Remembering...

 Donna Lee Custer 
(formerly Donna Kelly, a.k.a. May Wynn)

1928 - 2021

Autographed candid snapshot of Donna and Jack snapped by a fan, dated May 1958.
Scanned from the La Bartista Kellection 

Donna Custer, who acted professionally under the name "May Wynn" and was Jack Kelly's first wife, passed away on March 22, 2021, although her passing wasn't reported in the press until over a month later. She was 93 years old. 

She was born Donle (later changed to Donna Lee) Hickey in New York City on January 8, 1928, into a family with ties to vaudeville. Her father, Ray Hickey, was a singer and dancer.  Her grandmother, Gertie Black, was also a vaudevillian. 

In her early teens, Donna worked after school in a real estate office and in a department store. She was later employed as a page and ground stewardess at LaGuardia Airport in NYC.  According to a 1954 story in the Provo UT Daily Herald, young Donna designed an ensemble consisting of a navy blue suit and powder blue blouse which she wore to work at LaGuardia. The outfit was soon adapted as the official stewardess uniform of Pan Am airlines. 

Donna performed as a showgirl at the Copacabana Club in New York City while still a teenager. She also won beauty contests and titles such as "Queen of the New York Press Photographer's Ball of 1950". The petite beauty was also a popular pin-up model, often pictured smiling in a swimsuit on the cover of such magazines as "Hit!" and "See".

She made her way to Hollywood in the early 1950's and played bit roles in movies. Her big break came in 1953, when she was cast as singer "May Wynn" in the feature The Caine Mutiny starring Humphrey Bogart. Columbia Pictures studio chief Harry Cohn insisted that Donna assume her character's name as her professional name. She did, but later told reporters that she hated being known as May Wynn. 

Donna met JK during the filming of They Rode West in 1954 and they married in 1956, first in a civil ceremony in Quartzite, AZ, and then in a church ceremony a month later in Los Angeles, CA. Also in 1956, Donna played receptionist "Liz Clark" in the short-lived television series Noah's Ark (produced by Jack Webb), in addition to having a recurring role as "Jean Blackburn" in The Bob Cummings Show.

Donna as "Liz Clark", from the La Bartista Kellection

JK reportedly hated his wife's May Wynn moniker as much as she did and called her Donna, "Kukie" and "The Big M" during their marriage. The Kellys were very big on togetherness and made a pact to never be apart from one another for any great length of  time. This even extended to their careers. Donna accompanied JK to Asia when he was hired for the starring role in Hong Kong Affair. She ended up playing the female lead when the actress originally cast reportedly had trouble speaking her lines in English. 

In addition to Hong Kong Affair and They Rode West, Donna acted with JK in The Violent Men starring Glenn Ford and Taming Sutton's Gal. Her other feature films include The White Squaw, The Man is Armed and the cult horror film The Unknown Terror starring Paul Richards. 

Donna (as "Concha") shows off her new dress 

to "Pete" (Paul Richards)

in The Unknown Terror (1957)

 - original vintage still scanned from the author's private collection

Donna made guest shots on a number of other TV shows including The Millionaire and Perry Mason. Her last listed acting credit is a 1960 appearance in the western series Shotgun Slade. 

Although Donna never appeared on Maverick, it was reported that she and JK wrote a script for the show, which apparently was never filmed. They also formed a production company called "Majak" (guess how the name was formed?). And, Donna was frequently photographed visiting her hubby behind the scenes of Maverick:

Caption: "'Maverick' And Mate--Actress May Wynn visits husband Jack Kelly on the set of 'Shady Deal at Sunny Acres', on ABC-TV's Warner Bros. produced 'Maverick'..."--vintage original still scanned from the La Bartista Kellection 

Another visit during the filming of "Shady Deal" 

(vintage original still scanned from the La Bartista Kellection)

Even a Kelly kanine got into the act! 

(Vintage original still scanned from the La Bartista Kellection)

The Kelly's union seemed to be a template for togetherness, so Hollywood and fans were shocked when it was announced in October 1964 that the loving couple who had acted, wrote, cooked and golfed in tandem for nearly a decade was permanently Splitsville.

