{New Article} 1955: Live Alone and Like It?

This article from 1955 is of a common theme, one that was often repeated after Carole Lombard’s death and especially since Clark divorced Sylvia Ashley: Who will be the next Mrs. Gable? Could Clark possibly be happy all alone?

Clark Gable is fifty-four years old. He has been married four times. Before each of these marriages, he ardently courted the woman who was to become his wife. During this period, he steadfastly denied any matrimonial intention.

Gable is currently squiring Kay Williams Spreckels, “an old friend” he has known for years.

Kay recently had her former husband, Adolph Spreckels, thrown in prison for beating her up. “I’ve had enough of marriage, at least for a while,” she said a few weeks ago when she was rumored to have eloped with the handsome, graying-at-the-temples actor. “Mr. Gable and I are just old, old friends.”

Clark gives out the same line, “Why are people so anxious to marry me off?” he asks. “Kay and I go out a few times, and right away we’ve had a New Year’s elopement. Not a word of it is true.

“I don’t know how these things get started. Just like my supposed retirement. I’ve got absolutely no plans for retiring. What I’d like to do is make one picture a year, then take plenty of time off for fishing, maybe a little hunting.

“I’ve got six weeks off between Soldier of Fortune and The Tall Men. I expect to go down to Palm Springs, maybe to Phoenix and Tucson, and get myself a tan. Don’t like to use make-up, you know. Had to for Fortune.

“If I’m seen with a girl in Arizona, those marriage rumors will probably start again. But just for the record, I have no intention of getting married. Girls, yes. But marriage is out.”

Isn’t it interesting that he insists that marriage is out of the question in an article published in April 1955 and then is married in July…what changed his mind…

“Look,” Kay protests, “if we were going to get married, the spark would have been kindled years ago. I’ve known Clark for twelve years. Met him at Metro when I was working there. It was during the war. He had just come back from the Air Force in Europe.

“We went to parties and dinners, and it was fun. Nothing else. Then I went off and got married. I’ve put out three fires (Charles Capps, Martin Unzue, Adolph Spreckels) and the marriage department is not for me.

“I’ve got no intention of walking down the aisle with anyone. Gable feels the same way and that’s why we hit it off. We go out for laughs.

“In Hollywood people think it will lead to something. Some fellow named John Ravens (I never heard of him)  saw Clark with me one night and the next thing he called all the columnists and announced that we were eloping, that by 1955 we would be man and wife. The newspapers play it up big—‘Hint Gable Elopement’ and all of that. No truth to it. Talk about marriage, and I’ve had it.”

“Suppose Gable proposed to you?” Kay was asked. “What would your answer be?”

“You don’t have to worry. There’s no chance that he will. He’s a smart fellow. He knows when he’s well off.” Kay replied.

Gable has reached that point where he has one woman, Jean Garceau, to look after all his correspondence, bills and household matters. If he needs a girl for dinner or any movieland function, he only has to pick up his phone. When he wanted to take someone to the premiere of A Star is Born, he called Grace Kelly.

Actually he took Kay to the premiere of A Star is Born. But he did squire Grace to the Oscars the year before. Kay’s response to the proposal question is odd, considering he did ask and she did say yes in July.

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