Remembering Clark Gable

Clark Gable died 61 years ago today, at the age of 59. A heart attack claimed the life of Hollywood’s King and all were shocked at his sudden death.

Here are two news articles that ran side by side in newspapers around the world, by the United Press:

CLARK GABLE IS TAKEN BY DEATH

Clark Gable, the he-man “king” of Hollywood with the engaging smile and big ears, died last night of a heart attack four months away from his life’s dream–the birth of his first child.

The reigning 59=year-old star of movies for 30 years died unexpectedly in his Hollywood Presbyterian Hospital bed seconds before his pregnant wife could reach his side.

He died without saying a word.

Mrs. Kay Gable, 42, had been with him only minutes earlier. She became sleepy and decided to go to the room across the hall she had occupied since his admission 11 days ago on Nov. 6.

Gable was feeling fine when his wife left him and appeared well on the way to recovery minutes before the fatal seizure.

Mrs. Gable, the fabulously successful actor’s fifth wife, is expecting his child in March. Because she suffers from a heart ailment, her obstetrician expressed concern about the effects of the strain.

But her maid, Louisa, comfortingly told her after the handsome actor’s death, “You’re going to have his baby, don’t you worry.”

B.J. Caldwell, administrator at the hospital, described Gable’s last hours.

“Mr. Gable had a restful nap during the late afternoon,” he said. “He was in very good spirits and felt very refreshed after he had been shaved (by a barber). He and Mrs. Gable had dinner together and talked briefly.

“Mr. Gable slept for an hour after dinner and was visited again by Mrs. Gable. He was examined later by his doctor. Mrs. Gable then went to her room to retire.

“Mr. Gable was awake and being attended by a nurse,” said Caldwell. “About 11pm Mr. Gable just laid back his head and gasped. His nurse immediately summoned Mrs. Gable and the actor’s physician, Dr. Fred Cerini, who was in the hospital at the time.

“Every effort was made to revive him, but it was too late,” said Caldwell. “He was gone. There was no pain.”

Caldwell said attempts at revival included “routine measures” such as administrating oxygen. No attempt was made at cutting into Gable’s chest to massage his heart, however.

The star, who received international acclaim for many movies, but especially for his outstanding role as Rhett Butler in the 1939 movie “Gone with the Wind,” died at 11 pm.

Born in Cadiz, Ohio, on Feb. 1, 1901, Gable’s film career included an Academy Award-winning performance in “It Happened One Night” in 1934 and tremendous success in such other movies as “Mutiny on the Bounty.”

His matrimonial record of five wives, like his many mediocre movies, was seldom criticized because of his friendly, honest manner and clean, healthy he-manliness.

The world mourned with him in 1942 when his beloved third wife, Carole Lombard, plunged to her death in a plane crash on her return to Hollywood from a war bond rally.

Gable was known in Hollywood circles as a loner. Despite his brash movie roles and leonine appearance, the mustachioed actor was a bashful man who was nervous in crowds.

His favorite pastimes were hunting and fishing. He had even planned a hunting trip the day before he was stricken–Nov.6.

On screen, he made females swoon in the days before anyone ever heard of bobbysoxers. He once said he had received 5,000 marriage proposals by mail.

“They almost always enclose a picture,” he said. “And let me tell you, the toughest job is saying ‘no’–politely–to 5,000 women.”

The actor was born the son of William Gable, an oil field worker, and Adeline Hershelman, a farm girl, who died when Clark was one year old.

He had no survivors besides his wife Kay.

CLARK GABLE’S DEATH SHOCKS ALL FILMLAND

“The king is dead.”

That was the feeling in Movietown today with the passing of jug-eared Clark Gable, the most virile he-man who ever brawled and loved his way across the silver screen.

Gable stood alone and apart from a community populated with inflated egos. No matter the factions, petty feuds and gossip that swirled around King Clark, he was much beloved by those who knew him. He had no enemies.

Europe’s large movie colony, including many of America’s top stars, reacted with unbelieving shock and sorrow to the sudden death of Clark Gable.

Gary Cooper said London, “All of us were proud to know him. He had a fine career and he did well with his life.”

In Madrid, Sophia Loren, who co-starred in Gable’s last movie, said, “I’m so shocked I can hardly breathe. This is terrible.”

In Paris, John Wayne praised Gable as “one who brought stature to our industry. Grief at his death will be universal.”

Vivien Leigh, Gable’s co-star in “Gone with the Wind,” said, “I heard the terrible news this morning and I was sadder than I can tell.”

Eddie Fisher said in London: “Gable was the king of Hollywood. It will be sad news for people all over the world to hear of the passing of this wonderful man.” Fisher said that his ailing wife, Elizabeth Taylor, had not been told. “I won’t tell her until I have to,” he said.

At a villa in Lausanne, Switzerland, actor George Sanders said Gable’s death was “a great loss to the motion picture industry.”

In London director Walter Wanger said, “the entire world will mourn.”

His last co-star, Marilyn Monroe, stypified Hollywood’s regard for the man early this month when she completed work with him. “Clark, I found out, is a real king. It was an honor working with him,” she said on the final day of shooting “The Misfits.”

This feeing for the big guy penetrated throughout the industry. Grips, cameramen, electricians and all the others who help make movies were devoted to him.

This reporter had known the man and the actor for more than 12 years. He was always available to newsmen and concerned with helping them get a story. His attitude was personal and engaging.

To everyone who approached him, Clark flashed his warm grin. He gave you the feeling that at that particular moment you were the most important person he knew.

And it was sincere.

He worked hard at putting people at ease, whether they were visiting tourists on the set of an assistant prop man fidgeting around him before a “take.”

Gable exuded masculinity. In his presence women became more feminine and men experienced a rare camaraderie. It was a magical quality about which he seemed entirely unaware.

More than 200 newsmen played bit parts with him 2 1/2 years ago in “Teacher’s Pet,” and this reporter discovered the meaning of “the old pro” during the film. He invariably was the first actor on the set at 8 am, in costume, makeup complete and with his lines memorized.

While other stars complained about lighting, unflattering camera angles and battled with directors, Gable held his peace.

He believed an actor should take direction and leave the script and technical supervision in the hands of the professionals.

If he found fault with co-stars and fellow workers, he kept his thoughts to himself.

“This is a business, like any other,” he once said. “I’m an actor, not a genius. I do what they tell me and it works out pretty well.”

Gable cherished his private life and was devoted to his fifth wife, the former Kay Spreckels, and her two children.

“Those kids are the greatest thing that ever happened to me. It’s almost as if they were my own,” he said earlier this year.

He had no illusion about his age and decided last year to leave romantic young lovers to the likes of Rock Hudson. “My days of playing dashing young heroes is over,” he said recently.

“I don’t think the public likes watching older guys wooing leading ladies half their age. I don’t like it myself. The actresses I started out with 30 years ago have long since quit playing glamour girls. Now it’s time I acted my age–59 years old.”

Gable was the movie star’s movie star. His appearance at a party or premiere sent a tingle through the crowd. Other stars became fans in his presence. His natty mustache, the crows feet etched around his eyes and his lopsided grin were his trademark, both on and off the screen.

He had hoped to continue his career in character roles, patterning his future after that of his friend Spencer Tracy, whom he considered the greatest actor of his time.

Clark first was called “King” during his marriage to Carole Lombard when they were Hollywood’s reigning couple.

The “king” soubriquet referred to his unequaled magnetism at the box office. But with the years the nickname “King”–which amused him–was applied to Gable, the actor, the gentleman, the warm human being.

The king is dead of a heart attack, and today Hollywood discovered there is no one to take his place. And the belief is that no one ever will.