Happy National Day of the Cowboy 2021!

Howdy!

To celebrate National Day of the Cowboy 2021, here's a magnificent pic of those marvelous Maverick brothers, Bret and Bart! (And, yes, that's Goldie with Bart in this original vintage still from the Kellection):

Have a rip-snortin', rootin' tootin' day, everyone! :)

"Beggars" Night :)

Hey!

I meant to post this original pic from the Kellection a couple of weeks ago, in honor of the 62nd anniversary of "Two Beggars on Horseback", the Maverick episode which premiered on 1/18/59. 

But, any time is a good time to remember this lively episode, which pairs Jack Kelly and James Garner with Patricia Barry (as crafty "Jessamy Longacre"). It's a fan favorite and reportedly was JK's favorite Maverick episode, as well. 

It's also time to say "Bye-bye" to January and "Hello" to February. What's coming up in TDS during the next month? Please stay tuned to find out! :)

"Give the Boots the Stars Wear" Revisited!

 Hello Everyone,

Christmas will be here in just a few days! So, what better time to revisit the "Give the Boots the Stars Wear" Acme Boots ad campaign. This colorful holiday-themed magazine page from the Kellection dates back to December 1959:

As Santa says, "Here's authentic western style, fiery color, imaginative design--all in comfortable, sturdy-wearing boots that live up to the legend of the west, every day of the year! No gift ever speaks with such understandable language to youngsters...'the boots the stars wear...Acme Boots.'"

Here's a closer look at those Warner Bros. western stars, headed by Jack Kelly and James Garner of Maverick:

And, a close-up of those magnificent Maverick boots:

Lucky was the little cowboy or cowgirl who found this footwear under the tree on Christmas morning! 

What will you find in the next TDS? Stay tuned and "Yule" find out! :)

Grand Old Bart! :)

 Poor Bart Maverick...

Although Bart and Jack Kelly were official stars of Maverick, Brother Bret and James Garner accounted for much of the merchandising and Mavertising during the show's early days.   

For instance, there were Bret Maverick rider and gunfighter figures issued by Hartland Plastics. However, Hartland didn't see fit to issue any Bart figures.  

Or, this clever bit of ephemera ballyhooing Maverick and its sponsor Kaiser Foil:

Designed to resemble paper currency it proclaims, "Bret Maverick--'The Man With The Thousand Dollar Bill'--blazes his way across your TV Screen every Sunday Evening, ABC-TV Network. Don't miss him!"

But, Bret wasn't the only man with a grand on Maverick. Bart had one, too. He even said so:

And, Bret didn't blaze across the TV screen every Sunday evening--sometimes it was Bart. (And, later Beau or Brent.)

Well, I can't do much to remedy the Hartland figure omission, but I did try to fix the faux $1000 bill situation. Ladies and Gentleman, presenting Bart Maverick--The Other Man With The Thousand Dollar Bill:

Don't miss him! And, please don't miss the next TDS, either! :)

Oh Brother (Bart)! :)

Happy Tuesday!

Today is another auspicious date in the history of Maverick. On November 10, 1957, viewers first met Jack Kelly's Bart Maverick in the episode "Hostage!"

Bart was born of necessity. Before Maverick had even premiered, newspaper columnist Erskine Johnson announced in August 1957 that Bret Maverick was getting a brother as a form of "health insurance" for the show's already overworked lead:

"James Garner...will have a kid-brother as a sort of ride-on. The lad, not yet cast, will star in an occasional stanza and dominate the plots of others, giving Garner time off to avoid joining the list of weekly TV performers who have collapsed from the strain."

The strain was genuine for Garner, because a lot was riding on this unconventional new western series and its then-unknown star. To meet the scheduling demands of weekly television, each episode of Maverick was being cranked out over a period of eight long days. The sole lead actor and filming crew soon found it impossible to maintain the grueling pace. 

So, a Maverick brother was added to help carry the load. The only question was, who was going to play him?

The answer was Jack Kelly: 

Although not exactly a "kid" (JK was in fact about eight months older than JG), it was eventually established that Bart was younger than Bret.

