The Feel Good Video of the Year :)

Hello!

2016 may not have been the cheeriest year, but the video below is guaranteed to bring joy to your heart. Although it has absolutely nothing to do with Jack Kelly, I just had to share it with you. And here's why:

 

You may have seen this incredible story on Fox News or elsewhere. Well, I'm proud to say, the "stars" of the video--Christine and her son Alexander Joel--are my niece and great-nephew. I met Alex in person for the first time last Christmas and he truly is one amazing kid!

 

 

I thank God and Tim Tebow for making this miracle adoption--and this precious addition to my family--possible. :)

 

"Give The Boots The Stars Wear" Pt V

And now, to conclude our yuletide look at JK & Acme Boots, the pièce de résistance:

 A pair of Maverick boots with their original box, courtesy of the now apparently defunct "Toy Cabin" website. Unfortunately, these marvelous boots weren't for sale (the site was just for looking), but the description read, "These fantastic items are produced in black leather with contrasting cut design around the sides which cleverly incorporates hearts, diamonds, spades and clubs on the border."

I hope you've enjoyed these glimpses of Christmases past with JK, JG and Acme Boots. And, I hope you have a blessed Christmas 2016. :)

JK Black Friday Funny :)

"Hope y'all enjoyed the leftover Thanksgiving turkey. Sorry, I was so busy shopping today that I didn't have time to bake a pie for dessert. I think there's some ambrosia left in the icebox, though."

(Original still from The Stand At Apache River (1953), featuring Hugh Marlowe, Julie Adams, Stephen McNally and, of course, JK.)

A Veterans Day Salute

Hello Everyone,

Some wonderful original stills from Jack Kelly's 1955 film To Hell And Back have joined the Kellection, just in time for Veterans Day.

JK is in the back center of this first photo and somewhat out of focus, but he still commands attention. The snipe on the back says, "SOME MADE IT--AND SOME DIDN'T--In 'To Hell And Back'...With fear in their faces and guns ready, these are the men who fight their way with Audie Murphy (right) 'To Hell And Back' in the movie based on his autobiography of the same title. However, most of Audie's buddies of the 3rd Infantry Division didn't make it back--and it is to them he dedicated his book and now dedicates the movie. Filmed by Universal-International in CinemaScope Technicolor, with large-scale cooperation of the Army, the movie is regarded as 'the most human story of the foot soldier ever told.' Players include (left to right) Brett Halsey, Gregg Palmer, Paul Picerni, Richard Castle (on elbows), Jack Kelly, Charles Drake--and Murphy."

In the second photo, JK (as "Kerrigan") and AM flush Germans out of a farmhouse at Anzio:

Below, Kerrigan consoles Murphy after their buddy Brandon (Gregg Palmer) dies in battle:

 

In a lighter moment, AM, JK and friends enjoy some much-needed R&R:

The same scene as shown on a Spanish-language lobby card:

Another lobby card showing a battle scene:

 

BONUS IMAGE! Another fotobusta arrived from Italy the other day, and it just happens to show JK in a different military uniform in a different film: They Rode West (or Cavalcata ad Ovest). While this 'busta isn't in the greatest shape, we can still recognize JK's million-watt grin (which he's beaming at Donna Reed, on the left side of the image).

Let's remember all veterans on this day and be thankful for their service. :)

The Winning Ticket :)

 

Bart and Beau
Would be a winning ticket

On this Election Day--

'Tis pity they're not running this year.

Thankfully we're all still free

And can vote with head and heart,

But, frankly, my dears,

With the choices we've been given

I'd rather vote for Beau and Bart. :)

 

But, seriously, folks--whether your state is red or blue, whether your candidate is Republican or Democrat (or from another party), please vote. We may not like everyone or everything on the ballot, but we as Americans still have the freedom to voice our choice and that's what really counts.



 

Flag clip art courtesy Clipart Panda

 

A Birthday At the Races! :)

"Let's see now--the winner of the last race was MANY HAPPY RETURNS, the favorite in this race is CARROT CAKE, and IT'S MY BIRTHDAY is now at the starting line!"

 

 "Oh Jack, I don't see any horses with those names! Are you trying to tell me something?"

 

 "Uh, 'It's My Birthday'?"

 

 "(Wait a minute...Carrot Cake...Birthday...)

I got it: It's Goldie's birthday!"

 

"Well, you're warm..."

 

"You're darn right--I'm roasting in this

heavy costume!"

 

"Oh, never mind."

 

"Don't worry, Jack! I remembered your birthday and there's a freshly-baked carrot cake waiting for you at the barn. Wow! My cousin just won the race! Way to go, Silver!"

 

 

"I thought it was 'Hi-Yo, Silver!'"

 

"Hey, that's my line!"

 



Happy 4th of July! :)

 

Clipart courtesy Sweet Magnolias Farm

Nine Is Fine! :)

 

Happy Mother's Day From "TDS"! :)

Vintage Clip Art Courtesy All Things Clipart

JK's Friday Funnies! :)

Wow! Have a look at this Maverick comic book that just joined the Kellection:

Happy Friday! ;)

Happy Easter From "TDS"! :)

Vintage Easter Clip Art Courtesy thisandthatpatterns

Happy New Year--And Thanks For Being My Friend! :)

Happy New Year! (Does anyone else keep thinking it's Saturday?) :)

For the first post of 2016, let's have a look at an autographed photo of Jack Kelly which recently became a part of the Kellection:

I'm sure you'll recognize a couple of things about this photo. Of course, the face is familiar. And the phrase--"Thanks for being my friend!"--is also familiar. (I've seen it inscribed on quite a few photos JK autographed.)

However, there's also something unusual and unique about this photo, or rather, about what was included with it:

The envelope in which the signed photo was originally sent to a fan in 1981! With the name of JK's real estate holding company, "August II Inc.", printed on both the envelope and the address label. JK was serving on Huntington Beach's city council in 1981 and would later be elected as the city's mayor in 1983 and 1986.

JK's daughter, Nicole Kelly Garner, now uses the August II name for her award-winning video production company. As she explains on her company's site, "Founder and Executive Producer, Nicole Kelly Garner, named the company after her father, John Augustus Kelly Jr., also known by his stage name Jack Kelly, from the famed TV western series Maverick. Jack being the second and Augustus, his middle name, August II came about. Many now simply refer to the company as 'A2', in-short."

And now, I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all of you for "being my friend" and for reading TDS. I've enjoyed researching and writing each post since 2009 and I hope to continue doing so for a long time. I hope you all will continue to enjoy reading TDS, too. :)