The Kelly Pages: In This Corner - JK?

I've read that Jack Kelly and James Garner had a good working relationship while filming Maverick.

But, what's this?

"HOLLYWOOD'S STRANGEST FEUD", the 1959 fan magazine headline blares.

Jack Kelly is shown staring knives at James Garner--who doesn't look too thrilled with JK, either.

Wait a minute: The pix are actually stills from Maverick. And, the article accompanying the headline is pretty strange itself.

The author goes to great lengths to explain that while some Hollywood actors feud, Kelly and Garner are not feuding, no sirree! Why, they're like the brothers they play on TV.

Then, he tells us that Garner supposedly dissed Kelly at a party, and Kelly reportedly fumed that Jimbo was garnering most of the Maverick press buzz.

But, they're not feuding, no way!

The pair has little in common, the author says. For example, country boy Garner craves home cookin'; city kid Kelly fancies fine cuisine.

So, they couldn't possibly see eye-to-eye on anything else, right? They're not feuding, though!

The author ping-pongs back and forth like this for two tedious pages. The only thing really newsworthy he reveals is that the highest-rated Maverick episode up to that time starred Jack Kelly ("Betrayal", 3/25/59).

Finally, the author confirms what we already suspected--he's pretty much clueless about the whole thing. He concludes, 'If there IS a feud, it's a strange one. If there ISN'T a feud--it's even stranger.'

What's strange is how these fan magazines stayed in business for so long with writing like that!

NEXT: Did Wally and the Beaver really get along? ;->

The Kelly Pages: Ladies Love Mavericks

As promised, here's an excerpt from the 1960 article re: Jack Kelly and Roger Moore on Maverick. It was written by Cecil Smith and it's mostly in the form of a candid conversation in which old hand JK tries to teach newbie Moore (who was just joining the series as "Cousin Beau") what it means to be a Maverick:

"JK: 'To begin with, Beau is rather the white sheep of the Mavericks. He was born in Texas, but [lived] in England. He was a hero in the Civil War and there's nothing a Maverick abhors like heroism or bravery.'

RM: 'I rather think if Maverick turned up today, he'd be rather like Francis Powers.'

JK: 'No, Powers hasn't the guts Maverick has.'

RM: 'But, is it guts, really?'

JK: 'It's the manifestation of guts. It's ingenuity. It's sophistication. And it's intestinal fortitude...Beau, despite being a white sheep, was fortunate enough to have been born a Maverick. So, some of the real Maverick point of view rubs off.'

RM: 'Jack, see that girl at the end of the bar--isn't that lovely?'

JK: 'See what I mean? That's a Maverick remark. But a Maverick would go up and meet her, introduce himself. See Maverick is wishful thinking. Maverick does what every man wants to do--but because of conventions or timidity or public opinion won't'.

RM: 'I see Maverick as a sort of modern Robin Hood.'

JK: 'Not exactly. Maverick would be more inclined to steal from the poor and give to the rich.'

RM: 'I see--he's rather altruistic in reverse.'

JK: 'Exactly. He doesn't attack conventions. He ignores them. He symbolizes man's wishful thinking.'

RM: 'I'd hate to be like Maverick. My wife would kill me.'

JK: 'No she would not. There's a perverse side of a woman that loves a Maverick.' [B27: !!!!]

RM: '...I suppose there are parts of Maverick in me. In every man. That's what you draw on in interpreting the role.'

JK: 'Now, to meet that girl...'

[B27: Moore chats up the girl, but returns with a man!]

RM: 'Say, you know that lass at the bar, the attractive one. I'd like you to meet her husband.'

JK (holding his head): 'Oh no, he'll never make a Maverick!'"

The Kelly Pages: Draw!

I found this drawing of Bart Maverick in a 1960 newspaper TV section. It's a detail from an ad for Maverick's fourth season opener, "Bundle From Britain", which introduced Roger Moore as Bart's British-accented cousin, Beau Maverick. (And, doesn't that kind of look like Miss Kitty glancing over Bart's shoulder?)

The TV section also includes an interesting interview with JK and Moore. I'll share it here soon.

Jack Kelly on TV - Come Fly With Me!

