It's Auld Lang Syne Time - Pt. IV

Happy New Year's Eve Everyone!

Finishing up our visit to 1958 and bidding farewell to 2019, here is one more festive pic of Jack and Donna Kelly:

They look like they're having a wonderful time!

I've had a wonderful time blogging about JK in TDS for the past 10 years. I hope you'll stay with us as the fun continues into 2020.

I wish everyone a blessed New Year, and if you're out celebrating tonight, please be happy and safe. :)

Merry Christmas 2019 from La Bartista and "TDS"! :)

Vintage Christmas clipart courtesy of olddesignshop.com

It's The Night Before Christmas...

...And who did appear?

Why, it's Bart Maverick to wish you holiday cheer! :)

Happy Thanksgiving 2019! :)

Vintage clip art courtesy Vintage Holiday Crafts.com

Happy Veterans Day 2019!

Veterans Day clipart courtesy of clipart-library.com

Happy Halloween 2019! :)

I love this "boo"-tiful still from "The Witch of Hound Dog" episode of Maverick, don't you? :)

Here's how it looked in the Cincinnati Enquirer when this kooky, spooky episode originally aired on November 6, 1960:

"A Kiss A Week - Jack Kelly finds himself an almost unwilling captive of Anita Sands, who thinks of herself as 'The Witch of Hound Dog' tonight on Channel 9's Maverick at 7:30. (Did you ever notice that each week one of the Mavericks puts in several moments of osculation time--Ed.)"

An ad for this episode:

Now, don't forget to come back and see what's next in "TDS"--right, Pappy?

 Raven portrait courtesy of www.vectorstock.com

Happy Birthday! :)

(Please view in web version for best effect)

Jack Kelly's Other Job - Pt II :)

Continuing with our Labor Day look at Jack Kelly's role in Huntington Beach politics:

In November 1983, JK was elected to a one-year term as HB's mayor by the city council. The position was largely ceremonial and pretty much a given because JK had served as vice-mayor since April of that year.
But, JK was thrilled. He told the LA Times, "I always thought that old actors just faded away, but my peers have given me the chance to re-debut in what may prove to be the finest act of my career." 

An unusual memento of JK's term as mayor now resides in the Kellection:

I know very little about this beautifully-crafted badge--which is actually miniature-sized--except that the seller remembered buying it at a badge collector's show in the 1990's and at the time didn't connect the name on the badge to the actor in Maverick. They suggested I e-mail the manufacturer for more info. (I did, but never received a response.)

So, I don't know if JK actually wore this badge or if it was created as a keepsake. If anyone out there knows the facts behind the badge, please let me know! :)


COMING SOON: Some incredible autographed items and the story behind them--the story of a very gracious man and mayor named Jack Kelly. Please stay tuned--you will not want to miss this! :) 

Jack Kelly's Other Job - Pt. I :)

Hello Everyone!


In honor of Labor Day, I'm sharing some extra special items from the Kellection which relate to Jack Kelly's tenure (1980-1992) as a local politician in Huntington Beach, California.


First, here's how JK's involvement in HB politics came about, straight from the man himself. He told a Los Angeles Times reporter in 1984 that he had been asked to run for city council in the late 1970's after working on the campaign of David Baker, who ultimately lost his bid for county supervisor. JK said that he was "flattered" but also "flabbergasted" by the request. Nevertheless, he accepted the challenge.


"I said 'yes' before I knew it," JK explained. "I had never thought of doing something like that. I had never been active in politics, except the usual thing in Hollywood in those days--like supporting Adlai Stevenson and John Kennedy."


Not surprisingly, JK attracted a lot of attention when he tossed his Stetson into the ring. And, he ruffled some political feathers when he insisted on being listed on the ballot as "Jack Kelly - Businessman/Actor (Maverick)". His opponents didn't mind the businessman/actor part, but groused that the Maverick designation would give him an unfair advantage publicity-wise.


The association with Maverick certainly didn't hurt: JK's candidacy was heralded by headlines such as "JACK KELLY GAMBLES ON BALLOT LISTING" which played off of his role as poker-playing Bart. In April 1980, he breezed onto the HB city council with nearly 7000 votes.


On 6/2/1980, only two months after being elected, JK penned a note to a man named Bob. Whether Bob was an educator or a youth club leader, I don't know. But, JK demonstrated his civil-mindedness and concern for the future of the local electorate when he wrote:

"Dear Bob - Try to get your young men and women interested in local politics! Best Wishes, Jack Kelly"


Yes, you've seen this note pictured elsewhere, but I am honored to now own the original, the piece of paper which was handled, written on and signed by Jack Kelly himself. :)


COMING NEXT: A golden reminder of Jack Kelly's time as mayor of Huntington Beach--please stay tuned! :)

Happy Father's Day 2019! :)

Vintage Father's Day clipart courtesy of The Graphics Fairy 

Happy Mother's Day 2019 From "TDS"! :)

Vintage clip art courtesy of

  The Graphics Fairy

Happy Easter 2019! :)

Original 1910 Easter postcard physically scanned

 from The La Bartista Kellection

Happy Saint Patrick's Day 2019!

Image & text physically scanned from original 

vintage postcard in the La Bartista Kellection

White Snow, Icy Wind Chill :)

Hello!

