Maverick On The Record :)

Hello Everyone!

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. ;)

JK in AZ :)

Howdy!

Fifty-nine years ago today (and tomorrow), Bart Maverick, er, Jack Kelly, appeared "IN PERSON!" at John F. Long's International Home Show in Phoenix, Arizona:

While in Phoenix, JK also put in an appearance at a local Jeep dealer:

 

 

 Now, here's the scoop on JK and wife Donna/May Wynn's arrival in AZ on Friday 4/10/59 (I love the headline--just wish the photo was clearer!):

The bemused local newspaper reporter, Charlotte Buchen, didn't quite know what to make of the cowboy from Queens:

 

"I do declare--television's Bart Maverick ain't like no cowboy I ever saw.

 

Bret's 6-foot, brown-eyed little brother stepped down from an American Airlines plane here yesterday morning looking very much like the man about town on the streets of New York. He's here for the John F. Long International Home Show. 

 

Wearing a gray suit that might well be the pride of Brooks Brothers, Maverick's white teeth sparkled as he beamed a matinee idol smile upon dozens of admirers who caught his arrival.  

 

'I don't live the part of Maverick,' he said, 'although I'd love to do Maverick forever.'

 

Like the rugged individualism of the show that has brought his face and name to millions, he defies the Buck Jones era of gun-slinging 'personality' cowboys.

 

'The Western ideas on the moral-telling story are over,' he said with the clipping accent of a dramatic star. 'No longer must there be right conquering might, where the mortgage property must be free and clear from the villain who goes to his demise.'

 

Whew!

 

'Maverick', he continued, 'is the charming and fortunate man of the West with no ties to responsibility. He counteracts drollness and doesn't care if it's right or wrong.'

 

What the Maverick show has done for the actor in the brother role is to give him 'constant and prestige exposure of a national nature.'

 

Although 'I was successful for some 8 to 10 years prior to the Maverick show, such a force of concentration was never exerted on my career,' he added.

 

As he told a television newsman at the close of an on-the-spot interview at the airport, 'It might be nice if you told the listeners that my name is Jack Kelly.' So be it said.

 

Kelly, the man, turned away from a potential career in law to become an actor. After two years in law school, he asked his father for one year to prove himself on stage.

 

With reasonable success that year, he moved on to successes on stage and in films. 'Until 1951,' he admitted with a big smile, 'I was afraid of horses.'

 

Under contract to Universal, he was taught everything from wielding a sword to slinging a gun. When it came to learning to ride, he balked.

 

"But I was told that if I didn't take [riding] along with the rest, it would mean I wasn't serious about my career. So, I went out with the wranglers on the farms, and after a series of lessons, I found I wasn't petrified anymore.'

 

'Now I love horses, and I know that once a fear is faced it can be controlled and conquered.'

 

As he chatted, his wife, the former May Wynn, actress in her own right, sat sedately by as a woman who has turned her ambitions to her husband's interests.

 

'We have very little time for social life,' she said, 'with bedtime at 9 p.m. and getting up every morning at 5:45.'

 

Drawing a light for two cigarettes in the best Charles Boyer tradition, her handsome husband beamed down on her as he handed her one. 'We've been married for three years. I hope it will be 30.'

 

The Western star will appear at the home show from 2 to 4 p.m. today [Saturday] and tomorrow [Sunday] at West Indian School Road and 57th Street."

 

Where will TDS travel next in pursuit of JK? Please stay tuned and find out! :)

Maverick In Person! :)

Happy Friday!

No, you're not seeing things--that is James Garner on the Jack Kelly blog. And, you've probably never seen this incredible image before, because it wasn't taken by a professional photographer. It was snapped by an unknown fan, perhaps at the 1958 Illinois State Fair, where JG appeared as a grandstand attraction along with other performers including Jane Russell and Jonathan Winters. (If anyone knows what the pictured event actually was, please let me know!)

As you can tell by the banner in the background, JG is promoting the "Maverick Special" Jeep, which is partially visible behind him. Also, it's a little hard to see, but the tie the gentleman in the white shirt is wearing says "Maverick" and "Jeep".

This next shot is a bit blurred, but it gives another candid view of what it was like for JG (and no doubt JK) during personal appearances. 

