Elvis and Earl ‘The Pearl’ Watson

[MikeFromHolland]

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From:

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[drjohncarpenter]

From:





https://www.amazon.com/Pearl-Watson-Doorman-Stars-Hollywood-ebook/dp/B00BP0RNIQ/

Earl Watson was indeed a beloved doorman at the Los Angeles' Knickerbocker Hotel on Ivar Avenue, off of Hollywood Boulevard. His time there spanned 16 years, from about 1945 to 1962.

Earl Watson_Knickerbocker Hotel Los Angeles.jpg

But there was never a circumstance where he became an official bodyguard, although it makes for a good story in his memoir.

Earl The Hollywood Knickerbocker's Doorman to the Stars_2008 edition.jpg

2008 self-published edition of his book



Elvis stayed for a while at the Knickerbocker in August-September 1956 during the making of "Love Me Tender," along with his bandmates. When Presley moved on to the Beverly Wilshire, they chose to stick with the Knickerbocker in 1957 for his second and third film projects.

The photo of them together is seen everywhere in reverse-image, even all editions of Earl's book.

This is the correct view, for once:

600500_w Earl Watson.jpg

With Knickerbocker doorman Earl Watson at Paramount - circa May 1960


Earl left us almost exactly 7 years ago, at the age of 90. A little more about him is below.

HOLLYWOOD

By HEDDA HOPPER

[snip]

Elvis Presley's colonel, Tom Parker, calls Earl Watson, doorman at Knickerbocker Hotel, "his manager." . . . Colonel tells me Elvis parents bought a house near Fort Hood, Tex., so he can sleep nights at home. The colonel will be spending next weekend with all of them.

New York Daily News - Monday, July 14, 1958
https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/456306003/

Earl Watson shares his bodyguard stories of Elvis

7/8/2013

One of Elvis’ early bodyguards Earl "The Pearl" Watson, now 88, recently regaled customers with stories of the rock-n-roll legend.

He signed and sold copies of his book "Earl: The Hollywood Knickerbocker Hotel’s Doorman to the Stars" while chatting and posing for photos with diners. Watson is renowned in his own right, rubbing elbows with numerous movie stars, entertainers and athletes during his 16-year stint as doorman at the landmark hotel which closed in the early 1970’s. He’s also a decorated World War II veteran who participated in the D-Day Invasion. But the popular topic with the crowd, of course, was his experience with the late "King of Rock and Roll" in Presley’s early years of stardom.

"I saved his life once," Watson recounted with a laugh in sharing a story of a public outing in Los Angeles. His longtime friendship and acquaintance with Col. Parker, dating back to Parker’s days representing singer Eddy Arnold, set the stage for the job guarding Presley during concert appearances in the area in 1956 and ‘57.

Earl also shared about meeting Presley’s parents, Vernon and Gladys, and also shared about Presley’s dynamic personality and stage presence with his fans. He said one of his most cherished possessions is an autographed color photograph of Presley decked in a distinctive green jacket. Parker told Watson that this was the first color photograph that Presley had ever had done.

Presley also specifically called Watson to have him visit on set at Paramount Studios in Hollywood while Presley was filming the movie "GI Blues" in 1960. Watson said he also had the privilege of attending Presley’s final show in Las Vegas before the Elvis' passing on August 16th 1977.

http://www.elvispresleyfansofnashville.com/elvis-presley-news/earl-watson-shares-his-bodyguard-stories-of-elvis

The Sanger Scene
Friday, July 12, 2013 at 12:55 PM

130712_Earl w Virginia and Vance Enriquez.jpg

Earl "The Pearl" Watson, Elvis' former bodyguard, with Virginia and Vance Enriquez, the owners of Sanger's "The King's Diner."

https://www.facebook.com/thesangerscene/photos/earl-the-pearl-watson-elvis-former-bodyguard-with-virginia-and-vance-enriquez-th/618724004813182/

Earl Watson_circa 1945.jpg

Earl Eugene Watson Sr.

Coleen
JAN 19, 2016

After a two-year battle with cancer, “Earl the Pearl” passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by family, after 90 years of a fascinating life. He was born and raised as one of seven children in the Woodlawn community of the south side of Chicago.

