Jack Kelly - "Fore!" (or is it "Fur"?)

Hi!

I noticed a discussion on the Jack Kelly Facebook page about JK's love for golf.

Coincidentally--very coincidentally, I assure you--I'd been planning to post an entry here about the same subject, because I recently obtained a very unusual photo of Jack Kelly playing golf.

When I first saw this 1963 United Press newsphoto, I wondered why JK's golf bag was featured so prominently in the foreground while he was relegated to the background. Was it an "artistic" pic? Was it actually an ad for golf bags?

Then, I read the caption (always a good idea!). It says: "Actor Jack Kelly of the television series Maverick relaxes with a game of golf on 8/14/63 between a busy summer theater rehearsal schedule in Anderson, Indiana. Yes, the golf mitts are real mink."

JK's golf club covers were made of mink! (Yikes, I wonder if he worried about them being stolen. ;->)

And, here's a closer look at the ol' duffer himself:

Yes, Jack Kelly's love of the links is legendary. When I first started reading about him, most of the magazine stories made at least a passing reference to his golf game. This touched my heart, because my late dad was an avid golfer, as well.

But, maybe Jack Kelly loved golf too much at one point. In a 1961 fan magazine article, his wife May Wynn told an interviewer that their marriage was threatened, not by another woman, but by the golf course:

"Our life is different, I realize from the average couple's. Kelly, when he is acting, might work 14 hours a day for days at a time. Then he'll be home for a month...but it was getting to the point where he seemed to have no life besides work and golf...

"...A break came in Kelly's schedule and he was due to be home for about a month. Every morning, he'd wake up, have a quick breakfast, and rush out to the golf course after giving me a hurried imitation of a kiss...

"I started to keep a diary...at the end of two weeks, I cornered Kelly...Honestly, he didn't have the vaguest idea what I was talking about when I told him we had a problem...Then, I brought out my [diary] and made him look through it. Out of the two weeks he'd been home he'd spent 10 whole days on the golf course! Day after day read the same--'Golf today, golf today, golf today'..."

Well, JK reformed (slightly), and although his marriage to Ms. Wynn eventually ended, his enthusiasm for golf never waned. In fact, when he left city government for a spell in Huntington Beach, CA, in 1988, his farewell present was a golf bag: "This is one gift I don't have to report."

Jack Kelly Goes to Rodeo!

Howdy!

No, the title doesn't refer to a Jack Kelly shopping spree on Rodeo Drive. ;->

It's the title of a picture story I found from a 1962 Japanese magazine. Naturally, the text is all in Japanese (if there are any Japanese translators out there in JK fan-land, could you please drop me a line?!)

UPDATE! (8/12/15) - I finally managed to track down some more details. Jack Kelly was the grand marshal of the parade at the annual Palm Springs Rodeo on Saturday, January 28, 1961. Actress Barbara Nichols (who memorably co-starred with JK in the Maverick episode "The Third Rider" ) was the rodeo "queen".  More info about the rodeo is here.

Anyway, here are the pix:

Here, JK treats his poodle to a pre-rodeo Milk Bone. Actually, this is a familar sight at my house. Not because of Jack Kelly, of course, but because I give my own pooch at least two Milk Bones a day. And, the box hasn't changed much in 47 years! :)


"Howdy, Ma'am!"

The Grand Marshal and Queen in a convertible


JK is really into this rodeo! And, he's not paying much attention to Ms. Nichols, because...
 

...he has his own leggy lovely, his wife May Wynn!
 

A Jack and two queens...

The Kelly Pages: Model Jack Kelly

Hi! I found this pensive pic of Jack Kelly in a 1953 movie magazine. He's labeled as a "New Face"--and what a face. :)

Here's the text that goes with the photo. It's written in kind of an odd slangy style, but I'm sure you'll be able to decipher it:

"Still in diapers and making goo-goo, Jack projected his manly personality at the very tender age of 14 days when his momma allowed him to pose for a baby soap advertisement. So right from 'pattycake' he modeled for baby clothes, food and medicine ads until he was five years old, when radio producers began to make with the offers. Jack adolesced through 10 years of appearing on every well-known ether [radio] program coming from New York, his home base. He's never been outside of grease paint. Can't live without that smell.

"Only a short hitch in the Army, which sent him to Alaska to study weather forecasting for the U.S. Air Force, caught Jack with his make-up down. After his discharge there was a very small question of Jack's studying law, but he went back to New York and launched himself on a television acting kick. His work took him to Hollywood, and he began a siege of the studios. With 25 years of hamming from the cradle behind him, it wasn't too rough for Jack. And it was very easy and smart for Universal-International to sign him up.

"That studio was presenting its annual talent review, featuring all of the young contract players on the lot, and an extra actor was needed for a sketch starring Tony Curtis. Well, sir, Kelly worked in on the blackout called All it Takes is One Good Break, and a string of breaks popped. Like featured roles in Law and Order, The Stand at Apache River, and It Happens Every Thursday. Goo-goo."

