Gossip Friday: A Hameroo

From March 1939:

Clark Gable’s frequent ribbing of himself has made him just as popular at Selznick as on his home lot, MGM. A good example comes as he makes the scene in “Gone with the Wind” in which he is insulted before a large group of men by Rand Brooks, portraying Charles Hamilton, Scarlett O’Hara’s first husband.

“I again must apologize for all my shortcomings.”

Then he must turn to Leslie Howard, playing Ashley Wilkes, excuse himself, toss a barbed remark at Brooks and stride from the room.

Gable goes through the scenes, struts out and then turns with a laugh and says: “Boy, was that exit a hameroo. Does anyone smell anything around here?”

Everybody laughs, too, and Howard pats Clark on the back.

It takes a regular fellow to make fun of himself before a big audience and Gable does it all the time.