Author ● Journalist ● Radio Host ● Collaborative Writer
Synopsis. In San Francisco, Bart sets to even the score against Van Buren Kingsley, a ruthless New Orleans aristocrat who cons people into buying stock in a worthless diamond company. Kingsley not only pilfered $17,000 from Bart, but had our hero shanghaied.
Best known for his portrayals of American patriot and founding father Benjamin Franklin, Fredd Wayne previously appeared as card shark Honest Carl Jimson in “Relic of Fort Tejon.”
Synopsis. Wealthy John Vandergelt III hires Bret to switch identities with him as part of an elaborate attempt to woo the lovely Lydia Linley.
“The Rivals” is the only episode of Maverick to feature the three “principal” Mavericks: James Garner, Jack Kelly, and Roger Moore. Although Moore plays another character (millionaire and incurable romantic John Vandergelt III), the storyline has Van switching identities with Bret. In that respect, Moore “plays” Maverick, which he eventually did in real life during the fourth season.
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, shelters, individual, 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 both in softcover and, very soon, as an eBook through Black Pawn Press, Amazon.com, and wherever books are sold online.
Synopsis. Bart wins $5,000 playing poker in Fairview and stores the money in a hotel safe. The next day, he discovers that the money has been stolen, and the hotel clerk killed. Needing money, he applies for a loan at the bank, where he discovers that the bank president, a widow named Wilma White (guest star Julie Adams), is being threatened. Wilma hires Maverick to protect her.
Julie Adams, whom we also saw as the queen of King City in “Brasada Spur,” had previously co-starred with Jack Kelly in a live presentation of “Just Across the Street” that aired on Lux Video Theatre in January 1957.
Synopsis. After winning half-ownership of a saloon, but needing money to keep the business afloat, Beau becomes partners with a mysterious gold prospector known only as The Dutchman.
Mala Powers (Outrage) guest stars in an episode based on “Dutchman’s Gold,” a spoken-word recording that became a Top 40 hit for Walter Brennan in April 1960.
Synopsis. Maverick meets Twelve Angry Men as Bret finds himself the only juror who votes to acquit a man who stands accused of murder.
The first of four episodes featuring William Reynolds (The F.B.I., The Islanders, “The Purple Testament” episode of The Twilight Zone), “Rope of Cards” also introduced viewers to “Maverick Solitaire,” where you can take any deck of cards, shuffle it, deal yourself twenty-five cards, and come up with five pat hands practically every time. According to legend, sales of playing cards spiked the day after this episode first aired.
Synopsis. Bret and Bart each carry a $10,000 draft from the Gannet Express Company, only to discover that the company is about to go bankrupt. But Jessamy Longacre (guest star Patricia Barry) has inside information: the Gannet office in Deadwood hasn’t closed yet, and will remain open until a messenger brings the news by stagecoach. For a $1,000 commission, Jessamy will lead the Mavericks to Deadwood—but since the Deadwood office only has enough money to cover only one draft, Bret and Bart race the clock and each other to see who can beat the messenger to Deadwood and cash in on their draft.
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, shelters, individual, 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 both in softcover and, very soon, as an eBook through Black Pawn Press, Amazon.com, and wherever books are sold online.
Synopsis. Maverick meets The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn meets Romeo and Juliet as Bret and Bart finds themselves embroiled in a bitter feud between two families.
Guest star Carole Wells (Pistols ‘n’ Petticoats) makes the second of her two appearances this season in “Maverick and Juliet.” She shares memories of both her episodes in the revised third edition of Maverick: Legend of the West.
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, shelters, individual, 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 both in softcover and, very soon, as an eBook through Black Pawn Press, Amazon.com, and wherever books are sold online.6. MAKIN’ TRACKS
Original Airdate: January 16, 1980
Synopsis. An eighty-year-old Indian cardsharp will grant railroad officials right-of-way through his land―provided they can beat him in poker. 
An ill-fated attempt to update the Maverick formula of the late 1950s to TV audiences of the late 1970s, Young Maverick ran for just six weeks during the winter of 1979-1980. By the time “Makin’ Tracks” aired on this date in 1980, CBS had already canceled the series. Guest stars in this episode include Morgan Fairchild, John Hillerman, Victor Jory, and Andrew Robinson.
LEARN MORE about Young Maverick 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, shelters, individual, 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 both in softcover and, very soon, as an eBook through Black Pawn Press, Amazon.com, and wherever books are sold online.THE CATCUS SWITCHSynopsis. In Green River, Bart runs afoul of a husband-and-wife team of grifters and an escaped killer named Red Daniels. “The Cactus Switch” was the fifth of five episodes featuring Edgar Buchanan, the actor best known to Baby Boomers as Uncle Joe on Petticoat Junction.
Synopsis. A con artist with a trick neck plays a pivotal role in Maverick’s scheme to thwart a ruthless financial corporation from taking over Sweetwater.
The third of three attempts to revive Maverick in the late 1970s and early 1980s, Bret Maverick (NBC, 1981-1982) saw the Legend of the West settle down in Sweetwater, Arizona after years on the road and “too many dusty trail towns, too few and far between.” James Garner not only reprised the role that originally made him a star, but produced the series for Warner Bros. Television. Guest stars in “Dateline: Sweetwater” include Ed Nelson, who had appeared in the original Maverick, and Joshua Bryant, who played Dennis Becker’s boss in the pilot for The Rockford Files.
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 both in softcover and, very soon, as an eBook through Black Pawn Press, Amazon.com, and wherever books are sold online.