Jack Kelly: Hibernian Screen Star! :)

Happy Saint Patrick's Day Everyone!

Vintage postcard art courtesy The Graphics Fairy 

On this day in 1960, Jack Kelly was awarded the annual "Hibernian Screen Star Award" at the Statler-Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles during the Ancient Order of Hibernians' St. Patrick's Day festivities:

It's a little hard to read, but the clipping says "Annual Hibernian Screen Star Award Will Be Presented to Jack 'Maverick' Kelly During the Dance." 

Although it was given in 1960, I've seen JK's award called "Favorite Irishman for 1959" in other clippings and described as a statuette of St. Patrick. Wife Donna Kelly (May Wynn) was also on hand for the award presentation:

Reservations for both the St. Patrick's Day dinner and dance were $6.00 per person. If one wished to attend only the dance it cost just $2.00. But, I'm sure we fans would have paid any amount to see JK! :)

Please stay tuned for more about our favorite Irishman for every year in the next TDS.

A TV Spectacular--At the Drive-In! :)

Hello Everyone!

It's still February, but how about spending Saturday night at the drive-in movies? Although it may be a bit chilly outside, this 1962 line-up of TV favorites starring in older feature films (including Jack Kelly in Hong Kong Affair) will warm us up!

(Of course, they could have shown The Night Holds Terror which featured both JK and Vince Edwards.) 

The "Why Settle for Substitutes? Try a Real Saturday Night at the Movies" is probably a dig at NBC-TV's popular Saturday Night at the Movies series which aired from 1961-1978. 

And, speaking of Hong Kong Affair: another look at JK in this film is coming soon in TDS!

PLUS: Also coming soon, two incredibly rare Kellectibles from Jack Kelly's pre-Maverick TV career--please stay tuned! :)

"Four Into Zero"=JK

Hello Everyone!

The temperature where I live is forecast to dip to just four above zero in the next few days, so I thought I'd look at "Four Into Zero", an episode of Kraft Suspense Theatre in which Jack Kelly starred. Not only that, but it was on this exact day in 1965--Thursday, February 18--that "Four Into Zero" first aired on NBC-TV!

JK plays "Charles Glenn", the ski-bum husband of wealthy blonde heiress "Caroline" (Martha Hyer). Charles wants to accomplish something to prove to Caroline that he's his own man. 

Does he run for office? Write a novel? Win a gold medal for skiing?

Nope, he masterminds a convoluted caper involving engraving plates bound for a South American republic by way of a train traveling from Chicago to Los Angeles. Charles plans to pinch the plates from the train's freight car, print a million dollars worth of bills, return the plates to the car and then convert the South American currency to U.S. money for a hefty payday. 

Of course, he can't do all this alone, so he hires three cohorts--a printer, an acrobat and a man (Robert Conrad) whose fiancée works at a bank in Chicago--with the special skills and knowledge needed to get the job done. 

Nothing can go wrong, right? Wrong. 

The acrobat is supposed to slither atop the moving train and slip in and out of the freight car with the plates without attracting attention. However, he's injured and Charles must complete the risky task himself. 

There are other complications as well, such as a nosey little boy and a vacationing railroad bull who almost uncover Charles' scheme while riding the train. And, when Caroline and the fiancée learn their men aren't on a business trip after all, they fly to Los Angeles to find out what's really going on.   

In the end, Charles' wild plan nearly succeeds. Crime doesn't pay, though, and his million-dollar dream adds up to a big fat zero when a sudden coup renders the republic's currency worthless. 

But, he still has Caroline:

Please stay tuned for more fun with JK in TDS--and stay warm! :)

Happy Valentine's Day 2021 From "TDS"! :)

Maverick still of Jack Kelly and Patricia Crowley

 in "A Tale of Three Cities" 

autographed by 

Ms. Crowley

(colorization and caption added by La Bartista)

"Beggars" Night :)

Hey!

I meant to post this original pic from the Kellection a couple of weeks ago, in honor of the 62nd anniversary of "Two Beggars on Horseback", the Maverick episode which premiered on 1/18/59. 

But, any time is a good time to remember this lively episode, which pairs Jack Kelly and James Garner with Patricia Barry (as crafty "Jessamy Longacre"). It's a fan favorite and reportedly was JK's favorite Maverick episode, as well. 

It's also time to say "Bye-bye" to January and "Hello" to February. What's coming up in TDS during the next month? Please stay tuned to find out! :)

The Not-So-Wild West :)

Hello Everyone!

In May 1955, Jack Kelly starred in an episode of Cavalcade of America, a TV series which dramatized inspiring historical incidents from the lives of real-life Americans.

JK was cast as "James E. West", an attorney and advocate for children. Born in Washington, D.C., in 1876, West spent most of his own childhood in an orphanage after his parents died. 

