"Introducing Jack Kelly" Pt. I :)

Hello!

In my never-ending kwest for Kellectibles, I never know where Jack Kelly will turn up next. 

Case in point: I just found an informative write-up and a gorgeous snapshot of JK in a fan club journal from 1951. Only, JK isn't the main focus of the journal. The journal is actually devoted to James Brown, a.k.a. Jim Brown. 

Now, this was not "The Godfather of Soul" James Brown or the football player turned actor named Jim Brown. This was the actor, born James Edward Brown in 1920, who appeared in such films as The Sands of Iwo Jima with John Wayne and the 1954 version of A Star is Born with Judy Garland and James Mason. He also co-starred in one of my favorite episodes of The Virginian, simply titled "West", with one of my "sigh guys", Steve Cochran. 

But, Jim Brown is probably best known for portraying "Lt. Rip Masters" in the fondly remembered 1950's TV western series The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin. He later founded an athletic equipment company and continued acting in films and TV until his death in 1992. 

So, what was JK doing in "The Brown Banner", the fanzine devoted  to JB? Well, here's a little secret: Many "fan" clubs were actually sanctioned by film studios, who recognized a great way to drum up publicity for their performers when they saw it. The fan club "prexy" (president) was often paid a salary and given unlimited access to a studio's stars. Although "The Brown Banner" resembles a homemade scrapbook, it's full of studio news, interviews and actual photos of Brown, his wife, and even their dog, Patsy. It also contains stories publicizing other players working at the 20th Century Fox studio, hence the write-up and incredible photo of newcomer Jack Kelly...which I will share with you in the next TDS! :)