Earl the Squirrel

**Earl the Squirrel** is a character original to the Universal theme parks, most often identified with the Holiday season at the parks.

## History

### Background

According to his official backstory from Universal, Earl the Squirrel was a squirrel who snuck into Universal Studios on one of their Christmas trees. Being mischievous with a love of blue Christmas lights, he would gnaw and steal blue lights from across the park to decorate his home.

Earl runs, "Earl's Tree Farm" in *Mistletoe Pines Village*, and transports the trees in his truck. Earl also ran a tourist-trap called, "Earl's North of the Border" which lacked running-water. This park included a section called, "Earl-Lando" and several questionable attractions.

By around 1953/1954, Earl the Squirrel was subject to the Halloween vinyl album *Spooky Sounds of Halloween featuring The Velvety Voice of Earl*.

After New York City's Tribute Theater reopened in 1982, Earl appeared in its, "Lets all go to the lobby" animations with his acorn friends Akron, Cashew, Achron and Acron. He was supposed to make a live-appearance to sign autographs around the time of a double-feature between *Jaws* (1975) and *Back to the Future* (1985), though this was cancelled.

Earl is in possession of a (very possibly fake) trophy from "Top Nut College" dated to the year 2006.

### Development history

According to one telling, Universal Studios employees noticed the blue lights out on their tree and followed it to the nest of a deceased squirrel which had died chewing at the wires. Supposedly, the Earl the Squirrel tradition began in 2015.

## Appearances

During the Holiday season, Earl the Squirrel is represented by a small squirrel figure in a red hat hidden in the Christmas trees. His more cartoony form will make meet 'n' greet appearances. He can be found in Holiday merchandise throughout the parks. Earl's truck for carrying Christmas trees will sometimes be added to the CityWalk.

### Dead Coconut Club

Earl made a cameo in 2023's *Revenge of the Dead Coconut Club in 3D* where graffiti of him in the club was accompanied by the words "EARL WAS HERE".

### Halloween Horror Nights

Earl makes recurring cameos in Halloween Horror Nights, as well as in the *Halloween Horror Nights Tribute Store*.

#### YETI: Campground Kills

A plush squirrel (without Earl's red hat) located at the base of the Ranger Station was supposedly meant to represent Earl the Squirrel.

### Tribute Stores

#### Halloween Horror Nights Tribute Store

The 2022 Halloween Tribute Store featured multiple allusions to Earl the Squirrel. His face appeared on a vinyl for, "*Spooky Sounds of Halloween featuring The Velvety Voice of Earl".* There was also a flyer from the Tribute Department Store with a promotion for a, "***Festive Squirrel** iconic mascot character from years past. Full articulation and comes with bonus strand of lights*". Also in this flyer was a promotion for Holiday displays provided by Earl's North of the Border and Earl-Lando, with trees provided by Mistletoe Pines Village and which featured the image of a cartoon Christmas tree character which Earl is sometimes seen with.

In the 2023 Tribute Store, the window for *McPherson's Collectibles Cards & Comics* had the books, "EARL THE SQUIRREL and GERG the Llama GO TO SPACE!", "SPOOOOOOKY TALES WITH EARL", "Earl Celebrates MARDI GRAS", and "Tale of the...HOLIDAY TRIBUTE STORE WITH EARL THE SQUIRREL". Advertisements for these stories appeared in the comic, "Tribute to Terror No. 32". Towards the end of October, Christmas packages were left in the window from Earl, addressed to Martha, Gerg, and Hollywood.

#### Holiday Tribute Store

Earl is often given his own section of the Holiday Tribute Store's theming. This has included, "Earl's Tree Farm" in 2020, "Earl the Squirrel’s Christmas Curios Museum" in 2021 and, "Earl’s North of the Border" in 2022 (also identified as being on the fourth floor of the Department Tribute Store). The 2023, there was a room themed to Earl's postal service "Earl's Shipping & Recieving".

#### Jurassic Park 30th Anniversary Tribute Store

Advertisements for "Earl's acorn soda" appeared.

