Classic Pop Icons

Alfred Wertheimer, the photographer responsible for some of the most memorable images ever taken of the young Elvis Presley, has died of natural causes at his New York apartment.

Wertheimer was born in Germany in 1929 and emigrated to Brooklyn as a young boy. He graduated Cooper Union in 1951 and, after serving as an Army Signal Corp photographer, began working as a freelance photographer in the early 1950s.

In March 1956, the 26-year-old photographer was assigned to photograph Elvis’ appearance on Tommy Dorsey and Jimmy Dorsey’s Stage Show. Elvis already had a significant following when the pair first met, but was not yet the global superstar that he would become over the course of the following 18 months.

0ver the next few months, Wertheimer took around 2,500 photographs of the young Elvis on stage, in the recording studio, rehearsing for television appearances, and relaxing with friends and family. In an interview on Wertheimer’s official website, the photographer noted:

From a photographer’s point of view, Elvis was unique in that he permitted closeness not six to eight feet away, which was standard, but right up close, three to four feet away. He was so intensely involved with what he was doing: it was as if he were laser focused; whether he was combing his hair or chatting up the girls, he would be himself.

I didn’t realize how unique that was. I put him under my microscope and studied him, only my microscope was my camera lens.

No photographer would ever be granted such intimate access to Elvis again. Those of us who admire Elvis should be grateful that it was Alfred Wertheimer who got the assignment in 1956, as his impressive instincts and technical capabilities led to many of the most treasured images of Elvis from his days as the young rocker. Over the years, these images have enlivened documentaries, including the excellent “Elvis ’56”; appeared in countless magazines and books, including several by Wertheimer himself; and adorned record releases, book covers and items of memorabilia. If you have any interest in Elvis, you will have seen and no doubt enjoyed many of Wertheimer’s fine images.

Wertheimer last photographed Elvis in 1958 when the star was shipped out to Germany for his national service. After this, he continued to freelance, taking images of the likes of John F. Kennedy, Nina Simone and Eleanor Roosevelt. He also worked as a cameraman for Mike Wadleigh’s film “Woodstock” and on television shows such as “World in Action”. In recent years, the photographer has presented a selection of his fine Elvis photographs at gallery shows and museum exhibitions, including at prestigious venues such as The Grammy Museum, The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Clinton Presidential Library, and the Smithsonian Institute.

Here’s four classic photographs taken by Alfred Wertheimer:

The Kiss, June 30, 1956 – © Alfred Wertheimer. All rights reserved

Kneeling at the Mosque Theater, June 30, 1956 – © Alfred Wertheimer. All rights reserved

Going Home, July 4, 1956 – © Alfred Wertheimer. All rights reserved

No Gas In The Tank, July 4, 1956 – © Alfred Wertheimer. All rights reserved