October 24, 1958 - Elvis at the Universum in Mannheim, Germany

[MikeFromHolland]

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On October 23, 1958 Bill Hailey and The Comets played in the Rhein-Main Halle in Wiesbaden. The day after that, on October 24, they played at the Universum kino (cinema) in Mannheim. Elvis was there both days. On October 23 in his uniform, on October 24 in suit and tie. He even made music together with The Comets that day. Elvis on piano.

Pictures taken by photographer Günther Thomas (1921-2015).

ED586784-942F-436E-82CD-D077DE0ABFB8.jpeg

BF97EB4B-B852-40F5-BB17-551B9ABC7189.jpeg

With Bill Hailey’s Comets: Rudy Pompilli, Al Pompilli and Ralph Jones

102458F3-AE98-4374-A2DD-B758509A7135.jpeg

1EB2988D-2D5E-440C-8E52-B1139F32812C.jpeg

Heinz Hoffmeister, Oskar Riester, Wilhelm Berg and Elvis

A243F963-ED2B-4A83-9050-6631FF83C7BC.jpeg

676204ED-757A-436F-89E8-1670FB594653.jpeg

789A9C3C-9A46-4934-9C20-54247DEEABAA.jpeg

Main source: https://www.mannheimer-morgen.de
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[Jaime1234]

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On October 23, 1958 Bill Hailey and The Comets played in the Rhein-Main Halle in Wiesbaden. The day after that, on October 24, they played at the Universum kino (cinema) in Mannheim. Elvis was there both days. On October 23 in his uniform, on October 24 in suit and tie. He even made music together with The Comets that day. Elvis on piano.

Pictures taken by photographer Günther Thomas (1921-2015).









With Bill Hailey’s Comets: Rudy Pompilli, Al Pompilli and Ralph Jones







Heinz Hoffmeister, Oskar Riester, Wilhelm Berg and Elvis









Main source: https://www.mannheimer-morgen.de
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At least three of these photos are a Godsent. Many, many thanks. There is video of the Comets' performance as well.

[TheKingOfMusicEP]

Great Pictures

[Ciscoking]

Best Research...

[rlj4ep]

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On October 23, 1958 Bill Hailey and The Comets played in the Rhein-Main Halle in Wiesbaden. The day after that, on October 24, they played at the Universum kino (cinema) in Mannheim. Elvis was there both days. On October 23 in his uniform, on October 24 in suit and tie. He even made music together with The Comets that day. Elvis on piano.

Pictures taken by photographer Günther Thomas (1921-2015)

This is fantastic MikefromHolland. What a moment in rock 'n' roll history. Great pics!!
Wouldn't it be great if recordings surfaced for this impromptu gathering?

rlj

[Buddy]

Wiesbaden:

images(87).jpg

images(88).jpg

FCZfpCSX0AAk5Nj.jpg

[drjohncarpenter]

Direct page link for the images in the OP:
https://www.mannheimer-morgen.de/orte/mannheim_artikel,-mannheim-erinnerungen-nicht-nur-an-elvis-_arid,888497.html


More information:

Perhaps the most celebrated meeting between Haley and Presley was during The Comets’ European tour in 1958. To the chagrin of his fans and management, and at the height of his career to that point, Elvis Presley had joined the Army and was stationed at a base near Friedberg when Bill and the Comets arrived in Frankfurt, Germany on October 23rd for a series of concerts in major German cities.

Elvis showed up in uniform and was admitted backstage to Haley’s dressing room. It was a fleeting visit (Bill had to get to another show that night in Wiesbaden.) There is a famous photograph of the dressing room where Elvis sits as Haley tunes his guitar in preparation for his performance. Comets drummer Ralph Jones recalled Elvis telling members of the band, “You know, if it weren’t for you boys, I’d still be driving a truck back in Memphis.” Jerry Lee Lewis’ similarly said to Haley, “Without you, we’d all be driving trucks,” probably referencing Elvis.

