Skip to main content

The Gallery will be open until 9pm this Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Menu
What's on Prizes The Portraits Watch
The Gallery Governance & Board Circle of Friends
Learn Access Search the website
close close
What's on The Portraits The Gallery Learn Watch More O

The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders both past and present.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that this website contains images of deceased persons.

Elvis At 21

Photographs by Alfred Wertheimer

Elvis at 21 is a photographic exhibition capturing Elvis’ rise to fame in the year 1956, before security and money built walls between him and his fans.

More information on Elvis At 21

Selected images

15 images
hide captions
On train from New York to Memphis, July 4, 1956 by Alfred Wertheimer
On train from New York to Memphis, July 4, 1956 by Alfred Wertheimer
With former high school sweetheart, July 4, 1956 by Alfred Wertheimer
With former high school sweetheart, July 4, 1956 by Alfred Wertheimer
A little girl breaks, July 1, 1956 by Alfred Wertheimer
A little girl breaks, July 1, 1956 by Alfred Wertheimer
Alone, outside The Warwick Hotel, New York City. March, 17, 1956 by Alfred Wertheimer
Alone, outside The Warwick Hotel, New York City. March, 17, 1956 by Alfred Wertheimer
Backstage, The Mosque, Richmond, June 30, 1956 by Alfred Wertheimer
Backstage, The Mosque, Richmond, June 30, 1956 by Alfred Wertheimer
Elvis at Stage Door, CBS Studio 50, New York City. March 17, 1956 by Alfred Wertheimer
Elvis at Stage Door, CBS Studio 50, New York City.
March 17, 1956 by Alfred Wertheimer
Fan frenzy, July 1, 1956 by Alfred Wertheimer
Fan frenzy, July 1, 1956 by Alfred Wertheimer
Onstage, The Mosque, Richmond, June 30, 1956 by Alfred Wertheimer
Onstage, The Mosque, Richmond, June 30, 1956 by Alfred Wertheimer
Reading fan letters, New York City. March, 17, 1956 by Alfred Wertheimer
Reading fan letters, New York City. March, 17, 1956 by Alfred Wertheimer
Reviewing Playback, July 2, 1956 by Alfred Wertheimer
Reviewing Playback, July 2, 1956 by Alfred Wertheimer
"Separate but equal", July 4, 1956 by Alfred Wertheimer
"Separate but equal", July 4, 1956 by Alfred Wertheimer
Starburst, July 4, 1956 by Alfred Wertheimer
Starburst, July 4, 1956 by Alfred Wertheimer
The Steve Allen Show, July 1, 1956 by Alfred Wertheimer
The Steve Allen Show, July 1, 1956 by Alfred Wertheimer
The Kiss, June 30, 1956 by Alfred Wertheimer
The Kiss, June 30, 1956 by Alfred Wertheimer
Washroom, No Towels, July 4, 1956 by Alfred Wertheimer
Washroom, No Towels, July 4, 1956 by Alfred Wertheimer
15 images
hide captions

Related information

Elvis at 21 learning resource

Learning resource archive

Complementing our 2013 exhibition Elvis at 21, this resource has connections with the Australian Curriculum and is designed primarily for Year 10 teachers of English, History, Music and Visual Arts.
On train from New York to Memphis, July 4, 1956 by Alfred Wertheimer
On train from New York to Memphis, July 4, 1956 by Alfred Wertheimer
On train from New York to Memphis, July 4, 1956 by Alfred Wertheimer
On train from New York to Memphis, July 4, 1956 by Alfred Wertheimer

Elvis at 21 media information

25 October 2013

Archived media releases 2013

Press releases and images downloads for media.
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance

The Gallery

Visit us, learn with us, support us or work with us! Here’s a range of information about planning your visit, our history and more!
Home Contact Media Privacy statement User agreement Social media and community guidelines
© National Portrait Gallery 2025
King Edward Terrace, Parkes
Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia
Phone +61 2 6102 7000
ABN: 54 74 277 1196

The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders past and present. We respectfully advise that this site includes works by, images of, names of, voices of and references to deceased people.

This website comprises and contains copyrighted materials and works. Copyright in all materials and/or works comprising or contained within this website remains with the National Portrait Gallery and other copyright owners as specified.

The National Portrait Gallery respects the artistic and intellectual property rights of others. The use of images of works of art reproduced on this website and all other content may be restricted under the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). Requests for a reproduction of a work of art or other content can be made through a Reproduction request. For further information please contact NPG Copyright.

The National Portrait Gallery is an Australian Government Agency