One Sunday Afternoon With Jack Kelly :)

Howdy!

Here's another amazing pic of Jack Kelly from his early career days at Universal-International Studios.

 

Dated 1951, it shows JK in an opening night scene directed by Sophie Rosenstein from "One Sunday Afternoon" (a play written by James Hagan) which was presented as part of the annual "Inside U-I" stage show. Some writing on the back of the photo says, "Scenes presented on stage as acting exercises to audiences of studio's directors and producers."

More writing on the back of the still identifies JK's leggy co-stars as Gale Storm (L) and Ava Norring (R), although I'm not quite sure if the lady on the left really is Ms. Storm. Anyway, JK appears to be saying "Cheers!" at the sight of Ms. Norring's glamourous gam.

I found this 1951 photo of actors in the U-I workshop online. JK is sitting in the front row; I'm sure you'll recognize some other familiar faces (such as Russell Johnson), too:

I also found some more pix from the "Inside U-I" show in a 1954 issue of Photoplay magazine. The story, "Puttin' On An Act", says, "Movie audiences will never see the U-I talent show. It's strictly a family affair...For several weeks every year U-I's huge Phantom Stage (so-called because it was built for the [1924] movie Phantom of the Opera) hums with activity. Youngsters gleefully go through their own routines or watch Estelle Harman, head of the talent department, put others through their paces."

"Though it looks like bedlam, there's method in the madness. This year's show, the third put on by the studio, is part of a million-dollar talent program which has more than earned its keep. The show called 'Inside U-I', is designed not only to give U-I contract players extra experience, but to display their versatile and sometimes unsuspected off-beat talents. Through these shows,  U-I's young players have again and again obtained better breaks, not only on their own lot, but also on loan-outs. For executives from all the other studios scramble for invitations to this glorified--and exclusive--Amateur Show."

Well, it's no act and I'll give my all to bring you much more about JK in TDS...please stay tuned! :) 

Klowning Around With Jack Kelly :)

Hello!

When we think of clowns named "Kelly", Emmett would probably be the first person who comes to mind.

But--no fooling!--that's Jack Kelly under the greasepaint in this incredible still from 1953:

 

The caption on the reverse of the photo says this is a scene from "Here Come The Clowns", with Lori Nelson. I believe this was presented as part of  "Inside U-I", which was staged annually by Universal-International during the early 1950's to show off young players such as JK, Ms. Nelson, Tony Curtis, Rock Hudson, and many others who were enrolled in the studio's talent development program.

 

Sophie Rosenstein, U-I's talent coach, explained the importance of the yearly show in a 1951 newspaper story: "You see, when a player is signed his fight just begins. Then, he has to sell himself to the directors and producers on the lot. By putting on this annual show, we can show the movie makers what our young people can do. Also, it gives the youngsters a set of values they wouldn't otherwise have. In the theater there is a great deal of tradition and loyalty. But actors who start their careers in the movies lack this background. They don't realize that they are part of a great industry. By putting on 'Inside U-I', the youngsters develop a sense of loyalty to the show."

 

Here's another 1953 pic of JK and Lori Nelson, this time in street clothes:

 

 

Even on crutches, JK is still clowning, although he'd seriously injured his leg in a skiing accident in late 1952, leaving him unable to work for over a year. He made only three more films for Universal in the mid-1950's (Magnificent Obsession, Cult of the Cobra and To Hell and Back) but, the lessons he'd learned at U-I served him well as he went on to a successful career in films and television.

 

 No foolin'--there's much more coming up in TDS. Please stay tuned! :)