- THE YELLOW ROSE
Original Airdate: December 22, 1981
Synopsis. Maverick wins a Chinese girl in a poker game, but when he decides to free her, the girl doesn’t want to leave.
Ed Robertson
Author ● Journalist ● Radio Host ● Collaborative Writer
Maverick book
This Date in MAVERICK TV History: William Reynolds stars in “A Cure for Johnny Rain,” airing Dec. 20, 1959. MAVERICK: LEGEND OF THE WEST: Revised Third Edition is now available both as an eBook and in softcover paperback through Black Pawn Press
- A CURE FOR JOHNNY RAIN
Original Airdate: December 20, 1959
Synopsis. Johnny Rain (played by William Reynolds) is a hero to the townspeople of Apocalypse—the type of man who saves children from runaway horses, mends broken legs, and rides thirty miles through a blizzard to get a doctor for an ailing old woman. He’s also responsible for a series of stagecoach robberies totaling $45,000 (including $5,000 from Bret). Johnny, however, is a heavy drinker who suffers blackouts—he only robs while he’s drunk and has no recollection of what he’s done once he sobers up. Hoping to recover the stolen money (and collect a 25-percent reward for himself), Maverick prescribes a “cure-all” tonic—80 percent of which is alcohol!—so that Johnny can lead him to the money.
William Reynolds, whom we last saw in the second season’s “Holiday at Hollow Rock,” made his film debut as Laurence Olivier’s son in Sister Carrie. Earlier in 1959, he starred as a jazz concert player who doubled as an amateur detective in Pete Kelly’s Blues, a short-lived series produced by Jack Webb (and based on Webb’s 1955 film of the same name). In the 196os, he co-starred in series with two Maverick alumni: he played opposite Diane Brewster in The Islanders, then later joined Efrem Zimbalist Jr. on The F.B.I.
LEARN MORE about this episode in the revised third edition of Maverick: Legend of the West, featuring more than 100 pages of new information about the show that made James Garner a star. 25 percent of the net proceeds from the sales of the third edition will be donated to The James Garner Animal Rescue Fund, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising funds to help rescue organizations, shelters, individuals, fosters, and veterans with emergencies, evacuations, medical care, adoptions, training, pet supplies, shelter, rehabilitation, boarding, transportation, food, and other pressing needs. JGARF is one way for Garner fans to honor Jim’s memory and extend his legacy. The revised third edition of Maverick: Legend of the West is available through Black Pawn Press, Amazon.com, and wherever books are sold online.
This Date in MAVERICK TV History: Adele Mara stars as “The Spanish Dancer,” airing Dec. 14, 1958. MAVERICK: LEGEND OF THE WEST: Revised Third Edition is now available both as an eBook and in softcover paperback through Black Pawn Press
- THE SPANISH DANCER
Original Airdate: December 14, 1958
Synopsis. While peddling goods in the New Mexico mining camp of Riverhead, Bart and Gentleman Jack Darby fall for Elena Grande (played by Adele Mara), an exotic dancer who hopes one day to buy back the ranch that her family once owned. When Bart wins a flooded mine from crooked camp owner John Wilson, he enlists Jack and Elena’s help in an elaborate scheme to drain the mine at Wilson’s expense.
Adele Mara was a perfect choice for the title role. A popular pin-up girl earlier in her career, she also performed as a classical Spanish dancer for renowned bandleader Xavier Cugat. Although Mara had danced many times before on film (including her unforgettable performance in the “Seed of Deception” segment of Maverick), this episode marked the first time she performed an actual Spanish dance on film. The dances she performs were authentic dances from the 1876 period.
LEARN MORE about this episode in the revised third edition of Maverick: Legend of the West, featuring more than 100 pages of new information about the show that made James Garner a star. 25 percent of the net proceeds from the sales of the third edition will be donated to The James Garner Animal Rescue Fund, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising funds to help rescue organizations, shelters, individuals, fosters, and veterans with emergencies, evacuations, medical care, adoptions, training, pet supplies, shelter, rehabilitation, boarding, transportation, food, and other pressing needs. JGARF is one way for Garner fans to honor Jim’s memory and extend his legacy. The revised third edition of Maverick: Legend of the West is available through Black Pawn Press, Amazon.com, and wherever books are sold online.
