Gossip Friday: Not Inflated Snobs

From January 1940:

Judging from the letters pouring in from Atlanta, the down-to-earth good-fellowship displayed by Clark Gable and Carole Lombard, there for the premiere of “Gone with the Wind,” scored as great a hit as the picture. Remembering how often our touring celebrities have made exactly the opposite impression in their contacts with John and Jane Public, I think the Academy ought to vote Clark and Carole a special statuette. By simply being “folks,” they’ve probably done the industry more good than has resulted from any one super-production of the year.

It’s significant that, as the praise comes marching back from Georgia, Hollywood wears an expression of astonishment. “Imagine!” exclaim the wide-eyed publicists, “Clark and Carole didn’t ask for a single special concession–think of it, they spent hours uncomplainingly signing autographs!”

And why, I’d like to know, should any screen star, grown fat on public favor, act otherwise? Why should anyone tolerate such bad manners as some of our ego-crazed zanies have flaunted too often when condescending to rub elbows with ordinary mortals?

The fact that the actions of Clark and Carole offer such a pleasing contrast to the usual stellar displays entitles them to public praise, certainly. But still more, they rate Hollywood’s gratitude. One city has learned, from them, that not all of our luminaries are inflated snobs.