Howdy Partners!
I just found a couple of interesting videos on YouTube.
The first is a 1979 promo for the ABC-TV film The New Maverick, which originally aired in 1978. It introduced yet another member of the Maverick clan--Cousin Beau's boy, Ben. Jack Kelly appears:
But, I'm not thrilled that they gave him third billing at the end, after that upstart new Maverick. I mean, the announcer could have said, "Starring James Garner, Jack Kelly, and introducing Charles Frank as Ben Maverick". (Just sayin'.)
The second video is the intro for the short-lived 1979 TV series Young Maverick, which starred the aforementioned Mr. Frank as the aforementioned Ben Maverick, only he'd moseyed over to a different network (CBS). Neither JK nor JG appear here, but I do like the way the original Maverick theme and the gambling motif is used:
New Maverick? Young Maverick? No thanks--I'll just stick with the best: classic Maverick. :-)
Monday, August 15, 2011
Sunday, August 14, 2011
"My Husband, Jack Kelly" - Pt. IV
Howdy All!
Here's the fourth and final part of "My Husband, Jack Kelly" by Mae (May) Wynn:
"Kelly is a very good and careful driver, who sticks to the speed limit to the letter. Unfortunately, I'm one of those people who gets nervous if anyone but myself drives. And, I show it. His reaction the last time he slammed on his brakes because someone was cutting in front of us and I automatically went through the same motions on my side, was typical.
'Gee whiz, Mae, maybe I better have your brakes fixed.'
As could be expected, Kelly is a stickler for being on time. Not so Mrs. Kelly. I was even late for my wedding.
We were supposed to leave for Arizona at two in the afternoon. About one, Kelly called on the phone. 'Ready to go?'
'I'm not even dressed!' I cried out. 'I've got a million things to do yet...'
'Like what?'
Suddenly, I couldn't think of anything left to be done except pack.
I was just my usual self--late. 'I'll be ready in an hour,' I promised.
I wasn't ready to leave till seven that night! And he didn't get mad at me.
I was even late for our second wedding.
Because we had eloped the first time, we decided to get married again, in a church. The date was November 10, 1956; the time, 1:30; the place, St. Ambrose Catholic Church in Hollywood.
The groom was ready at 1:30 sharp.
I finally managed to get there by 2:45, and believe me, this time I tried to be on time. It just doesn't work. But again, and ever since, Kelly has been most gallant about the whole thing. He never utters a word of complaint.
Kelly is definitely not a typically domesticated male--for which I'd like to take some credit. I don't believe a man who works hard all week long should put on an apron and do the dishes or any other kind of housework when he comes home. Kelly couldn't agree more.
On the other hand, he is such a connoisseur of food that he can taste almost any dish and identify the ingredients. To just what extent was never more apparent to me than when we were in Hong Kong, starring in a picture shortly after we were married.
Chinese food didn't agree with Kelly at all. After he was ill several meals in a row, he went to the kitchen of the Carlton Hotel where we stayed, and showed the chef how to prepare all sorts of delicacies--from cabbage fried potatoes to mushroom sauce with wine! By the time we left, I'm sure the chef knew as much about non-Chinese dishes as the ones he was used to cooking all his life!
Kelly also has excellent taste in clothes--women's clothes. Not long ago we were invited to a formal party in honor of Dimitri Tiomkin. That afternoon I took an old evening gown I was going to wear out of the closet, and hung it on a wardrobe knob.
When Kelly came home he took one look at the dress and decided it was too old. Without letting me know what he was up to, he left the house again, went to an exclusive dress shop on Ventura Boulevard, and returned with a beautiful black and white lace gown--which fit to perfection. Although I still don't know how he managed, it didn't surprise me. By now I'm used to the fact that I married a most unusual man." :)
(From Silver Screen, December 1959)
Well, that wraps up this amazing article, but stay tuned...there's more fun comin' up in TDS:
Here's the fourth and final part of "My Husband, Jack Kelly" by Mae (May) Wynn:
"Kelly is a very good and careful driver, who sticks to the speed limit to the letter. Unfortunately, I'm one of those people who gets nervous if anyone but myself drives. And, I show it. His reaction the last time he slammed on his brakes because someone was cutting in front of us and I automatically went through the same motions on my side, was typical.
