Saturday, October 10, 2020

Yet Another Bundle From Brazil! :)

Olá!

Here's yet another fantastic look at Jack Kelly and Maverick on Brazilian television, courtesy of the March 24-30 1964 issue of  "Intervalo", with "The Brothers Maverick" as cover boys:


(If that photo looks familiar, it's the same image used on the cover of this Brazilian magazine, only flipped.)

Photo caption: "Jack Kelly is satisfied with the presence of Robert Colbert [Brent], replacing James Garner as Bret."

The text of the cover story (roughly translated with Google) reads:

"The Mavericks - Cute But Not Ordinary 

[I love that description! B27]

The brothers 'Maverick', Brent and Bart, and their cousin Beau, are noted for the impeccable elegance of their dress and how they present themselves. The three have all the requirements of the most perfect gentleman. For this reason, they can be called "cute" (but not ordinary), despite the questionable and sometimes not very honest activities they perform. They enable Brazilian viewers to watch vibrant adventures set in the rugged American West, at the time of the pioneers. See them on Channel 13 in Rio (Saturdays, 21:45) and Channel 5 in Sao Paulo (Tuesdays, 21:35)."

"Next week, the Maverick series begins its second season in São Paulo and Rio. A change for this second season: the replacement of James Garner by Robert Colbert, who will play Brent Maverick, with Jack Kelly continuing as Bart Maverick.

"Living incredible adventures in the old west, the Mavericks are  admired as the quickest on the trigger, although they insist on not being identified as such. They prefer to be known as romantic and adventurous players. Each episode has light and picturesque humor, interconnected with a mild dose of romance, provoked by the two brothers who, even following different paths, invariably end up in the direction of a beautiful girl who always arouses their passion. Bold poker players, they always risk a bluff, or some trick, although they claim great honesty. They are impeccable dressers, contrasting with the inhabitants of the places they pass through.

"Brent and Bart alternate their adventures weekly and in each program they play opposite excellent and renowned stars of television and cinema. This new phase of Maverick presents a new figure, whose interpreter is already known to viewers in Sao Paulo and Rio for his role as "Ivanhoe": Roger Moore, who plays the part of Beau Maverick, cousin of Brent and Bart. 

"Completely dubbed into Portuguese at Cinecastro Studios, the series should continue to delight the public, who are used to admiring and applauding the adventures of the Maverick brothers. Rio residents will continue to follow them on TV-Rio, Channel 13, while São Paulo will keep their receivers tuned to TV-Paulista, Channel  5, every Tuesday, at 21:35 hours."

Wow, that's interesting, how Brent is described as a regularly occurring character, when he appeared in only two episodes. And, how Beau is described as a "new" character, when he actually appeared in the episodes before Brent showed up and then vamoosed. 

Well, where in the world will TDS travel to next? Please stay tuned and find out! :)

Friday, September 18, 2020

60 Years Ago Today...

 ...A "Bundle From Britain" arrived on Maverick!


Yes, it was on September 18, 1960, that Roger Moore debuted as "Beau Maverick", the "white sheep" cousin of the Maverick family.


I was about to ask Beau and his cousin Bart how they felt about this historic anniversary. Unfortunately, they're tied up at the moment:


Please stay tuned for more about Jack Kelly and Maverick in TDS! :)

Wednesday, September 16, 2020

A Zoomin' Birthday! :)

"With lockdowns and social-distancing, it looks like we won't be able to have a birthday party for you this year, Jack."

"Not to worry, Goldie--we'll have a virtual party! Okay, everyone, the party is online...now!"


"Uh, Jim, you're on mute..."

"Oops, sorry old chap! CAN YOU 
HEAR ME NOW?"

"Yep...can you turn the volume down?"

"Certainly!"

"Bonjour, Jack!"

"Well, hello Countess!"

"What kinda caper is this? 
Dad? Suzanne? What's with the crazy threads?"

"I think you have the wrong party, son."

"I sure do...this is Squaresville! 
Hey, you ever been to 77 Cherokee Strip?"

"We sure have! Right, Jack? Er, Jack?"


"I'm here! Say, can somebody ping Bret? 
He accepted the invite but hasn't joined us yet."

"Will do!"

"Happy birthday, Jack!"

"Happy Holliday, Doc!"

"I see what you did there."

"Howdy, Jack, it's Pappy and Bentley here. 
Bret got your IM...he sends his regards."

"What's Bret doing?"

"He's playin' poker with that Samantha Crawford. Now, you know what I always say about playin' poker with women..."

"Yeah, I do Pappy. Uh, Goldie?"

"Yes, Jack?"

"What about my birthday cake?"

