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Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Vanishing Ocean City With Bunk Mann

Photo by Richard Miller
The Ocean City Boardwalk has seen its share of characters over the years, but none as popular as Norman Webb, better known as “Boardwalk Elvis.”
 

Norman began walking the Boardwalk in the mid-1960s and became a regular sight with his huge boom box on his shoulder. He began dressing like Elvis Presley in the 1970s and changed from boom box to cassette player to kazoo. Norman became so popular that people sought his autograph and posed with him for photos. Postcards of him as “Boardwalk Elvis” were sold in local gift shops.
 

Norman retired from his Boardwalk strolls several years ago and now is seen riding his customized “Elvis” bicycle around Ocean Pines or attending Ocean City events such as Sunfest. He rarely wears a costume today -- he usually dressed in a suit and a tie -- but still answers to the name of “Boardwalk Elvis.”
Source

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Boardwalk Elvis was a great volunteer who is / was a landmark when OC was a true family resort!

Anonymous said...

I see Boardwalk Elvis pretty much everyday riding his bike on Rt.589 outside of Ocean Pines. I always give him plenty of room on the shoulder because I sure as hell don't want to be known as the guy that ran over Elvis.

Anonymous said...

Bless his heart. Boardwalk Elvis and the blind fellow who played the banjo and had the seeing eye dog were 2 of the street performers on the Boardwalk when I was a child. They are Ocean City icons and should be applauded for making so many people happy when yes, Ocean City was really a family resort instead of what it's become-a seasonal drunk fest.

Anonymous said...

We used to get him to sing at Cadillac Jack's.He always was a great sport.