What if time travel wasn’t just the stuff of sci-fi dreams, but something we could actually do? As the stars align this week, you may find yourself pondering such an intriguing question. In the midst of this cosmic reflection, a fascinating snippet from June 1977 has resurfaced, showcasing an Elvis concert that’s ignited viral speculation about a mysterious item held by a fan—an object some insist looks uncannily like a modern iPhone! Could it be a modern-era time traveler caught in a snapshot, or simply an optical illusion born of our wild imaginations? With cutting-edge phones not emerging until 1984, you can see why enthusiasts are having a field day with wild theories! So, clasp your time machine keys, and let’s dive into how this curious footage has got everyone questioning the boundaries of time and reality. LEARN MORE
“What would you do if you could time-travel?”
It’s a question we’ve all been asked numerous times, and it’s time to prepare your answer, as footage of a woman who appears to have taken a voyage back in time is currently doing the rounds online.
Shared widely across the internet, the footage in question is from a June 1977 performance by Elvis, with the King of Rock and Roll chucking what appears to be a towel into the crowd.
Amid the chaos of fans scrambling to grab the item, a woman can be seen holding what appears to be a slim, rectangular object with a reflective square at the top, leading many people to of course speculate that it’s an iPhone.
Check out the footage below:
For context, the first commercially available mobile phone wasn’t available until 1984, seven years after the clip was filmed, while the most rudimentary camera phone didn’t appear on the market until 1999.
Cameras and handheld video recorders did exist during this period, but most models were a hell of a lot more clunkier than whatever the woman in the video is holding – so you can see why people are so quick to speculate.
The clip has done the rounds numerous times over the years, sparking the same debate every time: time travel or just a coincidence?
“Definitely looks a lot like one of today’s phone cameras,” one person wrote in a Reddit thread discussing the matter.
“Not sure what technology was around back then, though that could compare,” added a second.
Not everybody was convinced by the claims, with numerous people able to come up with more plausible explanations as to what it could be.

Some people thought time traveller, while sceptics argued it was more likely to be a hip flask or micro camera (CBS)
“Whiskey flask with cap lid, my opinion,” read one comment, while a second user suggested it could be a miniature camera, such as a Kodak Ektra 110 Film Miniature Camera or Kodak Trimlite Instamatic 18.
Which I hate to be a sceptic, but those are certainly more plausible explanations for the object.
Another user was more sceptical of the phone theory for another reason, pointing out there would be ‘no cell tower[s]’ at the time, writing: “There were no cell phone towers back then so the phone would be useless.”
Which is true, but it wouldn’t stop you from recording.
Other users were also debating whether or not an Elvis concert would be the first place, with one suspicious mind commenting: “If humans discover time travel are they really using it to attend an elvis concert.”

The item continues to cause debate (CBS)

What do you think it is? (CBS)
Personally, I would argue yes to that question – a 1991 Nirvana gig would be the first place I’d head if time travel existed – while others pointed out that if you could time travel you wouldn’t need to film evidence anyway.
Either way, it’s certainly fun to think about.
Auto Amazon Links: No products found.