Paul Newman is known throughout the world as an extremely successful, talented, Academy Award winning actor that was really handsome and charismatic–and he was all that and as we will see–much, much more.
But this story is not about Rolex, or how blue Paul Newman's eyes were. It is also not about how wealthy he was, or what kind of car he drove. It is about his incredible contributions to mankind, and in particular, to sick children.
It all began in 1985 when he decided to create his own salad dressing named Newman's Own. Newman's Own was a runaway hit and Paul and his wife Joanne decided to donate all the proceeds to charity.
The Hole-In-The-Wall Gang Camp
In the 1980s Paul Newman got an idea to start a camp for critically sick children. He came up the name Hole-In-The-Wall-Gang from starring in the major motion picture, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid with costarred Robert Redford. Bustch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid were members of the Hole-In-The-Wall-Gang, and Paul Newman said the name just stuck with him.
Today there are 9 Hole-In-The-Wall Gang Camps internationally located in countries like the U.S., France, Italy, Hungary, Ireland, England, Israel as well as in Africa and Asia.
Over the years, Paul Newman spent a lot of time at his Hole-In-The-Wall Camps playing with extremely ill children. Somebody once asked Paul Newman how he came up with the idea and in his self-deprecating way he responded:
"I wish I could recall with clarity the impulse that compelled me to help bring this camp into being. I'd be pleased if I could announce a motive of lofty purpose. I've been accused of compassion, of altruism, of devotion to Christian, Hebrew, and Moslem ethic, but however desperate I am to claim ownership of a high ideal, I cannot. I wanted, I think, to acknowledge Luck; the chance of it, the benevolence of it in my life, and the brutality of it in the lives of others, made especially savage for children because they may not be allowed the good fortune of a lifetime to correct it."
The Hole-In-The-Wall Gang Camp goes on to say "Children whose lives are interrupted by illness are able to put their worries aside and enjoy a carefree camp experience thanks to Paul's tireless efforts and boundless enthusiasm."
Since its inception, the Hole-In-The-Wall Gang Camp has touched more than 135,000 children around the world.
Today, Paul Newman's wife, Joanne Woodward is on the Board of Advisors and one of his daughters is involved as well.
To help fund the camps, Paul Neman and his wife, Joanne started "Newman's Own" brand of foods. Before Paul Newman died, he donated his entire share to the organization that was worth over $250 Million.
Perhaps the truest measure of a person's success in life is whether they leave the world having made it a better place than when they came into it. In Paul Newman's case, it would be an understatement to say he was successful. He was ultra-successful. If one person is better able to rest their head on their pillow when they sleep because of actions you have taken, you are a true success. Hopefully Paul Newman's legacy will inspire people in the collectable Rolex community to reach out to help people less fortunate than themselves.
To make a donation to The-Hole-In-The-Wall Camps or to just learn more pleaseclick here.
These last two images are from when young Paul Newman was in the U.S. Navy during World War II serving as a crewman on the Avengers. It is just amazing what a full life he lived and his achievements are truly incredible!!!
Paul Newman's acting career spanned 6 decades. He began his acting career by attending The Actor's Studio in New York City, which taught method acting.
In the photo below taken in 1955 we see Paul Newman in The Actor's Studio. James Dean had also attended The Actor's Studio and in the year this photo was taken, James Dean was on his way to being a huge movie star. Notice that all the men in the photo are wearing suits with ties and Paul Newman is the only one wearing a T-shirt with white socks and moccasins.
East Of Eden Screentest With James Dean
In the following video we see James Dean and Paul Newman in a screentest together for the movie East Of Eden.
Somebody Up There Likes Me (1956)
Paul's first major movie role was in Somebody Up There Likes Me (1956) where he played the role of boxing legend, Rocky Graziano. Paul Newman spent much time with Rocky to learn to how to emulate him on-screen as seen below.
In retrospect it is fascinating to explore how similar–in many ways–Paul Newman was to James Dean, Marlon Brando and Steve McQueen. This next photo was taken in 1956 by Sanford Roth during the filming of Somebody Up There Loves Me.
Paul Newman typically played roles that cast him as a rebel in movies like Exodus (1960); The Hustler (1961); Hud (1961); Hombre (1967); Cool Hand Luke (1967); The Towering Inferno (1974): Slap Shot(1977) and The Verdict (1982).
Cat on A Hot Tin Roof (1958)
One of Paul Newman's most memorable roles was when he starred alongside Elizabeth Taylor in Tennessee Williams Cat On A Hot Tin Roof, which was nominated for the Academy Award for best picture. Elizabeth Taylor and Paul Newman both received Oscar nominations for their rolex in the movie.
Paul Newman became a leading sex symbol after his role in Cat On A Hot Tin Roof and much of it was attributed to this photo which made him very popular with the ladies.
1960 Hud
Paul Newman played a cowboy in many movies and one of his most memorable performances was in the movie Hud.
The Hustler (1961)
In 1961, Paul Newman co-starred with Jackie Gleason in the cult-classic named The Hustler.
Jackie Gleason played Minnesota Fats and Paul Newman played the role of Fast Eddie Felson. Piper Laurie played Sarah Packard and George C. Scott played Bert Gordon. The Hustler was nominated for 9 Academy Awards and won the awards for Best Art-Set Decoration and Best Cinematography. Jackie Gleason and George C. Scott were both nominated for Best Actor In A Supporting Role.