After what must have been a very brief meeting, Elvis made a second visit to the show in Mannheim on October 24th, where he was photographed (out of his Army uniform and wearing a suit and tie) by well-known photographer Günther Thomas with members of the band, as well as seated at the piano with the Comets’ bass player, Al Pompilli on bass behind him.

There is also a photo of Elvis with supporting act Kurt Edelhagen and Elvis’ father, Vernon Presley, in the shot.

https://drdldj.medium.com/the-father-and-the-king-e3fa0bc00eb5

Thus:

591024_w Comets Pompili_Mannheim.jpg

Seated backstage at the piano -- with Comets bass player Al Pompili -- in Mannheim, Germany - Friday, October 24, 1958

591024_w Edelhagen_Mannheim.jpg

with supporting act Kurt Edelhagen -- plus dad Vernon Presley behind -- in Mannheim, Germany - Friday, October 24, 1958



Just a year and four more months and he'd be free again.

[MikeFromHolland]

Direct page link for the images in the OP:
https://www.mannheimer-morgen.de/orte/mannheim_artikel,-mannheim-erinnerungen-nicht-nur-an-elvis-_arid,888497.html


More information:

Perhaps the most celebrated meeting between Haley and Presley was during The Comets’ European tour in 1958. To the chagrin of his fans and management, and at the height of his career to that point, Elvis Presley had joined the Army and was stationed at a base near Friedberg when Bill and the Comets arrived in Frankfurt, Germany on October 23rd for a series of concerts in major German cities.

Elvis showed up in uniform and was admitted backstage to Haley’s dressing room. It was a fleeting visit (Bill had to get to another show that night in Wiesbaden.) There is a famous photograph of the dressing room where Elvis sits as Haley tunes his guitar in preparation for his performance. Comets drummer Ralph Jones recalled Elvis telling members of the band, “You know, if it weren’t for you boys, I’d still be driving a truck back in Memphis.” Jerry Lee Lewis’ similarly said to Haley, “Without you, we’d all be driving trucks,” probably referencing Elvis.

After what must have been a very brief meeting, Elvis made a second visit to the show in Mannheim on October 24th, where he was photographed (out of his Army uniform and wearing a suit and tie) by well-known photographer Günther Thomas with members of the band, as well as seated at the piano with the Comets’ bass player, Al Pompilli on bass behind him.

There is also a photo of Elvis with supporting act Kurt Edelhagen and Elvis’ father, Vernon Presley, in the shot.

https://drdldj.medium.com/the-father-and-the-king-e3fa0bc00eb5

Thus:





Seated backstage at the piano -- with Comets bass player Al Pompili -- in Mannheim, Germany - Saturday, October 24, 1959







with supporting act Kurt Edelhagen -- plus dad Vernon Presley behind -- in Mannheim, Germany - Saturday, October 24, 1959



Just four more months and he'd be free again.

Thanks! You turned 1958 into 1959?

I used different sources by the way:

https://www.mannheimer-morgen.de/orte/mannheim_artikel,-mannheim-polizisten-bei-elvis-_arid,1398288.html

https://www.mannheimer-morgen.de/orte/mannheim/seckenheim_artikel,-seckenheim-auch-promis-wie-willy-brandt-und-elvis-presley-auf-film-gebannt-_arid,828571.html

https://www.mannheimer-morgen.de/orte/mannheim_artikel,-mannheim-erinnerungen-nicht-nur-an-elvis-_arid,888497.html

https://www.marchivum.de/de/blog/pressefotografie

https://www.bergstraesser-anzeiger.de/leben_artikel,-ba-freizeit-erinnerungen-an-elvis-_arid,900139.html

Etc.

When Günther Thomas died in 2015 his negatives (500.000 of them) went to the Mannheim Museum. So there may be more of the meeting.

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[drjohncarpenter]

Thanks! You turned 1958 into 1959?

No, just a typo.

[Gunter]

Another HD picture from Mannheim:

1958 10 24 Mannheim 1.jpg

Source: https://www.marchivum.de/de/blog/stadtgeschichte-121