The Pied Piper of Cleveland Was the Title of a Film Produced in November 1955 Documenting the Career of Disc Jockey Bill Randle
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The Pied Piper of Cleveland was the title of a film produced in November 1955 documenting the career of disc jockey Bill Randle. The full title of the film is The Pied Piper of Cleveland: A Day in the Life of a Famous Disc Jockey. Arthur Cohen, directed, and Bill Randle produced. The film showcases live performances of Elvis Presley, Bill Haley, Pat Boone, LaVern Baker, Roy Hamilton, Johnnie Ray and others. The original forty‐eight minute film was supposed to be cut down to a twenty minute "short" for national distribution, but has never made it that far. There is some dispute over whether or not this film actually exists, as it was only shown publicly once. Randle has repeatedly asserted that the film does indeed exist. Due to problems over legal ownership, the film has not been officially released, and remains 'misplaced' to this day. It is reported that Universal Studios has the negatives of the film in its vaults. This film is the first on‐screen appearance of Elvis Presley. Weekend Edition ‐ Saturday, October 29, 2005 ∙ 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. 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. From left: WERE radio personalities Bill Randle and Tommy Edwards, Elvis Presley and bass player Bill Black at the Brooklyn High performance. BROOKLYN ‐‐ DJ Alan Freed may have started rock and roll music in Cleveland but 50 years ago this week it was another influential Cleveland disc jockey who changed everything when he decided Elvis Presley was something more than just a country singer. In 1955, young Elvis Presley was a hillbilly novelty act; opening shows for Johnny Cash and Slim Whitman. Cleveland was the first northern city to see Elvis, booked on country shows at the Circle Theater by DJ Tommy Edwards. "Tommy did a lot of country shows and, as you know, Elvis started as a hillbilly act," Chuck Rambaldo with Tommy Edwards Records says. And he might have stayed just a hillbilly act if he had not crossed paths with Cleveland's star‐making disc jockey Bill Randle who would introduce Elvis to the nation on network television. Three months before the nation first saw Elvis, Brooklyn teenagers would see him at their new auditorium as Randle made his movie. "I remember the trucks, movie trucks outside on the circle there, [with] lighting. Cameras," Paul Smith of the class of ' 57 says. Those 1955 teenagers were excited that the top recording stars of the day were coming to their school. "I loved Pat Boone, probably most impressed with Bill Haley and the Comets," Pat Smith of the class of ' 50 says. But no one had ever heard of Elvis Presley. The high school guys that day thought he looked weird in his red‐orange sports coat. Pat Boone thought he looked like a grease monkey. But when the girls walked home from school later that day. "The girls were saying 'Wow, wasn't he something, wasn't he cute," Joyce Harrison of the class of ' 59 says. "And I think that really started it." Joyce still has the snapshot she took of Elvis that day, folded over from caring it in her wallet. The movie of what would become rock's "big bang" is lost. Randle died last year. His daughter says she's found no trace of it. Saturday night at the Brooklyn High auditorium they'll have a 50‐year reunion concert to mark the anniversary, with Bill Haley's Comets, The Four Lads and others. .