Rockin' Elvis Statue, and Others

Shreveport, Louisiana

In October 1954 Elvis Presley performed on stage at the Shreveport Municipal Memorial Auditorium for the Louisiana Hayride radio program. It was considered to be his first big break.

Fifty years later, a statue of Elvis was unveiled on the auditorium's front steps to commemorate this historic moment. A young bronze Elvis stands atop a pink granite pedestal, guitar slung around his neck, one hand grabbing a floor microphone, frozen in mid-Elvis-the-pelvis thrust. A plaque bolted to the pedestal explains the Elvis connection, and includes a photo of girls in the audience, screaming -- in case future generations have any doubt.

Next to Elvis is a statue of less-well-known (but hometown) guitarist James Burton, and down the block is a bronze likeness of early folk/blues singer and musician Huddie "Lead Belly" Ledbetter.