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Gossip Friday: Rhett Sketches
From November 1938: George Cukor visited Clark Gable on the set of “Idiot’s Delight” today with the first Rhett Butler costume sketches tucked under his arm. And if you think this picture isn’t heading into the home-stretch at last–William Cameron Menzies will have the exteriors of “Tara,” Scarlett’s home, ready to shoot within two weeks.
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Gossip Friday: Everybody Relax
From October 1938: Everybody can relax a little, in case they’re still worrying about it after all this time. Clark Gable is definitely set for the role of Rhett Butler. He cut his Canadian vacation short in order to be back to celebrate Carole Lombard’s birthday.
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Gossip Friday: Only One Star
From April 1939: “There is only one star in the family,” says Carole Lombard in answer to the question. “How can two stars make a success of marriage?” “And that’s Clark,” concludes Carole.
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Gossip Friday: Off to New York
From October 1939: After all the talk of Europe, South America, Honolulu, etc., Carole Lombard and Clark Gable will settle on a trip to New York. They’ll probably get away as soon as Carole finishes “Vigil in the Night” at RKO.
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Gossip Friday: Carole Says Pay Up!
From November 1938: Ever since that ancient Christmas day when Lew Cody tied a holly and red ribbon bedecked cow to Mabel Normand’s front porch, the film colony has had its ribbers and jokers. Carole Lombard and Clark Gable, of course, are its ace gagsters. Carole’s latest contribution to humorous Hollywoodiana was made when she had the renewal of her contract with Artist Manager Myron Selznick so adroitly reworded that instead of having to pay him 10 percent of her salary, he was to pay her the same percentage of his daily business. Having signed and filed it, you can imagine the consternation of the astute Selznick when Carole’s attorney…
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Gossip Friday: Like a Husband with a Hangover
From September 1954: The London Daily Sketch, a tabloid, criticizes Clark Gable for something that he can’t help–the fact that he is growing older. Somewhat uncharitably, it seems, the Daily Sketch says Gable’s kisses lack fire and that his tread is heavy, his eyes dull and his manner weary. Then, as if to add insult to injury, the paper claims that Gable in his latest movie, “Betrayed,” kisses Lana Turner “like a husband with a hangover.” Since Clark Gable hasn’t found the fountain of youth, nor the editors of the Daily Sketch either for that matter, no one is going to make an outright denial that Gable at 53 is…
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Gossip Friday: He’s Had Lots of Practice
From August 1956: Sight of the week: Clark Gable carrying wife Kay up the forty steps to Sam Goldwyn’s studio projection room, to show her the rough cut of his “King and Four Queens.” Clark had lots of practice carrying the fair sex–to wit–Vivien Leigh up the grand staircase in “Gone with the Wind.”
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Gossip Friday: Part of His Duties
From May 1957: Clark Gable’s wife, Kay, who seldom visits the studio, dropped onto the “Teacher’s Pet” set to watch Clark and Doris Day emote. “They’ll do a love scene next,” she was told. “That’s part of Clark’s duties,” she laughed.
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Gossip Friday: Follow That Car
From September 1950: In the year since [Rosemary Clooney] was just a singer with Tony Pastor’s band she had reached celebrity status, but is still celebrity-shy, when she meets the big ones. Leaving the broadcasting studio one day, she saw Clark Gable getting into a taxi; jumping into another cab, she cried, “Follow that car!” and pursued Gable’s cab for seven blocks, gazing at the back of his head!
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{New Article} The Great Gable Part 2
Here is part 2 of The New York Daily News’ “Great Gable” series. A rather disjointed piece, swinging from Clark’s recent marriage to Kay Williams, his reputation as aloof and lonely, and the failure of his post-war films to catch on with audiences. Paradoxically, Gable, while fundamentally a lone wolf, is a friendly man, with a lively interest in others. During all the years he was King of MGM, the legend of Clark Gable’s inaccessibility grew to the point where he became widely regarded as a male Garbo. Affably aloof was the way reporters most often described him. And when one gained a rare interview with the celebrated star, it…
