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Clark on the Auction Block
As was widely publicized, the first auction of Debbie Reynolds’ amazing collection of Hollywood artifacts was held this past weekend. Her collection was/is absolutely amazing– there is no other word for the truly astounding pieces included. Although not really the “jaw-droppers”, there were a few Clark Gable items up on the block, unfortunately all a bit out of my price range: Clark’s personal dressing gown, which he owned for many years and used during production of Gone with the Wind, Honky Tonk and other films. (Clark’s wearing it in the picture above) Described: Clark Gable personal dressing gown for off-screen use during filming of Gone with the Wind. (David O.…
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Gossip Friday: The Skilled Horseman
From September 1935: When the entire world became Clark Gable-conscious the studio sent word to the newly-arrived idol that they wanted some special portraits. Magazines were clamoring for art on the virile Gable in outdoor attire. They wanted Gable in riding clothes, Gable on a horse. This was Clark’s first big sitting and he determined that nothing should stand in the way of making it a huge success. Although he really couldn’t afford it, he chose the most exclusive tailor in town for his riding habit. The outfit, of imported English whipcord, was fashioned after the smartest English lines. Perfectly fitting boots, an imported turtleneck sweater and hand-knitted gloves completed…
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Listen up! More New Audio
I’m very excited to be adding quite a few new radio shows over the next few weeks. New today are: Clips from “The Chase and Sanborn Hour”: Listen to Clark and Edgar Bergen with dummy Charlie McCarthy compare hunting stories and compete for a date with Dorothy Lamour. A short clip from December 10, 1939 in which Clark discusses attending the Gone with the Wind premiere at the end of the week in Atlanta. Happy listening!
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Gossip Friday: Scarlett Also-Rans
From March 1940: Talk of Hollywood, recently, is how much luck the girls who did NOT get the Scarlett O’Hara role in Gone with the Wind had! Of course, Vivien Leigh was the “lucky” one who got the part. But look at the others– Bette Davis did Jezebel instead and won an Academy Oscar; Norma Shearer, in The Women, did such a swell job that she may get the next Award; Tallulah Bankhead, when she flopparooed on Scarlett, did the stage play that’s getting her international raves…ditto Katharine Hepburn, who also did NOT get the O’Hara plum, but who scored hugely behind the footlights in Philadelphia Story. And Susan Hayward,…
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June Movie of the Month: But Not For Me (1959)
This month’s film is a little-viewed gem that I love recommending to Gable fans. It’s unfortunately not on DVD and TCM does not own it so it gets zero television airplay. Which is a shame because it is a really entertaining film. Gable is Russ Ward, an aging Broadway producer deep in debt and losing his touch. When he finally decides to throw in the towel, his much younger secretary, Ellie Brown (Carroll Baker), admits to being in love with him. Her speech to him gives him the idea for a great play and he sets to work on it, reviving his career, leading Ellie on in the process. She…
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{New Article} 1933: The True Story of Clark Gable’s Romantic Temptations
Whew. I usually don’t mind typing articles for the site; in fact I like it. This particular article was quite a chore, however. First of all, the magazine is in very bad shape and was literally falling to pieces in my hands. The dust from the crumbling newsprint is probably toxic and made my eyes itch. So the only way I could type it was to photocopy it and type it from there. Secondly, the writing is quite tedious and the article is the longest I have come across! And probably mostly fictional, but I digress… This piece is from 1933 and appeared in True Story magazine. True Story…
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Gossip Friday: Applause for a Soldier
From March 1943: Here in my [Hollywood columnist Jimmie Fidler] office, I’ve literally got a ceiling on letters–they’re piled that high! Practically every one of them requests news about our Hollywood men serving in the armed forces, so I did a little scouting. Four out of seven wanted information on Clark Gable. Clark came home to Hollywood on official business the middle of last December, looking trim, tan, and terrific. He stayed with the Walter Langs while he was here and saw only a few close friends. The sight of the month was First Lieutenant Gable and First Lieutenant James Stewart discussing Army business on the steps of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s Administration Building–both…
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Clark and Carole On the Air!
An unfortunate thing about Carole dying so young is that she was gone before mainstream television. So we have minimal candid video of her; she never got to laugh it up with Johnny Carson or Dick Cavett like many classic stars did. And although he lived well into the “golden age” of television, Clark, unfortunately, refused all television appearances. So, radio shows are about all we have to go on as far as live candid moments. Of course, the word “candid” is taken with a grain of salt, as these appearances were always scripted, but it is still great to find these little audio gems. New on the site are: New couple…
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Gossip Friday: Where are my chickens?
From April 1940: If they weren’t so much in love it would be cause for divorce. Clark Gable, who had rather win a prize at the coming Ponoma Fair for his poultry than a gold award for his acting, recently bought some chickens from an Eastern farmer. By the time they were delivered at the Gable ranch in the valley they cost Clark approximately thirty bucks apiece. Clark was grooming them for the poultry exhibition, and could almost see the blue ribbons he was going to get at the Fair, when he was suddenly laid low with a strep throat and had to go to the hospital for a few…
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{New Article} 1937: Life Ends at Forty!
This article is very typical of this period on Clark’s life. I have seen several interviews with him in the late 1930’s where he discusses his fear of the public turning on him and him having to quit movies and go into another frame of work. I think that is perhaps why Clark was considered “cheap” and lived simply: he was saving up for a rainy day. A rainy day that, fortunately, never came as we all know that Clark kept right on working and died at age 59, ten days after finishing his 66th picture. “When I’m forty and my work in motion pictures is finished, what will…