'Gee whiz, Mae, maybe I better have your brakes fixed.'
As could be expected, Kelly is a stickler for being on time. Not so Mrs. Kelly. I was even late for my wedding.
We were supposed to leave for Arizona at two in the afternoon. About one, Kelly called on the phone. 'Ready to go?'
'I'm not even dressed!' I cried out. 'I've got a million things to do yet...'
'Like what?'
Suddenly, I couldn't think of anything left to be done except pack.
I was just my usual self--late. 'I'll be ready in an hour,' I promised.
I wasn't ready to leave till seven that night! And he didn't get mad at me.
I was even late for our second wedding.
Because we had eloped the first time, we decided to get married again, in a church. The date was November 10, 1956; the time, 1:30; the place, St. Ambrose Catholic Church in Hollywood.
The groom was ready at 1:30 sharp.
I finally managed to get there by 2:45, and believe me, this time I tried to be on time. It just doesn't work. But again, and ever since, Kelly has been most gallant about the whole thing. He never utters a word of complaint.
Kelly is definitely not a typically domesticated male--for which I'd like to take some credit. I don't believe a man who works hard all week long should put on an apron and do the dishes or any other kind of housework when he comes home. Kelly couldn't agree more.
On the other hand, he is such a connoisseur of food that he can taste almost any dish and identify the ingredients. To just what extent was never more apparent to me than when we were in Hong Kong, starring in a picture shortly after we were married.
Chinese food didn't agree with Kelly at all. After he was ill several meals in a row, he went to the kitchen of the Carlton Hotel where we stayed, and showed the chef how to prepare all sorts of delicacies--from cabbage fried potatoes to mushroom sauce with wine! By the time we left, I'm sure the chef knew as much about non-Chinese dishes as the ones he was used to cooking all his life!
Kelly also has excellent taste in clothes--women's clothes. Not long ago we were invited to a formal party in honor of Dimitri Tiomkin. That afternoon I took an old evening gown I was going to wear out of the closet, and hung it on a wardrobe knob.
When Kelly came home he took one look at the dress and decided it was too old. Without letting me know what he was up to, he left the house again, went to an exclusive dress shop on Ventura Boulevard, and returned with a beautiful black and white lace gown--which fit to perfection. Although I still don't know how he managed, it didn't surprise me. By now I'm used to the fact that I married a most unusual man." :)
(From Silver Screen, December 1959)
Well, that wraps up this amazing article, but stay tuned...there's more fun comin' up in TDS:
- Stop and smell the roses with JK and...?
- JK turns up the heat in a cold climate
- And some surprises ;-)
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
"My Husband, Jack Kelly" - Pt. III
Happy Wednesday!
Here's the third part of "My Husband, Jack Kelly" by Mae (May) Wynn:
"This feeling dates back to an unhappy experience as a boy. He had always wanted a new bicycle of his own, but was unable to save enough out of his allowance to afford one. One day, he told me, he got a bright idea that would solve his problem: get a job in a bicycle shop to earn the money he needed.
Upon Kelly's pleadings, the owner of the store agreed to let him have the shiny two-wheeler after it was only half paid for, but warned him that he might not be able to keep him employed much longer. 'That's all right,' Kelly had said. 'In that case I'll just get myself another job...'
But when it happened, he couldn't find one. And the bicycle had to be returned.
It certainly taught him a lesson. Except for the house and one or two other expenditures which were too high to be paid for in cash, he would never buy anything on time--or let me get anything that way!
Here's the third part of "My Husband, Jack Kelly" by Mae (May) Wynn:
"This feeling dates back to an unhappy experience as a boy. He had always wanted a new bicycle of his own, but was unable to save enough out of his allowance to afford one. One day, he told me, he got a bright idea that would solve his problem: get a job in a bicycle shop to earn the money he needed.
