Showbusiness/Rock and Roll/Music/Icons/Watches: THE HOLY GR...

Hammer

£200,000

Showbusiness/Rock and Roll/Music/Icons/Watches: THE HOLY GRAIL ELVIS PRESLEY'S FAMOUS FIRST NATIONAL TV/ STAGE WORN WATCH 1955-1956 offered for public auction for the first time.
In the words of Jimmy Velvet, Elvis's friend of 22 years "In my opinion, this Lord Elgin watch is truly one of the grandest pieces Elvis ever owned due to the pivotal moment of his career when it all fell into place for him and the amazing documented history of where the watch has been."
Elvis Presley's owned Famous Stage worn watch 1955-1956, accompanied by three Documents of Authenticity
The first is hand signed by Jimmy Velvet founder and original President and CEO of the world famous Elvis Presley Museum all those years ago which reads...
To Daniel Johnson,
This 14K gold filled, Lord Elgin watch with black face was personally owned and worn by Elvis from Spring of 1955 - April 1956 and comes with a great bit of history. Elvis wore this watch on stage for his first National Television appearance; The Dorsey Brothers (Jimmy & Tommy) 'Stage Show' in New York, January 28th, 1956 making his historic mark in the entertainment industry. The show was recorded and broadcast from CBS TV Studio 50 at 1697 Broadway in New York City, NY. Elvis wore this watch on many more Dorsey Brothers show appearances and not just there. He wore it while appearing on 'The Milton Berle Show", 'The Louisiana Hayride' and the list goes on. There are hundreds of great photos taken of Elvis wearing this watch. Here's a little backstory about the watch.
Elvis gave this watch to Scotty Moore while sitting poolside at the New Frontier Hotel in Las Vegas on April 25, 1956. Elvis, Scotty (Guitar), Bill Black (Bull Bass) and D.J. Fontana (Drums) were appearing. In the mid 1990's Scotty gave the watch to his good friend Ronnie McDowell. Ronnie and Scotty were good friends and worked together for 20+ years. While visiting with Ronnie a few weeks ago over a favourite local breakfast spot, I had the watch with me. He was certainly surprised and the reminiscing started. We had a great visit as always and took a couple more photos of the watch to add to the fabulous photo library of where this watch has been for the past 42 years amongst the world of Elvis of those who knew him, loved him and miss him.
Ronnie reminded me of a guest appearance that Ronnie did with D.J. Fontana on the TV show: 'Cajun Pawn Stars' showing the watch and talking about the history of it on Series 3, Episode 15 - Pair of Jokers. Also, there is an article in Rolling Stone Magazine by Jon Freeman, which Ronnie is interviewed and tells the story of how Scotty gave him (Ronnie) Elvis' watch.
The watch sees it further documented and accompanied by a detailed letter of authenticity hand signed by Scotty Moore and D.J. Fontana explaining the story of how Elvis gave the watch to Scotty. Notary Public Patricia A. Keen with a Sumner County, TN Notary Public At Large Embossed Seal, notarizes this letter. Dated 7-18-03
There are many photographs of Elvis wearing this watch on live stage, rehearsals, backstage in his dressing room, hotel room and can clearly be seen in CBS footage and photos and photos by Alfred Wertheimer of Elvis entering the Warwick Hotel (New York City) and many other photos taken of Elvis while in his suite just to name a few historic moments and photographs of Elvis wearing this watch are:
December 1, 1955 - RCA Studio, NY A photo shoot meeting with the Colonel & RCA executives plus, posed action shots to be used on the back of Elvis' first album.
Elvis backstage at the Shreveport Municipal Auditorium -1955
Louisiana Hayride from 1955 through to April 1956
1956 - Warwick Hotel, New York photos by Alfred Wertheimer.
Dorsey Brothers Stage Show in New York; CBS ' January 28th, February 4th, February 11th, February 18th, March 17th, March 24th of 1956
January 31, 1956 - Elvis is wearing the watch when signing his first music contract with the William Morris Agency, NY.
February 10, 1956 - Carolina Theatre in Charlotte, NC
February 13, 1956 - Newport News signing for fans
March 3, 1956 - Elvis and DJ on stage at the Louisiana Hayride
March 10, 1956 - Carol Mangham-Golemon and Elvis backstage at the Municipal Auditorium
April 3, 1956 - Milton Berle Television Show USS Hancock San Diego
April 4th and 5th, 1956 - San Diego Arena
April 6, 1956 - Elvis with Hal Wallis signing first movie contract
April 10, 1956 - Fair Park Auditorium in Lubbock, TX
April 14, 1956 - Nashville recording session
April 15, 1956 - San Antonio
April 19, 1956 - Oklahoma
April 21, 1956 - Houston
April 25, 1956 Elvis was wearing this watch while in Las Vegas and gave the watch to Scotty Moore, poolside at the New Frontier Hotel.
In my opinion, this Lord Elgin watch is truly one of the grandest pieces Elvis ever owned due to the pivotal moment of his career when it all fell into place for him and the amazing documented history of where the watch has been.
All my best
Jimmy Velvet (Hand signed)
Jimmy Velvet/Founder
Elvis Presley Museum, Inc.
A second COA from Elvis Presley Museum is signed by Jimmy together with a third document signed by Scott Moore Elvis's studio and touring guitarist witnessed by DJ Fontana who played drums on over 460 RCA cuts for Elvis which reads:
THE STORY OF THE WATCH
On April 25, 1956, Elvis Presley, Bill Black, Scotty Moore, And D.J. Fontana were sitting near the pool at the New Frontier Hotel in Las Vegas when a Jeweler approached Elvis with a jeweled watch as a gift for him. Elvis took off the watch he was wearing, saw that Scotty was not wearing a watch (he had broken the band on his) and gave his old watch to Scotty. Scotty kept the watch in his possession from then to the mid-90's at which time He had the watch cleaned and repaired and gave it as a Christmas gift to Ronnie McDowell. A picture of the group on that day shows the guys at the pool the actual Time that Elvis gave the watch to Scotty.
This is the actual watch worn by Elvis and given to Scotty Moore on that date
(Hand signed) Scotty Moore
(Hand signed) D. J. Fontana (witness)
Sworn to and ascribed before me this
date 7 -18-03
(Hand signed) Patricia A Keen (Notary public embossed seal)
Notary Public