James Garner Maverick

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 and ROCKFORD FILES History: “James Garner: Hollywood Maverick” airs for the first time on the Oct. 2, 2000 edition of A&E’s Biography. The hour-long documentary includes comments, tributes and remembrances from Clint Eastwood, Blake Edwards, Stephen J. Cannell, Bill Robinson, Glenn Jordan, Stuart Margolin, Sally Field, Mariette Hartley, Gigi Garner, author Ed Robertson and more. LEARN MORE in 45 YEARS OF THE ROCKFORD FILES, available in softcover paperback and now as an eBook through Black Pawn Press

LEARN MORE about it 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: 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 ROCKFORD FILES History: Robert Webber stars in “The Oracle Wore a Cashmere Suit,” airing Oct. 1, 1976. 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 ORACLE WORE A CASHMERE SUIT
Original Air Date: October 1, 1976

Synopsis. Self-appointed “police psychic” Roman Clementi (played by Robert Webber) publicly accuses Rockford of withholding evidence that would link the investigator to the disappearance of a record company executive who, along with his girlfriend, vanished two days after Rockford was hired to surveil him. In fact, the grandstanding Clementi planted the rumor to make himself look good—and generate publicity for his upcoming book, Crime and the Third Eye. But the accusation causes Rockford no end of trouble. When he discovers that the record executive stashed away more than $80,000 in cocaine, Rockford becomes the target of a drug-crazed drummer. When the executive is found murdered, Rockford becomes the prime suspect.

William Daniels, whom we last saw in “The Italian Bird Fiasco,” was originally cast as oracle Roman Clementi in this episode, but was replaced by Robert Webber after injuring himself during the first day of filming. Daniels returned to Rockford later this season as the ruthless federal prosecutor in “So Help Me God,” the episode for which James Garner won the Emmy for Best Dramatic Actor of the 1976-1977 season.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: 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.

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 ROCKFORD FILES History: Susan Strasberg and Dick Gautier star in “The Countess,” airing Sept. 27, 1974. 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 COUNTESS
Original Air Date: September 27, 1974

Synopsis. Socialite Deborah Ryder (played by Susan Strasberg) hires Rockford to stop Carl Brego (Dick Gautier), an extortionist who knows that Deborah was once linked to a numbers racket in Chicago. As part of his surveillance, Rockford videotapes a meeting between Deborah and Carl. Then, while pretending to be another blackmailer who wants a piece of the action, he confronts Carl and threatens to turn the tape over to the police unless Carl cuts him in. The ploy backfires, however, when Carl is shot to death—Rockford becomes the prime suspect.
Susan Strasberg, daughter of legendary acting coach Lee Strasberg, played the wife of Tony Musante in Toma, the ABC police drama inextricably linked to the creation of The Rockford Files. We’ll see her again in “A Bad Deal in the Valley.” Dick Gautier, aka Hymie the Robot on Get Smart, earned a Tony nomination for his performance as Elvis-like rock ’n’ roll star Conrad Birdie in the original Broadway production of Bye Bye Birdie.

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: Peggy McCay stars in “The Sheriff of Duck ‘n’ Shoot,” airing Sept. 27, 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 SHERIFF OF DUCK ‘N’ SHOOT
Original Airdate: September 27, 1959

Synopsis. The conniving judge of Duck ‘n’ Shoot (population 1,018) wants Bret as the town sheriff after apparently witnessing Maverick knock out a rowdy cowboy with only one punch. Bret explains it was all a mistake (the man was actually hit in the face by his horse) but the judge doesn’t see it that way—he blackmails Maverick into taking the position by withholding his $5,000 poker winnings for six months. Although Bret proves to be an effective (if not orthodox) sheriff, he tries desperately to get out of the job. When he learns about a plan to rob the bank, Bret decides to do it himself (by foiling the scheme and then returning the money, he hopes to bargain his way out of town). But when the plan backfires, Maverick lands in jail.

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 ROCKFORD FILES History: Part 1 of the two-part episode “Gearjammers!” airs on Sept. 26, 1975. 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

GEARJAMMERS! (Part 1)
Original Air Date: September 26, 1975

Synopsis. Rocky’s life becomes endangered after he inadvertently witnesses an illegal business transaction between his trucker friend Johnny LoSalvo and LoSalvo’s ruthless boss Hammel, who has plotted to hijack six of his own trucks as part of a master plan to steal an incoming cargo of valuable sable furs. Although Rocky has no idea what’s going on, Hammel wants the old man eliminated simply because Rocky can identify him. Guest stars include Ted Gehring and Scott Brady, both of whom were both originally under consideration for the role of Dennis Becker in the Rockford Files pilot, and Bucklind Beery, the real-life son of series star Noah Beery Jr.

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: Robert Colbert, Edgar Buchanan, and a host of other Warner Bros. Western actors star in “Hadley’s Hunters,” airing Sept. 25, 1960. MAVERICK: LEGEND OF THE WEST: Revised Third Edition is now available both as an eBook and in softcover paperback through Black Pawn Press

HADLEY’S HUNTERS
Original Airdate: September 25, 1960

Synopsis. Bart rides into Hadley, a town named after its sheriff, a shrewd politician (played by Edgar Buchanan) who has carefully crafted a reputation for apprehending notorious criminals. Hadley’s legend, however, is a fraud: The sheriff has his deputies pull the jobs themselves, then pins the crimes on innocent victims whom Hadley later arrests. When Bart stumbles onto a bogus stagecoach robbery (which springs a “criminal” named Cherokee Dan Evans), the crooked sheriff gives Maverick five days to capture Evans—or else Bart will hang.

In the annals of Maverick, “Hadley’s Hunters” is known as the episode that features cameo appearances by Warner Bros. stars Will Hutchins (Sugarfoot), John Russell (Lawman), Clint Walker (Cheyenne), Peter Brown (Lawman), Ty Hardin (Bronco), and Edd Byrnes (77 Sunset Strip). But it also features future Maverick star Robert Colbert as Dan Evans, one of Hadley’s victims. Colbert, of course, joined the cast of Maverick as Brent Maverick later in the 1960-1961 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, 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 ROCKFORD FILES History: Sharon Gless, Michael Bell, and John McMartin star in “The Fourth Man,” airing Sept. 24, 1976. 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 FOURTH MAN
Original Air Date: September 24, 1976

Synopsis. Rockford’s neighbor Lori Jenevein (played by Sharon Gless) becomes the target of a hitman named Timpson Farrell (John McMartin). Lori, an airline flight attendant, recognizes Farrell as a regular passenger on the commuter flight. Farrell fears that Lori will link him to the recent deaths of three witnesses who were scheduled to testify before a Senate committee on organized crime—murders that all took place within the past month in cities serviced by the commuter flight.

Sharon Gless previously appeared in “This Case is Closed,” an episode from the first season that is at the center of one of the most storied chapters in Rockford Files history. Her character in this episode, Lori Jenevein, was named after Rockford sound effects editor Walter Jenevein.

LEARN MORE about “The Fourth Man” and “This Case is Closed” 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

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