The Kelly Pages: Comic Jack Kelly II

Hello!

I found another great Maverick comic album (annual), this one with Jack Kelly shown solo on the cover. (I hope he notices that desperado in the yellow shirt in time!) This annual contains stories as well as black-and-white comics starring Bart Maverick.

I discovered that most of the British annuals for Maverick and many other popular TV series were illustrated by one artist, Walt Howarth. Sadly, the prolific Mr. Howarth passed away in 2008. However, there's a commemorative MySpace page for Mr. Howarth that includes this wonderful gallery of his TV annual covers. [UPDATE: The MySpace page and gallery are unfortunately gone, but there's a nice blog post about Mr. Howarth here, and another look at his life and career is here.]

On his page, Mr. Howarth is quoted as saying that he based most of his TV character drawings on photographs, but he wished he'd had a VCR back in the early days so he could have sketched the freeze-framed images. Well, I think he did all right with just the photographs--JK really looks smashing on that cover. :)

I have two more of Mr. Howarth's Maverick annuals that I'll post about in the near future.

The Kelly Pages: "I Almost Didn't Get My Man"

Howdy!

Here's one of my favorite magazine covers from the "Kellection". It's from a 1959 issue of TV Picture Life. I just love JK's smile in this pic.

The corresponding cover story inside is one of my favorites, too. In it, May Wynn confesses that she almost scared Jack Kelly away by saying those three little words: "I love you." But, he surprised her by writing a heartfelt 28-page letter "describing what he felt about love and marriage, the obligations of a husband and wife, and what he could promise me." They eloped shortly afterward.

Ms. Wynn goes on to describe Jack Kelly as an excellent swimmer who also enjoyed horseback riding, sailing and, of course, golfing. She adds that JK "is crazy about people--wants to talk to them, hear their problems, share all he can." :)

Jack Kelly on TV - "Claws"!?

Hey, look what I just found on Hulu--an episode of The Bionic Woman guest-starring Jack Kelly! He plays a baddie, but he looks good. And, this episode is better than that other BW he did (where he's dressed like Elmer Fudd and gets "kidnapped" by a UFO!) ;->

Incidentally, the lion's owner is portrayed by Tippi Hedren, who founded a real-life animal sanctuary and is the mother of actress Melanie Griffith.

Happy Friday! :)

The Maverick Report - "The Savage Hills"

Howdy!

One of this evening's Encore Maverick episodes was "The Savage Hills", wherein Bart meets the charming con artist, Samantha Crawford (Diane Brewster), who'd already bamboozled brother Bret (in the episode "According to Hoyle").

This time, Samantha gets Bart entangled with some stolen treasury plates and the tenacious agent who is hot on their trail.

Sneaky Samantha isn't one of my favorite Maverick characters. Talented Diane Brewster does well with the role, however, and she and Jack Kelly have some sweet scenes together in "The Savage Hills". There's one in particular where Bart and Samantha are on the lam out in the wilderness. Bart's noggin is hurtin', and Samantha soothes it by gently rubbing his temples as he lies with his head in her lap. (Lucky lady! :->)

Then, Bart tries to get Samantha to admit what she's planning to do with the stolen plates. She says she plans to turn them back in to the government. Bart's not buying it, however.

Samantha claims she's been thinking of things she hasn't before, and Bart chimes in, "Like a rose-covered cottage and the patter of tiny feet?" Samantha says yes, and concedes it sounds rather ridiculous in her case. Bart thinks it sounds like a good idea, though: "It'd be cheaper to have you in the family!"

But, come the dawn, there's no cottage, no plates, and no Samantha. There's just Bart waking up to the realization that he's been fooled by a lovely face--again. ;->

Breakfast with Jack Kelly--Part II

Hi!
I found a longer version of one of the "Quaker Oat Squares" commercials with Jack Kelly's hearty voiceover:

Also, when I was at the grocery store the other day, I wondered if Quaker still made Oat Squares. I moseyed down the cereal aisle and there was the familiar blue box. Only now, the cereal is called "Quaker Oatmeal Squares". I bought a box and brought it home to the breakfast table: (Irish breakfast tea has long been my customary breakfast beverage, and it does fit right in with Mr. Kelly. ;)

I'd never had Quaker Oatmeal Squares before, so this was something new for me. They're just as JK described them: "...the rich, nutty taste of toasted whole grain oats with a hint of brown sugar...crunchy little squares that stay crunchy in milk and sure taste good!" :)

Jack Kelly - "Happy Friday!"

Howdy!

At the place where I work, there's a "Happy Friday" tradition:

• The guy who works behind the counter in the cafeteria wishes everyone "Happy Friday!"
  
• The lady grabbing a cup of coffee in the break room wishes me "Happy Friday!"
  
• The managers heading back from a meeting wish each other "Happy Friday!" as they depart the elevator.

Now, how and when this friendly tradition started, I don't know. And, I have yet to hear anyone wish me "Happy Monday!"

Well, however, whenever--whatever! I'm wishing you "Happy Friday!" with this smokin' hot pic of Jack Kelly. :->

The Maverick Report - "The Jeweled Gun"

Howdy! The first Maverick being shown tomorrow evening on Encore Westerns is one of my favorite episodes, "The Jeweled Gun". Here's a publicity pic showing guest star Kathleen Crowley getting the drop on poor Bart, who's been posing as her husband. Will he escape her treacherous scheming? Tune in tomorrow! :)