A fantastic photo of the smilin' Maverick brothers in "Hostage!" entered the Kellection not long ago. That's lucky guest star Laurie Carroll (as "Yvette Devereux") in the middle:

What's even cooler about this photo is that before it joined the Kellection, it was part of the personal collection of James Arness--yes, Marshal Dillon of Gunsmoke! :)

I also have an original script for "Hostage!":

Bart's first lines:

A brotherly reunion:

A scene sizzling with danger:

And, finally, the old Maverick switcheroo:

November 10, 1957, was also a meaningful date for JK because:

Well, I hope reading about JK's debut as Bart Maverick has made your Tuesday just a little bit better. Please stay tuned for more fun in TDS! :)

Yet Another Bundle From Brazil! :)

Olá!

Here's yet another fantastic look at Jack Kelly and Maverick on Brazilian television, courtesy of the March 24-30 1964 issue of  "Intervalo", with "The Brothers Maverick" as cover boys:

(If that photo looks familiar, it's the same image used on the cover of this Brazilian magazine, only flipped.)

Photo caption: "Jack Kelly is satisfied with the presence of Robert Colbert [Brent], replacing James Garner as Bret."

The text of the cover story (roughly translated with Google) reads:

"The Mavericks - Cute But Not Ordinary 

[I love that description! B27]

The brothers 'Maverick', Brent and Bart, and their cousin Beau, are noted for the impeccable elegance of their dress and how they present themselves. The three have all the requirements of the most perfect gentleman. For this reason, they can be called "cute" (but not ordinary), despite the questionable and sometimes not very honest activities they perform. They enable Brazilian viewers to watch vibrant adventures set in the rugged American West, at the time of the pioneers. See them on Channel 13 in Rio (Saturdays, 21:45) and Channel 5 in Sao Paulo (Tuesdays, 21:35)."

"Next week, the Maverick series begins its second season in São Paulo and Rio. A change for this second season: the replacement of James Garner by Robert Colbert, who will play Brent Maverick, with Jack Kelly continuing as Bart Maverick.

"Living incredible adventures in the old west, the Mavericks are  admired as the quickest on the trigger, although they insist on not being identified as such. They prefer to be known as romantic and adventurous players. Each episode has light and picturesque humor, interconnected with a mild dose of romance, provoked by the two brothers who, even following different paths, invariably end up in the direction of a beautiful girl who always arouses their passion. Bold poker players, they always risk a bluff, or some trick, although they claim great honesty. They are impeccable dressers, contrasting with the inhabitants of the places they pass through.

"Brent and Bart alternate their adventures weekly and in each program they play opposite excellent and renowned stars of television and cinema. This new phase of Maverick presents a new figure, whose interpreter is already known to viewers in Sao Paulo and Rio for his role as "Ivanhoe": Roger Moore, who plays the part of Beau Maverick, cousin of Brent and Bart. 

"Completely dubbed into Portuguese at Cinecastro Studios, the series should continue to delight the public, who are used to admiring and applauding the adventures of the Maverick brothers. Rio residents will continue to follow them on TV-Rio, Channel 13, while São Paulo will keep their receivers tuned to TV-Paulista, Channel  5, every Tuesday, at 21:35 hours."

Wow, that's interesting, how Brent is described as a regularly occurring character, when he appeared in only two episodes. And, how Beau is described as a "new" character, when he actually appeared in the episodes before Brent showed up and then vamoosed. 

Well, where in the world will TDS travel to next? Please stay tuned and find out! :)

Happy Father's Day 2020! :)

Happy Father's Day!

To celebrate, I present an unusual 1959 photo of Jack Kelly, James Garner and JG's step-daughter, Kimberly:

Kimberly looks like she's saying "Give me your autograph or else!" to JK.

You may be wondering why JK is in costume for Maverick and JG isn't. The caption on the reverse explains: "On a day when he was not required for scenes in Up Periscope, a Lakeside Production for Warner Bros., star James Garner brings his daughter, Kimberly, to the studio for a visit and to watch the filming of scenes for other pictures in production. Jack Kelly, who co-stars with Jim in the Maverick television series, is scared to death of the way Kimberly is handling a gun."