During World War II, Earl proudly served and was injured in the U.S. Army, Company C of the 1317th Engineers, in the European theater. His elite black regiment provided support for Gen. Patton’s 3rd Army, landed at Normandy on D-Day, fought in the Battle of the Bulge and built a bridge at the Battle of the Rhine River.

After the war, vowing to avoid another harsh winter, he went west to visit his sister. He settled in Los Angeles where he met his loving wife, Melba. Together, they enjoyed 69 years of “honeymooning,” raising three sons and a daughter. He worked hard to put their children through private schools. Earl was active in Boy Scouts and the family enjoyed frequent pool parties, trips to the beach, Pacific Ocean Park, Disneyland, house parties, sporting events and Father & Son fishing trips to Lake Sequoia. He was a family man.

After struggling to find a job in postwar America, Earl landed a job as the doorman of the top-rated Hollywood Knickerbocker Hotel. His handsome good looks, easy smile and outgoing personality made him a natural success as he established friendships with many top celebrities, athletes and businessmen. Earl became a friend and confidant to many people in Hollywood’s movie and music industries as well as professional sports stars, including Elvis Presley, Joe DiMaggio, Marilyn Monroe, Nat King Cole, Jackie Robinson and the Mayor of Hollywood, Johnny Grant. He worked as Elvis’ first Hollywood bodyguard and protected DiMaggio and Monroe from unwanted attention while they honeymooned at the Knickerbocker. These and many other interesting stories are recounted in his memoir, "Earl, Doorman to the Stars," available on Amazon.com.

Earl went on to excel in a sales and marketing career, helping to launch the Jose Cuervo Beach Volleyball Tour, breaking racial barriers and setting sales records in the wine and liquor industry, which included California’s Central Valley. He retired in Fresno, where he and Melba established many deep and lasting friendships. As Melba always says, “He never met a stranger and never forgot a friend...”

With Melba as his constant support, Earl was an incredibly generous person and very active in charitable activities for children and veterans. He always said, “I have five cents more than I’m going to need.”

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Earl’s memory to S.W. Fresno Police Department’s Bringing Broken Neighborhoods Back to Life, PO Box 1271, Fresno CA 93715.

https://www.legion.org/memoriam/230865/earl-eugene-watson-sr

[drjohncarpenter]

According to a 1999 interview, Earl was a part of the security at Elvis' June 8, 1956 show at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.

Yes, the article does mention "two shows," though. It's possible that the other one was the night before, in Long Beach. It's just a half-hour drive southwest of Los Angeles.

Doorman: Mahalia Jackson came for dinner

By Rick Bentley

[snip]

When Col. Tom Parker made a trip to Los Angeles in the early ‘50s with Eddie Arnold and Minnie Pearl, he learned he could trust Watson.

A few years later when Parker brought a swivel-hipped young singer named Elvis Presley to Los Angeles for two shows, he made Watson the singer’s bodyguard.

“Elvis was just this down-to-Earth person” Watson says. "I remember the first time he stepped out on the stage at the Shrine (Auditorium). The girls just went crazy.”

That craziness followed Elvis back to the Knickerbocker. Watson wanted to respect the singer’s privacy but he knew the hundreds of girls who filled the sidewalks outside the building were looking for that one glimpse of Elvis that would feed their dreams forever.

After he organized the girls and picked a couple of spokesfans, Watson would bring Elvis down to meet the crowd.

On future trips to Hollywood, Elvis stayed in Beverly Hills. But Watson's relationship with the singer, and especially Parker, continued. Watson served a one of the pallbearers at Parker’s funeral in 1997.

Fresno Bee - Saturday, November 13, 1999
https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/708342084/

On stage at the Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, CA - Friday, June 8, 1956
Photo: Ernest E. Reshovsky

[Jaime1234]

Fantastic photo!!

[Austin Butler]

Here is another photo

IMG_9568.png

[jurasic1968]

Thanks a lot, Doc!

[drjohncarpenter]

That's a nice alternate shot from Earl's Paramount visit. Better quality than the other one, thanks.

It likely dates to May 1960, right after Elvis Is Back! hit radio and retail. Where did you find it?

Here is another photo

[Jaime1234]

Fantastic photo,