Donna remarried and divorced once more. She worked in real estate and then spent 28 years as a beloved school aide (teaching public speaking and handwriting classes after school) at the Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church in  Newport Beach, the California city in which she resided. Sadly, her nephew Brian Hickey was among the NYC firefighters who died in the 9/11 attacks in 2001. 

Rest in peace, Donna, and deepest condolences to your family, friends and fans from TDS.

A Virtual "Hong Kong" Affair! :)

Hello!

Well, here we are, over a year since the COVID-19 pandemic started and things still aren't quite back to "normal" yet. I'm still working from home; virtually everything is still "virtual" and anything "live" is socially distanced. Masks are still mandatory when venturing outside one's "bubble".

Thankfully, COVID vaccines have provided a glimmer of hope. Case rates are decreasing and folks are looking forward to finally seeing loved ones again, enjoying undistanced social events and traveling, when it's truly safe to do so. 

While we may not be able to actually travel very far yet, we can take a virtual vacation with Jack Kelly and wife Donna (May Wynn) courtesy of these stupendous stills from Hong Kong Affair which recently joined the Kellection:

JK as "Steve Whelan" and MW as "Chu Lan"

Uh-oh! Trouble as Steve's Triumph is taken (that's Lo Lita Shek w/JK)

A dramatic moment with Chu Lan and Steve

The "Target" boat to the rescue! (Can you spot Chu Lan & Steve?)

Chu Lan is in good hands

"Harboring" hope for the future 

BONUS IMAGE! Here's another one of those magnifico Mexican lobby cards for Hong Kong Affair:

Where will TDS travel to next? Please stay tuned...and stay well. :)

Jack Kelly: Hibernian Screen Star! :)

Happy Saint Patrick's Day Everyone!

Vintage postcard art courtesy The Graphics Fairy 

On this day in 1960, Jack Kelly was awarded the annual "Hibernian Screen Star Award" at the Statler-Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles during the Ancient Order of Hibernians' St. Patrick's Day festivities:

It's a little hard to read, but the clipping says "Annual Hibernian Screen Star Award Will Be Presented to Jack 'Maverick' Kelly During the Dance." 

Although it was given in 1960, I've seen JK's award called "Favorite Irishman for 1959" in other clippings and described as a statuette of St. Patrick. Wife Donna Kelly (May Wynn) was also on hand for the award presentation:

Reservations for both the St. Patrick's Day dinner and dance were $6.00 per person. If one wished to attend only the dance it cost just $2.00. But, I'm sure we fans would have paid any amount to see JK! :)

Please stay tuned for more about our favorite Irishman for every year in the next TDS.

Jack Kelly: "Most Distinguished Guest" :)

Howdy!

On June 1, 1958, Jack Kelly (along with wife Donna/May Wynn) was the "Most Distinguished Guest" at the 45th annual "Fontana Days" celebration in Fontana, California. Fontana was also the location of Kaiser Steel, the largest steel mill on the West Coast at the time. Kaiser Industries was, of course, the primary sponsor of Maverick.

Here are Jack and Donna in the Fontana Days parade, which according to newspaper reports was viewed by 30,000 people:

"MAVERICK DEALS A HAND--'Most distinguished guest' of Fontana [on] Saturday, television's Jack (Bart Maverick) Kelly waves a greeting to parade crowds. Sharing the spotlight was his actress wife, May Wynn." 



As noted previously in TDS, JK was the grand marshal of the Palm Springs Mounted Police Rodeo parade in 1961. So, who was the grand marshal of the Fontana Days parade in 1958?

 

A "talking" basset hound named "Cleo" from the sitcom The People's Choice. She was sort of a distaff, canine "Mr. Ed" who commented on the action and made wisecracks during each episode (via the voice of actress Mary Jane Croft).  

Okay, so Cleo actually accompanied actor Paul Maxey, who played the mayor on the show and was the nominal grand marshal. But, the San Bernadino County Sun reported that the popular pup "nearly stole the limelight from luminaries such as Maverick's Jack Kelly, his actress wife, May Wynn, Grand Marshal actor Paul Maxey...and the honorary Grand Marshal, Santa Claus."

Yes, Santa Claus. In June.

