There's one Maverick Kellectible which you've probably all seen but not heard: a cardboard "record" which was handed out as a promo by Jeep dealers during the heyday of the Maverick TV series. It has a sweet photo of Bret and Bart on the front:
...and a plug for Maverick and Jeep vehicles on the back (this particular example in the Kellection came from a Buick dealership in Sheboygan, Wisconsin):
This Maverick record shows up now and then on eBay. There's one being offered now for $195 ("Never seen another like it, very rare" the seller claims). Sorry, this Kellectible is cool, but not $195 worth of cool. There's another one for sale at $50, which is still kind of on the high-ish side.
I actually have two of these records. I was delighted to find the first one not long after I "discovered" Jack Kelly in 2009. But, my delight turned to dismay when I read the little blurb on the front: "This is a record. Play it on your phonograph. 78 RPM."
Uh-oh. At one time my family had a record player with 78 capability, but it was given away before we moved when I was a teenager. And that was like in...well, before 2009.
So, I asked around my family and friends, but no one had a turntable that went up to 78 RPM...or even a turntable, for that matter.
So, I figured my little Maverick records would just be kool Kellectibles, silent conversation pieces, items which would be seen and never heard.
Until now.
Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I finally found a 78 RPM turntable! And, I set forth to free Bret and Bart from their prison of obsolete audio technology.
I feverishly took the turntable out of the box and plugged it in. I gingerly placed the needle on the record and flicked the "on" switch.
Then, I breathlessly waited to hear JK's and JG's voices. What would they say? Would it be "'Hi Bart!' 'Hi Bret!' 'Let's tell the folks all about the new Jeep!'" and other snappy patter?
Well, if you're holding your breath to find out: exhale.
What I heard was the Maverick theme song followed by a low-key James Garner going on about how much he loves playing Bret Maverick, and how Maverick is about two brothers who make their living by playing cards, and the stories take place in different locales, yadda yadda yadda. And, oh, brother Bart is played by "Warner Bros. star, Jack Kelly".
In other words, stuff anyone who's watched five minutes of Maverick already knew. The whole spiel sounded like copy cranked out by the WB publicity department, which it no doubt was. And, yes, I listened to both records, just in case JK spoke on the other one. Nope, both records are exactly the same, with only JG's voice.
So there you have it, JK fans. No need to pay nearly $200 (or even $100) for this glorified piece of cardboard.
Unless you just like the picture on the front. ;)
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