Happy Mother's Day From "TDS"! :)

Original print by Jacqueline Stanhope

The Gambler and the Flapper! :)

Howdy!

Bet you never thought you'd see Bart Maverick doing the Charleston--but here he is:

The feisty flapper hoofing it with Bart is Dorothy Provine, who was about to star as "Pinky Pinkham" in a new (1960) Warner Brothers TV series called The Roaring 20's.

It seems Ms. Provine was a bit of a gambler herself. In fact, according to an item in a 1961 issue of TV Radio Mirror, foxy Dot regularly outfoxed Jack Kelly and other Warner Brothers stars at the poker table. And JK smelled a rat: 

"The male contingent of TV stars far outnumber the female on the Warners' lot, and, for relaxation during lunch breaks, they've been having a few friendly rounds of poker. It was strictly stag until wide-eyed Dorothy Provine asked to be taught the game. 'Sure,' said Jack Kelly with a tolerant wink at the others. 'We'll let you in.' By agreement, stakes were low for the first session and Dot was given every opportunity. As a result, she won. But when she continued to win with ease and cunning, the boys began to suspect they were being suckered. So, at this writing, Warners' big problem with its he-man stars is not higher salaries but how to keep one pip of a blonde from getting in the card game and diverting her toward something feminine like knitting. [B27 -!] Groans Jack, 'That gal's hands are faster than our eyes and I don't like the smooth way she rakes in the pots--no beginner was ever that smooth.' As for Dot, she is as wide-eyed as ever. But, if one looks hard enough, there is a knowing gleam in her innocent gaze." ;-)

COMING SOON IN TDS: A German view of a movie made in Hong Kong with two American stars; the story behind JK's "boot"; and more! :)

Merry Olde "Maverick" :)

Hello Everyone!

Over 30 years' worth of digitized issues of a British television guide recently rolled into the Kellection on DVD. For a nostalgia nut and research junkie like me, this is almost akin to winning the lottery or having Christmas every day. In fact, it may take me until Christmas to read every issue. But, I don't mind. I'm having a ball learning more about British TV and, at the same time, discovering which American shows made a ripple across the pond in the late 1950's and early 1960's.

US cartoons like Rocky and Bullwinkle, Huckleberry Hound and Yogi Bear also appeared on the British telly. And sitcoms such as Dennis the Menace, which was re-titled Just Dennis. And, of course, westerns such as Gunsmoke, which was called Gun Law when the original half-hour episodes first aired in the UK.

I noticed most of the US westerns seemed to go over big in Britain, especially Wagon Train. The big draw there was Robert Horton as scout "Flint McCullough". I counted at least five articles about him. Horton also played the London Palladium at the height of his Wagon Train fame.

Our boys Bart and Bret Maverick were pretty popular, too. They arrived on the British ITV network in 1958 and appeared on and off there for the next several years.

Predictably, James garnered most of the attention in the TV guide. I found three articles about JG. Not every issue has been digitized, though, so maybe Jack rated an article or two of his own in the issues that are missing.

I did find an amazing behind-the-scenes photo of JK that I hadn't seen before. Judging from the overturned stagecoach in the background, I'm thinking this may have been snapped during the filming of The Burning Sky episode of Maverick. JK looks ruggedly handsome (even though the caption labels him as "Maverick's brother"). And, what is that guy doing with the shotgun?! :0

JK also pops up all over the program listings:

Finally, I found some kudos for Kelly and Maverick among the letters sent in by viewers. In 1960, a housewife in Manchester, UK, wrote: "I think of myself as a 'Western hater', but one programme I wouldn't miss for anything is Maverick. It is such a pleasant change to see a Western that is light-hearted. These Maverick brothers certainly possess something that the other heroes lack--a sense of humour. I would like to applaud the acting of both James Garner and Jack Kelly..."

So, it's clear that Maverick was a hit in merry olde England.

I'm up to the mid-1960's issues now, so if I make any more JK sightings, I'll let you know. Cheerio! :)

Coming Soon to a Computer Near You... :)

Hello Everyone!

I just wanted to let you know about a couple of projects I've been working on lately. I'm pretty excited about them. While they don't directly involve Jack Kelly, I'm sure that fans of JK, this blog, and classic films/tv/actors will enjoy them.

First, I'm about to launch a new blog. Don't worry--I'm still going to be posting on "TDS" and my other websites. It's actually sort of a spinoff of "TDS", and something I've wanted to do for a long time. I've been interested in film and tv actors practically since I was born and this is going to be a fun look at some of the other guys who've caught my eye--and maybe yours, too.  :) I'm putting the finishing touches on the first post now. Watch for it soon!

The second project is going to take a bit longer to reach fruition. A few years ago, I dreamed up some characters and began writing a story about them. Almost before I knew it, my "story" had seven chapters. I realized I had the beginning of a novel on my hands! I've never gotten this far with any kind of fiction I've tried to write, but I think this time I'm going to keep it going. I may even finish it. ;-)

Although it's fictional, the story does involve the entertainment industry. It's a rootin' tootin' romance that begins on the set of a TV western in 1961. And, where does it end? Only my hairdresser knows for sure--really, she's the only one I've told about the story so far.  But, now you know about it, too. Maybe I'll feature an excerpt from the story in "TDS" sometime. Keep watching? :-)

Easter Joy to Everyone from "TDS" :)

Keeping Up With the Kellys :)

Hello Everyone!

It's time for another visit to the Kelly kastle, circa 1959.

Here, we find JK trying to learn a new song ("Freebird"?) on the guitar as Donna/May looks on. Check out the background, and we see such knick-knacks as a Humpty Dumpty doll and what appears to be a Donald Duck figurine. Love that ruffled gingham lampshade, too. And, dig JK's argyle socks! :)

The write-up accompanying the pic says, "Jack Kelly loves portraying the smooth card shark Bart Maverick in the top Warner Brothers-ABC Sunday night series. 'If I had lived in those days of the early west, that's probably exactly what I would have done.' Jack and his wife Donna (her movie name was May Wynn) often spend their free time reading plays out loud to each other. They love almost all sports, love to travel, read, paint and spend lazy Sunday mornings reading the funny papers. Donna has given up acting professionally and is hoping to start a family soon. Until that time, they are free to fly to New York when the feeling hits them or to a nearby course for golf."

Below, JK (and friend) coaches Donna on the course:

Finally, JK and May SHARE a moment at a western-themed benefit:
 

Freebird! :)