#### Mardi Gras Tribute Store

Earl had a presence in the 2022 Mardi Gras Tribute Store, themed to the, "Tribute Store Float Factory". Throughout the factory were, **E.A.R.L.S.** (Earl's Advanced Rules Leading to Safety) Safety Tips with a cartoon depiction of Earl. There was also an advertisement for Earl's Acorn Soda.

#### Summer Tribute Store

In 2022, the Tribute Theater had Earl appear in the, "Lets all go to the lobby" video, and had a cancelled promotion for him signing autographs at the theater with his cartoon acorn friends, Akron, Cashew, Achron and Acron. Also in the 2022 Theater was a sticker with a squirrel on it and the name "Earl's" left on the bulletin-board.

## Trivia

* In 2020, Earl the Squirrel's figure in the parks was given a Covid mask.
* Earl’s North of the Border is a play on the real-world South of the Border tourist-trap in South Carolina.
* An electrical box with a, "DANGER ELECTRICAL HAZARD" sign featuring the silhouette of a squirrel gnawing at electrical chords referenced Earl's supposed origins.
* Mistletoe Pines Village was the theming of part of Universal Studios' Citywalk in 2021.
* At the door connecting to the, "Whoville Sanitation Department" in the 2021 Holiday Tribute Store, Earl the Squirrel’s Christmas Curios Museum was shown to have a travel-poster advertising trips to *Mt. Crumpit National Park* from *How the Grinch Stole Christmas*. The parcel from him to, "Martha" has been speculated to be an allusion to Martha May Whovier.
* The 2023 Holiday Tribute Store had photos seemingly depicting Earl in front of ET in a Santa costume and the Bates Mansion covered in Christmas lights.

## References

1. ↑ https://wdwnt.com/2022/10/crates-christmas-trees-uni-orlando-2022-holidays/
2. ↑ https://www.insider.com/how-earl-the-squirrel-became-a-universal-studios-holiday-icon-2021-12
3. ↑ https://touringplans.com/blog/the-saturday-six-looks-at-hhn-32-across-the-universal-orlando-resort-revenge-of-the-dead-coconut-club-in-3d-cabana-bay-and-more/
4. ↑ https://wdwnt.com/2022/10/christmas-2022-teaser-halloween-tribute-store/
5. ↑ https://www.laughingplace.com/w/news/2023/08/31/photos-tribute-to-terror-hhn-store/
6. ↑ https://wdwnt.com/2023/08/photos-comic-book-shop-halloween-tribute-store-facade-featuring-tons-of-easter-eggs-at-universal-studios-florida/
7. ↑ https://wdwnt.com/2023/10/tribute-store-moving-back-to-hollywood-for-the-holidays-frame-for-facade-set-up-and-teasers-appear/
8. ↑ https://allears.net/2022/11/15/come-look-inside-the-holiday-tribute-store-at-universal/
9. ↑ https://touringplans.com/blog/the-saturday-six-looks-at-universals-latest-tribute-store-the-making-of-jurassic-park/
10. ↑ https://touringplans.com/blog/s6\_2022-mardi-gras-tribute-store/
11. ↑ https://touringplans.com/blog/s6\_movie\_theater\_tribute\_store/
12. ↑ https://universalparksnewstoday.com/2022/05/full-tour-of-classic-movie-themed-summer-tribute-store-featuring-jaws-back-to-the-future-and-e-t-at-universal-studios-florida/
13. ↑ https://orlandoinformer.com/blog/the-complete-history-of-earl-the-squirrel-at-universal-studios/
14. ↑ https://orlandoparkstop.com/news/theme-park-news/who-is-earl-the-squirrel-universal-orlandos-holiday-mascot/
15. ↑ https://universalparksnewstoday.com/2021/11/photos-mistletoe-pines-village-at-universal-orlando-citywalk-now-open-with-custom-ornaments-holiday-snacks-and-alcoholic-eggnogs/
16. ↑ https://wdwnt.com/2021/11/photos-video-tour-the-2021-holiday-tribute-store-at-universal-studios-florida/
17. ↑ https://wdwnt.com/2023/11/holiday-tribute-store-2023-usf-full-tour/