AJ DeAngelo with the Legend, John Earle Livingston circa 2006

Enjoy, listen, sing, hum, whistle, boogie, play! Hand painted words on an attractive, red, wooden, boardwalk game accent sign.

As a young man I proudly hung that sign up many a  Summer morning  - under a large billowing Union Jack flag at the legendary record stand on the Boardwalk in Seaside Heights New Jersey. You couldn’t buy a record, cassette tape, or a CD here. You had to win it! Sometimes battling a crowd three deep to do so! This was the coolest and best game in town.. and one of many owned by Boardwalk Hall of Famer and Legend, John Earle Livingston.

Before becoming the world traveling, big shot camera man I am today – wink wink – I was a Carney. Still am!

As a Jersey Shore native, I lived and worked on the boardwalk in Seaside Heights my whole life. It was right there at Union Jacks Records – “spin the wheel” game of chance, facing straight out onto a sun-gleaming ocean with an endless flood of wild, sunburnt tourists, combined with the sounds of rickety roller-coasters & the hum and buzz of glowing lights, where the carnival magic first amazed and next inspired me.

Much of what I learned from the boardwalk days, be it the marketing side of getting customers to notice you either by setting up a flashy stand or a loud calling out voice… or just dealing with the many boardwalk personalities out there, it has all translated into the camera jobs I get today. And for that I owe a great debt of gratitude to my old boss, and brother, John Earle Livingston. Like a mentor, he took me in and showed me his ways. We had a very tight working relationship both on the boardwalk and at his kiosk stands in the Ocean County Mall where we sold sports gifts and memorabilia for Christmas. He would do anything for me. Sometimes he was my brother, sometimes he was my father, but mostly he was a best friend!

Earle was a man of many hats, gave great advice, and told the most amazing tales. He was like the dad in the movie “Big Fish” with incredible stories of adventure and skulduggery! And they were all true.

Earle the Hippy – I believe it was over spring break during his college days in the 70’s. He tried to surprise meet up with a college buddy for a concert or something he had hitchhiked to in an old country mountain town out West. There was only one way into this town and he knew this friend had to eventually pass by. Earle waited on the side of that road all day with his friend’s name hand written on a large cardboard sign waving at every single car passing by hoping his buddy would see him! (I actually forget the ending to this story but I’m pretty sure the plan worked). Maybe someone that knows better than I will post below in the comments.

Earle the Bartender – The first time I went to Vegas was with Earle and his brother Brad for a trade-show. He made me my first proper gin martini. Bombay Sapphire up with olives…  albeit the Earle way in a red solo cup.

Earle the Daredevil – one time Earle hustled his brother Brad and I two hours through a pounding white out blizzard all the way down Rt 70 from the Jersey Shore to Philly airport with one good working windshield wiper  - only to be told at check-in that our flight was the next day.

Earle the Season Ticket Holder – He loved his Jets! Took me to my 1st NFL game. It was the Monday Night Miracle when the Dolphins were torching the Jets 30 – 7 entering the fourth quarter. Earle kept asking me if I wanted to leave… but every time he asked the Jets would score and we’d stay a little more!  The whole stadium emptied out so we moved all the way up to right behind the Jets sideline. The Jets scored 30 points in the fourth quarter and won the game in over-time!

Earle and the Mick! – He was a devout Yankee fan. His story of what it was like meeting his childhood idol Mickey Mantle face to face always stuck with me. Earle butted his way into a conversation Mickey was having at a dinner table at Mantle’s restaurant across from Central Park in NYC. He told The Mick that as a child he got into many tussles with neighborhood kids over who was more famous, “God or Mickey Mantle”. Earle was always team Mantle! Mickey loved the story so much he autographed a baseball for Earle right there on the spot!

Earle the Writer – He wasn’t just a sports writer. Earle was regarded as the defacto, go-to NJ Scholastic High School Wrestling Sports Reporter. Basically, if you were a High School wrestler, you wanted your name in Earle’s stories! Whenever old time wrestlers would approach him years after their wrestling careers ended,  Earle might not have remembered their faces, but when someone would introduce themself, like a magician Earle immediately would bring up their exact weight, high school they went to, and all their wrestling stats.

I will forever miss his Earle-isms.

Like when he had something important to say to you, he would walk right up with this grin & stare… he’d sip in a loud pallet cleansing breath. Then place a hand on your shoulder and speak his peace. Sometimes with his hand on your shoulder, he’d look you in the eye… and forget what he came up to say;)

Or the ole barefoot boardwalk check-in to see if you were making him any money that night… he’d suddenly appear barefoot right before you like a ninja at the exact second you weren’t paying attention to the boardwalk crowds. You look up and bam! There’s Earle, standing arms raised at his sides with the “why aren’t you working” expression. This technique wasn’t only reserved for his own workers. My mother just reminded me of the time when she was filling in for me at a kiosk I owned in the mall. She was reading a book… looked up and there he was, arms raised! Busted slacking off by Earle!

Earle the Family man – Over the years, the Livingston and DeAngelo families intermingled perfectly! We have and still will do anything for each other. Earle was more than just a boss or friend. He knew and cared about everyone in my family tremendously. Heck we pretty much all worked for him & even some cousins too!

Heaven gained a Jersey Legend today! Mr. Union Jacks!! John Earle Livingston, my mentor and brother! Thank you for sharing your family, your joy of life, your entrepreneurial ideals, and your superior knowledge of Sports & Music, not only with myself, but my best friends, and my family! Shinedown always Earle! You are loved and missed! -AJD 05/21/20