Gossip
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Gossip Friday: Musings from 1935
From August 1935: Clark Gable has been hunting again–with that grand new rifle of his, which has gold sights and mountings that catch the sunlight and warn any animal within range that he is on its trail. The plan to have his debutante stepdaughter, Georgiana, screentested seems to be in abeyance at the moment. We understand that Clark is wholly in favor of the idea, but wants to take the tests with her and have her gowned by Adrian first. Remember the first time you saw Clark Gable in a picture with Connie Bennett? He played the part of the milkman in “The Easiest Way.” And if you will recall…
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Gossip Friday: Gable, Tracy and Taylor
From January 1940: Prime of the month—came from Robert Taylor, at the expense of Clark Gable, Spencer Tracy. Seems the three of them were lunching together, and Gable and Tracy were”riding” Taylor about being in line for the draft if America goes into the war. They razzed him and razzed him, with: “Poor Taylor; you’ll have to go, but we’re lucky. We’re TOO OLD to be called.” “Yeah,” flipped Taylor, ducking; “but it took a war to bring THAT out!”
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Gossip Friday: Swell Gesture
From September 1937: Swell Gesture: Hearing a property man bragging about his son, Gable asked if his son had a bike. “Not yet, but when I get the money saved, I’m buying him one,” said the prop man. Next day, Clark wheeled onto the set on a new bike. “How ya like it?” Clark asked he prop man. “Finest bike I ever see,” answered the man., “whose is it? Yours?” Answered Gable: “Nope, it’s your son’s, with my compliments.”
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Gossip Friday: Driving Bored
From April 1936: Clark Gable did two things this month that may interest you—he brought back the style of wearing big striped bow ties for street wear—and he slapped down $16,000 for a new Deusenberg auto—and he looks so, so bored while driving it. Can you imagine that?
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Gossip Friday: Comparing Salaries
From September 1940: Players who came to the Hollywood feast early get most of the gravy. The highest salaries go to firmly established stars like these: Clark Gable hits the cash register for about $7,500 weekly, 52 weeks a year, with fat bonuses. Ronald Colman pockets $150,000 per picture, plus 10% of the world gross when it goes over a certain amount–and it usually does. Robert Taylor brings Barbara Stanwyck an envelope containing about $5,000 weekly, plus bonuses. Bette Davis earns not less than $3,500 a week the year round. Deanna Durbin, who blossomed before the economy blight, earns over $2,500 a week, and bonuses. Claudette Colbert draws $150,000 per…
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Gossip Friday: A Thousand Girls
From October 1936: Did you ever hear Clark Gable’s grand crack, after he’d lectured before a class at Vassar? Asked how he’d enjoyed the experience, Clark grimaced, replied: “I’d rather talk a thousand times to one girl, than one time to a thousand girls!”
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Gossip Friday: Dog Gone
From December 1935: Clark Gable lost a dog. It had an identification tag on his collar. Quite soon, Clark received a letter from a Beverly Hills boy named Johnny Marks. “Dear Mr. Gable,” wrote Johnny, “I found your dog and I’d like to keep him.” He offered the best of care. Whether Clark decided such gall deserved a reward, the fact remains that he sent a message, telling Johnny to keep the dog.
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Gossip Friday: In Need of a Vacation
From October 1933: Clark Gable returned from a “recuperative vacation” in the Northwest only to enter the Cedars if Lebanon Hospital for a tonsil operation! Though he plans to return to MGM for one, and possibly two pictures immediately, the truth of the matter is that Clark is far from being a perfectly well young man and really needs a real rest and a long vacation. If it can be arranged he hopes to leave for a six months tour of Europe with Mrs. Gable sometime this Fall.
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Gossip Friday: Calling It Quits
_ From August 1935: Clark Gable stated on the set of China Seas, a few days ago, that on May 1st, 1940, he firmly intends to turn in the key to his dressing room and leave pictures forever. “Even if I am still in demand at that time, I shall quit,” says Clark. Actors have said that before but Clark has been fed up with the picture business for some time, according to his own statements and everyone believes HE MEANS IT! SERIOUSLY!
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Gossip Friday: Drives a Ford and Hunts Rabbits
From March 1932: The height of swank was reached the other day when a Hollywood florist started delivering flowers in a Rolls Royce. At the other extreme, Clark Gable and Wallace Beery, two of the town’s brightest celebrities, drive Fords. Clark Gable, by the way, never spends a weekend in Hollywood if he can help it. His latest hobby is jack-rabbit hunting, which is pursued far up in the hills at night, with an old car and a powerful searchlight.