This Date in MAVERICK TV History: Richard Long, Fay Spain, and H.M. Wynant star in “The Goose-Drownder,” one of the few straightforward dramatic episodes of Maverick, airing Dec. 13, 1959. MAVERICK: LEGEND OF THE WEST: Revised Third Edition is now available both as an eBook and in softcover paperback through Black Pawn Press
- THE GOOSE-DROWNDER
Original Airdate: December 13, 1959
Synopsis. Stranded in the ghost town of Silverado, Nevada, Bart and Gentleman Jack Darby (Richard Long) spend the night with the town’s lone resident, Boone Gillis (played by Will Wright). They are later joined by a hold-up gang that just robbed the stagecoach of its payroll. Among the passengers: Rance, a wounded gunslinger (H.M. Wynant), and Stella Legendre (Fay Spain), a dance hall girl whom Maverick once met in Abilene.
One of the few episodes of Maverick that has little to no comedy in it, “The Goose-Drownder” is a taut, tense drama that showcases Jack Kelly’s range as a performer. Besides exhibiting cool under pressure during the surgery sequence, Kelly as Maverick displays a rare show of anger when Darby questions Bart’s love for Stella.
LEARN MORE about this episode in the revised third edition of Maverick: Legend of the West, featuring more than 100 pages of new information about the show that made James Garner a star. 25 percent of the net proceeds from the sales of the third edition will be donated to The James Garner Animal Rescue Fund, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising funds to help rescue organizations, shelters, individuals, fosters, and veterans with emergencies, evacuations, medical care, adoptions, training, pet supplies, shelter, rehabilitation, boarding, transportation, food, and other pressing needs. JGARF is one way for Garner fans to honor Jim’s memory and extend his legacy. The revised third edition of Maverick: Legend of the West is available through Black Pawn Press, Amazon.com, and wherever books are sold online.
This Date in MAVERICK TV History: Audrey Landers stars in “Hearts o’ Gold,” an episode of YOUNG MAVERICK, airing Dec. 12, 1979. MAVERICK: LEGEND OF THE WEST: Revised Third Edition is now available both as an eBook and in softcover paperback through Black Pawn Press
- HEARTS O’ GOLD
Original Airdate: December 12, 1979
Synopsis. Young Maverick follows Billy Peachtree—a lousy poker player who ran out on a gambling debt—into the town of Saddlehorn, where he learns that Peachtree is planning a bank robbery.
LEARN MORE about this episode in the revised third edition of Maverick: Legend of the West, featuring more than 100 pages of new information about the show that made James Garner a star. 25 percent of the net proceeds from the sales of the third edition will be donated to The James Garner Animal Rescue Fund, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising funds to help rescue organizations, shelters, individuals, fosters, and veterans with emergencies, evacuations, medical care, adoptions, training, pet supplies, shelter, rehabilitation, boarding, transportation, food, and other pressing needs. JGARF is one way for Garner fans to honor Jim’s memory and extend his legacy. The revised third edition of Maverick: Legend of the West is available through Black Pawn Press, Amazon.com, and wherever books are sold online.
This Date in MAVERICK TV History: “Dodge City or Bust” airs on Dec. 11, 1960. MAVERICK: LEGEND OF THE WEST: Revised Third Edition is now available both as an eBook and in softcover paperback through Black Pawn Press
- DODGE CITY OR BUST
Original Airdate: December 11, 1960
Synopsis. In the mining town of Dangerfield, Bart wins $3,000, but he can’t collect his winnings until the town banker returns with his money. The matter becomes complicated when Bart learns that the banker has been killed.
Although Roger Moore is billed as the star in the opening credits, “Dodge City or Bust” is really a Jack Kelly show. Moore does not actually appear onscreen until the last few minutes of the episode.
LEARN MORE about this episode in the revised third edition of Maverick: Legend of the West, featuring more than 100 pages of new information about the show that made James Garner a star. 25 percent of the net proceeds from the sales of the third edition will be donated to The James Garner Animal Rescue Fund, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising funds to help rescue organizations, shelters, individuals, fosters, and veterans with emergencies, evacuations, medical care, adoptions, training, pet supplies, shelter, rehabilitation, boarding, transportation, food, and other pressing needs. JGARF is one way for Garner fans to honor Jim’s memory and extend his legacy. The revised third edition of Maverick: Legend of the West is available through Black Pawn Press, Amazon.com, and wherever books are sold online.
This Date in MAVERICK TV History: John Randolph stars in “Welcome to Sweetwater,” an episode of BRET MAVERICK, airing Dec. 8, 1981. MAVERICK: LEGEND OF THE WEST: Revised Third Edition is now available both as an eBook and in softcover paperback through Black Pawn Press
- WELCOME TO SWEETWATER
Original Airdate: December 8, 1981
Synopsis. Maverick settle into his new home of Sweetwater, Arizona, only to face an immediate fight: a railroad company plans to build right in the middle of his land.