As we will see later in this section, in 1986, Paul Newman would reprise his role as Fast Eddie Felson in the movie, The Color Of Money, an win the Academy Award for Best Actor. The Hustler was responsible for creating a resurgence of the popularity of pool in the U.S.
Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid (1969)
Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid is considered to be one of Paul Newman's greatest movies. Robert Redford co-starred with Paul Newman in the now famous wester. It is ironic, because Steve McQueen was originally chosen to star in the movie opposite Paul Newman, but there lawyers could not agree on which star would get top billing.
Paul Newman is pictured below from a famous scene in Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid.
Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid was the highest grossing film of the year in 1969, and at the 42nd Academy Awards in 1970 it won 4 Oscars, including best screen play. At the 24th British Academy Film Awards it won 9 awards including Best Film.
The Sting (1973)
Paul Newman made another blockbuster film in 1973 together named The Sting. I remember seeing this film when I was a kid and again when I was in college and I remember it being a great film.
I also vividly remember The Sting having an amazing soundtrack that primarily consisted of Scott Joplin ragtime jazz. In particular, Scott Joplin's "The Entertainer" song stands out most in my mind.
The Sting was another blockbuster hit and took in more than $160 Million. The Sting also won the prestigious Academy Award for Best Picture and Best Director as well as 5 additional Academy Awards.
The Towering Inferno (1974)
In 1974, Paul Newman starred with an all-star cast in The Towering Inferno which included (Pictured from left to right) Steve McQueen, Robert Wagner, Faye Dunaway, William Holden, Fred Astaire, Paul Newman, Richard Chamberlain, Robert Vaughn and O.J. Simpson.
When I was a kid I would always get Steve McQueen and Paul Newman confused. Looking at the photo below, it is easy to understand why. Steve & Paul could be brothers.
Both men are famous Rolex watch wearers, and Steve McQueen is wearing his Trademark Rolex Submariner in this photo and this photo was also taken on the set of The Towering Inferno. We see Steve McQueen on the far left with Fay Dunaway between him and Paul Newman.
In this next photo (below) we see Steve McQueen and Paul Newman with Barbra Streisand and Sidney Poitier. I like this photo because it looks like they are all having a great time.
...Academy Award Winning Performance Wearing Rolex...
Rolex Coolness: Paul Newman
The Color Of Money
Stainless Steel Rolex Datjeust
In 1961, Paul Newman costarred with Jackie Gleason in the "The Hustler." In 1986, Paul Neman reprised his role as "Fast Eddie Felson" in the movie "The Color Of Money." Paul Newman won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal as Fast Eddie in 1986 and he was wearing a stainless steel Rolex Datejust which can be seen on his wrist throughout the movie. Tom Cruise costarred with Paul Newman in The Color Of Money.
Fast Eddie Felson
As you can see in the photo above and below, Paul Newman wore a stainless steel Rolex Datejust on a Jubilee bracelet in The Color Of Money.
The Money Shot
Tom Cruise Holding Paul Newman's Rolex Datejust
In the next photo we see a screen-shot taken from the The Color Of Money, that shows Tom Cruise playing with Paul Newman's Rolex Datejust in the movie. Of course this close-up helps making a solid positive I.D., as a stainless steel Rolex Datejust. Notice the bezel has no fluting, thus making it a straight stainless steel bezel.
Paul Newman is pictured below in 1986 with his two costars from The Color Of Money, Tom Cruise and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantinio. Marin Scorsese who directed the movie is pictured on the far right. Paul Newmans is wearing his trademark stainless Rolex Daytona on his wrist on a Fatstrap.
Paul Newman won the Academy Award for best actor for his 1986 performance in The Color Of Money. After he won the Oscar he said "It's like chasing a beautiful woman for 80 years. Finally she relents and you say, "'I'm' terribly sorry, I'm tired."
Paul Newman also received another Oscar as the recipient of the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, that was presented by Tom Cruise in 1994.
The Road To Perdition (2002)
The last movie Paul Newman starred in was The Road To Perdition in 2002 which also featured Tom Hanks, Jude Law and Daniel Craig.
I saw Road To Perdition in a theater when it first came out and I remember being engaged and thinking it was a food movie. I also remember that Paul Newman played a not-so-nice-guy and he did an excellent job at it. I would even venture to say that his performance was ominous.
Paul Newman plays an Irish American crime boss during the Great Depression in Illinois. This all takes place during the Al Capone mob-rule era.
Tom Hanks is pictured below on the left with Paul Newman in the middle and Daniel Craig who now plays James Bond.
The Road To Perdition was a box office success and was nominated for six Academy Awards including Paul Newman for Best Supporting Actor.
This next image is kind of funny to me =) It shows Paul Newman's character roughing-up Daniel Craig's character and the reason it is funny to me is because in real life, Daniel Craig plays James Bond and he is a huge Rolex fan.
For some reason, I can see a caption that has Paul Newman saying to Daniel Craig:
"What kind of James Bond are you? You can act like a man and wear a Paul Newman Reference 6263 Rolex Daytona!!!"
Historically Rolex has always been extremely secretive and discreet, and no journalists in the past have ever been invited "INSIDE ROLEX" to explore and report on all four Rolex Manufacturing faclities in Switzerland.
In November 2013, this changed when Rolex invited Jake to take an unprecdented journey into the heart of Rolex to learn and report on everything he witnessed and learned.
This Super-Detailed 3 Part Story is a "MUST READ" story for anybody who wants to understand what really makes Rolex tick.