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Early Elvis Concert Lives, But Where? Fifty years ago this month, a high school in suburban Cleveland hosted an early concert by Elvis Presley. A crew recorded the event, but the film later disappeared. As David C. Barnett of member station WCPN reports, the missing footage is a sort of holy grail for Elvis fans.

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Early Elvis Concert Lives, But Where?

David C. Barnett

Early Elvis Concert Lives, But Where?

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From left: WERE radio personalities Bill Randle and Tommy Edwards, Elvis Presley and bass player Bill Black at the Brooklyn High performance. Chris Kennedy hide caption

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Chris Kennedy

From left: WERE radio personalities Bill Randle and Tommy Edwards, Elvis Presley and bass player Bill Black at the Brooklyn High performance.

Chris Kennedy

Fifty years ago this month, a high school in suburban Cleveland played host to an early concert appearance by Elvis Presley. Cleveland disc jockey Bill Randle regularly used his influence to stage afternoon music assemblies at local high schools, and Elvis' Oct. 20, 1955 performance at Brooklyn High School was captured as part of a documentary about Randle.

Not Everyone Was a Fan

Deejay Bill Randle talks to David Barnett in 1993.

Music Industry's Early Reaction to Elvis

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But, soon after that, the film disappeared and ever since, the missing footage has become the holy grail of Elvis fans. New Jersey musician Chris Kennedy grew up in a family of Elvis fans, and has made it his mission to find the footage. From member station WCPN, David C. Barnett reports.

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