LEARN MORE about this episode in the revised third edition of Maverick: Legend of the West, featuring more than 100 pages of new information about the show that made James Garner a star. 25 percent of the net proceeds from the sales of the third edition will be donated to The James Garner Animal Rescue Fund, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising funds to help rescue organizations, shelters, individuals, fosters, and veterans with emergencies, evacuations, medical care, adoptions, training, pet supplies, shelter, rehabilitation, boarding, transportation, food, and other pressing needs. JGARF is one way for Garner fans to honor Jim’s memory and extend his legacy. The revised third edition of Maverick: Legend of the West is available through Black Pawn Press, Amazon.com, and wherever books are sold online.
This Date in MAVERICK TV History: Gerald Mohr and Marie Windsor star in “The Quick and the Dead,” airing Dec. 8, 1957. MAVERICK: LEGEND OF THE WEST: Revised Third Edition is now available both as an eBook and in softcover paperback through Black Pawn Press
- THE QUICK AND THE DEAD
Original Airdate: December 8, 1957
Synopsis. Maverick becomes an accessory to robbery after a crook named Parker repays a debt to him with stolen money.
Gerald Mohr was the first of two actors to play Doc Holliday on Maverick (Peter Breck was the second). In addition to this episode, Mohr appeared as Holliday in “Seed of Deception.”
LEARN MORE about this episode in the revised third edition of Maverick: Legend of the West, featuring more than 100 pages of new information about the show that made James Garner a star. 25 percent of the net proceeds from the sales of the third edition will be donated to The James Garner Animal Rescue Fund, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising funds to help rescue organizations, shelters, individuals, fosters, and veterans with emergencies, evacuations, medical care, adoptions, training, pet supplies, shelter, rehabilitation, boarding, transportation, food, and other pressing needs. JGARF is one way for Garner fans to honor Jim’s memory and extend his legacy. The revised third edition of Maverick: Legend of the West is available through Black Pawn Press, Amazon.com, and wherever books are sold online.
This Date in MAVERICK TV History: Patricia Barry stars in “Prey of the Cat,” the closest thing Maverick had to a Christmas episode, airing Dec. 7, 1958. MAVERICK: LEGEND OF THE WEST: Revised Third Edition is now available both as an eBook and in softcover paperback through Black Pawn Press
- PREY OF THE CAT
Original Airdate: December 7, 1958
Synopsis. Bart suffers a broken leg when his horse throws him after it was
startled by a mountain lion. Bart rehabilitates at the Star Trail Ranch, where he finds himself entangled in a triangle with Pete Stillman, whom Bart has befriended, and Pete’s wife Kitty (played by Patricia Barry), who has fallen in love with Maverick.
The first act of “Prey of the Cat” takes place around Christmas time, as evidenced by the presence of a Christmas tree, as well as the playing of “Jingle Bells.” Also, Pete Stillman finds a wheelchair that he “gives” to the bedridden Bart as a Christmas present so that Maverick can take part in the lodge’s celebration.
LEARN MORE about this episode in the revised third edition of Maverick: Legend of the West, featuring more than 100 pages of new information about the show that made James Garner a star. 25 percent of the net proceeds from the sales of the third edition will be donated to The James Garner Animal Rescue Fund, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising funds to help rescue organizations, shelters, individuals, fosters, and veterans with emergencies, evacuations, medical care, adoptions, training, pet supplies, shelter, rehabilitation, boarding, transportation, food, and other pressing needs. JGARF is one way for Garner fans to honor Jim’s memory and extend his legacy. The revised third edition of Maverick: Legend of the West is available through Black Pawn Press, Amazon.com, and wherever books are sold online.
This Date in MAVERICK TV History: Kathleen Crowley stars in “Maverick Springs,” airing Dec. 6, 1959. MAVERICK: LEGEND OF THE WEST: Revised Third Edition is now available both as an eBook and in softcover paperback through Black Pawn Press
- MAVERICK SPRINGS
Original Airdate: November 29, 1959
Synopsis. After bailing Bret out of jail (he was arrested for playing poker with the mayor—and winning), Texas rancher Kate Dawson sends Maverick after her brother Mark, a lightweight gambler who is squandering away his fortune in Saratoga. Maverick finds Mark moments after he loses his share of the Queen’s Ranch, the family spread, to a card cheat named Flannery. With the aid of Bart and an old card shark named Kronkhite, Bret reels Flannery into a bogus investment deal involving a luxurious resort built on worthless swampland. The con works perfectly—until Kate shows up and blows their cover.
In “Trail West to Fury,” we learned that the Mavericks cannot return to their native Texas until they were cleared of the murder of Jesse Hayden. Apparently, that matter was quietly resolved, because Bret sets foot in Texas at the outset of “Maverick Springs” and is in no apparent danger.