{New Article} 1936: What are Clark Gable’s Plans for the Future?

This article from 1936 is a bit of a fluff piece, but I always find it interesting to see what the predictions are for Clark’s future, considering we all know the future.

The most colorful chapter in Clark Gable’s life is just ahead of him. Until now, everything has been a prelude. All the struggle, the handicaps, the good fortune and the bad—they have each played a part in shaping the story of a fellow from Cadiz, Ohio, who has become one of the most famous men in the world. And the main part of his life story has only started!

That’s true. Gone with the Wind, Carole Lombard and two subsequent wives, not to metion twenty more years of career lie ahead!

“By the time I’m ready to settle down a bit—at fifty or so—I want to have seen every country on the globe and to know the people,” he told me. “But not as a tourist! I want to get out and live among them until I get their slant on life…and then shove off to some other place..”

He didn’t settle down at fifty, that is for sure. And no, he didn’t go and live among the locals in every country. But he did travel through Europe extensively during World War II and in the 1950’s. Also he spent several weeks in the jungles of Africa to film Mogambo. So I wouldn’t say his passport wasn’t impressive.

I’ve got so much more out of life than I ever dreamed of having,” he says, still a little awestruck at the miracle of it even after five years. “I never wanted much. I don’t today. Possessions only clutter up living for me. That is, if I have a lot of them. They put a restraint on a man that’s hard to break through. Of course, I won a couple of horses. I’ll always have horses. Someday, maybe, I’ll get a small ranch and start raising them.

“At present, though, I’m living in a Beverly Hills hotel. Usually, however, I go for a horseback ride up in the hills before I go to work and I have breakfast at any hamburger stand I come across. After dinner, if I don’t go to a prizefight or show with some of the fellows, I turn in early. I never did shine much as a social light, you know,” Clark added, smiling.

But that isn’t quite accurate. Clark can make a party lively when he wants to do so. However, he’s been to only two social events all winter. Sam Goldwyn’s party, which he attended alone, and the Mayfair ball. He brought Edie Adams, a new contract player, to the latter. Mary Taylor, a Park Avenue photographer’s model, was seen once with Clark last autumn—and given a leading role!

But, as far as real romance is concerned, Clark is not interested in it at the moment. He’s distinctly the type of man who wants to do his own pursuing. Underneath that sophisticated devil-may-care-ness of his are a lot of old fashioned notions, among them the belief that men are still the natural champions of women. He has an innate respect for them, fostered by his stepmother, and he has never lost it. But if he falls in love again, that fact will be carefully sheltered from public attention!

 The hotel he was living in at the time was the Beverly Wilshire. As we all know, he did own a ranch and from then on there was never a time he didn’t own horses. I find the mention of the Mayfair ball rather funny, since it is closely followed by a comment that any romance would be “sheltered from public attention”! Considering these articles were written months before they were actually published, it’s not surprising that Carole was not mentioned. By the time this piece hit newstands however, they had begun to be photographed together and the gossip mills started churning!

You can read the article in its entirety in The Article Archive