Jack Kelly's Universal Appeal :)

Hello!

Jack Kelly and his pals definitely aren't practicing social distancing in the photo below. But, they have a good excuse--this pic was snapped in 1953:

The info on the back of the photo reads: "THEY"RE INTERNATIONAL--WITH A UNIVERSAL APPEAL! - It's a young people's movie world at Universal-International Studios, noted for development of young talent for the screen. Herewith is a mixed group of Hollywood hopefuls and winners of the second annual 'Miss Universe' bathing beauty contest, now under contract to U-I. Left to right: Lisa Gaye; Brad Jackson; Maxine Morgan ('Miss Australia'); Lance Fuller (currently in Taza, Son of Cochise); Alicia Ibanez ('Miss Uruguay'); William Leslie; Christiane Martel ('Miss Universe' and in costume for her first movie, Yankee Pascha); Jack Kelly; and Emita Arosemena ('Miss Panama')."

A close-up of Hollywood hopeful JK:

 

Of the other U-I contract players pictured above, few besides JK went onto notable careers, although Lance Fuller did appear in "The Island in the Swamp" and "The Cats of Paradise" episodes of Maverick, portraying a character ("Faro Jack Norcross") in the latter episode which spoofed Richard Boone's "Paladin" from Have Gun--Will Travel.

 

And, Lisa Gaye (sister of actress Debra Paget) appeared with JK in the 1961 Maverick episode "State of Siege", which also guest-starred Ray Danton:



Caption: "Bart Maverick (Jack Kelly, left), Soledad (Lisa Gaye), and Don Felipe (Ray Danton) make up a happy household before 'A State of Siege' hits their Spanish hacienda, forcing them to fight for their lives on MAVERICK."


Incidentally, JK was part of another line-up of talent in 1975, this time to publicize an episode of the Ellery Queen series in which he guest-starred:

 

Well, "hopefully" this post "appealed" to you. Please stay tuned for more fun with JK in TDS and please stay well. :)

 

Yet Another Postcard Post :)

Hello Everyone!

Yet another Jack Kelly postcard has joined the Kellection, and it's an absolute doozy! It's also the earliest (and best) one I've seen so far:

The front of the card shows a young JK  during his pre-Maverick days as a Universal-International contract player. Just look at that smile! :) There's also a facsimile signature.

 

The reverse of the card (addressed to a fan in Kansas) has a 2-cent postmark and a plug for the U-I film Mississippi Gambler, which was released in 1953.

The message says:

"Dear Friend: Thank you for your letter. I am only too happy to send you a photograph in response to your request. In the event you wish a larger photograph, I am listing below the various sizes available. You will note a small charge is made to cover printing and mailing cost. Thanks again for writing me."

The charges are $1.00 for a 11" x 14" photo, $0.25 for an 8" x 10" photo, $0.10 for a 5" x 7" photo and $.05 for "snapshots". How I wish photos of JK were available at those prices today--I paid a lot more than $1.00 for this postcard. ;)

Well, I hope this post has your "stamp" of approval. TDS is the address for all things JK, so please stay tuned! :)

One Sunday Afternoon With Jack Kelly :)

Howdy!

Here's another amazing pic of Jack Kelly from his early career days at Universal-International Studios.

 

Dated 1951, it shows JK in an opening night scene directed by Sophie Rosenstein from "One Sunday Afternoon" (a play written by James Hagan) which was presented as part of the annual "Inside U-I" stage show. Some writing on the back of the photo says, "Scenes presented on stage as acting exercises to audiences of studio's directors and producers."

More writing on the back of the still identifies JK's leggy co-stars as Gale Storm (L) and Ava Norring (R), although I'm not quite sure if the lady on the left really is Ms. Storm. Anyway, JK appears to be saying "Cheers!" at the sight of Ms. Norring's glamourous gam.

I found this 1951 photo of actors in the U-I workshop online. JK is sitting in the front row; I'm sure you'll recognize some other familiar faces (such as Russell Johnson), too:

I also found some more pix from the "Inside U-I" show in a 1954 issue of Photoplay magazine. The story, "Puttin' On An Act", says, "Movie audiences will never see the U-I talent show. It's strictly a family affair...For several weeks every year U-I's huge Phantom Stage (so-called because it was built for the [1924] movie Phantom of the Opera) hums with activity. Youngsters gleefully go through their own routines or watch Estelle Harman, head of the talent department, put others through their paces."

"Though it looks like bedlam, there's method in the madness. This year's show, the third put on by the studio, is part of a million-dollar talent program which has more than earned its keep. The show called 'Inside U-I', is designed not only to give U-I contract players extra experience, but to display their versatile and sometimes unsuspected off-beat talents. Through these shows,  U-I's young players have again and again obtained better breaks, not only on their own lot, but also on loan-outs. For executives from all the other studios scramble for invitations to this glorified--and exclusive--Amateur Show."

Well, it's no act and I'll give my all to bring you much more about JK in TDS...please stay tuned! :) 

Klowning Around With Jack Kelly :)

Hello!

When we think of clowns named "Kelly", Emmett would probably be the first person who comes to mind.

But--no fooling!--that's Jack Kelly under the greasepaint in this incredible still from 1953:

 

The caption on the reverse of the photo says this is a scene from "Here Come The Clowns", with Lori Nelson. I believe this was presented as part of  "Inside U-I", which was staged annually by Universal-International during the early 1950's to show off young players such as JK, Ms. Nelson, Tony Curtis, Rock Hudson, and many others who were enrolled in the studio's talent development program.

 

Sophie Rosenstein, U-I's talent coach, explained the importance of the yearly show in a 1951 newspaper story: "You see, when a player is signed his fight just begins. Then, he has to sell himself to the directors and producers on the lot. By putting on this annual show, we can show the movie makers what our young people can do. Also, it gives the youngsters a set of values they wouldn't otherwise have. In the theater there is a great deal of tradition and loyalty. But actors who start their careers in the movies lack this background. They don't realize that they are part of a great industry. By putting on 'Inside U-I', the youngsters develop a sense of loyalty to the show."

 

Here's another 1953 pic of JK and Lori Nelson, this time in street clothes:

 

 

Even on crutches, JK is still clowning, although he'd seriously injured his leg in a skiing accident in late 1952, leaving him unable to work for over a year. He made only three more films for Universal in the mid-1950's (Magnificent Obsession, Cult of the Cobra and To Hell and Back) but, the lessons he'd learned at U-I served him well as he went on to a successful career in films and television.

 

 No foolin'--there's much more coming up in TDS. Please stay tuned! :)