May 10: Rehearsing for the Jailhouse

It's May 10th, and on May 10, 1957, Elvis Presley was busy rehearsing a barroom fight scene for his third film, Jailhouse Rock. In the scene, his character Vince Everett throws a punch defending a barmaid, accidentally kills a man, and winds up in prison.It was a turning point in Elvis’s acting career. He’d already played the sweet younger brother in Love Me Tender and a rising singer in Loving You, but Jailhouse Rock was grittier. More edge, more attitude, and a lot more incarceration!Not everyone was thrilled. The Los Angeles Times wrung their hands over Elvis's new “bad boy” image, worried that mixing rock ’n’ roll with crime might corrupt America’s youth. As if his hip swinging hadn't corrupted 'em enough already!