Oct 13, 1952

Faron Young makes his first appearance on "The Louisiana Hayride" at the Municipal Auditorium in Shreveport

Dec 13, 1952

Hank Williams performs on "The Louisiana Hayride" in what turns out to be his final appearance on the show

May 16, 1953

Jim Reeves receives top billing on The Louisiana Hayride for the first time

Jun 1, 1953

Jim Reeves' role as an announcer for KWKH's The Louisiana Hayride comes to an end as disc jockey Norman Bale replaces him. Reeves is free to work The Hayride strictly as a performer

Oct 16, 1954

Elvis Presley makes his first appearance on "The Louisiana Hayride," singing "That's All Right" and "Blue Moon Of Kentucky" two times each. Drummer D.J. Fontana performs with Presley for the first time, though he's forced to play behind a curtain

Nov 6, 1954

Elvis Presley signs a one-year contract to play "The Louisiana Hayride" every Saturday for $18-a-week

Nov 7, 1954

Johnny Horton leaves "The Louisiana Hayride"

Jan 15, 1955

Colonel Tom Parker attends the Louisiana Hayride at Shreveport's Municipal Auditorium, watching Elvis Presley for probably the first time. Within weeks, Parker is attempting to sign Presley to a management contract

Mar 5, 1955

Elvis Presley performs "Uncle Pen" on "The Louisiana Hayride" in Shreveport, Louisiana, as he makes his first TV appearance

May 7, 1955

Songwriter Werly Fairburn joins "The Louisiana Hayride," performing at the Municipal Auditorium in Shreveport, Louisiana. His writing credits later include Carl Smith's "I Feel Like Cryin'" and Jim Reeves' "I Guess I'm Crazy"