A Pause for the Cause

Hello,

The sitcom Happy Days was set in the 1950s. But, of course, not everything in the Fifties was so rosy. People had their share of unhappy days as well.

One of the reasons for their unhappiness was cancer. But, back in 1958, comedian Sid Caesar decided to take action after the dread disease claimed a number of notables including film legend Humphrey Bogart, pianist Eddy Duchin, actress Hattie McDaniels, and Caesar's friend,  Manie (sometimes spelled "Manny") Sacks. Sacks, who died of leukemia at age 56, had been a vice president of RCA Victor and the NBC network.

Caesar contacted the American Cancer Society and asked what he could do. Then, he presided over "The Something Can Be Done About It Club" and rallied his fellow entertainers to join the fight.

According to 4/3/58 story in the Indiana (PA) Gazette, the comic sent a telegram explaining, "The purpose of the club is to bring vital information about cancer to the public and help save the 75,000 who die needlessly every year; to raise money to increase the quantity and intensity of existing and proposed cancer research which will eventually bring about the breakthroughs that will end cancer as the number one health menace."

Caesar encouraged celebrities to do "...one thing a year for the American Cancer Society...Your duties are: to make a recorded announcement, or appear on a network TV program , or film an announcement, etc."

A couple of Mavericks participated in "The Something Can Be Done About It Club". Jack Kelly and James Garner are seen below in a feature in the May 10-16, 1958, issue of TV Guide, looking at an "educational film" about cancer.

 

Here's a close-up of our boys taking a pause for the cause:

 





Some of Manie Sacks' famous friends came together in 1959 to pay tribute to him on NBC.  

Although great strides have been made against cancer since 1958, it unfortunately remains a major health menace today. My father died of cancer in 2002; I had a minor bout with skin cancer last year; and my dog was recently diagnosed with canine lymphoma (he's  undergoing chemotherapy and is thankfully doing very well at this time).

Early detection and quick treatment remain two of the best weapons we have against cancer, so please--have that check-up and give generously to the cancer charity of your choice.

Have a "Mary, Mary" Monday! :)

Hello!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Valentine's Day weekend.

Now, here's a riddle to start your week:

What's red and white, printed on paper and is oh-so-romantic?

A valentine, right?

Yes--and also the program for the play Mary, Mary:

As you may remember from "All the World's A Stage With JK- Pt II", Jack Kelly co-starred (as "Bob McKellaway") in Mary, Mary at the Houston (TX) Music Theatre with the now-late Marjorie Lord in October 1966.

A rare program from this limited-run production recently joined the Kellection, and it's a doozy! Not the usual digest-sized "Playbill"- type program, it's a large booklet with card-stock covers.

Each of the principal players (JK, Ms. Lord, and popular character actor Leon Ames) was given a full-page write-up and photo in the program. And, best of all, they autographed their photos!

Here's how JK signed his beaming portrait for a lucky fan named "Jan":  

Incidentally, the program even includes a bit of insight into the writing process, courtesy of the bio for the play's author, Jean Kerr. If anyone wants to write, but thinks their surroundings aren't conducive to creativity, read how Ms. Kerr managed to put words to paper: "For some years Jean had a study outside the house. It was an old automobile parked at least two blocks away from [her home] 'The Kerr-Hilton', her five sons, her husband, and her household problems. The past year she had to transfer her work to a more orthodox spot--her master bedroom. 'I ran out of places to park,' she says ruefully."

While I'm not writing in my car (it's a little too cold outside for that!), I am working on lots more posts for TDS. So, please stay tuned! :)

JK Friday Foto Funnies :)

 

"Beetle Bomb?!"

(JK & Kevin McCarthy in Drive A Crooked Road -1954)

 

"And fer the last time,

git yer elbows off the table!"

