James Garner

[primal defense]

Grew up on Maverick reruns and films like 'The Great Escape. No matter the film, he was always good and a good friend of DKR. RIP.

 

[streettopeschel]

the 'Support your Local...' films were excellent. seems like he'd have been a fun guy to know. 

 

[Matt Cotcher]

Maverick is one of those movies that always gets me to set the remote down. Doesn't matter that I've seen it....a lot.

 

[Lukus Alderman]

Last night my wife and I watched The Notebook for the first time.

***Spoiler Alert***

Garner is pretty much the main character and the final scene is him dying in his sleep next to his wife.

So then I wake up this morning to read about him dying. That was really strange for us.

But the guy was a great actor. I, too, love Maverick. He is the perfect character alongside Gibson. I also hear he played in another western with the same name. Small world.

 

[J.B. TexasEx]

 

[primal defense]

I didn't know it when I posted, but that beardless gentleman on the left is Willie Nelson.

 

[Tlouhorn]

Watching Maverick now, recorded 4 of them over the last couple of days...

 

[Topstarr]

Last night my wife and I watched The Notebook for the first time.

***Spoiler Alert***

Garner is pretty much the main character and the final scene is him dying in his sleep next to his wife.

So then I wake up this morning to read about him dying. That was really strange for us.

But the guy was a great actor. I, too, love Maverick. He is the perfect character alongside Gibson. I also hear he played in another western with the same name. Small world.

My wife and I have watched The Notebook about 8 times (my wife told me), can you figure that I cry each time for about an hour each time. Good movie

 

[Lukus Alderman]

My wife and I have watched The Notebook about 8 times (my wife told me), can you figure that I cry each time for about an hour each time. Good movie

I was surprised that I liked it as well. My wife cried...I held back.

But it's a movie I don't think I'd want to watch again because it's sad.

 

[java]

I loved Maverick (I and II), and everything else he was in.  I've avoided the Notebook, like other sad movies.

That picture was probably taken before Willie's 'Outlaw' days.  Willie, Waylon, and The Boys.....love that music.  It was so much fun to be in Austin during that time, or any time.

Hook 'em!

 

[primal defense]

Excellent article from the New York Times.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/21/movies/james-garner-actor-dies-at-86.html?action=click&contentCollection=Magazine&module=MostEmailed&version=Full&region=Marginalia&src=me&pgtype=article

 

[Duke C #11]

One of my favorite Sooners.

 

[Juan]

I have one small James Garner in Austin story to tell.
 
There used to be a golf tournament at Onion Creek called the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf Tournament.  It started in the 1970s and was the precursor to the Senior Circuit.  (yes, that began in Austin) The "Legends" were all the legends of golf who had become too old to compete on the regular tour, but could still play some great golf.  It was alot of fun for fans because you could get up close to and even converse with some of the all-time greats in a relatively laid-back, mostly uncrowded event.

One more prefatory factoid -- back in this period of time, my number one hangover recovery breakfast was at a place called Cisco's in East Austin.  It opened at an ungodly hour (I am not sure it ever really closed).  They were famous for serving bloody mary's with your meals, or just the bloody mary as cure (legally? I can't say - back then, the govt did not quite crawl up your butt as much as they do today).  I cannot remember ever reading a menu in the place as there was really one regular breakfast - migas or maybe huevos rancheros.

So, one morning, really early, me and the gf stumbled in there, sat down against the wall and ordered coffee, water and the meal.  There was a loud, long rectangular table in the middle filled with folks from the Liberty Mutual Legends Tourney.  And, I shit you not, holding court at that table at Cisco's on E.6th Street in Austin were none other than Bob Hope and James Garner.  Can you imagine?  They were trading one-liners and stories non-stop.  We were not even sitting that close, but it didnt matter because these guys were loud and their voices carried.  I was laughing so hard I could not eat.  My stomach hurt and I shed some tears.  At one point, I actually dribbled saliva - it could not be helped.  This was a Friday morning too, it was not even the weekend yet.  At this point in history (late 70s), Bob Hope was still one of the funniest human beings on the planet, quick-witted with more jokes than probably any one person has ever had.  But here is the thing, James Garner was more than holding his own with Bob Hope.  I remember discussing that with the gf later, how we both thought he was actually funnier than Bob Hope.  There were some other "names" at the table, but this was really the Bob & Jim Show, and Jim Garner was greatness.   It may have been the greatest breakfast of my entire life, yet I barely ate anything.  It was just dumb random luck for me, but I will never forget it.

That's my story.  We did not speak to them or shake hands or anything.  No fotos, no selfies. What we got was more than enough.  Austin in this period of time was pretty damn great. 

Anyways RIP James Garner.

This is the breakfast, same thing every time

Table in the middle of the room -- > 

 

[echeese]

Awesome story Juan. . . . .

James Garner was a Korean War Veteran who earned 2 purple hearts while there. . . .

Absent companions. . .

 

[Bear19]

Great story Juan.

 

[Lukus Alderman]

Great story!

 

[java]

Juan, I always went for the huevos rancheros, and their biscuits were the best that I have ever eaten.  I think they opened at 4am.  

Just never knew who might turn up there.  It was still open in late 90's early 2000's.  Don't know now.

 

[Juan]

— Twitter API (@twitterapi) November 7, 2011