Actually, Jack Kelly didn't appear in It Happens Every Thursday. According to a TV Guide story I have, he broke his leg skiing before filming began and had to be replaced. (I guess the name of that Tony Curtis sketch was unfortunately prophetic.... ;->)

The references to JK's early modeling career in the article above reminded me of another article I found in a crumbling old magazine I bought years ago, long before I "discovered" Jack Kelly. I dug the magazine out a few months ago and was delighted to find these childhood pix of JK, which I'll share with you now:

(I especially like this pic.)

Jack Kelly on TV: Watching Out for Mr. Kelly

Hi! Just a heads-up that Young Billy Young, a 1969 Western that co-starred Jack Kelly, will air in the US on the Turner Classic Movies (TCM) cable network this Thursday, September 24, at 9:30 am ET.

And, here's a link that will help you watch out for more of JK's upcoming TV appearances. It also has a link to this informative biography of Jack Kelly. :)

Jack Kelly: Adding to The "Kellection"! :)

Howdy! It was off to the antiques fair today.

Thankfully, I had beautiful weather and a smooth drive to the fair. After I arrived, I heard someone say there were 2000 vendors in attendance, and I believe it. The place was packed.

Naturally, I started right on the prowl for "Kellectibles", e.g., Jack Kelly memorabilia.

I found a vendor who was selling Western-themed comic books. I asked if he had any Maverick comic books. Nope, just old movie cowboy comics (like "Rex Allen").

Oh, well.

Then, a little more hunting and--eureka!

I found another very nice seller with Western items in his booth. I inquired about Maverick memorabilia, and he said, yes, he did have a couple things. I specified that I was particularly looking for Bart Maverick stuff. He said he had a Maverick jigsaw puzzle with Bart and Bret--no wait, he remembered, he'd left it at home. But, he did have another item he thought I might like, and he pulled this out of a box:

"Ah, yes, that will do!" I happily assured him. (It's a poster from an Argentine TV magazine.)

I made my purchase and pointed out the interesting "flub" on the poster with JK's wedding ring (as bachelor Bart, he usually wore a ring on his right pinky).

"You must be an expert!" the seller chuckled.

No, no, I demurred, only a "newbie" fan.

Then, he noted that when most people asked him about Maverick, they meant James Garner.

"Jack Kelly just kind of disappeared after that show," he added.

Well, of course, I filled in the blanks for him. I explained how Mr. K actually did a lot of acting work following Maverick and eventually went into politics. I even mentioned the book being written about JK.

The seller said he'd look for that jigsaw puzzle and try to bring it to the next antiques fair. I told him I'd keep an eye out for his booth.

Back to the hunt.

I came upon a booth with tons of DVDs and video tapes. Voila! Two official Warner Brothers Maverick tapes, new and still sealed in plastic. They were "Iron Hand":

and "Bundle From Britain":

Now, I've seen these episodes on Encore Westerns and have them recorded, but I just couldn't pass these tapes up for $1.00 each! If nothing else, the cover pix will brighten up my video shelf. ;->

Finally, I found something that isn't directly related to Jack Kelly or Maverick, but it gives some insight into real-life Western apparel and customs. It's a fascinating little booklet called The 1880 Cowboy Sketch Book, by Western artist Jerry Riness. It's filled with skillful pen-and-ink sketches of authentic 1880's cowboy hats, clothing, guns and tack. It also provides facts about these items.

For instance, about buckskin coats (like the one Bart is wearing on the "Iron Hand" cover above): "Buckskin coats were seldom worn by cowboys. They were more apt to be worn by military officers assigned to the 'Far West', but, occasionally one would find its way into the hands of some cowboy who lucked out in a poker game!"

(Guess Bart lucked out! ;->)

And, the "Mackinaw" sounds like what Bart wore in the "Ice Man" episode: "The 'Mackinaw' was a winter coat, made of a wool blanket. They were sometimes lined and had a rounded collar that stood up to cover the neck and back of the head in windy weather."

Incidentally, The 1880 Cowboy Sketch Book was published by The River Junction Trade Company, which can help you dress like a real cowboy...or a gambler. ;->

So, I definitely found some great stuff at the antiques fair.

The only thing I couldn't find was my car when it was time to leave. If the attendant who helped me to finally locate my vehicle in the vast outdoor parking area happens to read this: thanks again!!! :)

Happy Birthday!

Celebrating the 82nd anniversary of Jack Kelly's birth.

The Kelly Kollection - The Paper Chase

Howdy! Yesterday, I visited our local paper (ephemera) show. It occurs twice a year and features dozens of dealers selling vintage books, magazines, postcards, photos, posters, etc. I've attended this show for at least 15 years now and I usually make some good finds.

Unfortunately, this show has shriveled somewhat over the years, maybe due to the economy and/or eBay. The venue used to be completely filled with vendors--yesterday, not so much.

However, I managed to buy the Maverick comic book pictured above for just $5.00. The cover is kind of scuffy and a previous owner wrote their name on it in green ink. But, the inside is okay, and I saw the same issue in not much better shape up for bid on eBay for $16.99. So, I guess I got a pretty good deal. ;->

I bought a few movie magazines, too, but none had Jack Kelly in them.

Next weekend, I'm planning to try my luck at a major antiques fair almost 40 miles from my home. Sure, it's a bit of a drive, but it's usually worth it, and, at any rate, it's a nice trip into the country. :)