"Why I Like Country Music" Pt II :)

Howdy Y'all!

Presenting Part II of Jack Kelly's article "Why I Like Country Music", prefaced with a gorgeous photo of JK and his wife Donna. In this part, Mr. K introduces us to more of his favorite country singers and songs: 

 

"My personal affection developed for the guitar, for it's hard to resist the harmonious, overall effects country artists create with the instrument. Then comes the fiddle...as a matter of fact, there is something about all 'strings' which gives one that homey feeling--a desire to be real neighborly-like.

I feel 'country' means just what it says. Somewhere along the line the need was recognized to musically express the endless anecdotes uncovered during the development of this country, and a great balance of the country tunes are based on situations that actually happened. Compound the history factor with the inventiveness of modern country authors, and you find that besides instrumentation there is a story to be heard which reeks of the Americana we should all be justly proud of.

I can't say exactly who, or what, is responsible directly for my interest in country music, but I feel a simplicity and directness as the underlying basis for its appeal to me. From that sense alone I can select my likes and dislikes. I can jump from one artist to the other and get a completely different style every time. This aspect fosters an appeal that should be there for everyone to enjoy.

Take, for example, The Collins Kids.  

 

Their brassy, impetuous, lively presentation has led them to headlining in one of the largest hotels on the Las Vegas strip. I can jump from them to Burl Ives and sit listening over and over again to 'Blue Tail Fly'.
 

I may be taking a little bit for granted, but for me country music spills into many areas. Ernie Ford is one of my favorites. He stirred up a storm with a little ditty called 'River of No Return'.

Then, there's Jim Brown of the Rin Tin Tin series. Yes, he has a few pop tunes working for him, but he did churn up some mighty fine country tunes for MGM. One of the best things I've ever heard Jim do is his recording of 'The White Buffalo'.

He fractures 'Wagon Wheels', not to overlook a little gem called 'Ghost Town'.

And I enjoy hearing Tex Williams narrate his misadventures brought on by smoking cigarettes; and what a job he does on another of his conversational items...'playing cards with a one-eyed, sleight of hand expert'.

 

Country music has offered me such a selection that I couldn't dislike it if I wanted to. I could add many more reasons for its appeal to me...the 'Hank Williams', all the 'Jimmie Rodgers', 'Eddy Arnolds', 'Red Foleys', and so forth, and in re-reading this article, I think a better conclusion to it would be a change in its beginning from 'WHY I LIKE COUNTRY MUSIC' to 'WHO DOESN'T???'

EDITOR'S NOTE: Jack, your reasons are sincerely and very effectively stated. Thank you for holding hands so affectionately with our interests. We're sure that everyone who reads your story will be more proud than ever of their musical preference."

[B27: I know I am! :>]

I had a blast transcribing Jack Kelly's article for this post and listening to his favorite country songs. What wide-ranging taste in music this guy had!

I thought I knew my country and rockabilly music, but I never heard of The Collins Kids before--how did I miss this dynamic duo?! I literally had chills going down my spine when I listened to their rockin' version of "Lonesome Road" for the first time. (Thanks for the introduction, JK!)

And, I had no idea that JK's old pal Jim Brown of Rin Tin Tin fame was also a singer--what a voice!

It was a pleasure to be able to take JK's words from nearly 60 years ago and join them to today's technology so we can all listen to the country artists and songs he loved. I hope you enjoyed them, and if you weren't a country music fan before, I'm sure you are now! :)

What's next in TDS? Please stay tuned and find out!

"Introducing Jack Kelly" Pt. II :)

Howdy!

As promised, here's the fantabulous 1951 profile and photo of that "swell fella" Jack Kelly from "The Brown Banner" fan journal. Enjoy! :)

"INTRODUCING JACK KELLY

(PLEASE DO NOT COPY THIS PHOTO)

 

Jack Kelly is a young actor that you've got to know! Not that there is any danger of you not knowing him soon...he's beginning to go places cinematically speaking, in a big way! If you're not familiar with him now...it won't be long.

Jack is a swell fella...he's quite a tease...and life is never dull with him around. He's the boy that's the life of the party! He's right there, too, if there's something to be done and he can be of any help.

Twenty four years-old, Jack is six-foot-one and weighs 190 pounds. Brown hair and eyes help to make him the good looking lad he is.