NOTE: This vintage photo has been in the Kellection for a while and I like it because it's a rare glimpse at JK and JG behind the scenes of Maverick. However, I've been somewhat torn about posting it here because it also shows a child pointing a gun at another human being. Yes, I know it's a gag photo, the gun was probably a prop and obviously no Jack Kellys were harmed during the making of this picture. On the other hand, firearm handling is no laughing matter, so here are some basic tips to help ensure that every day is happy for each Dad and child:

• Treat all guns as if they are loaded
• Point guns in a safe direction
• Don’t rely on a gun’s “safety”
• More tips available at Safe Kids Worldwide 

Thanks for reading, and please stay tuned for more about Jack Kelly in TDS. :)

Bart Art :)

Hello Everyone!

Due to COVID-19 lockdowns, some museums have been offering virtual tours of their collections. So, I'm opening up the Kellection for an online exhibit titled "Bart Art", that is, artwork depicting Jack Kelly as Bart Maverick.

First, here's a striking portrait of Bart from a Dutch Maverick comic book:

Next up, a comical newspaper caricature of Bart promoting a repeat of "The Third Rider" episode of Maverick on July 20, 1958:

"Bart Maverick (Jack Kelly) Chases Bank Robber Tonight at 7:30--Tries to Clear Himself of Crime in Maverick on Channel 10

This dandy drawing from the Kellection is dated October 8, 1958, and promotes JK's United Appeal tour:

  

Dated May 1960, this photo shows Bart with his famous arched eyebrow:



Here's how the complete photo with Brother Bret looked when it was published in a newspaper TV log in July 1960:

Of course, the above caricature was based on the same iconic photo that's on the cover of Poker According to Maverick (only Bart is sans cigar on the cover):

This drawing heralded the arrival of Bart's Cousin Beau (Roger Moore) in September 1960:

A September 1960 newspaper ad for "A Bundle From Britain" :



The sketch of Bart is based on one of my favorite JK photos:

More "Bart Art" in the next TDS--please stay tuned and stay well. :)



A Three-Day Special! :)

Bart and Bret are here to welcome the Memorial Day weekend! :)

I hope everyone has a safe and meaningful Memorial Day. 

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. :)

It's Auld Lang Syne Time - Pt. III

Howdy!

Continuing our look at the This is Your Life after-party in 1958, below is another image scanned from an original negative in the Kellection. I'm positive you'll love it! ;)

 

 In fact, this is my new favorite pic of Jack Kelly. :)

Stay tuned--there's more fun to come with JK in TDS!

It's Auld Lang Syne Time--Pt. II :)

Hi!

As explained in my previous post, James Garner was the (sort of) surprised guest of honor on the TV series This is Your Life in June of 1958. After his segment wrapped, JG was feted with a banquet at the legendary Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood, CA.

You'll be happy to know, however, that although it was JG's party, the images in this series of posts prominently feature Jack Kelly, who was there with his then-wife May Wynn (Donna Kelly) to help celebrate.

So, let's visit the party, shall we?

James Garner is in the upper left corner and JK has swapped his Bart jacket for a more contemporary coat. Donna seems deep in conversation.

But, JK gets her attention:

I love the intimacy of these candid shots, which I personally scanned from original negatives in the Kellection. Looking at them is like sitting at the table with Jack and Donna! The unknown photographer really captured the playful side of JK's personality.

Please stay tuned for more fun photos of JK in TDS! :)

It's Auld Lang Syne Time :)

Hello Everyone!

The New Year is almost here, along with a new decade. It's a time to look forward, but also back over the years...as Ralph Edwards did on his famous TV series This is Your Life.

Each week, a clueless celebrity guest was delivered to the studio under some clever pretense and was suddenly greeted by Mr. Edwards with a shout of, "_____, this is your life!" Then, a parade of friends, associates and family members would share their memories of the guest of honor.

In June 1958, Mr. Edwards surprised James Garner. Well, not really. JG revealed in his autobiography The Garner Files that he was at home when a car arrived to take his wife Lois and their daughters to the This is Your Life set. JG adamantly insisted to Lois that he didn't want his past rehashed on TV. He changed his mind when she informed him that most of his relatives were being flown in from Oklahoma and he wouldn't want to disappoint them, would he?

On the Maverick set that afternoon, director Richard Bare became "ill" and filming was halted for the day. Since JG was still in costume, he was asked to pose for some publicity photos. The photos were to be shot at NBC, where there supposedly was some new lighting that Warner Bros. wanted to check out. Naturally, JG played along.

