Gossip Friday: Happy Centennial, Mr. Taylor

Today marks the 100th birthday of one of Clark’s close friends, Robert Taylor. Taylor started gaining fame on the MGM lot in 1936, after appearing in the classic romance Camille with queen of the crop Greta Garbo. His romance with and subsequent marriage to Barbara Stanwyck paralleled Clark and Carole in hype.  After adopting a mustache in 1940, he was dubbed “The new King of Hollywood” and “The Next Clark Gable” by the press.

There was no rivalry between the two men, despite what fan magazines said. Their ranches were near each other in Encino and they shared the same desire of a simple life. Clark and Carole and Bob and Barbara were fast friends and frequent visitors to each other’s homes. After the war (both men served), Carole’s death and Bob and Barbara’s divorce, they grew apart but apparently when they did cross paths it was just like old times. Bob was a pallbearer at Clark’s funeral.

From June 1940:

We had the oppurtunity, the other day, to test the comparative popularity of two favorite stars in the Hollywood firmament. Conversation stopped abruptly at the Brown Derby one noon, women nudged their companions, buzzed excitedly and ejected delighted “oh’s” as Robert Taylor walked in. But Bob was no sooner seated when the door re-opened and in came Clark Gable. No buzzing accompanied his entrance, just a series of long drawn out “Aaaaaaahs.”

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New this week:

Article: The Modern Hostess

Pictures in the gallery

New reviews posted on the pages for Boom Town, Gone with the Wind, Idiot’s Delight and Comrade X