He's not new to the entertainment world, exactly...in New York he was spotted in such plays as St. Helena with Maurice Evans, Ghost of Yankee Doodle with Miss Ethel Barrymoore, Stopover, Schoolhouse on the Lot, and Swing Your Lady. Also in the East, he appeared on radio in broadcasts of March of Time, Gang Busters, Famous Fortunes, and The Fred Allen Show.

As for television, Jack has served his time in that media too...in N.Y. he did such shows as Studio One, Philco Theatre, The Colgate Show, Kraft Theatre, Chevrolet Theatre, The Bob Ripley Show, and The Fred Waring Show.

In Hollywood, he's been heard on radio via The Lux Radio Theatre, Philip Marlowe, Suspense, and Tell It Again.

Jack's popular sister, Nancy Kelly, has been a well-known actress for several years and now Jack is carrying on the tradition in the family by appearing in many pictures. He's in Fighting Man of the Plains with Randolph Scott; Peggy at Universal with Charles Coburn, Charlotte Greenwood, and Diana Lynn; Call Me Mister with Betty Grable, Dan Dailey and Danny Thomas at 20th Century Fox; New Mexico with Lew Ayres, Marilyn Maxwell, and Ian McDonald; RKO's Where Danger Lives starring Robert Mitchum; and at Warners in West Point Story with James Cagney and Virginia Mayo.

He can currently be seen...or soon will be seen...in such popular releases as Fox's People Will Talk with Cary Grant and Jeanne Crain; Submarine Command at Paramount with William Holden and Bill Bendix; and Republic's Wings Across the Pacific [B27: retitled The Wild Blue Yonder] with James Brown, Wendell Corey, Forrest Tucker, Phil Harris and Vera Ralston.

In the latter film, Jack met Jim [Brown] for the first time and during shooting they became fast friends. Jack is a frequent visitor at 'Brown's Little Acre'; in fact, he's almost one of the family, at present writing.

Again, I say, 'Jack's a swell fella!' and is destined to be one of our top masters of entertainment of the future.

FLASH! As we go to press, comes word that Jack has just signed a wonderful contract at Universal International. He appeared there in a play and was observed by director Budd Boetticher and now has a nice role in Red Ball Express. Be sure to write to Jack at Universal. Mail will help him a lot now!" 

As a bonus, I found a couple more mentions of JK in the fanzine. He attended a surprise birthday party for the "prexy" of the Jim Brown fan club held at the Brown's home. And: "We [the Browns] caught the premiere of A Streetcar Named Desire...and talked Jack Kelly into going. I [Jim Brown] thought the picture very good but Kelly won't forgive us for roping him in. He hates driving up in front of the theatre and being announced. So do I, but Betty [Mrs. Brown] says it's good publicity, so I gave in. Keep your eye on Jack Kelly. He is a likeable guy and a good actor. Look for him in The Wild Blue Yonder." 

Gee, I wonder if that young Kelly fella ever amounted to anything... ;-)

"Introducing Jack Kelly" Pt. I :)

Hello!

In my never-ending kwest for Kellectibles, I never know where Jack Kelly will turn up next. 

Case in point: I just found an informative write-up and a gorgeous snapshot of JK in a fan club journal from 1951. Only, JK isn't the main focus of the journal. The journal is actually devoted to James Brown, a.k.a. Jim Brown. 

Now, this was not "The Godfather of Soul" James Brown or the football player turned actor named Jim Brown. This was the actor, born James Edward Brown in 1920, who appeared in such films as The Sands of Iwo Jima with John Wayne and the 1954 version of A Star is Born with Judy Garland and James Mason. He also co-starred in one of my favorite episodes of The Virginian, simply titled "West", with one of my "sigh guys", Steve Cochran. 

But, Jim Brown is probably best known for portraying "Lt. Rip Masters" in the fondly remembered 1950's TV western series The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin. He later founded an athletic equipment company and continued acting in films and TV until his death in 1992. 

So, what was JK doing in "The Brown Banner", the fanzine devoted  to JB? Well, here's a little secret: Many "fan" clubs were actually sanctioned by film studios, who recognized a great way to drum up publicity for their performers when they saw it. The fan club "prexy" (president) was often paid a salary and given unlimited access to a studio's stars. Although "The Brown Banner" resembles a homemade scrapbook, it's full of studio news, interviews and actual photos of Brown, his wife, and even their dog, Patsy. It also contains stories publicizing other players working at the 20th Century Fox studio, hence the write-up and incredible photo of newcomer Jack Kelly...which I will share with you in the next TDS! :)