- CLANCY
Original Airdate: November 28, 1979
Synopsis. Ben thinks he’s found the perfect opponent for a barnstorming prizefighter: Nell’s mammoth cousin Clancy (played by Denny Miller). James Garner makes a cameo appearance as Bret Maverick.
Ed Robertson
Author ● Journalist ● Radio Host ● Collaborative Writer
Budd Boetticher
This Date in MAVERICK TV History: “Bolt from the Blue,” written and directed by Robert Altman, airs on Nov. 27, 1960. MAVERICK: LEGEND OF THE WEST: Revised Third Edition is now available both as an eBook and in softcover paperback through Black Pawn Press
- BOLT FROM THE BLUE
Original Airdate: November 27, 1960
Synopsis. Beau befriends a kindly old prospector named Ebenezer Bolt (played by Tim Graham), unaware that he’s the partner of notorious horse thief Benson January (Owen Bush). An angry posse intercepts Maverick and mistakes him for January. Although the posse is determined to hang Beau, a young lawyer (played by Will Hutchins) halts the proceedings until Maverick can have a trial. But Beau’s conviction seems imminent when the lawyer locates a notorious “hanging judge” (played by Richard Hale), while a woman whose sister was January’s fiancée fingers Maverick for the thefts.
Full of the wit and biting humor that characterized many of the early Maverick scripts, Robert Altman’s “Bolt from the Blue” is by far the best episode of the fourth season. Altman was apparently such a huge fan of Maverick that he’d finished his script before he presented the idea to producer Coles Trapnell.
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: Alan Hale, Joanna Barnes and Donald “Red” Barry star in “Arizona Black Maria,” airing Oct. 9, 1960. MAVERICK: LEGEND OF THE WEST: Revised Third Edition is now available both as an eBook and in softcover paperback through Black Pawn Press
- ARIZONA BLACK MARIA
Original Airdate: October 9, 1960
Synopsis. While camping in the Arizona desert, Bart finds himself the target of a determined Indian named Redfeather, who needs to collect one scalp in order to be named chief. Two gunmen rescue Maverick in the nick of time, but they steal his water as payment and leave him to die of thirst. The next morning, Redfeather tries to scalp Bart again, only this time a federal marshal comes to the rescue. The marshal asks Bart to help him transport a wagonload of prisoners to the federal penitentiary. Redfeather’s tribe overtakes the wagon, but agrees to let the marshal pass through if he turns over Maverick.
“Arizona Black Maria” features one of the most-remembered lines of the entire Maverick series. Captain Jim Paddishaw (played by Alan Hale) tries to console Bart after turning him to the Indians: “You’re a brave man, Maverick. At least you know that you won’t have died in vain.” Bart’s response? “I’d rather live in vain, then die any way there is.”
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: “The Golden Fleecing” airs on Oct. 8, 1961. MAVERICK: LEGEND OF THE WEST: Revised Third Edition is now available both as an eBook and in softcover paperback through Black Pawn Press
- THE GOLDEN FLEECING
Original Airdate: October 8, 1961
Synopsis. Bart enters the stock market when he oversees the investment of a mining company owned by the Albrights, a family of Quakers who rescued Maverick from drowning in the Sacramento River. Maverick must then protect the Albrights’ interests when a greedy industrialist and his equally covetous daughter plot to take over the company.
This episode features the following Pappyism: “The most important thing to know about any gambling game is when to quit.”
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: “According to Hoyle,” Diane Brewster’s first appearance as Samantha Crawford, airs on Oct. 6, 1957. MAVERICK: LEGEND OF THE WEST: Revised Third Edition is now available both as an eBook and in softcover paperback through Black Pawn Press
- ACCORDING TO HOYLE
Original Airdate: October 6, 1957
Synopsis. Bret loses more than $17,000 playing poker with Samantha Crawford, a con artist employed by George Cross—who once lost $50,000 to Maverick and is determined to get it back. Samantha claims that Cross is her father and that he needs to recover the money in order to get out of jail. Bret also needs money (two riverboat owners staked him to $5,000, which he promptly lost to Samantha), so he forms a partnership with Samantha. Maverick purchases gambling equipment (with money loaned by Samantha) as part of a scheme to put a crooked game room owner named Joe Riggs out of business. But Samantha and Cross decide to double-cross Maverick by selling the equipment to Riggs.
Besides marking the first appearance of Diana Brewster (Leave It to Beaver, The Fugitive) as con artist Samantha Crawford, “According to Hoyle” features these two famous Pappyisms: “Faint heart never filled a flush” and “Man is the only animal you can skin more than once.”
