Lansdale Historical Society: Did Elvis Presley visit Lansdale?

There have been rumors of a possible visit to Lansdale from Elvis Presley. Is that even possible?

George Di Domizio was born in Lansdale and grew up on West Fifth Street. In 1958, he was drafted into the Army at the age of 23. He ended up being sent to Friedberg, West Germany where he met his bunkmate, Joe Esposito.

It was Esposito who introduced him to Elvis, who was assigned to the Armored Division. Elvis took a liking to Di Domizio and the two remained friends. After their discharge, he was able to help Elvis move from a hotel in Beverly Hills to his first home in California. 

    Elvis showing off his karate to George Di Domizio at Presley's home.
 Submitted photo   

During the 1960s, Di Domizio visited Elvis at Graceland and on movie sets, as well as at his home in California. The last time they met was in 1971 when Elvis played Philadelphia.

Elvis died on August 16, 1977. Joe Esposito, who had become part of Elvis’ “Memphis Mafia,” was one of the people who found him. His efforts to revive The King were unsuccessful.

“For a guy who had that incredible fame, I could never get over the fact that he was such a regular guy,” remembered Di Domizio, who passed away at 77 in July 2012.

Read Di Domizio's 2012 blog on his friendship with Elvis here.

    Submitted Photo   

So did Elvis Presley ever visit his friend George in Lansdale? George never said, but some old timers here at the Lansdale Historical Society are convinced that it’s true.

George Di Domizio is a former employee of Merck Pharmaceuticals in Upper Gwynedd and a former writer with The Reporter. His great-nephew Tony Di Domizio is managing editor of NorthPennNow.com.