tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7301135212049341808.post8779173711086460045..comments2023-07-30T05:56:06.749-07:00Comments on Stefan van Drake: Exclusive: Hungary's art and politics fuse as Facebook protest fizzles at Ronald Reagan hoopla in BudapestStefan van Drakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04092664749315695455noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7301135212049341808.post-11938334007106453922011-07-04T22:30:57.947-07:002011-07-04T22:30:57.947-07:00Too bad Presley's call could not come on 9 S...Too bad Presley's call could not come on 9 September 1956, the night he garnered an estimated 62 million TV audience for his first appearance on the Sullivan show. And I say he couldn't since the invasion took place on October 24.Guillermohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10189291197391954723noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7301135212049341808.post-52762402916201272812011-07-04T22:28:19.444-07:002011-07-04T22:28:19.444-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Guillermohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10189291197391954723noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7301135212049341808.post-21031871427621950372011-07-04T22:22:22.116-07:002011-07-04T22:22:22.116-07:00Of the 50 million Americans tuned to the Ed Sulliv...Of the 50 million Americans tuned to the Ed Sullivan Show on January 6, 1957, when the call for help was made, it is estimated (by TRENDEX, the precursor to Nielsen), that 33 million were teenagers unable to send but the tiniest of contributions. Therefore, the bulk of the US$ 6 million must have oame from a high percentage of the remaining 27 million viewers, including parents or just average citizens impressed by Presley's performance of "Peace in the Valley", the song he chose to close that night's show, and which was performed precisely after the call was made by Sullivan himself, on his behalf. I leave those with a strong knowledge of math to make up who contributed the most, amongst the American public but I'm inclined to believe most came from parents watching the show.Guillermohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10189291197391954723noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7301135212049341808.post-78671018229242342882011-07-04T22:19:00.189-07:002011-07-04T22:19:00.189-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Guillermohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10189291197391954723noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7301135212049341808.post-61719146572532477092011-07-04T21:58:47.308-07:002011-07-04T21:58:47.308-07:00I suppose Mr. van Drake's is unaware of the fa...I suppose Mr. van Drake's is unaware of the fact Presley's call for help to feed refugees after the invasion of Hungary by Soviet troops, channeled in front of 50 million americans on January 6, 1957, resulted in contributions in excess of 26 million Swiss Francs, which at the then exchange rate of 4.34 per dollar, amounted to US$ 6 million, in 1957 dollars. Adjusted for inflation, that would represent US$44 million, in today's dollars. That money was passed on to refugees, in the next 55 years. So, I guess it would have been nice for Presley to visit Hungary say, when he was in the service in Germany (LOL), but I would doubt whether the authorities would even let him in. Not after calling for help after the invasion, seventeen months prior. Since he died in 1977, years before the fall of the comunist governments in Eastern Europe, I guess he was just not meant to go to Hungary. There are people who still keep the heart-shaped food items sent to refugees, under the Red Cross banner, and this is fifty years after they were first sent there. That's why he got a park with his name there...Guillermohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10189291197391954723noreply@blogger.com