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: “Alias Bart Maverick,” Richard Long’s first appearance as Gentleman Jack Darby, airs on Oct. 5, 1958. MAVERICK: LEGEND OF THE WEST: Revised Third Edition is now available both as an eBook and in softcover paperback through Black Pawn Press
- ALIAS BART MAVERICK
Original Airdate: October 5, 1958
Synopsis. Outside Crescent City, Bart encounters Gentleman Jack Darby (played by Richard Long), a fugitive wanted for embezzlement by the Missouri Surety Company. Although innocent of that charge (a dishonest bank clerk stole the money), Darby is no angel―in order to collect the $1,000 reward money, Darby convinces the Crescent City sheriff that Bart really is Gentleman Jack. While Bart sits in jail, Darby wins $2,600 playing poker, but leaves town after he kills one of the troublemaking Plummer brothers in self-defense. Darby then frees Bart, only to rob him later. With an assist from entertainer Cindy Lou Brown, Darby’s charming but not-too-bright girlfriend, Bart trails Gentleman Jack to Deadwood.
This episode marks Richard Long’s first appearance as Gentleman Jack Darby, another all-out grafter meant to contrast Maverick’s gentle grafter. Series creator Roy Huggins devised the Darby character to replace Dandy Jim Buckley once Efrem Zimbalist began production of 77 Sunset Strip (which, of course, precluded him from making further appearances as Buckley). While Darby and Buckley are essentially the same character, there are a few differences. Unlike Buckley, for example, Darby has some semblance of a conscience, because he helps Bart fend off the Plummer brothers at the end of this 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: Gerald Mohr stars in “You Can’t Beat the Percentage,” airing Oct. 4, 1959. MAVERICK: LEGEND OF THE WEST: Revised Third Edition is now available both as an eBook and in softcover paperback through Black Pawn Press
- YOU CAN’T BEAT THE PERCENTAGE
Original Airdate: October 4, 1959
Synopsis. Bart arrives in the town of Arroyo after receiving a letter Myra (played by Karen Steele), a saloon girl whom he met long ago in Missouri. Myra tells Bart that she plans to buy the saloon from Dave Wendell (Gerald Mohr) and that she needs Bart as a business partner. Maverick soon realizes that Myra plans to implicate him in the murder of her husband, a cowboy who has followed her from their home in Texas, so that she will become free to marry Wendell.
Guest stars include Gerald Mohr, the first actor to play Doc Holliday on Maverick, and Karen Steele, who co-starred with Mike Connors in “Point Blank,” the episode that series creator Roy Huggins considered to be the pilot episode of Maverick.
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 Astin makes one of his first television appearances in “The Town That Wasn’t There,” airing Oct. 2, 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 TOWN THAT WASN’T THERE
Original Airdate: October 2, 1960
Synopsis. Beau wins ownership of the Silver Hill ore mine, only to discover that the mine is worthless. Meanwhile, a crooked railroad agent named Wilbur Shanks tries to cheat the townspeople out of their land by offering them a price that is well below market value. Beau rallies the town together into relocating Silver Hill to a sheep ranch twenty miles away. But the plan backfires when a new vein of silver is discovered in the supposedly worthless Silver Hill mine, thus enabling Shanks to claim the land without cost. The town’s only hope is to relocate back to Silver Hill before the railroad takes over the land.
Guest stars include actor/director John Astin. Known for playing Gomez Addams on The Addams Family (and, later, Harry Anderson’s dad on Night Court), Astin made one of his first TV acting appearances in this episode. His early movie credits include the James Garner/Doris Day romantic comedy Move Over, Darling.
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: Jack Cassidy stars in “The Art Lovers,” airing Oct. 1, 1961. MAVERICK: LEGEND OF THE WEST: Revised Third Edition is now available both as an eBook and in softcover paperback through Black Pawn Press
- THE ART LOVERS
Original Airdate: October 1, 1961
Synopsis. In San Francisco, Bart becomes a servant to railroad tycoon Paul Sutton in order to pay off a $25,000 gambling debt. Sutton faces bankruptcy—a new railroad project has encountered delays, and the board of directors has denied his request for another loan of $500,000. Sutton’s one asset, an apparently original daVinci Mona Lisa, can’t help him because he bought it from a dealer who claims it was stolen. When Maverick recognizes the dealer as a con artist friend (whose specialty is forging daVincis), he devises a scheme to sway the board members into changing their vote.
At the time he filmed “The Art Lovers,” Jack Cassidy was married to singer/actress Shirley Jones (Oklahoma!, The Partridge Family). In April 1961, six months before this episode aired, Jones won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance opposite Burt Lancaster in Elmer Gantry (1960). More than twenty years later, she would star with James Garner in Tank (1984).
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: Mike Connors and Karen Steele star in “Point Blank,” airing Sept. 29, 1957. MAVERICK: LEGEND OF THE WEST: Revised Third Edition is now available both as an eBook and in softcover paperback through Black Pawn Press
- POINT BLANK
Original Airdate: September 29, 1957
Synopsis. Maverick settles temporarily in the small railroad town of Bent Forks, where he soon falls in love with Molly Gleason, a woman with a somewhat disreputable past (played by Karen Steele). Bret doesn’t realize that Molly and her lover, a bank teller named Ralph Jordan (Mike Connors), plan to use him as a pawn in their scheme to embezzle $100,000.
“Point Blank” was originally conceived as the pilot for Maverick. As far as series creator Roy Huggins was concerned, it’s still the “real” pilot. The reason why is laid out in “Birth of a Legend,” Part 1 of Maverick: Legend of West.