"Well...I'm afraid it's going to be 
virtual this year, too."


"Psych! I sent it by express delivery. 
It should be at your house any minute now!"

(DING DONG!)

"It's here! Thanks a million, Goldie!"


"HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JACK!!!"

--Meeting has ended---

(Click!
Click!
Click!
Click!
Click!)

Monday, September 14, 2020

A Stormy Moment With JK :)

Hello!

Presenting one of my favorite original vintage stills from one of my favorite Maverick episodes:  "The Goose-Drownder", starring Jack Kelly as Bart Maverick and guest-starring Fay Spain as the provocatively named dance-hall girl "Stella Legendre":  


Even in this still image, JK's and Ms. Spain's expressive eyes convey the tense emotions of the scene. 

Here's how the photo looked when it was published in The Columbus Dispatch on May 8, 1960, the date 'The Goose-Drownder' was rerun on ABC:


The caption reads, "Jack Kelly, as Bart Maverick, protects Stella Legendre, played by Fay Spain, from a vicious outlaw in 'The Goose Drownder' on Maverick, Sunday, May 8, on Chan. 6 at 7:30 p.m.)"

(The Dispatch cropped out the deceased character in the background.)

By the way, I'm always baffled when authors, reviewers, etc., claim that when Maverick originally aired in the 1950s, viewers didn't know from one week to the next if they were going to see Bret or Bart Maverick as the star of an episode. Really? Did these viewers not read "TV Guide" or their local newspapers? 

I've found that Maverick was very well-publicized during its 1957-1962 network run, with plot synopses and photos appearing in advance of each weekly episode. I found several different promo photos and write-ups for 'The Goose-Drownder' alone during my perusals of various newspaper databases. 

For example:


The caption: "TIME OF DANGER - Time is running out for Jack Kelly and Fay Spain, who are stranded in a ghost town with a band of stagecoach robbers in 'The Goose-Drownder', next segment in the Warner Bros. Maverick series, to show on Sunday, December 13 [1959], on the ABC-TV network."

Notice it says "next segment". So, viewers shouldn't have been surprised when Bart showed up as the star of "The Goose-Drownder". Unless, of course, they were too busy watching TV to read the newspaper. ;)

Well, please stay tuned for more photographical fun with JK in TDS! :)

Wednesday, September 9, 2020

"Savage" Gal :)


Hello Everyone,

I spent part of Labor Day going through some Jack Kelly photos in the Kellection. I came across this incredible still from the Maverick episode "The Savage Hills":


That's lovely Diane Brewster as conniving "Samantha Crawford" with JK.

The info on the reverse of this vintage original press photo says:

"'SAVAGE' GAL --When Bart Maverick (JACK KELLY) is accused of being a member of a counterfeiting ring, he flees the law with the gal, Amantha [sic] (DIANE BREWSTER), who holds the answer to the dangerous game in 'The Savage Hills', a Warner Bros. Maverick drama for ABC-telecasting, Sunday, February 9."

Here's how the photo appeared in a newspaper to promote the episode when it originally aired in 1958:


Please stay tuned for more vintage photo/promo match-ups in TDS

Saturday, July 25, 2020

Happy National Day of the Cowboy from JK & TDS! :)

Howdy!

To celebrate National Day of the Cowboy 2020, here's an autographed photo of a jaunty Jack Kelly as Bart Maverick:

 
The inscription on this original photo in the Kellection says: "To Myra + Bill, Jack Kelly".
 
Have a wonderful day and please stay tuned for more rip-roarin' fun with JK in TDS!


Sunday, July 19, 2020

ABC and JK :)

Hello Everyone!

Have a look at this GORGEOUS pic of Jack Kelly as Bart Maverick:


It's a typical promo photo from ABC-TV, right?


Take a closer look at the ABC logo:


Actually, this promo pic is from the Associated British Corporation TV network, rather than the American Broadcasting Company which aired Maverick in the United States. As noted before in TDS, Maverick was pretty popular in the UK during the late 1950's and early 1960's. 

Here's another marvelous Maverick promo pic from the ABC network across the pond (the "Jack Kelly" is not JK's signature--it looks like someone else scrawled it on the photo):


There's a veddy British notation stamped on the reverse of this pic:


Alas, the Associated British Corporation network is long defunct. It was forced to merge with the Rediffusion London network in 1968 and become Thames TV--yep, the folks who brought us Benny Hill. But, here's a fun look at the various ABC logos (I'm sure you'll recognize the one which spells out "Associated British Corporation" from the end-credits of The Avengers TV series).


So, there you have the ABCs of JK and Maverick. Please stay tuned for more fun in TDS--cheerio! :)