Anita Colby

Anita was a top fashion in the 1940’s, known as the “first supermodel” and “The Face.” Her success in New York as a print and fashion model led her to Hollywood. After a few bit parts in the 1930’s, she left, discouraged. She returned in the late 1940’s, when producer David O. Selznick hired her to teach his actresses poise, her job title listed as “Feminine Director of Selznick Studios.”

It was while she was working for Selznick that she was introduced to Clark at a party at Selznick’s home.  Clark arrived at the party with Anita’s friend (and future Mrs. Gable) Kay Williams, but that did not faze Anita. She was determined to meet Clark and make an impression. After locking eyes across the room, she introduced herself. Soon afterward he cut in when she was dancing with someone else. After the dance, she noticed that her angora sweater had shed on him. “I’ve covered you with angora feathers,” she told him. “You look cute.” “I do?” he said. “Yes, cute as a chicken.” And with that Anita joined Clark’s list of paramours.

Their relationship was was more buddy-buddy than lovey-dovey, according to Anita. “I loved him, but I wasn’t in love with him,” she said. She was known for being a devout Roman Catholic and Clark respected that. Whenever they traveled together, he made sure there was a chaperone and adequate bedroom arrangements.  They were spotted at nightclubs, film premieres and hot spots. The inevitable comparisons to Carole Lombard popped up and columnists wondered in print whether Anita would be the next Mrs. Gable.

In 1948, despite dating several women at the same time, he decided to propose to Anita at his ranch house one night. She was hesitant and felt pity for him as he was nearly pleading. He offered to rejoin the Catholic church and see about having his previous divorces annulled so they could marry. She told him she wasn’t ready for marriage and asked for him to take her home. She told him to please not get married any time soon, because he seemed so anxious for companionship. “You might make a mistake,” she told him. She also told him he drank too much, to which he replied, “That’s because I’m lonely.”

A year later he was married to Sylvia Ashley. Clark and Anita saw each other a few times following the divorce but whatever romance they shared was never rekindled.

After a brief stint hosting “The Pepsi-Cola Playhouse” on television on the early 1950’s, she pretty much retired from show business. In the 1960’s, she was often spotted out and about with members of The Rat Pack. She eventually married in 1970 and died of lung cancer in 1992 at the age of 77.