While in the orphanage, West was diagnosed with a tubercular hip, which left him with one leg shorter than the other. He wore a leg brace until he was strong enough to use crutches. 

Unable to do physically demanding work like the other boys, West was relegated to the orphanage's sewing room with the girls. But, he longed to attend school. He was eventually permitted to attend classes and later graduated with honors from high school. 

West taught himself to ride and repair bicycles, and attended law school while working at various administrative jobs. He passed the bar in Washington, D.C., and in 1902 was appointed by President Theodore Roosevelt to the Board of Pension Appeals in the Department of the Interior. 

It's during this phase of West's life that the plot of "Sunrise on a Dirty Face", JK's episode of Cavalcade of America, begins. 

"HAPPY HOMECOMING--Marion West (Lois Collier) welcomes her attorney husband, James (Jack Kelly) from his visit with Theodore Roosevelt in the White House in a scene from 'Sunrise on a Dirty Face' on Cavalcade of America on ABC-TV. "

One day, a youngster named Jeremy Haggott is caught stealing coal from a bin at West's home. West declines to press charges, but the boy is taken into custody: 

"'BUT YOU PROMISED ME'...Jeremy Haggott (Peter Reynolds, right) voices his ire to James E. West (Jack Kelly) as he is taken into custody by a constable in 'Sunrise on a Dirty Face'. "

When Jeremy ends up in court, West serves as his attorney. He's appalled by how badly juvenile delinquents are treated by the court. West successfully lobbies to establish the juvenile court system in America. 

In reality, a young man stole West's car and it was that incident which prompted the attorney to ensure that juvenile offenders would be treated fairly in court. West also pushed for reform in the child care system, working to dismantle the orphanage model and encouraging foster care. From 1911-1943, he served as Chief Scout Executive of the Boy Scouts of America. West died in 1948.

Cavalcade of America, sponsored by Du Pont, became Du Pont Cavalcade Theater the following season and focused on more contemporary events. However, "Sunrise on a Dirty Face" must have been rerun that season, because the second photo above is promoting Du Pont Cavalcade Theater and is dated May 1956. 

West? East? Which direction will TDS go next? Please stay tuned and find out! 

An Imaginary Trio :)

Happy New Year Everyone!

I've puzzled over Brent Maverick before in TDS. He was the mysterious Maverick brother who suddenly appeared and then disappeared in early 1961. 

As far as Maverick episodes go, Brent's tenure was just two and through. Apparently, though, some folks didn't get the message. Like, the editor of the Chicago Daily Tribune's "TV Week" section:

Yep, that's Brent (Robert Colbert) showing off his $1000 bill to brother Bart (Jack Kelly) and cousin Beau (Roger Moore).  JK, RG and RC posed for a series of goofy pictures like the one above. Which is odd, since this particular configuration of Mavericks didn't exist in the actual series. Beau and Moore had already vanished from Maverick by the time Brent showed up. 

But, that didn't stop "TV Week" from publishing this fantastic photo in July of 1961. Plus, the cover story (titled "Coming Up: One More Maverick") presents Brent as a character who hadn't yet debuted, rather than one who had already come and gone:

"There's another Maverick riding down Channel 7's TV trail this season--name of Brent, relative of Bret, Bart and Beau. His real name is Robert Colbert--and he's the latest substitute pressed into duty for James Garner, who blew the Maverick series amid a flurry of lawsuits. First, there was Roger Moore, who subbed as the Mavericks' British cousin, Beau. But, Roger proved too Piccadilly for TV viewers and is being dealt out of the game.

"Now comes Brent, or Bob Colbert, who bears a striking resemblance to Garner, the original. They even sound alike.

"Bob's introduction to the role came as a complete surprise. One day, after rehearsing for a Lawman episode, he was told to report to Warner Bros.'s wardrobe department for a costume. When the attendants dressed him in fancy dude's outfit, he told them they were making a big mistake. 

"Still in the dark as to what was happening, Bob reported to ABC production bosses. They eyed him up and down.

"'He's perfect,' said one official. 'We can use the same stock footage.'

"The young actor finally got the drift: He was nominated to be the new Maverick brother.

"'I know it's tough to follow the original,' Bob says realistically. 'I don't hope to be as good as Jim Garner. But I think the show can capture the same flavor it had in those early days. We are going back to the original concept of the Mavericks as slightly larcenous and cowardly, instead of playing them as the standard western heroes. There's enough of that on TV.'"

(Of course, Colbert realized all along that Garner's boots were way too big to fill and later admitted he told his bosses, "Put me in a dress and call me 'Brenda' but don't do this to me!")

Here's another fun pic of the imaginary Maverick trio from the Kellection:

"Surprise! I was just pretendin' to be a Maverick--now give me your thousand-dollar bills!" ;)

Please stay tuned for more fun with JK in TDS. :)