{Hollywood} Clark Was Here

Let’s follow Clark around Los Angeles…

Culver Studios. Formerly Selznick International Studios, this is where Gone with the Wind was filmed. The white house and manicured gardens are well-remembered as the opening shot of GWTW, then with a white sign in front that said, “A Selznick International Picture.”

The scene where Mammy, Prissy and Pork stand in front of Scarlett and Rhett’s enormous Atlanta mansion and exclaim over its size (“Lordy, she sure is rich now!”) was filmed right here, in front of this building, with a matte painting standing in for Scarlett and Rhett’s mansion.

Carole Lombard made Nothing Sacred and Made for Each Other here. It was later home to Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz’s production company, Desilu.

The Millennium Biltmore Hotel, which was the site of the Academy Awards for a few years in the 1930’s. Clark accepted his one and only Oscar here on the stage of the ballroom called The Biltmore Bowl on February 27, 1935.

Clark attended the Oscars again the following year with Merle Oberon as his date, when he was nominated for Mutiny on the Bounty. Clark and Carole attended the awards here in 1937 when Carole was nominated for My Man Godfrey.

Unfortunately, when we were visiting, there was a conference being held in that room and despite our best efforts, we couldn’t go inside. Some very nice employees saw our disappointment at not getting into The Biltmore Bowl so they let us in the Crystal Ballroom to take some pictures. Not a bad consolation prize…

The Beverly Hills Hotel. This place is ripe with Hollywood history. Both Irene Dunne and Loretta Young had ownership interest in it at one time. Elizabeth Taylor honeymooned here. Marilyn Monroe lived here. So did Norma Shearer. Katharine Hepburn liked to play tennis here and after one particularly sweaty game, she jumped in the pool fully clothed. Jean Harlow liked to swim here. As did Joan Crawford. Spencer Tracy and Douglas Fairbanks used to have drinks after their polo matches at the Polo Lounge in the lobby. Oh, and a little couple named Clark Gable and Carole Lombard used to meet up in Bungalow #4 for some alone time during their dating days.

We had lunch in the quaint little Fountain Coffee Shop on the bottom level. The food was delicious!

The Chateau Marmont, a gorgeous, castle-like hotel sitting on a hill overlooking Sunset Boulevard. Built in 1927, its history is also rich with celebrity. Montgomery Clift recovered from his car accident here. Judy Garland sang in the lobby here. Greta Garbo lived here. Jean Harlow and Harold Rosson honeymooned here. John Belushi died here. Clark stayed here in a few times in the 1930’s, probably with a lady guest, when he didn’t want to go home to second wife Ria. It remains a Hollywood hotspot to this day.  

Clark and Carole’s favorite restaurant, The Brown Derby, was located here on Vine Street just past Hollywood Boulevard. Not only the Gables’ favorite, it was the place to go to see stars in Hollywood.  Clark proposed to Carole here and the Derby catered their second anniversary party.  The building was largely destroyed by a fire in 1987 and  is now, sadly, a W Hotel.

Another restaurant, this one is still standing. Musso and Frank’s, which has been a Hollywood Boulevard standard since 1919. Clark and Ria used to eat here often in the early 1930’s  and in the 1950’s Clark was a frequent guest, sharing cigars with friends. He was apparently quite fond of their gravy. We ate lunch here and yup, they have good gravy.

Paramount Studios. Clark made No Man of Her Own (with Carole Lombard) behind these famous gates, and, many years later, Teacher’s Pet and But Not For Me. Carole made many films here, including The Princess Comes Across,  Bolero, True Confession and Hands Across the Table.

The last place Clark ever went, alive–Hollywood Presbyterian Hospital. He was taken here on November 6, 1960 and died here ten days later. His son was born here the following March.  I must say, it is quite a distance from the Encino ranch home, especially in those days before the main interstate.