Upon Kelly's pleadings, the owner of the store agreed to let him have the shiny two-wheeler after it was only half paid for, but warned him that he might not be able to keep him employed much longer. 'That's all right,' Kelly had said. 'In that case I'll just get myself another job...'
But when it happened, he couldn't find one. And the bicycle had to be returned.
It certainly taught him a lesson. Except for the house and one or two other expenditures which were too high to be paid for in cash, he would never buy anything on time--or let me get anything that way!
Caption: "The Kellys have to pay bills, too, and here
they go over their monthly bookkeeping. Poodle seems
unconcerned with such matters." :)
they go over their monthly bookkeeping. Poodle seems
unconcerned with such matters." :)
Come to think of it, it was his aversion to gambling that caused our only big argument in three years of marriage.
When I say he doesn't like to gamble, I don't mean he stays away from all card games. He enjoys a good game of poker--but he knows the odds and plays accordingly. It is almost like a business venture with him.
Not with me. I always liked to play cards simply for the pleasure I got out of it. And one night I somehow accomplished the impossible--by losing $150 in a nickel and dime game.
After our guests had left, Kelly turned to me disgustedly. 'You played stupidly,' he exclaimed.
'What do you mean?' I shot back.
'You don't know when to quit! You stay in the game with every hand till the last card is played...'
That did it! 'I played poker before I met you. Don't tell me how to play. Besides, I don't care whether I win or lose...!!'
Kelly stared at me disbelievingly. 'In that case, why don't you just give away $150?'
Before I had a chance to answer he had gotten up, walked out of the house, and sat down on the front steps to cool off.
By the time I had a chance to reason things out for myself, I couldn't help agreeing that Kelly was right. So now when we get in a game, I play to win, just as he does.
Incidentally, this was one of the very few times that I have seen my husband lose his temper. Generally, it's next to impossible to even make him mad and, believe me, there are times when I've given him good reasons! Like with my backseat driving."
When I say he doesn't like to gamble, I don't mean he stays away from all card games. He enjoys a good game of poker--but he knows the odds and plays accordingly. It is almost like a business venture with him.
Not with me. I always liked to play cards simply for the pleasure I got out of it. And one night I somehow accomplished the impossible--by losing $150 in a nickel and dime game.
After our guests had left, Kelly turned to me disgustedly. 'You played stupidly,' he exclaimed.
'What do you mean?' I shot back.
'You don't know when to quit! You stay in the game with every hand till the last card is played...'
That did it! 'I played poker before I met you. Don't tell me how to play. Besides, I don't care whether I win or lose...!!'
Kelly stared at me disbelievingly. 'In that case, why don't you just give away $150?'
Before I had a chance to answer he had gotten up, walked out of the house, and sat down on the front steps to cool off.
By the time I had a chance to reason things out for myself, I couldn't help agreeing that Kelly was right. So now when we get in a game, I play to win, just as he does.
Incidentally, this was one of the very few times that I have seen my husband lose his temper. Generally, it's next to impossible to even make him mad and, believe me, there are times when I've given him good reasons! Like with my backseat driving."
STAY TUNED FOR PART IV! :)
Sunday, August 7, 2011
"My Husband, Jack Kelly" Part II :)
Hello All!
Here's Part II of "My Husband, Jack Kelly" by Mae (May) Wynn:
"Having been an actress myself, I knew the tensions, the conceit, the egotism and antagonism that invariably seems to go with the job. Consequently, I was certain of only one thing about my personal future--that I would never marry an actor. But, Kelly's attitude toward his career was so different than anything I had ever experienced before, that it no longer presented a handicap.
We agreed that whoever got a lucky break first would set the pace for the years to come. In short, if my series Noah's Ark had been successful, Kelly would never have accepted the Maverick show. Instead, he would have done features, to enable us to stay together through most of the year. Since my series turned into a flop, and his was successful, I gave up my career altogether.