The calendar says "March" and Spring is just around the corner. However, in much of the US, Winter is determined to stay put. The wind chill in my neck of the woods is forecast to be -4 degrees tonight! :0

So, here's an original NBC publicity still (with some artistic flourishes added) of Jack Kelly and Senta Berger in "White Snow, Red Ice", a 1964 segment of Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre:

Original B&W 1964 still of Jack Kelly & Senta Berger 

scanned and color-tinted by La Bartista (2019).

Frame effect courtesy of LoonaPix.

The snipe on the back reads: "INDOOR SPORTS...Senta Berger is a beautiful ski champion (and jewel thief) and Jack Kelly a private eye in 'White Snow, Red Ice', airing in color Friday, March 13 (8:30-9:30 pm EST), on Bob Hope Presents The Chrysler Theatre, over NBC-TV."

 

No matter what the weather outside is like, you'll always find a warm welcome in TDS. Please stay tuned for more fun with JK! :)

Happy Love Your Pet Day 2019! :)

Hello!

In honor of "Love Your Pet Day" 2019, here's a lovely pic of Jack Kelly from 1959 (dig those argyle socks):

The caption for this original vintage press photo reads: "Jack Kelly serenades his wife and their French poodle in the Kellys' North Hollywood, Calif., home during a break in shooting of ABC-TV's Warner Bros.-produced Maverick, telecast Sundays (7:30-8:30 PM, EDT), on which Jack stars as brother Bart. His actress wife is known professionally as May Wynn."

What a treat! Speaking of treats, remember to be extra sweet to your pet today. And, please stay "tuned" for more fun with JK in TDS. :)

Happy Valentine's Day 2019! :)

 

Vintage original NBC promo still of Jack Kelly and Joan Caulfield from the "Sally Tries to Say 'No'" episode of Sally, which aired 9/22/1957. Photo scanned, color tinted and framed by La Bartista. 



Remembering...

Julie Adams has passed away at age 92 after an acting career which spanned over 60 years. She starred with Jack Kelly in the Maverick episodes "Brasada Spur" and "The White Widow", the 1957 Lux Video Theatre production of "Just Across The Street", and the 1953 feature film The Stand At Apache River (in which she was billed as "Julia Adams"). Rest in peace, Ms. Adams.

An original promo photo from the Kellection for the "Brasada Spur" episode of Maverick, with color tint added by La Bartista. Dated 2/20/1959, the episode info on the reverse of the photo reads: "ROMANTIC INTERLUDE--Jack Kelly, as Bart Maverick, the deft dealer of the pasteboards, finds that his lovely business partner, Julie Adams, portraying Belle Morgan, seems to have fallen in love with him, which further complicates their dealings. A scene in 'Brasada Spur', episode in Warner Bros.' Maverick series for ABC-TV network, Sunday, February 22."  

Another original promo photo from the Kellection, with the following episode info: "Jack Kelly (Bart) and Julie Adams in a suspenseful moment from 'The White Widow', the Maverick story for January 24 [1960], at 7:30 p.m., over ABC-TV."

A tense quartet in The Stand At Apache River. The snipe on the back of this vintage still reads: "Col. Morsby (HUGH MARLOWE), Hatcher (JACK KELLY), Valerie Kendrick (JULIA ADAMS) and Sheriff Lane Dakota (STEPHAN McNALLY) face attack by Apache braves in this scene from Universal-International's The Stand At Apache River."  

Wintervention! :)

Hello!

Much of the Midwest has been in the bone-chilling grip of a "polar vortex" for the past couple of days. Sub-zero temperatures and record-low wind chills have closed schools and even caused mail delivery to be temporarily suspended in some states.

As January comes to an icy end, I think we need a "wintervention" to help warm us up. So, here are some pix from the Kellection of Jack Kelly and his first wife Donna (May Wynn) frolicking in the California sun. 

These first pix are from a 1958 fan magazine feature titled "Just The Jack For Jim":



"They had tested dozens of young actors to play opposite

 James Garner in the ABC Maverick series...Then somebody decided to try Jack Kelly..."

  

"Handsome TV cowboy actor Jack Kelly is shown

 with his bride of a little more than a year, pretty actress May Wynn."





"Jack and May pose in the garden of their new house.

Jack is from an acting clan--sister Nancy Kelly is a screen star."

 

"In the living room of their comfortable ranch-style home

in Studio City, the Kellys relax a bit.

Jack loves California."

 

"Jack, who has proved a perfect foil for James Garner as the brother in Warner's ABC Maverick,  helps with the cooking." [B27--Um, JK was more than just "the brother" in Maverick. And, I bet he's using Kaiser foil here. ;>]

 

Finally, here's an actual United Press photo taken at the same time as the shot above (notice May/Donna's shiny leather slacks!):

 

The snipe on the back reads: "CARRYING ON (Studio City, Calif): Providing a pick-me-up for his pretty wife, actress May Wynn, actor Jack Kelly bears up well under the burden outside of the pair's home in Studio City, Calif. Jack appears as Bart Maverick in the ABC Television Maverick series." And, the photo is dated 1/29/58--almost exactly 61 years ago!  

 

Well, I hope these sunny pictures have picked you up. Please stay tuned for more fun with JK in TDS--and stay warm. :)