Gossip
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Gossip Friday: Carole with her Clark
Some ooey gooey love mush since it’s nearly Valentines Day… From May 1941: The most in love woman in all Hollywood—Carole Lombard. Watch pictures of Clark and Carole together. Carole either clings lovingly to her husband’s arm or gazes adoringly into Clark’s eyes. She completely submerges herself into one with Gable and openly tell the world with her eyes, “I love this man. He is mine.” For the most in love [girl] we dare you to find any that surpasses Carole Lombard with her Clark. ____ New this week: Saturday: Clark and Carole profiles from Movie Star Parade magazine in the Article Archive Sunday: Screenshots from “Idiot’s Delight” in…
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Gossip Friday: Snippets from the set of Gone with the Wind
From August 1939: There’s a mad scramble between every scene on the “Gone with the Wind” set. For Vivien Leigh is an Anagram fiend and Olivia de Havilland is equally rabid on the subject of Chinese Checkers–and they like Clark Gable for a partner. Gable happens to like both girls and both games, but he’s hit upon a practical solution for the predicament. It’s three-handed bridge and now everyone is happy. *** Though Vivien Leigh has many elaborate costumes for “Gone with the Wind”, her costliest is the ugliest dress she wears in the picture. Fourteen copies of this dress had to be made, for it is the one which…
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Gossip Friday: That Silly Soldier
From March 1944: When Captain Clark Gable, who has been off the screen for over a year, first met little Margaret O’Brien, he asked her if she, too, was in movies. Later Margaret, who was so taken aback, confided to her mother: “That soldier certainly doesn’t know much, does he? He must have never seen a movie in his whole life!” ____ New this week: Love on the Run screenshots in the gallery
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Gossip Friday: “Disappearing into the blue”
From June 1940: Getting lost in their super-elegant station wagon is beginning to pall on the Clark Gables, and their latest diversion is learning to fly. As soon as they pile up sufficent flying hours, they plan to get their licenses, buy a plane and depart for parts unknown every weekend. Less hardy studios might blanch at the thought of their favorite children playing Lindbergh whenever the spirit moved them, but RKO and MGM are becoming calloused to the antics of these two renegades. Still, as one wistful Metro official put it, it was a little more comforting to think of them disappearing into Mexico than just disappearing into the…
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Gossip Friday: What You Need is a Good Story
From September 1941: Maybe you assume that Clark Gable is one of those lucky actors in that he always seems to get good roles. I suspected a method to it all. Clark works hard to get them–and then works hard with them. Of course, he has the advantage of a strong personality. With half a chance, his role assumes proportions of charm and force it probably never had on paper. But drawing on that personality too often is dynamite. Let me quote Gable: “What’s the most important thing a star can do to hold his popularity? That’s easy. Just see to it that he has the good fortune to land…
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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…