Hello!Here are some more klippings from the new Kellectibles to help warm up a winter night:
This pic of an older, more serious Jack Kelly comes from the November 1971 issue of TV Dawn to Dusk, a magazine devoted to daytime television. The article is titled "From Rogues to Riches" and it describes JK as "the debonair quizmaster of Sale of the Century", although by this time I think he'd already left SOTC to return to acting full-time. It also calls him "the former irrepressible bandit-gambler Bart Maverick" (not sure about the "bandit" part...?)
Anyway, the story repeats much of the early Kelly lore most fans are already familiar with (JK appeared in a soap ad at the age of 2 weeks, he acted on Broadway and radio as a child, he served in the Air Force, he achieved TV stardom on Maverick, etc.) However, it also looks at his later hosting duties on SOTC, and some of his off-duty activities:
"In September 1969, after a successful Hollywood career, Jack lassoed in on New York to emcee Sale of the Century. It's a toss-up as to which is a bigger audience drawer--those delicious bargains auctioned off on the show or witty and personable Jack himself. According to the Nielsen ratings, the two are a winning combination.
"Personableness is one quality Jack doesn't have to manufacture from his virtuoso acting ability. He truly measures up to a well-deserved reputation as one of the nicest guys in Hollywood. His good-natured Irish humor often smoothes over many difficult situations on the show. And as Christmas time approaches, he is the master Santa Claus, preparing his gift list almost three months in advance and spending weeks on elaborate wrappings.
"In whatever spare time Jack can manage to sandwich in between segments of the quiz show, he spends on outdoor sports--sailing, golfing, camping, to name just a few. Co-owner of a large, luxurious cabin cruiser, Jack often journeys to California for some salmon and striped bass fishing. He's also one of the star golfers on celebrity golf tournaments, including the Bob Hope Desert Classic and the Bing Crosby Tournament. Cooking, be it outdoors or indoors, is another one of Jack's specialties. He often passes out recipes from his original collection that would tickle the palate of any discriminating gourmet.
"Despite his duties as master of ceremonies, acting hasn't left Jack's system, and in the summertime he often stars in stock productions to which he lends his vocal and thespian talents. Among the plays Jack has toured with on the straw hat circuit are The Moon is Blue, Under the Yum Yum Tree, The Music Man, Come Blow Your Horn, Guys and Dolls, Cactus Flower, and The Odd Couple."
Strangely, I don't remember watching JK in SOTC, although I do remember watching Hollywood Squares, which evidently came on right after SOTC. (I think Squares was always on when I came home for lunch in grade school.) And, SOTC never made it to the Game Show Network because, according to Wikipedia, "The original 1969-1973 series is believed to have been destroyed by NBC as per network practices of the era. Only nine episodes are known to exist, held by the UCLA Film and Television Archive." What a waste--and what a loss for JK fans.
Incidentally, at the paper show yesterday, I visited a booth where a couple was selling autographed summer stock programs. The gentleman asked me if I was looking for any actor in particular. I mentioned Jack Kelly. Remarkably, the gentleman recognized the name (I often get blank stares at these shows) and asked me to send him an e-mail so he could look for any JK items he might have. Let's keep our fingers crossed that he finds some. :)
NEXT TIME: What was JK's idea of a romantic evening? ;->
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