Anniversary
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Happy Anniversary, Clark Gable and Carole Lombard
Clark Gable and Carole Lombard were married 84 years ago today, March 29, 1939, in Kingman, Arizona. It was Clark’s third marriage and her second. Clark was hard at work on a little film called Gone with the Wind at the time. Carole had been known as the “Queen of Screwball” for her zany comedies like Nothing Sacred, My Man Godfrey, True Confession and The Princess Comes Across. After she married Clark, she changed course and decided she wanted to try her hand at drama. Desperate to have a baby, she slowed down her work load and only made six films from 1939 until her untimely death in January 1942.…
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Happy Birthday, Dear Mr. Gable
William Clark Gable was born 122 years ago today, on February 1, 1901, in Cadiz, Ohio. The only child of William and Adeline Gable, he was born at 5:30am during an intense snowstorm. Clark’s father was quite proud of his newborn son, as he recalled later, “The kid, I always call him that, was a real he-man from the start. He was a regular blacksmith from the time he was born.” The future King of Hollywood had humble beginnings. As detailed in “The King” by Charles Samuels: By one of those oddities of history that delight both scholars and simpletons Clark Gable was born just as Queen Victoria’s funeral was…
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For Us, The King Will Never Die
Clark Gable died 62 years ago today at Hollywood Presbyterian Hospital in Los Angeles. A heart attack claimed The King of Hollywood at age 59. This pictorial layout appeared in Modern Screen magazine after his death: Clark Gable 1901-1960 For us the King will never die A poor boy…a nobody…with big ears and a magnetic charm, a he-man ruggedness…Clark lived his life, said little, and we loved him. lovers: In Clark’s life there were five wives and no scandals. But on the screen his amours were messy–and with the greats of filmland’s Golden Days. Shown in his arms are Norma Shearer, Greta Garbo, Jean Harlow and Vivien Leigh, the lovely…
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Happy 100th Birthday, Judy Garland!
Judy Garland, born Frances Gumm on June 10, 1922, would have been 100 years old today! Although Judy and Clark Gable never co-starred together, they were both on the MGM roster and Judy’s big break into stardom was because of her singing her adulation for a certain Mr. Gable. At the beginning of 1937, 14-year-old Judy was contracted to MGM but they didn’t really know what to do with her. She was extremely talented, yes, but was too young to sing romantic songs. Judy was set to appear on the radio show “Ole Maestro,” a radio variety program run by Ben Bernie. The vintage torch song “You Made Me Love…
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Happy Anniversary, Clark Gable and Carole Lombard
Clark Gable and Carole Lombard were wed 83 years ago today, on March 29, 1939, in Kingman, Arizona. Fans and press alike had been waiting impatiently for the nuptials ever since Clark’s second wife Ria Langham was granted a divorce on March 7. From the Associated Press: Gable, Carole Lombard Elope, Wed in Arizona Kingman, Ariz, March 29.—Clark Gable and Carole Lombard, two of the brightest of all Hollywood’s film stars, were married here late today by Rev. Kenneth M. Engle of the First Methodist-Episcopal Church. The couple walked into the marriage license bureau about an hour before the ceremony and so startled the clerk, Miss Viola Olsen, she…
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Remembering Carole Lombard, 80 Years Later
Carole Lombard died 80 years ago today when her plane crashed into Mount Potosi outside Las Vegas, Nevada. She was only 33 years old. The glamorous Lombard was born Jane Alice Peters in Fort Wayne, Indiana, on October 6, 1908, the only daughter of Elizabeth “Bessie” Peters and her husband Frederic. She had two older brothers. When her parents separated in 1914, Bessie moved the children to Los Angeles. Blonde, blue-eyed Jane made her first screen appearance at only twelve–a small part in “A Perfect Crime,” 1921. By the age of sixteen, she had signed with Fox, although only appeared in small bit parts. She adopted the more glamorous moniker…
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Remembering Clark Gable
Clark Gable died 61 years ago today, at the age of 59. A heart attack claimed the life of Hollywood’s King and all were shocked at his sudden death. Here are two news articles that ran side by side in newspapers around the world, by the United Press: CLARK GABLE IS TAKEN BY DEATH Clark Gable, the he-man “king” of Hollywood with the engaging smile and big ears, died last night of a heart attack four months away from his life’s dream–the birth of his first child. The reigning 59=year-old star of movies for 30 years died unexpectedly in his Hollywood Presbyterian Hospital bed seconds before his pregnant wife could…
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Happy 120th Birthday, Clark Gable
Clark Gable was born 120 years ago today, on February 1, 1901. The only child of William and Adeline Gable, he was born at home in their small duplex in Cadiz, Ohio, at 5:30am after 15 hours of labor. He weighed 10 and a half pounds! You can view our posts about Clark Gable’s birthday over the years here. These pictures of Clark celebrating with a large cake with a crown on it are widely circulated. Here’s the deal on that particular birthday party in 1938: They halted shooting on Stage 12 at MGM yesterday afternoon to celebrate Clark Gable’s birthday. Since the Chicago Tribune News Syndicate named him…
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In Memory of Carole Lombard
Carole Lombard died 78 years ago today at the age of 33. Flying home to Clark after selling a record number of war bonds in her home state of Indiana, her plane crashed into Mount Potosi outside Las Vegas. In the newspaper on January 20, 1942: ROOSEVELTS SEND THEIR CONDOLENCES A telegram of condolence from Pres. Roosevelt arrived Monday at the nearby ranch home of screen actor Clark Gable, whose film actress wife, Carole Lombard, was one of 22 persons killed Friday night in the crash of a huge airliner near Las Vegas, Nev. The message read: “Mrs. Roosevelt and I are deeply distressed. Carole was our friend, our guest…
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Remembering Clark Gable, 60 Years Later
Clark Gable died sixty years ago today, on November 16, 1960. He was only 59 years old. After a long and tedious shooting schedule for The Misfits, Clark was ready for a rest. He was set on not doing another movie until after his child was born, in March. On November 6, 1960, he spent what would be his final day at his beloved ranch. He toiled away the day working with his hunting dog, playing with the children, and relaxing. He told Kay he felt tired and went to bed early. He tossed and turned all night. At about 8:00am, Kay awakened to see Clark standing in the doorway, pale and…