(JK seated at left w/Glenn Ford & friends in The Violent Men - 1955)



Happy New Year--And Thanks For Being My Friend! :)

Happy New Year! (Does anyone else keep thinking it's Saturday?) :)

For the first post of 2016, let's have a look at an autographed photo of Jack Kelly which recently became a part of the Kellection:

I'm sure you'll recognize a couple of things about this photo. Of course, the face is familiar. And the phrase--"Thanks for being my friend!"--is also familiar. (I've seen it inscribed on quite a few photos JK autographed.)

However, there's also something unusual and unique about this photo, or rather, about what was included with it:

The envelope in which the signed photo was originally sent to a fan in 1981! With the name of JK's real estate holding company, "August II Inc.", printed on both the envelope and the address label. JK was serving on Huntington Beach's city council in 1981 and would later be elected as the city's mayor in 1983 and 1986.

JK's daughter, Nicole Kelly Garner, now uses the August II name for her award-winning video production company. As she explains on her company's site, "Founder and Executive Producer, Nicole Kelly Garner, named the company after her father, John Augustus Kelly Jr., also known by his stage name Jack Kelly, from the famed TV western series Maverick. Jack being the second and Augustus, his middle name, August II came about. Many now simply refer to the company as 'A2', in-short."

And now, I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all of you for "being my friend" and for reading TDS. I've enjoyed researching and writing each post since 2009 and I hope to continue doing so for a long time. I hope you all will continue to enjoy reading TDS, too. :)

Throwback Thursday: "If You Were Mrs. Jack Kelly" :)

Hi Everybody,

As we look forward to 2016, here's a fun look back at a 1959 magazine klipping from the Kellection which examines what life would be like:

"If You Were Mrs. Jack Kelly...."

Merry Christmas! :)

If It's Tuesday, This Must Be "Black Tuesday" :)

Hello All,

Since it's Tuesday, I thought I'd shine some light on Black Tuesday, a noirish little number in which Jack Kelly co-starred in 1954.

Heading the cast is Edward G. Robinson, who plays a murderous racketeer named Vincent Canelli. Canelli is about to be executed. All executions are scheduled on Tuesday in the prison where he's incarcerated--hence the title of the film.

JK enters the picture as cub newspaper reporter "Frank Carson". Instead of assigning a more seasoned journalist to cover Canelli's execution, Carson's boss chooses the newbie to provide a less hackneyed perspective of the event. 

Unfortunately, Frank is kidnapped by two of Canelli's henchmen before he reaches the prison.

"Is that a gun in your pocket?" Yes, and Frank Carson (JK) isn't glad to see Canelli's henchmen. BTW, Warren Stevens (left) would reform and accompany JK to the Forbidden Planet in 1956. The bad guy on the right, Russell Johnson, later became a professor and spent a few years marooned on an island... ;->

One of the men assumes Frank's identity and helps Canelli avoid execution with just moments to spare.

Guards are killed and hostages (including a doctor and a priest) are taken as Canelli escapes from the prison with "Manning", a young killer/bank robber played by Peter Graves. Manning is badly wounded in the escape. Canelli wants Manning kept alive because he's the only one who knows where the loot from the robbery is. Canelli covets the cash so he and his moll can flee the country. Canelli, Manning, and the hostages are driven to a hideout where Frank Carson and other captives are also being held.

Carson himself is later wounded when he tries to stop Canelli from shooting the priest (played by Milburn Stone of Gunsmoke fame). 

British lobby card

The young reporter lies unconscious on the floor as the priest tries to reason with the ruthless gangster, as illustrated in the still below (that's Vic Perrin as the doctor at right).

Below is a color version of the same scene, shown on this dynamite Italian lobby card which just joined the Kellection. The title Pioggia Di Piombo literally translates into English as Rain of Lead, no doubt a reference to all the bullets fired in the film.

Here's a close-up of the nearly shirtless JK in repose:

What happens next? Well, a synopsis of the entire film is available on the Turner Classic Movie (TCM) website.

The entire film itself was previously viewable on YouTube, but it's been deleted. Well, maybe it will show up again on YT some Tuesday...or Wednesday, or Thursday. ;)