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April 4, 2024 7:00 am  #1


The Radio Show That Created The Phrase "Elvis Has Left The Building"

Everyone here has probably heard of The Grand Ol' Opry, which has been on WSM Nashville longer than most of us have been alive.

But what about The Louisiana Hayride? It's was an Opry competitor that originated on a station called KWKH in Shreveport, Louisiana and while it didn't last as long, it was almost equally important. The stars who made their first impressions on the show include such legendary names as Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, Kitty Wells, Johnny Horton and a very young 19-year-old Elvis Presley. 

In fact, it was on that show where a famous cliche originated that's still with us today.  

"On December 15, 1958, Presley performed on the show for the last time. After he left the stage, the crowd went wild, hoping the 19-year-old singer would come back for an encore. The show’s emcee announced, “All right, all right, Elvis has left the building. …He left the stage and went out the back with the policemen,” hoping to calm the crowd."

A lost bit of radio history celebrating an anniversary this month.

The Louisiana Hayride, the Radio Show That Launched Hank Williams & Elvis Presley, Made Their Broadcast Debut This Month In 1948