Before the World Wide Web changed how we shared information, conspiracy theories spread through late-night radio shows, paperback books, and hushed conversations at dinner parties. The ’70s and ’80s gave birth to some of the most memorable and creative conspiracy theories, capturing collective imaginations and making people believe all sorts of crazy things. From government cover-ups to celebrity deaths that seemed too strange to be true, these theories made us question everything we thought we knew about the world.
#1: Elvis Is Alive
“The King is dead” — or is he? After Elvis Presley’s 1977 passing, sightings flooded in from gas stations and fast-food restaurants spanning the nation. Fans swore they spotted his trademark sideburns buying milk or pumping gas in the most random locations. The theory gained steam when his middle name was misspelled on his tombstone — a secret signal, believers insisted, that the rock legend had grown tired of fame and slipped away to live in peace.
