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Happy Birthday, Clark Gable
William Clark Gable was born 119 years ago today, February 1, 1901. He was born at 5:30am to Adeline “Addie” Hershelman Gable and William Gable in their second floor apartment in Cadiz, Ohio. To celebrate this year, I’m doing fan requests on our Instagram and Facebook pages, followed by a complete bio on Clark that will come out in increments over several days. Here on the website, there are four new articles: First off, we have a bit of a dud from Clark’s early career, What the Future Holds for Clark Gable, written in 1932 by Modern Screen magazine’s in-house astrologer. This article is completely showing its age. Can you…
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Gossip Friday: No Party
From 1954: So typical, after twenty-three years at MGM, Clark Gable vetoed a farewell party when he checked off the lot. According to a close friend, “Clark’s tired of living in Hollywood, but he doesn’t know where to go. He doesn’t want to get married, but no matter how often he explains this, his gal friends always get serious and spoil their romance.” The King celebrated his fifty-third birthday on the “Betrayed” set. Lana Turner and Vic Mature gave him a cake baked in the shape of a crown. But Clark’s little gift to Clark was the white Lincoln convertible with red leather upholstery in which he drove away for…
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Gossip Friday: Not Very Chummy
From May 1936: Ever since the other day, they’re thinking of giving still photographers little lessons in tact at MGM. Loretta Young and Spencer Tracy were sitting at the privileged “directors’ table” at the MGM restaurant. Far up at the other end of the table sat Clark Gable–alone, and not at all socialable. In came a photographer. He wanted a picture. He asked Clark to move up with Loretta and Spencer, so they could all look very chummy. And all he got was black looks. But he should have known better. ___ Hmmm….wonder why that would be? I think we all know…
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Gossip Friday: Fire This Astrologer
From January 1941: From “Hollywood–Beware in 1942: Events–some happy, some ominous–as seen by a reliable astrologer in the ’42 futures of your favorite stars” Gable and Lombard: Last year I told you all about Mr. and Mrs. Clark Gable and how well suited they are in every way. They still are–but I want to warn Clark that due to the transiting Jupiter, Saturn and Venus, he will be under bad aspects. He must be as conventional as a country schoolmarm during all of 1942 and especially during August. The heretofore tolerant public will scowl and turn thumbs down at Clark’s slightest deviation from the path of convention. August and part…
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In Memory of Carole Lombard
Carole Lombard died 78 years ago today, at age 33. The plane carrying Carole, her mother and MGM publicity man Otto Winkler, among others, slammed into Mount Potosi near Las Vegas on a cold snowy night, January 16, 1942. All died instantly. The death of Carole forever changed Clark Gable and despite whatever happiness he found later, he undoubtedly never fully recovered from it. As the news spread across the nation, the newspapers apparently called up everyone in fandom to give a comment on the tragedy: All Hollywood Mourns Popular Actress’ Death High and Low of Film Colony Shocked by Air Disaster Killing Warmhearted Actress Sorrow hushed the sound stages…
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Gossip Friday: Playing Scrabble
From 1954: Interiors were shot in London and exteriors in Holland. At all times, in all places, longtime friends Lana Turner and Clark Gable had a ball working together on “Betrayed.” Clark brought back old copper pieces for his Encino ranch fireplace. Lana collected rare. cut crystal mugs. Between shots the Hollywood pair taught English cast members how to play Scrabble!
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Gossip Friday: Gable and Garland?
From January 1942: Resolutions the stars should make: Clark Gable should resolve to throw his influence to get Judy Garland as co-star. Now that she’s grown up and married, she’s earned that right and I have a feeling her fans would applaud it. Sure, I know she’s wonderful in musicals. She and Mickey Rooney in “Babes on Broadway” ooze so much talent they’re frightening. But remember, Clark once did a song and dance–maybe he could learn to do another one, who knows? Failing that, Judy can go dramatic with him.
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2019 in Review
Happy New Year! 2019 was the tenth anniversary of the site and a lot went on around here. 28 new articles were added to the site: 1952: The Inside Story Behind Clark Gable’s Feuds 1952: Gable’s Divorce Problem 1951: What’s Wrong with the Clark Gables? 1940: Mrs. Goldilocks and the Bears 1939: World’s No. 1 Honeymooners: The Clark Gables! 1939: What’s the Matter with Lombard? 1951: The Girl Who Won Gable Back 1949: Clark Gable’s Secret Romance 1946: Return of Romance? 1931: Danger in His Eyes 1934: Gable Gets a New Deal 1933: Lost–The Gable Wallop 1946: My Hollywood Friends 1952: Gable’s in Love Again 1941: Things I Don’t Like…
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Gossip Friday: Sitting Fireside
From December 1940: Clark Gable and his wife, Carole Lombard, were Sunday evening guests at the White House and were among the 19 persons who were with President Roosevelt when he delivered his fireside chat. Gable stopped here during the weekend en route to Baltimore where he enters John Hopkins Hospital today for examination of a shoulder injury suffered a long time ago. Mr. Roosevelt usually has no one present during such intimate broadcasts to the nation except the necessary radio announcers and technicians. Last night’s address was broadcast to an estimated 80,000,000 to 100,000,000 persons throughout the world over the three major radio networks in this country and re-broadcast…
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Gossip Friday: Merry Christmas, Louella
From April 1959 (Louella Parsons): My biggest “kick” of the holiday season: Clark Gable (and his Kay, of course) personally coming over to my house to turn on the lights on the very pretty ornamental Christmas tree he and Kay gave me. It’s not everybody who can have The King crawling around on his hands and knees at the light switches!