A talking dog, Santa and JK, all in the same parade--I wish I could have seen that! :)

Well, you never know what you'll see next in TDS, so please stay tuned.



Jack Kelly - A Real American Boy! :)

Hello All!

I figure everyone is stir-crazy by now, so let's escape to Hong Kong--if only vicariously--with Jack Kelly and May Wynn:

I think this is my favorite Kellectible at the moment. It's a magnifico Mexican lobby card for Hong Kong Affair to which my camera didn't do justice. I can't get enough of its wild colors and crazy fonts, or of course, JK!

The wording on the right side is Google-translated as: "Opium smuggling threatening great fortunes of crime and mystery! He was going to recover a fortune and discovered the fatal intrigue! Mysterious China exposed as it is!"

Unfortunately, audiences weren't too intrigued by Hong Kong Affair, even though it starred JK, "That Bart Maverick Guy!" Less than a year after its release in 1958, it ended up in towns like Magna, Utah, where it was relegated to Saturday matinee status:

"Hong Kong Affair - That Bart Maverick Guy, Jack Kelly, his first starring picture. Filmed against the mysterious background of Hong Kong. See Jack Kelly as a real American Boy, first time on screen!" the ad for the Gem Theatre proclaimed. It added: "Hey Gang! Want to take a trip with that Bart Maverick Guy, Jack Kelly, to Hong Kong and get in on the surprise! Then see Hong Kong Affair."

The film was accompanied by cartoons, Captain Video and two feature comedies, promising fun for all.

Not surprisingly, Hong Kong Affair quickly hit the small screen. It was a "First-Run Movie" on WMAL-TV (now WJLA-TV) in Washington D.C. in 1960:

"That Bart Maverick guy [again] leaps into action in the seething Orient. Filmed hot in Hong Kong!"

Nowadays, Hong Kong Affair seems to have vanished from screens completely. Maybe it will turn up on Turner Classic Movies someday?

Well, until then, keep travelin' with TDS & keep well. :)

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! :)

Can You Spare Me a Rib, JK? :)

Howdy Everyone!

The 4th of July is almost here, which means it's time for fireworks and firing up the grill.

As I've noted before here in TDS, Jack Kelly got a real kick out of cooking. And, I found a vintage newspaper story which tells of his love for barbecuing. (Love that goofy pic of JK with wife Donna Kelly/May Wynn!):

"Jack is great at cooking meats either at the barbecue or in the kitchen," Donna told the reporter.

Jack added, "Our barbecue is a popular place. Even in the winter or rainy season we cook things out there and bring the food in and sit on the living room floor at the fireplace to eat it."

The story even includes JK's special recipe for glazed spareribs:

Unfortunately, I don't have a grill, but if anyone else is able (and brave enough) to fix these mouth-watering ribs, let me know and you can tell us all about it in a guest post in TDS! So, toss on your toque and "Kiss the Cook" apron and get grillin'! :)

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. :)

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. :)

The Maverick's A Marshal :)

Howdy Pardners!

Remember that 2009 TDS post titled "Jack Kelly Goes To Rodeo", which featured a Japanese magazine clipping of JK, wife Donna and actress Barbara Nichols at a rodeo in Palm Springs, California?

Well, I recently purchased a U.S. magazine with a fun article and additional photos of the rodeo:


 "It's not a sight you're likely to see on your TV screen--Maverick's gone straight. But loyal fans needn't fret. It's only temporary, and come Sunday he'll be back again on the other side of the badge."

 

Photo captions: 1."Rodeo queen Barbara Nichols doesn't need gun to get her man. Duds are enuf." 2. Jack and Barbara look on tensely during exciting moment in bronco-busting event" (B27: And let's not forget Donna Kelly/May Wynn, sitting right next to her husband!)

 

 Article text: "Take one spoonful of a western hero, add a pinch of a curvy blonde actress, garnish with a trio of nightclub crooners and season with a top radio disk jockey, and you've got yourself the big 21st annual Palm Springs Mounted Police Rodeo.

