Gossip
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Gossip Friday: Screenwriter’s Problem
From November 1956: Joe Mankiewicz saw a preview of Clark Gable’s “King and Four Queens” and mentioned the screenwriter’s problem in writing a Gable film. Mankiewicz once was assigned to write a movie starring Gable and Joan Crawford. He said: “If Joan Crawford started from 59th St. to Times Square on New Year’s Eve, and Clark Gable from 34th St. to Times Square–with a million people between them–the audience would know from the start that they would fall in love. The only thing for the writer to do is show how and where they are to meet.”
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Gossip Friday: Gable Says No to Natural
From November 1956: When we saw Mr. Gable at the Goldwyn Studios recently we tried to get him to compare today’s leading ladies with stars of the past he has worked with. “Not a chance,” said Mr. Gable. “I don’t want to lose my head around here but I’ll talk generally about actresses without naming names. “For one thing I don’t think actresses are as attractive today as they used to be. When I think of movie stars I think of Joan Crawford. When she walks into a room you know she’s there and she knows how to present herself. You never see her unless she is groomed and looks…
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Gossip Friday: Snubbed
From October 1937: Clark Gable [has been] snubbing John Stahl. The actor and director have been feuding since “Parnell,” for which each blames the other.
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Gossip Friday: Patched Up
From September 1936: Clark Gable and Carole Lombard decided t patch up their quarrel for the sake of the joint box they owned for last week’s Pacific southwest tennis tournament. Another interested observer at the matches was Mrs. Rhea Gable, who spent most of the time looking sadly at the husband from whom she is separated and his blonde companion.
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Gossip Friday: Devine Doubles for Cupid
From April 1939: Devine Doubles for Cupid Do you recognize Andy Devine in the role of cupid? Well, take another look. When I talked to him on Paramount’s “Geronimo” set, he told me that he was responsible for the Kingman, Arizona, elopement of Clark Gable and Carole Lombard. “Gable called me up the night before and said, ‘Well I think we’re going to do it tomorrow, but we don’t know where. Can you suggest any place?’ ‘Sure,” I replied, ‘my home town–Kingman, Arizona. And I can get everything fixed for you.’ But I’m sorry I suggested it now.” Andy added, “they used to say of Kingman–‘this is where Andy Devine…
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Gossip Friday: A No Show
From November 1943: Clark Gable Rumor Travels Merry Round and Ends Nowhere Birmingham, Alabama—At 7:02am The News phone rang and an excited and youthful voice asked, “Is Clark Gable coming?” “No,” said The News, kindly but firmly. That’s what The News thought. The Army had said so, and The News believed the Army. From 7:03 to 11:59 the Frank Nelson Building, the Jefferson County Courthouse, the Tutwiler Hotel and all downtown Birmingham seethed with rumors that Clark Gable had been here since 9, that Clark Gable would arrive at 3, that Clark Gable was marching through the city at the time in a parade. But at noon came an explosive…
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Gossip Friday: A Hearty Laugh
From January 1941: Seen: Clark Gable and Carole Lombard having a hearty laugh in a café as they read a fan mag story prophesizing their divorce.
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Gossip Friday: A Fashionable Escort
From February 1937: Clark Gable and Carle Lombard were seen lunching in the Turf Club. Gable terminated a Utah hunting trip with Dr. Franklyn Thorpe, Mary Astor’s ex-husband, to get back and escort Carole. Gable wore a Cheviot tweed, with plain back jacket, and two side vents in the coat. A green oxford shirt, with button down collar, green tie, brown suede shoes and Tyrolean hat, hit the new men’s fashion note.
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Gossip Friday: Most Nervous
From June 1945: Clark Gable’s studio made it a sort of public unveiling when reported for his first camera assignment after having spent more than three years–all of them after he was 40–as a buck private-to-major in the air forces. Most nervous man on the set: Clark Gable.
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Gossip Friday: Good Picture
From September 1947: Clark Gable has finally seen “Gone with the Wind.” He was telling on the “Homecoming” set how he happened to miss it. At the world premiere in Atlanta he was so weary from the civic celebration that he put his feet up on the railing before the front row and slept right through the picture. When it came to the premiere here [in Los Angeles], his wife, the late Carole Lombard, said she didn’t want to sit through the four-hour show again. So they walked through the crowds, down the aisle and right out the back exit. Recently a friend arranged a showing and invited Cark. “Good…
