Arthur Jones and Bill Pearl.
Part one.
As figures in bodybuilding history go, Arthur Jones was and will always be one of the more colourful individuals within it. Many of you will be aware of his connection with Mike Mentzer, Casey Viator and Sergio Oliva. All three being bodybuilding greats and having cemented their own legacy and place in bodybuilding.
Jones also had a connection with another famous bodybuilding great. In fact this alliance lasted longer than that of the three notable bodybuilders I’ve listed above. The bodybuilder in question is Bill Pearl. When it comes to surmising Arthur Jones Bill asserts ‘he is by far one of the most unique individuals I’ve met’. Elaborating further he paraphrases Mike Mentzer in saying.
“Arthur Jones is not a relaxing person to be with. He does not lightly exchange words. He spews facts, torrents of them, gleaned from studies and perhaps more important, from practical application of theory, personal observations and incisive deduction. You don't converse with Arthur Jones: you attend his lectures. He is opinionated, challenging, intense and blunt."
‘I am in total agreement with Mike’ continues Bill.
The pair would first meet in 1958 when on one Monday morning Jones turned up on the doorstep of Bill’s gym in Sacramento. In true eccentric fashion Jones attire matched the man’s character. Dressed in a khaki shirt and trousers he had a .357 Magnum on his belt, covered by a jacket.
Bill noted his heavy Southern accent and his monotone no nonsense manner of speaking.
"You're Bill Pearl. My name is Arthur Jones. I'm from Slidell, Louisiana. I've come to see if you're interested in participating in a 'gawd'-damn movie I'm going to produce. I'll need you for about a month. It's going to be filmed in Florida and Louisiana."
An intrigued Bill humoured him and asked him if ‘he made movies for a living’. The answer came in true Jones method of delivery.
"Hell, no. I have a large wildlife game reserve in Slidell that supplies most of the animal parks and zoos throughout the country with reptiles, exotic birds, monkeys and other gawd'-damn wildlife that I capture in South America. But I'm not new to the film business. I've made several documentaries."
By this point Bill was somewhat captivated and the discussion continued. Jones as Bill had noted immediately had a unique manner of articulating himself and answering questions put to him. ‘When do you plan on filming?’ Asked Bill, ‘as soon as I can get your ass down to Louisiana." ‘What am I supposed to do in this movie?’ ‘Whatever it takes to make the 'gawd'-damn thing sell!"
‘How much are you willing to pay?’
‘How much are you worth?’
We agreed on a price and, to this day, I've never picked up a tab when we've been together. His pride seemed offended whenever I've tried.
In this first encounter and short meeting it was obvious Jones was a man who liked to not only get his way but could make it happen. Jones stayed in Sacramento for a few days and during that short period Bill realised the gulf in their character, personality and mindset. Arthur was from a completely different world.
Arthur was opinionated and was so on everything, there was no leeway in his thoughts, it was very much binary. His mindset on bodybuilding as you all know was the heavy duty, maximum intensity and minimum duration philosophy. One set per muscle, three times a week done to complete failure.
Somewhat fascinated by Arthur Bill asked him about his political leanings, questioning him as to whether he thought JFK would become the next president. Jones’ answer was blunt but to the point. ‘It really doesn't matter. Some right- thinking Texan will take care of the son-of-a-bitch.’
Their differences become ever more apparent when filming for the movie titled ‘Voodoo Swamp’ began. Bill witnessed Arthur’s ability to subsist on nothing more than Coca Cola and cigarettes. Arthur would stay awake until the small hours often in conference with whomever would choose to be in his company. Then he would expect everyone to jump at his behest at the crack of a whip. ‘I needed food, rest and consistency’ stated Bill.
With such a difference in lifestyle and methodology it was inevitable Bill and Arthur would clash. This happened a week or so in to filming of Voodoo Swamp.
Bill, Arthur and four others were crammed in to an Oldsmobile en route to the shooting destination. The scene to be shot would have Bill neck deep wading through a swamp full of leeches. Something he was not look forward to in the slightest. This was confounded by the fact he was hungry and suffering from lack of sleep.
On top of this the radio was turned up full blast making it impossible to think and
Arthur was chain smoking throughout the journey. An already cranky and fed up Bill could contain himself no more when Arthur started grabbing the script girl’s bottom, who was sitting between them.
"This is ridiculous." I flicked off the radio and shouted, "Stop the car!" Arthur retaliated with, "Why? You got a 'gawd'-damn problem?" I shouted, "I've got several problems! First, I can't breathe! Second, I don't do well on bologna sandwiches! Third, I've had as much sleep this past week as I normally get in a night. Now you two decide to start screwing around. Either there are some drastic changes, or I'm out of here!" He apologized by saying something like, "I didn't realize you were so ‘gawd'-damn sensitive."
This incident proved two things, one that Bill who was normally the most calm and amiable of individuals had the capacity to become angry and explosive when pushed. Two, it showed Arthur Bill was an individual who was not to be trifled with.
Bill would also see another side of Arthur that was less than savoury, on top of what he’d already witnessed.
During filming one of the scenes which involved Bill throwing a stuntman off a bridge in to the water. The scene was being shot in the dark and during one take there was a thud as opposed to a splash. Bill had accidentally thrown the stuntman on to the bank and not in to the river. Promoting the stuntman to whimper "Arthur—if we're going to do this again, make sure Mr. Pearl tosses me further to the left!"
A passing car full of teenage boys had stopped to watch proceedings. As they left a crew member exclaimed that an expensive camera had gone missing. He was convinced the boys had stolen it whilst the crew were busy filming.
Arthur wasted little time and within a block they had pulled the car with boys in over.
Arthur ran to their car screaming, "Did one of you steal my 'gawd'-damn camera?" There was no response. Arthur pulled out his pistol, drew back the hammer, placed the barrel in the middle of the driver's forehead saying, "Boy, I'm going to ask you one more time, before I scatter your ‘gawd'-damn brains all over this car! Did one of you steal my 'gawd'-damn camera?" His reputation must have preceded him. The driver stuttered “Honest Mr. Jones, we did not ta—ta-take your camera." Not satisfied Arthur told me to start searching the car, fortunately one of his crew ran up screaming that they had found it stored in the back of the station wagon. It seemed everyone but Arthur let out a sigh, as he eased back the hammer of the gun.
