Gossip
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Gossip Friday: He Makes Them Tingle
Fan letter from 1946: It is wonderful to know that we will soon see Clark Gable again. He doesn’t make the femmes “swoon”–he makes them “tingle.” Others have portrayed the adorable scoundrel but none can do it so effectively as Clark Gable; one wonders whether it is something provocative in his eyes or just that ironic grin. Generally when a male star is popular with the ladies, he is hated by the men, so I think Clark Gable passes the supreme test in being popular with both sexes. -Libby McEwen, Montreal, Quebec.
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Gossip Friday: Snubbed by Kay
Here’s a rare one, gossip about the fifth Mrs. Gable, Kay Williams, from the mouth of Louella Parsons, no less. Any guess which actress she’s talking about? From December 1955: Mrs. Clark Gable has become so much the wife of the King that she is seeing few of the old friends who were so good to her in the dark days when life was pretty desperate for her. It’s understandable that a married woman must accept her husband’s pals and make his pals hers, but there is one case where I think Kay is remiss–that of a certain actress who was very good to her during the days when other…
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Gossip Friday: Western Garb
From July 1941: It’s kind of cute on Carole Lombard’s part. Because she is so happy living on a ranch, every time someone has a birthday she sends him or her a complete western outfit. Carole and Clark are looking for huge acreage in Northern California. The Fred MacMurrays are interested too. They may buy together and build on adjoining properties. The MacMurrays want to raise citrus fruit. Clark and Carole want to raise among other things, cattle.
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Gossip Friday: Greetings from Your Ex
From 1948: Ann Sothern couldn’t have looked more surprised when Clark Gable, stopping by to see her on the “Words and Music” set, casually remarked: “Oh, by the way, I just left your ex-husband!” Sure enough, Bob Sterling, who once asked to be released from MGM, is back in that all-male stellar cast of Clark’s “Command Decision.” A living’s a living–but Ann and Bob would still be just as pleased if they could avoid running into each other.
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Gossip Friday: Swimsuit Shopping
From 1948: That “feud” continues between those good friends, Spencer Tracy and Clark Gable. If plans work out, both are supposed to be in Europe at the same time. Spence hopes to “frame” Clark with a gag cable from Esther Williams. It will request him to personally select for her a dozen of those daring diaper French bathing suits! If Clark falls for it, wouldn’t you love to be in on that shopping tour?
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Gossip Friday: Introducing Clarcarol
From January 1938: Hollywood’s cut-ups and the most mysterious people, when they want to be, are putting up a swell “whodunnit” all of their own. Naturally, I’m speaking of Clark Gable and Carole Lombard. One day, a horse named “Clarcarol” appeared from nowhere on the listings. It only took about half a guess to find out who owned this animal. As yet, the proud hope of Lombard-Gable Inc., hasn’t had a real tryout, but if it has half the spirit of its co-owners, who somehow can’t talk about “Clarcarol,” the little beastie is sure to go places. Of course, Clark is no newcomer to the game, for he had “Beverly…
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Gossip Friday: Congrats to the Bride
From 1949: Iris Bynum may have been publicized as the only starlet never to have made a picture, her fame grew from the fact that she had the most glamorous dates in the film colony. [Fans] recall seeing her pictured at premieres and parties with Orson Welles, Van Johnson and her steadiest beau—Clark Gable. But she bade them all goodbye, just when everyone thought that the Bynum-Gable combination was as serious as the Jimmy Stewart-Gloria McLean deal, to marry an Air Force colonel on comparatively scant notice. None of Iris’ famous beaux showed up [for the wedding], although Clark Gable sent a beautifully worded wire to congratulate the bride, saying…
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Gossip Friday: Unexplained Charm
From 1949: One more name has been added to the long list of leading ladies who think Clark Gable is the absolute tops. She’s Alexis Smith, who works with the king in “Any Number Can Play.” Their first scene together, sans any previous acquaintance and avec only a hasty introduction, involved Mr. G. and Miss S. in six minutes of smooching. But that wasn’t what evoked all the admiration from Alexis—none of the gals, in fact, seem to be able to explain clearly why they find him so charming.
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Gossip Friday: Old Friends
From 1949: There was quite a stir among the guests at the party for the Ernie Byfields in the Beverly Hills Hotels’ Rodeo Room when Joan Crawford and Clark Gable walked in together. They’ve been friends for years but this was their first of a series of dates.
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Gossip Friday: Favorite Snack
From February 1940: For a midnight snack Clark Gable likes nothing better than to open up a can of tomatoes, put salt and pepper on them, and swallow them down. ___ A simple snacker…another favorite: sliced onion all by itself. Or just eating an onion like an apple!