Lo and behold, when he arrived at NBC, Jack Kelly was there waiting for him, along with Ralph Edwards. JG said in The Garner Files that he may have looked shocked, but he was only acting.

Below is an image of JG, JK and Ralph Edwards which I scanned from an original negative in the Kellection. Note JK's hair, which was curled to make him look more like JG's brother:

James Garner also said that he actually enjoyed his This is Your Life experience, and he enjoyed the after-party at the Roosevelt Hotel in Los Angeles even more. Stay tuned to TDS for a very special look at that party. :)

A Maverick Merry-Go-Round! :)

Hello Everyone!

Here's a blast from the pages of Christmas past featuring Jack Kelly and James Garner. It's not the clearest image, but I wanted to share it here since it promotes the 1958 Southern California "Toys For Tots" campaign, which began on December 1 and ended on December 19--exactly 61 years ago today!

 "Campaign to Open - Jack Kelly, left, and James Garner, stars of Maverick television series, open 11th annual Marine Corps Reserve 'Toys for Tots' drive with donation of miniature merry-go-round to Marine Sgt. Lillian Hagener. Drive is Monday to Dec. 19."

 

Please stay tuned for more merry memories coming up in TDS! :)

Happy Anniversary, "Maverick"! :)

Hello!

I'm sorry I couldn't post a crazy caper involving carrot cake as I usually do for Jack Kelly's birthday on 9/16. I drove the Bartistamobile about 300 miles round trip last weekend to participate in a model horse show. Then, I was taken out of commission by a migraine followed by some tummy trouble over the next couple of days. But, at least I got JK's name up in lights...that's the best I could do lying down with a cell phone. :)

I'm feeling fit as a fiddle now, though, and I'm rarin' to continue with Part III of "JK's Other Job". I just received some additional and unique Kellectibles (including a photo!) relating to Part III, and I need to get these scanned and digitized. Believe me, it will be worth the wait when you see them!

In the meantime, I'd like to commemorate a very special anniversary: the premiere of Maverick on this date in 1957. Here's a first-day cover from the Kellection with an illustration of JK and James Garner and a brief write-up about the show. I've actually had this cover for years but I kept forgetting to post it until now:

First-day cover created by Cover Scape Cachets

Incidentally, first-day covers play an important role in the next post in TDS, so please stay tuned! :)

More Scraps of "Maverick" :)

Happy Monday Everyone!

A one-of-a-kind English artifact recently joined the Kellection. On the outside, it looks like an ordinary composition book:

But, on the inside are pages and pages of neatly arranged 1950's newspaper and magazine clippings about the American west--both the historical and the TV versions.

I wish I could post every page of this amazing scrapbook here, but there are simply too many. So, I'll just concentrate on the pages which feature pix of Jack Kelly and James Garner in Maverick. 

First, here's a group of clippings of JK and some of his fellow TV westerners--Peter Graves and Bobby Diamond in Fury and Ty Hardin in Bronco: 

A close-up of JK:

A more formal view of Bart:

The caption for the pic of JK and JG on this page is interesting because it says, "Jack (Bart Maverick) Kelly (right) with his TV brother Bret (James Garner)"--it's usually the other way around! And, notice the pic for Gunsmoke. That's the radio version of the series--the TV version was called Gun Law when it was first imported to British screens:

A closer look at the Maverick brothers:

Another page of western favorites. Aside from JK, there's Clint Eastwood and Sheb Wooley from Rawhide and Ty "Bronco" Hardin again. And, another ad for the radio version of Gunsmoke, with William Conrad as Marshal Dillon and Parley Baer as Chester Proudfoot (who, of course, was called Chester Goode and played by Dennis Weaver in the TV version):

Love that smile! :)

 

Finally, one last page with the Maverick boys (upper right), plus John Russell of Lawman and Peter Graves (this time in Whiplash, an Australian western):

Unfortunately, there are no clues to the identity of the devoted western fan who painstakingly clipped and then pasted all of these images into a simple spiral notebook. But, whoever they were, I'm glad they took the time and effort to preserve this wealth of ephemera from the era when westerns rode the airwaves--even in England. :)