- 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
Beau Maverick
This Date in ROCKFORD FILES History: Blair Brown stars as “The Girl in the Bay City Boys Club,” airing Dec. 19, 1975. This was the only episode (or, for that matter, the only film of any kind) directed by James Garner. LEARN MORE about this episode in 45 YEARS OF THE ROCKFORD FILES, available in softcover paperback and now as an eBook through Black Pawn Press
- THE GIRL IN THE BAY CITY BOYS CLUB
Original Air Date: December 19, 1975
Synopsis. A man named Phelps hires Rockford to determine if the weekly Thursday night poker game held at the Bay City Boys Club is fixed. Rockford doesn’t realize that his client is Burton Kimball, a prominent deputy district attorney heavily in debt to racketeer George Welles, who founded the club as a front to his operation. Kimball, who has been blackmailed by Welles into fixing cases, needs evidence against Welles to escape his grasp. When Kimball is later found dead, Jim deduces that the D.A. was close to obtaining the proof he needed. With the help of fellow investigator Kate Doyle, Rockford tries to put Welles and the Bay City Boys Club out of business by determining how the game was rigged.
“The Girl in the Bay City City Boys Club” marked the directorial debut of James Garner. The episode asked a great deal of the actor (particularly when it came to staging the complicated foot chase near the end of the episode), and he acquitted himself well. Nevertheless, Garner chose not to direct again.LEARN MORE about this episode in the revised third edition of 45 YEARS OF THE ROCKFORD FILES, featuring more than sixty new pages of never before published information about both the original Rockford Files and the CBS reunion movies, including twenty new interviews and six new appendices. 25 percent of the net proceeds from the sales of 45 YEARS OF THE ROCKFORD FILES 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. Plus… if you order 45 YEARS OF THE ROCKFORD FILES directly from Black Pawn Press, you will receive an exclusive bonus gift. Go to Rockford45.com for more details
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: 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.