- 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
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: Arthur Shields and Arch Johnson star in “The Bold Fenian Men,” airing Dec. 18, 1960. MAVERICK: LEGEND OF THE WEST: Revised Third Edition is now available both as an eBook and in softcover paperback through Black Pawn Press
- THE BOLD FENIAN MEN
Original Airdate: December 18, 1960
Synopsis. The Irish Revolutionary Brotherhood, also known as the Fenians, are trained soldiers sworn to free Ireland from British rule. The Fenians have gathered in Dakota City (under the banner of the First Annual Convention of the Sons of the Shamrock Chowder and Marching Society) to plan a march into Canada—they want to hold a small part of that British property hostage in exchange for Ireland’s freedom. After England pressures the United States to intervene, a shrewd Army colonel “blackmails” Beau Maverick into infiltrating the Fenians’ ranks.
The Fenians really existed. “They came to the United States at the time of the Civil War,” Maverick producer Coles Trapnell said in an interview for Maverick: Legend of the West. “They fought on both sides—some for the Confederacy, some for the Union. After the war, they drifted up to the Northeast United States, and hatched their plot to take over Canada. The U.S. Secret Service nipped it in the bud, arrested all the Fenians, and deported them back to Ireland.”
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: “Anything for a Friend,” an episode of BRET MAVERICK, airs on Dec. 15, 1981. MAVERICK: LEGEND OF THE WEST: Revised Third Edition is now available both as an eBook and in softcover paperback through Black Pawn Press
- ANYTHING FOR A FRIEND
Original Airdate: December 15, 1981
Synopsis. Bret and Tom protect a wounded Billy the Kid from bounty hunters by hiding the outlaw at The Lazy Ace.
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.”