Elvis Presley Rocks the Newseum in Washington

02 April 2010 DOUG JOHNSON:Welcome to American Mosaic, in VOA Special English. I'm Doug Johnson. Today, we rediscover Elvis Presley at an exhibit in Washington, D.C. DOUG JOHNSON: As you can probably guess from its name, the Newseum in Washington, D.C. is a museum about news. It recently opened an exhibit about a famous performer. His special sound and bold moves changed the history of music and popular culture. The exhibit is called "Elvis! His Groundbreaking, Hip-Shaking, Newsmaking Story." It tells about Elvis Presley's influence on American culture. It shows newspaper articles, television recordings and personal objects belonging to the King himself. Barbara Klein tells us more. BARBARA KLEIN:Most people know that Elvis Presley was a popular singer and actor. But many young people today might not realize that Elvis represented a rebellious new form of popular culture. He first became famous in the mid nineteen fifties. At this time, music in America was mostly divided racially. Country music was for white people, while black people performed rhythm and blues music. Elvis changed this. He combined both influences to create a whole new kind of music -- rock and roll. And, the man could dance. He moved his hips in a way that drove crowds wild. Elvis came to represent energy, youth and freedom. The "Elvis!" exhibit at the Newseum explores the way the media represented Elvis and his career. And it tells about his lasting influence. The exhibit shows newspaper headlines about efforts to ban Elvis's rebellious music, even his hairstyle. Other newspapers tell about his daily activities, fan reactions and crowded performances. The exhibit also tells about the important role television played in making Elvis a star. REPORTER: "A phenomenon recalling Marilyn Monroe's sensational debut in show business, Mister Teenager is on his way to attaining a popularity unparalleled in theater history." The exhibit includes a movie about Elvis' life and the evolution of his representation by the media. There are also several objects from Elvis' personal life. You can see a large nineteen fifty-seven Harley Davidson motorcycle he once owned. There is a bottle of Champagne from Elvis' wedding to Priscilla Beaulieu, and clothing worn by his daughter Lisa Marie. And it is hard to miss the jeweled white jumpsuit that Elvis wore for his famous "Aloha from Hawaii" performance. An estimated one billion people in forty countries watched this program when it was broadcast on television in nineteen seventy-three. He died four years later at the age of forty-two. "Elvis! His Groundbreaking, Hip-Shaking, Newsmaking Story" marks the seventy-fifth anniversary of Elvis Presley's birth year. And, it shows that the popularity of the King of Rock and Roll lives on. DOUG JOHNSON:I'm Doug Johnson. Our program was written by and Dana Demange, Chris Cruise and Katherine Cole. Caty Weaver was the producer. Source: Voice of America