‘Welcome home (from the army) Elvis’

May 12 1960 Elvis Presley, 25, appears on the “Frank Sinatra Timex Special” on ABC, his first televised appearance after his military service in West Germany. Presley was already known as the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll when he was drafted into the US army. Sworn in on March 24 1958, he served as an ordinary soldier in West Germany from October 1. After being promoted to sergeant on January 20 1960, he left West Germany on March 2 and was discharged on March 5. On March 21 he recorded “Stuck on You” and “Fame and Fortune”, the two sides of his first post-army single, in Nashville, Tennessee. He boarded a train to Miami, Florida, where Sinatra’s fourth and final Timex-sponsored variety show was recorded live on March 26. The show, officially titled “It’s Nice to Go Traveling”, becomes known as “Welcome Home Elvis”. Presley walks onto the stage in his army uniform to sing “It’s Nice to Go Trav’ling” with Sinatra, Sammy Davis jnr, Joey

Bishop, Peter Lawford and Nancy Sinatra. He returns in a tuxedo to perform “Fame and Fortune” and “Stuck on You”, followed by a light-hearted medley in which Sinatra sings “Love Me Tender” and Presley “Witchcraft”. Viewing figures are high, with a 41.5% Trendex rating, about 67.7% of the overall television audience. The second-rated shows in the 9.30pm-10.30pm timeslot NBC’s “Ernie Ford Show” featuring Johnny Cash and “You Bet Your Life” starring Groucho Marx pull in an audience share of 21.1%.