Gossip
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Gossip Friday: Inseparable
From July 1936: Now, what’s all this between Carole Lombard and Clark Gable, anyway? It’s getting so you can’t hear or read about one without hearing about the other at the same time, too. They guffaw loudly at romance-whisperers, and they deny there’s anything to it–and yet they’re about as inseparable as a couple of newlyweds! (And, incidentally, wouldn’t they make a swell pair of brand-new-mr-and-mrs?) Latest double appearance was at the circus, when it played Hollywood–and Clark and Carole were as much eyed, if not more, than the rest of the show, the night they hand-in-handed it in the big top! Marry?–heck, I wouldn’t bet a tin dime on…
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Gossip Friday: Just Lucky
From January 1947: Clark Gable is still the same old Gable. A Broadway producer figured maybe he was bored with Hollywood and invited him to do a New York play. Said Clark: “Look, brother, I’m a motion picture actor. My artistic sensibilities–if any–are not stifled in Hollywood, and I have no message to give the world. I’m not a great actor and I never will be. I’m just lucky, or I’d still be drilling oil wells back in Oklahoma.”
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Gossip Friday: No Party
From 1954: So typical, after twenty-three years at MGM, Clark Gable vetoed a farewell party when he checked off the lot. According to a close friend, “Clark’s tired of living in Hollywood, but he doesn’t know where to go. He doesn’t want to get married, but no matter how often he explains this, his gal friends always get serious and spoil their romance.” The King celebrated his fifty-third birthday on the “Betrayed” set. Lana Turner and Vic Mature gave him a cake baked in the shape of a crown. But Clark’s little gift to Clark was the white Lincoln convertible with red leather upholstery in which he drove away for…
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Gossip Friday: Not Very Chummy
From May 1936: Ever since the other day, they’re thinking of giving still photographers little lessons in tact at MGM. Loretta Young and Spencer Tracy were sitting at the privileged “directors’ table” at the MGM restaurant. Far up at the other end of the table sat Clark Gable–alone, and not at all socialable. In came a photographer. He wanted a picture. He asked Clark to move up with Loretta and Spencer, so they could all look very chummy. And all he got was black looks. But he should have known better. ___ Hmmm….wonder why that would be? I think we all know…
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Gossip Friday: Fire This Astrologer
From January 1941: From “Hollywood–Beware in 1942: Events–some happy, some ominous–as seen by a reliable astrologer in the ’42 futures of your favorite stars” Gable and Lombard: Last year I told you all about Mr. and Mrs. Clark Gable and how well suited they are in every way. They still are–but I want to warn Clark that due to the transiting Jupiter, Saturn and Venus, he will be under bad aspects. He must be as conventional as a country schoolmarm during all of 1942 and especially during August. The heretofore tolerant public will scowl and turn thumbs down at Clark’s slightest deviation from the path of convention. August and part…
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Gossip Friday: Playing Scrabble
From 1954: Interiors were shot in London and exteriors in Holland. At all times, in all places, longtime friends Lana Turner and Clark Gable had a ball working together on “Betrayed.” Clark brought back old copper pieces for his Encino ranch fireplace. Lana collected rare. cut crystal mugs. Between shots the Hollywood pair taught English cast members how to play Scrabble!
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Gossip Friday: Gable and Garland?
From January 1942: Resolutions the stars should make: Clark Gable should resolve to throw his influence to get Judy Garland as co-star. Now that she’s grown up and married, she’s earned that right and I have a feeling her fans would applaud it. Sure, I know she’s wonderful in musicals. She and Mickey Rooney in “Babes on Broadway” ooze so much talent they’re frightening. But remember, Clark once did a song and dance–maybe he could learn to do another one, who knows? Failing that, Judy can go dramatic with him.
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Gossip Friday: Sitting Fireside
From December 1940: Clark Gable and his wife, Carole Lombard, were Sunday evening guests at the White House and were among the 19 persons who were with President Roosevelt when he delivered his fireside chat. Gable stopped here during the weekend en route to Baltimore where he enters John Hopkins Hospital today for examination of a shoulder injury suffered a long time ago. Mr. Roosevelt usually has no one present during such intimate broadcasts to the nation except the necessary radio announcers and technicians. Last night’s address was broadcast to an estimated 80,000,000 to 100,000,000 persons throughout the world over the three major radio networks in this country and re-broadcast…
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Gossip Friday: Merry Christmas, Louella
From April 1959 (Louella Parsons): My biggest “kick” of the holiday season: Clark Gable (and his Kay, of course) personally coming over to my house to turn on the lights on the very pretty ornamental Christmas tree he and Kay gave me. It’s not everybody who can have The King crawling around on his hands and knees at the light switches!
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Gossip Friday: Kinks in the King
From May 1950: Clark Gable spoils his two hundred percent perfection with his hundred percent streak of stubbornness. Maybe Lady Sylvia, who is where she is today because of flexibility, will smooth over the one kink in the King.