Kelly is not only different from most actors, he is different from most men.
For one thing, he is a stickler for honesty and correctness, to the extent that it almost becomes an obsession with him.
I don't mean to imply most men are liars. But, let's face it--it seems to be the general consensus of opinion that a little white lie never hurt anyone and probably does a lot of good under certain circumstances.
That's not Kelly's way of thinking at all. I will never forget one of our first dates. Since we were going to some gala affair, I took great pains selecting a beautiful dress for the evening. Since he didn't comment on it when he picked me up at my apartment, I asked him point-blank how he liked it.
'I don't,' he came back, matter-of-factly. Who does he think he is, I thought, putting on an act like this. No person is that frank, especially after he just met a girl.
Kelly is. And once I realized it wasn't an act, I loved it.
Even people who have known him for a long time are still surprised by his correctness and meticulosity.
A couple of weeks ago, a writer who must have done a dozen stories with Kelly called him while we were having dinner. He had but one question to ask Kelly for a symposium story. I think it was about the 'most frightening' experience he ever had.
'I'd like to think about it for a while. Why don't you call me back in the morning?' Kelly suggested.
'All I need is one little anecdote,' the writer persisted. 'If it isn't the most frightening incident, give me any one that comes to you mind. I'm sure it'll be all right.'
'I'd rather think about it and give you the specific information you want...'
'But...'
'...please, if you don't mind--call me in the morning.'
A bit unhappy at first about the delay, the writer was most appreciative when he got exactly what he wanted.
Mostly I have always been surprised at my husband's lack of gambling ambitions. This runs not only counter to the attitude of most actors who feel their profession consists of nothing but taking chances, but specifically the character he plays on TV, Bart Maverick."
Watch for Part III of "My Husband, Jack Kelly"! :)
Here's Part II of "My Husband, Jack Kelly" by Mae (May) Wynn:
"Having been an actress myself, I knew the tensions, the conceit, the egotism and antagonism that invariably seems to go with the job. Consequently, I was certain of only one thing about my personal future--that I would never marry an actor. But, Kelly's attitude toward his career was so different than anything I had ever experienced before, that it no longer presented a handicap.
We agreed that whoever got a lucky break first would set the pace for the years to come. In short, if my series Noah's Ark had been successful, Kelly would never have accepted the Maverick show. Instead, he would have done features, to enable us to stay together through most of the year. Since my series turned into a flop, and his was successful, I gave up my career altogether.
Kelly is not only different from most actors, he is different from most men.
For one thing, he is a stickler for honesty and correctness, to the extent that it almost becomes an obsession with him.
I don't mean to imply most men are liars. But, let's face it--it seems to be the general consensus of opinion that a little white lie never hurt anyone and probably does a lot of good under certain circumstances.That's not Kelly's way of thinking at all. I will never forget one of our first dates. Since we were going to some gala affair, I took great pains selecting a beautiful dress for the evening. Since he didn't comment on it when he picked me up at my apartment, I asked him point-blank how he liked it.
'I don't,' he came back, matter-of-factly. Who does he think he is, I thought, putting on an act like this. No person is that frank, especially after he just met a girl.
Kelly is. And once I realized it wasn't an act, I loved it.
Even people who have known him for a long time are still surprised by his correctness and meticulosity.
A couple of weeks ago, a writer who must have done a dozen stories with Kelly called him while we were having dinner. He had but one question to ask Kelly for a symposium story. I think it was about the 'most frightening' experience he ever had.
'I'd like to think about it for a while. Why don't you call me back in the morning?' Kelly suggested.
'All I need is one little anecdote,' the writer persisted. 'If it isn't the most frightening incident, give me any one that comes to you mind. I'm sure it'll be all right.'
'I'd rather think about it and give you the specific information you want...'
'But...'
'...please, if you don't mind--call me in the morning.'
A bit unhappy at first about the delay, the writer was most appreciative when he got exactly what he wanted.