 

21st Annual Palm Springs Rodeo Program courtesy of Palm Springs Historical Society

 

"Handsome Jack Kelly the star of Maverick, lovely Barbara Nichols, the Crosby brothers (Lindsay, Dennis and Phillip) and KMPC's Dick Whittinghill were the ingredients--as Grand Marshal, Rodeo Queen, Parade Marshals and High Sheriff respectively. For three days these madcaps were on hand, adding fun and glamor to what has already become one of the top rodeos.

 

"Still, it was a major blow to all self-respecting outlaws."

 

1."Three of Bing's sons (l to r) Phillip, Dennis and Lindsay are Parade Marshals" 2. "Jack and wife (actress May Wynn) admire trophy and each other at end of big day"

 

 It's a shame these fantastic photos are so hard to see. But, not to worry: we can see them much better, because I have these same photos--scanned directly from the original negatives! :)
 

(I think Babs forgot part of her costume.)

 

"This isn't my first rodeo!"

 

"So where's my cowboy hat?"

 

Donna has the best prize of all--JK! :)

 

Extra-special images of this event have actually been in the Kellection for some time now but I was waiting for a special occasion to share them here in TDS. Quite honestly, I've spent mucho dinero purchasing them and untold hours scanning them, digitizing them and researching the story behind them. That's because I believe that you, my readers, deserve the very best. Because, let's face it, you are the very best! :)

And, you've waited long enough. So, I'm declaring today a special occasion, the start of a parade of fabulous photos starring JK! (Watch out, Macy's! ;>)  

I'm also working on a special "beyond the blog" project with these images, so please stay tuned! :)

A Maverick in the Queen City - Pt.II :)

Howdy!

Jack Kelly revisited Cincinnati in June 1963 while gearing up to star in the musical Can-Can in Dayton, OH.

JK was a guest on the legendary Ruth Lyons' talk show on June 26, 1963. He also gave an insightful interview to the television editor of the Cincinnati Enquirer. Although the onscreen Maverick may not have been the best poker player offscreen, Maverick was still supporting JK with hefty percentage/rerun residual payments. He also had the "side hustle" down pat long before it became a buzz phrase:

 "Maverick's Poor At Cards
by James Devane

As TV's Bart Maverick, Jack Kelly earned his living at the card table. In real life he says he may be the world's 'lousiest' player.

'When we have friends at our house for a poker party, my wife has to bail me out,' he admits. 'She's the card shark of the family.'

At the moment, Mr. Kelly is in Dayton preparing for a singing role in Can Can, which begins a week's run in the city's air-conditioned Memorial Hall on July 2. His pretty wife, a former actress known as May Wynn who has reverted to her real name of Donna Lee, is with him.

'Since we have no children, we do everything together,' Jack says. 'We fly, fish, golf and travel. The only thing we don't do together is sleep late. When we married seven years ago I got my wife to agree to give up her career. So now she stays in bed and I go to work.'

As you probably know, Mr. Kelly's Maverick came to an end more than a year ago, but it's still contributing to his support. With 176 films [B27--? Aren't there only 124 Maverick episodes?] rerunning around the country Jack made approximately $20,000 from the series last year due to a percentage deal plus residual rights.

With this income added to money from summer stock appearances and the used-airplane business he and his wife manage in California, he's been able to wait for the right new TV vehicle to come along.

 He thinks he's found it in 'Double Indemnity', a proposed series about insurance investigators. You may have seen the pilot [B27--Titled 'Shadow of a Man'], which ran experimentally on last week's Kraft Mystery Theater. Broderick Crawford co-starred with Jack in the film.

Kelly admits the pilot's story was poor. 'But the story isn't the important thing in selling a series,' he explains. 'A sponsor wants to know if a series has characters the public will like. They keep viewers dialing in. Sponsors seem to believe the characters Brod and I played have what it takes. I feel pretty confident we'll be on regularly during the 1964-'65 season.'

Jack says making Maverick was a lot of fun. 'We got our work done so we'd have time for gags,' he recalls. 'We had hose fights and Jim Garner, who played Bret, liked to loosen my saddle when I wasn't looking. I'd climb on and down the saddle and me would come in a heap.'

