the third.

Just after signing, Elvis was immediately "loaned" to Twentieth Century Fox, marking the beginning of his film career with *Love Me Tender*. This agreement brought Wallis nearly \$100,000 in return, solidifying Elvis’s place in both Hollywood and the music world. This was a pivotal moment that launched Elvis from music stardom into the realm of silver screen royalty.