Mostly I have always been surprised at my husband's lack of gambling ambitions. This runs not only counter to the attitude of most actors who feel their profession consists of nothing but taking chances, but specifically the character he plays on TV, Bart Maverick."
Watch for Part III of "My Husband, Jack Kelly"! :)
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Top of the Mornin' To You! :)
Wake up everyone--time to get out of bed!
Because here's a pic of Jack Kelly
With a dove on his head:
(That's JK with Ann Blyth in Sally and Saint Anne.)DON'T FORGET - PT. II OF "MY HUSBAND, JACK KELLY" COMING UP NEXT! :)
Sunday, July 31, 2011
"A Most Unusual Guy" :) Part I
Hello All!
It's been a while since I featured a magazine article here. So, I thought I'd share this klassic 1959 Jack Kelly story from the Kellection, which kontains some of the most kaptivating pix I've ever seen of JK:
"MY HUSBAND, JACK KELLY
by Mae* Wynn Kelly
(*that's how they spelled it throughout the story)
'A most unusual guy' is the way Mae describes the man she eloped with three years ago--and then married again.
How should I have known my husband didn't like to be called 'Kelly'! That's what I called him from the time we first met. I don't know why. He just looked liked Kelly to me.
His true feelings came to light about a year after we were introduced, when a fellow walked over, slapped him on the back, and shouted, 'What's new, Kelly?'
He turned around and snapped back, 'The name's Jack!'
'Sorry', the other fellow apologized. 'Didn't mean any harm.'
When we were alone again, I turned to him in surprise. 'Does it really bother you being called Kelly?'
'Not the way you say it,' he insisted.
'Then you won't mind if I keep calling you Kelly?'
'I insist you do,' he smiled.
Caption: "Gun holster he wears as Bart Maverick is exhibited by Jack. The only person he allows to call him 'Kelly' is his wife, Mae"
But that was about the only peculiarity I discovered in my husband during the six years we've know one another and the three years since we eloped to Quartzsite, Arizona, back in October of 1956. He is the best adjusted human being I have ever met, without neuroses, complexes or even a tendency to worry about the one subject every actor is concerned about--his career.
One day a friend commented on the many TV stars who seem unhappy with their series, about being typecast, about wanting more money. When he was through he turned to Kelly. With more than curiosity in his voice, he wanted to know why Kelly never complained about anything.
'I do the best job I can and leave the rest to the studio,' Kelly grinned. 'Complaining and worrying never gave anyone anything but ulcers.'
Without this type of reasoning on his part, I wouldn't be Mrs. Jack Kelly today..."
Caption: "Ship model captivates Jack. 'Complaining and worrying never gave anyone
anything but an ulcer,'
is his easy philosophy."
PART II NEXT TIME! :)
Friday, July 29, 2011
Hotter Than July! :)
Howdy Everyone!
Like most everyone else in the US, we've been hit pretty hard lately by the heat. In fact, the Bartistamobile is equipped with a handy-dandy thermometer that measures the outdoor temperature. Here's what it read the other evening (the temp is in the upper right corner):
That's hot, but here's something that's even hotter:
An autographed photo of JK as Bart Maverick that just joined the Kellection! I've seen this particular image many times, but I think this is the first time I've seen it printed in color.
The inscription reads: "To John - Best for your happiness!! Jack Kelly"
Now, I don't know about "John", but I know I'm pretty happy, just looking at this pic! ;-)
Like most everyone else in the US, we've been hit pretty hard lately by the heat. In fact, the Bartistamobile is equipped with a handy-dandy thermometer that measures the outdoor temperature. Here's what it read the other evening (the temp is in the upper right corner):
That's hot, but here's something that's even hotter:
An autographed photo of JK as Bart Maverick that just joined the Kellection! I've seen this particular image many times, but I think this is the first time I've seen it printed in color.The inscription reads: "To John - Best for your happiness!! Jack Kelly"
Now, I don't know about "John", but I know I'm pretty happy, just looking at this pic! ;-)
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