Elvis Presley Meeting an Impersonator Named Larry Blong at the “Graceland Gates” in July 1972

In July 1972, at Elvis’s Hillcrest home in Los Angeles, something unexpected and rather amusing happened. One of the Stanley brothers rushed in and told Elvis, “There’s a guy at the gate who looks just like you—you’ve got to see this!”

Curious, Elvis stepped outside and made his way down the gravel driveway. The man waiting at the gate was none other than Larry Blong—a devoted fan who happened to bear an uncanny resemblance to the King himself.

In the photo below Elvis is seen walking casually; he was carrying a loaded handgun behind his back with his left hand, he had frequent and credible death threats coming in, and the Manson murders had only taken place a few years earlier, so Elvis was usually well armed at all times, plus he loved guns in general.

There was no stopping Elvis from giving back and connecting with his fans who he so dearly loved, threats or not. Elvis would always still perform as well as greet fans in person, even against the advice of law enforcement when credible death threats were active, nothing would stand in his way, he truly loved his fans, and his fans have always felt that.

Larry Blong had this to say in 2002: “Somehow, I’m not surprised. You know there are many pictures of me in Elvis books, of course as Elvis pictures. Also, I found myself in many Elvis bootlegs. I would say my most favorites of that show are: ‘How Great Thou Art’ and ‘You Gave Me A Mountain’.”