Gossip
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Gossip Friday: A Tracy Never Forgets
From 1948: A Tracy never forgets! Not when he hears that Clark Gable has to smoke a big fat cigar in “Command Decision.” Spencer remembered how Clark hated the last one he smoked four years ago in a picture. So, the day they shot the scene, Mr. T. sent cigars to everyone on the set, with instructions to light up and “help” Gable give a good performance! Clark’s already planning his revenge.
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Gossip Friday: A Plea for Clark
Fan letter from 1946: I have been an ardent Clark Gable fan for many years (especially since seeing “Gone with the Wind”), so naturally I was eagerly looking forward to Clark’s return to the screen, Well, I have seen “Adventure” and what a disappointment! The dialogue and situations were either hackneyed or ridiculous, and the picture would have been ruined had it not been for Clark’s durable charm and unbeatable personality. With the possible exception of “Boom Town,” Clark hasn’t had one really good role since “Gone with the Wind.” Clark Gable has given many years of acting services to the screen; his pictures have brought in millions of dollars…
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Gossip Friday: Mistaken Conceit
From October 1934: It remained for Clark Gable to give a sensible explanation of “mistaken conceit.” “Many screen stars are so described,” Gable said, “Because people are looking for reasons to apply the high-hat phrase. For instance, suppose A and B, two friends, pass on the street, and A fails to see B. Later, B says, ‘I saw A on the street today and he didn’t see me,’ and that ends the matter. “But let A become a movie star, and then let them pass on the street, and let A again fail to see N. At once B hastens around town crying, “A has gone hi-hat. He passed me…
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Gossip Friday: Shave and a Haircut
From October 1950: King Clark Gable was sans shave-and-a-haircut for quite a spell before “Across the Wide Missouri” started filming in the wilds of Montana. You’ll see that man with a nature-boy hairdo and beard in the first scenes and you’ll also hear him sing. But Mr. G. doesn’t wear the hair mattress all through the picture. He polishes himself up when he meets the Indian maiden with whom he falls in love.
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Gossip Friday: No Lucky Baldwin
From 1946: Clark Gable got his fill of flying during the war. He doesn’t even want to do a flying picture. His next will be “Lucky Baldwin,” and Angela Lansbury (MGM’s next big star, according to L.B. Mayer) plays the gal who wins, loses and recaptures the colorful gambler. In his spare time Clark’s been hunting in Utah and Arizona. He came to Hollywood with the limit of doves and pheasant. On the subject of “wife hunting,” Clark still isn’t interested in even taking out a license! ___ That Angela Lansbury picture didn’t happen, although from the description it sounds like it might have been a pre-production title for Any…
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Gossip Friday: Up For Sale
From September 1941: The beautiful ranch home of Clark Gable and Carole Lombard is for sale. The asking price is to be $130,000. The reason? The Gables have bought a ranch in Ventura county. They plan to build there and raise about 1200 head of cattle. They’d like to make only one picture a year, preferably both at the same time. During that period they’d rent an apartment in Beverly Hills. And once upon a time Carole was known as a party girl! ___ The ranch was on and off the market in 1941. After Carole’s death, Clark put it back up for sale, but could never bring himself to…
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Gossip Friday: Mobbed and Unshaved
From January 1936: Clark Gable’s reception committee in Lima, Peru, made his American fans look like pikers. He got away from the airport alive, which was a miracle. In his hotel, preparing to shave, a mob of girls broke down the door and entered through the window. Clark finally had to attend a large party in his honor, unshaved!
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Gossip Friday: You’re Under Arrest
From November 1935: Extra! Clark Gable Arrested! Imagine your favorite hero’s surprise when two strong arms of the law strode into the studio and slapped a firm hand on his shoulder. Seems Gable is such a stout huntsman that he makes his own shells. He borrowed a reloading machine from a friend on the Culver City police department and forgot to return it. So a John Doe warrant was issued, since the rest of the department did not know who had the machine and thought it had been stolen. Whitey Hendry, head of the MGM police, learned of the warrant, and knew who had the machine. So he tipped off…
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Gossip Friday: His Best Girl
From July 1936: And whom do you think Clark Gable took to the circus? None other than Carole Lombard. And it’s a well known fact that the boys always take their best girls to the circus.
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Gossip Friday: Gray and Blue Compromise
From April 1939: Clark Gable has about decided to wear a thin upper lip mustache with waxed ends for his role of Rhett Butler. His idea was to wear all black throughout the picture but he was talked out of it because the picture will be done in color—so he has compromised on grays and blues.