1956: Elvis makes his first TV appearance
A young singer named Elvis Presley made his first television appearance on this day in 1956.  Presley, who would later be dubbed the King of Rock 'n' Roll, sang "Heartbreak Hotel" on the TV musical-variety program, Stage Show.  The song became an instant hit.  Elvis would appear on Ed Sullivan's Toast of the Town later that year, catapulting Elvis to a hip-shaking cultural phenomenon.