Mr. Kelly would eventually like to go into the hotel and restaurant business. As for acting, he feels he's already a great success from one point of view. 'When I started in movies I was known as Nancy Kelly's brother', he relates, 'but now as my talented sister jokes, she often has to introduce herself as my relation.'"

Of course, Double Indemnity never became a series, although years later JK played a baddie in Banacek, which starred George Peppard as, yep, an insurance investigator.

Please stay tuned for a comical column about "Shadow of a Man" in TDS! :)   

A Maverick in the Queen City :)

Hello!

A wonderful book recently joined the Kellection. Titled The Trouble Is Not In Your Set, it examines early television history in general and the TV scene in Cincinnati, OH, in particular. What makes it especially interesting is this fantastic photo of Jack Kelly--and Jack Kelly:

The caption reads "JACK KELLY AND JACK KELLY! -  The one on the left played James Garner's brother in the western TV series Maverick. Bret and Bart! And the one on the right is the former WCPO producer-director who drew a bead on TV shows for WCPO including the Maverick series..."

The photo isn't dated, but the feather on JK's hat is a clue as to when it was taken. This October 1958 story from the Cincinnati Post explains the significance of the feather and shows JK wearing the same vest:

"Brother Bart Maverick--Jack Kelly--rode into town on one of those new-fangled airplanes last night, with a red feather on his Western hat and his beautiful wife, actress May Wynn, on his arm," the article begins.

"The red feather was in honor of the United Appeal fund drive which Kelly is in town to boost and Mrs. Kelly was there because she always goes along on her husband's personal appearance tours..."

JK also visited the Convalescent Hospital for Children, a United Appeal agency, during his stop in Cincinnati:

 

"Fast draw" contests at children's hospitals were actually a recurring part of the Maverick's United Appeal tour:

 


The United Appeal is generally known as the United Way today. And, the Terrace Hilton, where JK is shown dealing a "winning hand" is still in existence, but just barely. Once one of Cincinnati's poshest hotels, the Terrace is now a long-derelict structure whose future--like its famed Gourmet Room Restaurant--is up in the air.

And, if you recall from a previous TDS post, Maverick aired on WCPO until 1961, when station WKRC became the ABC affiliate in Cincinnati.

Finally, The Trouble Is Not in Your Set was authored by Mary Ann Kelly. No relation to JK, though, whose mother was named Ann Mary Kelly!

Stay tuned for more about JK and the Queen City, coming soon in TDS!

"Taming" Tuesday :)

Howdy!

In addition to a time for reflection and remembrance, I'd planned to use Memorial Day weekend to scan some Kellectibles and create some new posts for this blog.

What's that saying about "best laid plans"? On Friday evening after I returned home from work, the Bartistamobile suddenly got a flat tire--and I mean, pancake flat. It wouldn't hold air after being pumped back up (I could hear the air defiantly hissing out as the tire deflated again). So, the automobile club came over on Saturday morning and installed the "donut" spare as a temporary fix. 

I called my go-to tire place. Unfortunately, they didn't have any appointments open until Monday afternoon, Memorial Day. And, since one of my other tires has had a slow leak for a while, I knew this wasn't going to be just an inexpensive patch job. Sure enough, the Bartistamobile is now $porting a brand-new $et of four tire$. (We'll be back at the tire place on Friday for $ome brake work, as well.) ;)

Aside from the tire drama, temperatures were in the humid 90's over the weekend. Heat and I don't mix very well, and after spending Saturday afternoon running errands with my sister, traipsing back and forth between the muggy outdoors and chilly air-conditioned stores, I felt like a wrung out washcloth. My schedule was full on Sunday, too.

My weekend plans may have gone awry, but I'm hoping to tame Tuesday as I return to work.

Speaking of taming: here's a rare poster from Taming Sutton's Gal (a.k.a. Back of Beyond), the 1957 feature film in which Jack Kelly co-starred with May Wynn (Donna Kelly), his real-life wife at the time. JK portrays a backwoods bootlegger named "Jugger Phelps", who is married to Donna's character in the film.

 

A close-up of JK and DK from the poster

 



Plus, a fantastic still from the film:

Well, I hope your Tuesday is terrific. Thanks for reading and please stay tuned for more fun with JK in TDS! :)