Gossip
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Gossip Friday: Clark Answers
From April 1940: I asked Clark Gable if he felt it dangerous to work so long in a single film such as “Gone with the Wind”. Fans forget easily. Will the role of Rhett Butler, no matter how colorful, be strong enough to hold Clark to the top, to overcome the long months of getting him on celluloid? Gable writes thus: “Rather than being dangerous to work too long in one picture, I can say from experience that it is of definite value to an actor and makes for a superior film. There is no substitute for adequate and superior preparation. ‘Gone with the Wind’ proves this. From an acting…
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Gossip Friday: Dear Santa
Here’s a letter to a fan magazine that appeared in January 1942: Dear Santa Claus, You can leave Boyer in the foyer, Hang Fonda on the the tree, Keep Robert Stack in your bulging pack, But give Clark Gable to me. Drop he-man Brent in a windy tent, Put Flynn under lock and key, For Tyrone Power, a tinsel tower, ‘Cause Gable’s the man for me! Tops as an actor, that’s a factor, He brings both mirth and tears, A mighty fine guy, you can’t deny– And besides, I like his ears! –Marian Pehowski, Milwaukee, Wisconsin ____ Right on, Marian! Well, Clark never appeared in any Christmas films and…
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Gossip Friday: Just like Mickey
Since Mickey Rooney is TCM’s Star of the Month this month… From December 1938: Mickey Rooney’s one proud guy. He’s going around telling everyone that Clark Gable’s bought a car just like his, after a ride with Mickey. It’s true the cars are just alike–a low-priced coupe. Clark liked Mickey’s a lot, and that was a factor, he admits. But the principal reason he doesn’t use his $3,500 roadster is because he and Carole are always recognized. It’s got to the point where they even want privacy en route. _________ New this week: Pictures in the gallery I’ve got a TON of new updates for the site that I am…
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Gossip Friday: One Swell Guy
From November 1937, letter to the editor: A week ago, I was bewailing my fate because I have to live in a town where nothing ever happens and now imagine—I’ve been talking to Clark Gable! He had been fishing in Montana and, on his way back to Hollywood stopped in Twin Falls for supper and a night’s rest before continuing his trip. He is certainly one swell guy! There aren’t many stars who, after driving a car right hundred miles, and being dead tired, mosquito-bitten and hungry, would have time to share with the wide-eyed people of a little Idaho town. Mr. Gable, however, surrounded by autograph hunters, said, with…
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Gossip Friday: A Quick Trip
From February 1937: One of the shortest flights on record was Clark Gable’s trip to New York. He planned a 10-day vacation to see plays, especially “Idiot’s Delight”, which he is to do for the films. He saw “Idiot’s Delight”, but he also discovered it was the delight of his fans to mob him wherever he went. So Mr. G., disguised as an unidentified citizen, sneaked through the Holland Tunnel to Newark and grabbed a plane back to Hollywood. Incidentally, when he left for the East, the Sunday airport sightseers were treated to something a little extra when Carole Lombard handed her hero quite a demonstrative send-off. ______ New this…
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Gossip Friday: Protect Yourself
From March 1940: Snicker of the Month came the day Joan Crawford, heading back for an afternoon’s work after lunch on Strange Cargo, knocked at Clark Gable’s dressing room, with a bunch of green onions in her hand. As Clark poked his head out,s he handed him the onions with: “You’d better eat these, Clark, before that love scene we’re going to play. Because I ate some for lunch, and you may as well protect yourself.” Without an eyelash batting, Clark came back with: “Thanks, Joan, but never mind. I just had some garlic for lunch myself!” ___ New this week: Film page for It Started in Naples–64 down, 2…
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Gossip Friday: Whatever Suits Him
From May 1937: Did you know that Clark Gable likes to have his suits made a couple of sizes too large? He thinks they’re much more comfortable that way. And now it looks as though he’s talked Carole Lombard into the idea. She was recently seen swinging down the boulevard in a tailored suit that might have been built for Fieldsie. Or maybe it was just Garbo, impersonating Lombard. ____ New this week: Article: Do Hollywood Women (i.e. Lombard) Spoil Their Men (i.e. Gable)? Pictures in the gallery
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Gossip Friday: Wandering into Grand Hotel
Wallace Beery and Joan Crawford filming Grand Hotel From April 1932: In “Strange Interlude” Clark Gable will play a variety of roles that will carry him from youth to old age, and as a consequence he is devoting all of his time to praticing makeups at the Metro studio. He walked on the set of “Grand Hotel” (where he didn’t belong) the other day and “accidentally on purpose” got in everybody’s way without being recognized. Finally the assistant director ordered him out of the studio. Crestfallen Clark started away just as Jean Hersholt, a member of the “Grand Hotel” cast, happened along. “What’s the matter, old man?” Hersholt asked kindly.…
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Gossip Friday: On the set of Gone with the Wind
From May 1939: We said we didn’t believe it. “Tell us,” we said, “that Greta Garbo is hunting autographs; that Shirley Temple has been sent to reform school; that Jimmy Cagney is baking a cake. Tell us anything. But don’t tell us ‘Gone with the Wind’ is actually shooting!” “Come over and see for yourself,” said the Selznick-International man. How could we resist making “The Wind”, as Hollywood knows it, our first stop on the monthly set circuit? After these months of waiting and waiting–false hopes, phony Scarletts, reluctant Rhetts and so forth–a mere peep at the champion never-never movie in actual production is like a preview of the millennium.…
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Gossip Friday: Chew on This
From October 1941: Carole Lombard chews up more letters than she writes. When she sits down to write she chews the edge of the stationary while she is thinking and by the time she has the letter halfway finished it is so well chewed up that she throws it in the wastebasket and goes out to feed the chickens. That’s why you don’t ever get letters from Lombard. Carole Lombard is probably the only actress in Hollywood who feeds the chicken while wearing Irene dresses. Or maybe Carole Lombard is the only actress in Hollywood who feeds the chickens! _______________________ New this week: Articles galore! One about Carole from…