"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! :)

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.