"My Husband, Jack Kelly" - Pt. III

Happy Wednesday!

Here's the third part of "My Husband, Jack Kelly" by Mae (May) Wynn:

"This feeling dates back to an unhappy experience as a boy. He had always wanted a new bicycle of his own, but was unable to save enough out of his allowance to afford one. One day, he told me, he got a bright idea that would solve his problem: get a job in a bicycle shop to earn the money he needed.

Upon Kelly's pleadings, the owner of the store agreed to let him have the shiny two-wheeler after it was only half paid for, but warned him that he might not be able to keep him employed much longer. 'That's all right,' Kelly had said. 'In that case I'll just get myself another job...'

But when it happened, he couldn't find one. And the bicycle had to be returned.

It certainly taught him a lesson. Except for the house and one or two other expenditures which were too high to be paid for in cash, he would never buy anything on time--or let me get anything that way!

Caption: "The Kellys have to pay bills, too, and here
they go over their monthly bookkeeping. Poodle seems
unconcerned with such matters." :)

Come to think of it, it was his aversion to gambling that caused our only big argument in three years of marriage.

When I say he doesn't like to gamble, I don't mean he stays away from all card games. He enjoys a good game of poker--but he knows the odds and plays accordingly. It is almost like a business venture with him.

Not with me. I always liked to play cards simply for the pleasure I got out of it. And one night I somehow accomplished the impossible--by losing $150 in a nickel and dime game.

After our guests had left, Kelly turned to me disgustedly. 'You played stupidly,' he exclaimed.

'What do you mean?' I shot back.

'You don't know when to quit! You stay in the game with every hand till the last card is played...'

That did it! 'I played poker before I met you. Don't tell me how to play. Besides, I don't care whether I win or lose...!!'

Kelly stared at me disbelievingly. 'In that case, why don't you just give away $150?'

Before I had a chance to answer he had gotten up, walked out of the house, and sat down on the front steps to cool off.

By the time I had a chance to reason things out for myself, I couldn't help agreeing that Kelly was right. So now when we get in a game, I play to win, just as he does.

Incidentally, this was one of the very few times that I have seen my husband lose his temper. Generally, it's next to impossible to even make him mad and, believe me, there are times when I've given him good reasons! Like with my backseat driving."

STAY TUNED FOR PART IV! :)

"My Husband, Jack Kelly" Part II :)

Hello All!

Here's Part II of "My Husband, Jack Kelly" by Mae (May) Wynn:

"Having been an actress myself, I knew the tensions, the conceit, the egotism and antagonism that invariably seems to go with the job. Consequently, I was certain of only one thing about my personal future--that I would never marry an actor. But, Kelly's attitude toward his career was so different than anything I had ever experienced before, that it no longer presented a handicap.

We agreed that whoever got a lucky break first would set the pace for the years to come. In short, if my series Noah's Ark had been successful, Kelly would never have accepted the Maverick show. Instead, he would have done features, to enable us to stay together through most of the year. Since my series turned into a flop, and his was successful, I gave up my career altogether.

Kelly is not only different from most actors, he is different from most men.

For one thing, he is a stickler for honesty and correctness, to the extent that it almost becomes an obsession with him.
I don't mean to imply most men are liars. But, let's face it--it seems to be the general consensus of opinion that a little white lie never hurt anyone and probably does a lot of good under certain circumstances.

That's not Kelly's way of thinking at all. I will never forget one of our first dates. Since we were going to some gala affair, I took great pains selecting a beautiful dress for the evening. Since he didn't comment on it when he picked me up at my apartment, I asked him point-blank how he liked it.

'I don't,' he came back, matter-of-factly. Who does he think he is, I thought, putting on an act like this. No person is that frank, especially after he just met a girl.

Kelly is. And once I realized it wasn't an act, I loved it.

Even people who have known him for a long time are still surprised by his correctness and meticulosity.

A couple of weeks ago, a writer who must have done a dozen stories with Kelly called him while we were having dinner. He had but one question to ask Kelly for a symposium story. I think it was about the 'most frightening' experience he ever had.

'I'd like to think about it for a while. Why don't you call me back in the morning?' Kelly suggested.

'All I need is one little anecdote,' the writer persisted. 'If it isn't the most frightening incident, give me any one that comes to you mind. I'm sure it'll be all right.'

'I'd rather think about it and give you the specific information you want...'

'But...'

'...please, if you don't mind--call me in the morning.'

A bit unhappy at first about the delay, the writer was most appreciative when he got exactly what he wanted.

Mostly I have always been surprised at my husband's lack of gambling ambitions. This runs not only counter to the attitude of most actors who feel their profession consists of nothing but taking chances, but specifically the character he plays on TV, Bart Maverick."

Watch for Part III of "My Husband, Jack Kelly"! :)