Gossip Friday: Applause for a Soldier

From March 1943:

Here in my [Hollywood columnist Jimmie Fidler] office, I’ve literally got a ceiling on letters–they’re piled that high! Practically every one of them requests news about our Hollywood men serving in the armed forces, so I did a little scouting.

Four out of seven wanted information on Clark Gable. Clark came home to Hollywood on official business the middle of last December, looking trim, tan, and terrific. He stayed with the Walter Langs while he was here and saw only a few close friends.

The sight of the month was First Lieutenant Gable and First Lieutenant James Stewart discussing Army business on the steps of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s Administration Building–both of them so near and yet so far from their former jobs.

Clark’s first appearance in the MGM commissary in his well-earned uniform seemed to be a silent signal for as sincere a tribute as any man ever received from his friends. Spontaneously, everyone in the room stood and applauded while he walked to his old place at the usual table. Not because he was King of the lot, but because he had earned that silver bar on his shoulder the hard way. Two days before Christmas, he was assigned to another duty, and reported to Panama City, Florida.

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New this week:

Radio shows galore!

Clark drums up support for the National Guard in 1959

Clark pleas for your help in curing infantile paralysis in 1945

Clark performs with Merle Oberon in the Greek War Relief Benefit from 1941

Clark and Carole are briefly interviewed by Fred Othman in 1941

Clark and Carole plea for your support of the Red Cross in 1937

A HUGE THANK YOU to Kurt! I am eternally grateful!