It's obvious "Maverick" (and Maverick) was very popular as JG is dwarfed by a crowd of adoring fans:

Jack Kelly also made his share of personal appearances during the original network run of Maverick, including this one at a home show in Arizona in 1959 ("Through the courtesy of Kaiser Gypsum and Warner Bros...") :

 

Sometimes, either one or the other Maverick was set to appear at an event, such as a 1959 agricultural extravaganza called "Farm-Orama" which was staged at a sprawling farm near Richwood, Ohio. A local newspaper rather vaguely announced:

"The highlight of the two-day event will be the appearance on the grounds of either James Garner (Bret Maverick) or Jack Kelly (Bart Maverick), stars of a television western. The Kaiser Aluminum Co. is sponsoring the visit, with whomever appearing expected to be on hand during the afternoon of both days. He will tour the grounds via a stagecoach pulled by a multiple pony hitch."

Unfortunately, the estimated 30,000 visitors who showed up for the first day of Farm-Orama saw neither JG or JK take that stagecoach ride. Another local paper indignantly reported that Maverick was a no-show and wondered if either actor had really been scheduled to attend. ("Was the appearance of 'Maverick' a wild dream of a publicity agent seeking a means of attracting hundreds and more hundreds to the event?...This newspaper wants to know who is responsible for forcing such a 'dirty' trick upon thousands of its readers.")

But, then "Faux Maverick" appeared at Farm-Orama. That is, a stand-in costumed to "represent" Maverick made an appearance. A newspaper stated that "It was not determined whether he represented Bret or Bart Maverick." It was also revealed that neither JK or JG could attend the event due to "prior commitments".

Well, Jack Kelly (and sometimes even James Garner) will always show up here in TDS. What's coming up next? Please stay tuned! :)

Join the Club--The Warner Club, That Is! :)

Hello Everybody!

An incredible piece of ephemera just joined the Kellection. It's the November 1958 newsletter for "The Warner Club", an organization for employees of Warner Bros. west coast studios.

In 1958, TV screens were filled with popular Warner Bros. shows such as Maverick. However, the Warner Club newsletter reveals that these exciting productions were created in an environment which was surprisingly like any other factory. Behind the cameras was an army of technicians, crafts people, and other rank-and-file personnel.

And, the chatty newsletter is pretty much like most other internal house organs. On its 17 black and white pages, new employees are welcomed, retirees are wished the best of luck, and passings are mourned. Newlyweds and new parents are congratulated; vacations and other events of interest are detailed ("On her recent trip back East, Mrs. S. picked up quite a collection of teacups.")

Warner Bros. employees could sign up for blood drives, dinner dances and even bowling teams. The cartoon department's bowling team was called--wait for it--"The Looney Tunas" (it was sponsored by a local seafood restaurant).

However, most other house organs didn't have photos of Jack Kelly posing with a couple of delighted fans (and his ride!):

The caption reads: "JACK KELLY FANS: When Martha Fuhrmann, daughter of our back lot superintendent 'Fuzzy' Fuhrmann, visited the studio with her roommate, Ruth Van Dyke, it was discovered that they were fans of Jack 'Maverick' Kelly. Result, Jack posed with Martha, left, and Ruth, beside Kelly's Willys Jeep station wagon, presented by Henry Kaiser of Kaiser Industries."

Of course, Kaiser Industries was one of the sponsors of Maverick. Not only did Kaiser own Willys Motors Incorporated, maker of the Jeep at the time, but it also manufactured Kaiser Foil. Although it's hard to see in the grainy photo, that's cartoon foil huckster "The Kaiser Kid" and his horse "Quilty" decorating the door of JK's Jeep (I believe Maverick is also hanging on to Quilty). The Kaiser Kid and Quilty can be seen in this ad:




Starting in 1958, Willys began offering a "Maverick Special" Jeep station wagon, which is no doubt the vehicle JK was presented with. Which is probably why he placed this amazing used car ad in the Warner Club newsletter:

 

If one could find a silver 1956 T-Bird in "faultless condition" with a continental kit and only 11,700 miles for $3,000 today, it would still not be a bargain. It would be a MIRACLE. These iconic cars now usually sell for well-over $30,000. (If only I had a time machine...)

And, if that's not enough Warnerstalgia for you, JK was also a co-sponsor of the TV division's bowling team, which was called--you guessed it--"The Mavericks". No loud shirts for this team: the Mavericks strutted the lanes at Kirkwood's Bowling Alley attired in black vests and string ties.

 

I wish I could find more of these wonderful newsletters, but for now, as another Warner Bros. employee used to say: "That's All, Folks!" :)