It's December sixteenth, and on this day in 1957… Elvis Presley purchased a Santa sleigh and eight reindeer decorations for \$300 from the Bain Sign Company in Memphis. The festive display was placed on the front lawn of Graceland and has become a beloved holiday tradition, continuing to light up the grounds every Christmas season since. It’s one of the earliest public glimpses into Elvis’s deep love of Christmas—and his flair for going all in when it came to celebration.

It's December fifteenth, and on this day in 1956… Elvis Presley arrived in Shreveport, Louisiana, at 5:00 a.m. and checked into the Captain Shreve Hotel. That evening, he performed at the Louisiana Hayride at the Hirsch Youth Center. In the audience was director Hal Kanter, who was so inspired by Elvis’s onstage charisma that he made revisions to the screenplay of Elvis’s upcoming film. It was a moment where Elvis’s raw live presence directly influenced the shape of his Hollywood image.

It's December fourteenth, and on this day in 1954… Elvis Presley made his debut performance in Gladewater, Texas, at the Mint Club. The show was organized by local DJ Tom Perryman, who became a key early supporter of Elvis’s budding career. This appearance helped establish Presley’s presence in East Texas, setting the stage for a string of performances across the region in the year to come.

It's December thirteenth, and on this day in 1973… Elvis Presley recorded three master tracks at Stax Studios in Memphis, including the deeply emotional ballad *Loving Arms*. The session showcased a more introspective side of Elvis, as he channeled his personal struggles into powerful vocal performances. It was a standout moment from his final major studio sessions, capturing both the vulnerability and soul that defined his later work.

It's December twelfth, and on this day in 1976… Elvis Presley performed his final concert at the Las Vegas Hilton. After the show, he returned to his dressing room and broke down in tears, confiding in televangelist Rex Humbard that he felt an overwhelming sense of emptiness. Humbard prayed with Elvis as he wept. The moment revealed a rarely seen vulnerability behind the glittering stage persona—a man searching for meaning even as the curtain closed on one of his most iconic venues.

It's December eleventh, and on this day in 1956… Elvis Presley ran out of gas in his brand-new Cadillac Seville and was quickly mobbed by fans. That same day, Louisiana Governor Earl K. Long awarded Elvis the honorary title of Louisiana Colonel—the same symbolic rank held by his manager, Colonel Tom Parker. It was a moment that blended Presley’s growing national fame with Southern recognition, cementing his rising status not just as a performer, but as a cultural figure of honor in the region that launched his career.

It's December tenth, and on this day in 1973… Elvis Presley returned to Stax Studios in Memphis for a weeklong recording session. To avoid the technical issues that had plagued earlier efforts, RCA brought in its mobile recording truck and a team of four engineers. The session began at 9:00 p.m. and ran until 4:30 in the morning, yielding two completed masters. It marked a determined effort by Elvis and his team to regain creative control and produce polished tracks under better conditions.

It's December ninth, and on this day in 1955… Elvis Presley performed twice in Swifton, Arkansas. First, he appeared at the local high school alongside Johnny Cash, and later that night, he took the stage at the B\&I Club. During that evening performance, Elvis introduced a brand-new song to the crowd—*Heartbreak Hotel*—and boldly declared, “It’s gonna be my first hit.” Just weeks later, the song would launch him into superstardom.