This rare clip from The Chrysler Theatre was posted on YouTube because of lovely Lee Meriwether's appearance--however, the real star here is high-flyin' Jack Kelly (and his pilot is pretty well known, too). The episode is titled "Double Jeopardy", with JK playing private eye Fred Piper. Incidentally, the year is actually 1965:

 

The Kelly Pages: How Bret Maverick Got A Brother!

I found a very nice article about JK in Google's newspaper archives. It was authored by Janet Kern and was originally published on March 17, 1958--so it's another oldie but goodie.

The story is far too long to post in its entirety, but here are some of the highlights:

"Just 18 weeks ago, a 30 year-old star was born--a miracle which can happen only on TV and which has happened only on ABC-TV, under the guiding hand of Warner Brothers.

"What happened was: On November 10, 1957, Warner Brothers' new ABC western, a Sunday night sensation called Maverick, unveiled a second star. Where, previously, 'Bret Maverick', as played by James Garner, had been the week-in, week-out star of the series, on November 10 along came 'Bart Maverick'--played by Jack Kelly.

"Viewer reaction was instantaneous--Bart was no Bret; Kelly was no Garner; the 'new' was not the 'familiar'. Now, just 18 short weeks later (one-day weeks, according to TV's manner of doing things like Maverick), fans are agog with questions about 'that handsome Bart Maverick'."

The article goes on to give a lot of background on Jack Kelly's life and career up to that time and explains how he came to be on Maverick. And, it concludes by answering some of those questions about Bart Maverick (which some JK fans are still asking today!):

"So, Bart Maverick was born 18 Sundays ago, in the person of Jack Kelly, who'll be 31 on September 16. And now, ga-ga girls all over the US are writing to me and asking 'How tall is Bart Maverick?' (He's 6'1", girls); 'What color is Jack Kelly's hair?' (It's brown--and so are his eyes); 'How old is Bart Maverick?' (I've just told you); and--sigh--'Is Jack Kelly married?' (Yes, he married actress May Wynn on November 10 [1956]--the day viewers first met Bret Maverick's brother.)

"Final bit of helpful information: May calls Jack 'Kelly' because he doesn't look like a 'Jack' to her. Which is May Wynn Kelly's business...I know only that looking like James Garner was worth a lot of jack to Kelly."

The Kelly Pages: A Recipe for Romance

Here's a tasty tidbit from Orange Coast magazine (3/86). Various Orange County notables including Jack Kelly (then a Huntington Beach city councilman) were asked to describe their ideal romantic dinner. JK's answer is delectably different:

"Kelly's dinner fantasy commences in 'any apartment, home or condo in which I reside.' His idea of romantic atmosphere is somewhere '...between kitchen and den, some candlelight, soft string jazz, the fireplace ablaze....'.

"A California Korbel Brut, Chandon, or 'the good Dom's concoction, Perignon,' should be served with an hors d'oeuvre of 'cavier, finely minced hard egg, onions and sour cream, individually heaped on crust-trimmed diagonals of dry toast, with fresh lemon wedges.'

"The first course is to be 'a tad of fettucine Alfredo followed, in time, by a demi-salad of crabmeat with avocado strips, gently tossed in gourmet-seasoned rice vinegar and champagne.'

"The humble connoisseur deems a main course unsuitable--he states that, '...An entree in this ambiance I would consider somewhat less than tres chic. Yogurt, selections of fresh fruit, cheese and dampened Armenian cracker bread are the eclectic dessert selection. Black coffee, laced with a twist of lemon peel, and various liquer options are for lingering over,' Kelly explains, '...by firelight only--to encumber her vision.' Viewing old Maverick tapes is the evening's finale, he decides, shown to 'remind my wife how 'macho' I was.'"

Jack Kelly on Ebay

Jack Kelly has quite a presence on eBay. There are usually dozens of JK photos, magazines, autographs and DVDs up for bid each day.

This has to be the most unusual Kelly-related item I've seen on eBay yet. It's good to see that someone has finally corrected Hartland's omission--I guess I'll have to save up my pennies for this one. ;->

UPDATE (7/16/09) - This item sold with "Buy it Now/Best Offer" for $125. Oh well, maybe they'll make another one someday. ;->