in 1977, elvis presley, while riding to madison from the airport, noticed a street fight in progress at a service station. while his limo was stopped at the nearby red light, the king ran from the car and threatened the combatants with a classic karate stance.
the young men recognized elvis and stopped fighting in favor of shaking hands with the star. elvis reportedly left after ensuring that everything was settled and taking time to shake hands with several onlookers. elvis died 52 days later.
the incident was reported by thomas still for The State Journal, who called it presley’s biggest brawl since Jailhouse Rock. a plaque to commemorate the event is installed where the gas station once stood. it shows elvis with a guitar and in a pseudo-karate stance and describes the incident.
‘if there hadn’t been an elvis, there wouldn’t have been the beatles.’
-john lennon
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credit: atlas obscura, the state journal, thomas still
I didn't have my glasses on.... 
I never knew this. Great image in my mind if elvis’s karate stance.
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it is a great image, isn’t it? they were probably shocked into stopping, don’t think they felt threatened )
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Lol! Wacky!
>
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Isn’t it?
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That’s an event worth commemorating.
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It is )
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And if it hadn’t been for black musicians, there wouldn’t have been an Elvis.
But it is still a funny story.
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Yes –
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He also unwrapped a peanut butter and banana sandwich he was carrying in reserve and halted the combatants with half each. Little known addendum, Beth. Ah, I dig the legend the real way.
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who knew, mark?
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And remember, when he did this, if it was 52 days before he died, he was in his fat Elvis stage of life. It must have been more comical than awesome. PS. If you ever get to Memphis, Graceland is a hoot. When I lived there, I took all visitors to see it. Long live the king!
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I would love to go!
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A very cool story that was new to me. Thanks for sharing.
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My pleasure
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I love that they are preserving that moment! It makes life interesting.
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me too, and it does )
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I had heard a story of Howard Cosell (Yes, Howard Cosell!) once getting out of a car to stop a street fight with a lecture in a bad part of town (and it worked since the fighters recognized his voice and became too starstruck to fight anymore), but this is the first I’ve heard of Elvis playing the peacemaker!
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I knew about this story but never knew there was a plaque. Pretty cool.
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God bless the King.
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Thé king was a peacemaker
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He was
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Great story. If I’m ever in Madison I will surely go there and do some air-karate chops.
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yes, in his honor )
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