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Remembering Clark Gable, 60 Years Later
Clark Gable died sixty years ago today, on November 16, 1960. He was only 59 years old. After a long and tedious shooting schedule for The Misfits, Clark was ready for a rest. He was set on not doing another movie until after his child was born, in March. On November 6, 1960, he spent what would be his final day at his beloved ranch. He toiled away the day working with his hunting dog, playing with the children, and relaxing. He told Kay he felt tired and went to bed early. He tossed and turned all night. At about 8:00am, Kay awakened to see Clark standing in the doorway, pale and…
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Gossip Friday: Well, He Hasn’t Asked
From December 1944: Clark Gable, though he still takes Kay Williams to parties, is having lots of dates for himself with different gals these evenings. But he’s seen mostly with Sally Wright, an attractive non-professional, who almost went to the altar with Bob Cobb, owner of the Brown Derby Restaurants, a few months ago. Kay Williams now announces she’s not going to marry Clark Gable because he hasn’t asked her, which is as good a reason as any. At a party the other day, Kay, whose divorce from the South American Macoco is final, announced a fortuneteller had told her she’d marry twice. “Oh, then you on’t be marrying Mr.…
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Gossip Friday: What a Contrast
From June 1944: At an Army and Navy dinner dance recently we sat kitty-corner from Captain Clark Gable who had pretty Kay Williams as his girl friend. We thought the two a handsome pair but couldn’t help comparing the quiet, almost demure Kay to the vivid, magnetic Carole. What a contrast.
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Gossip Friday: Legs Gable
From 1954: Just like old times Clark Gable and beautiful, blond Kay Williams are having those laughs again. Favorite playtime place is the golf course of the Bel Air Country Club and you should get a gander of the King wearing those knee-length sox and currently fashionable Bermuda walking shorts! Kay kiddingly calls him, “Legs Gable!”
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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!
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Gossip Friday: Wrapped Them Himself
From November 1944 (Louella Parsons): It’s been a month of parties, parties, parties! The little Queen of the Ice, Sonja Henie, certainly looked the part at the big affair she gave at her house….I had the time of my life doing rumba after rumba with Clark Gable! Between numbers–Clark and I sat at one of the bright little tables and had a long talk. Gable has been going to all the parties–perhaps because he wants to forget all that he saw overseas. It is certainly something new for him because he isn’t a party man and enjoys far more being with a crowd of his pals and hunting and fishing.…
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Gossip Friday: Quite a Party
From April 1957: The party of the month: Whether it cost $125,000 as loudly calculated, or just one third of that amount, there’s no argument that the lavish party hosted by oil millionaire Tex Feldman and his wife was one of the most elaborate ever held in any town–any time. The private room at Romanoff’s was completely redecorated into a replica of New York’s famed Delmonico Restaurant at the turn of the century. The guests were invited to dress in the theme of “My Fair Lady.” … Clark Gable and his Kay asked if they could bring two out-of-town guests, and had to be told they couldn’t! Because of the…
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Gossip Friday: Hello? You There?
From 1944: Until recently, the romance between Captain Clark Gable and lovely Kay Williams has progressed only through the good offices of one of Kay’s neighbors. She has been unable to secure a telephone, so Clark–in calling her–had to dial the number of an MGM employee, who would then have Clark hold the wire while the neighbor or his wife rushed around the corner to fetch Kay to answer.
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{New Article} 1960: How Does It Feel To Die
I like finding articles from the 1950’s and early 1960’s about Clark, mainly because the “fluff” of the 1930’s has dissipated and you are more likely to find real interviews with real quotes, not fussy, gushy, studio-directed pieces. Well, this one not so much. The full title of it is “How Does It Feel to Die, Clark Gable: The Strangest Story Story Ever Told” and I have no idea why it was titled this. The article is completely about when Kay miscarried their baby in 1955 and Kay’s subsequent heart problems. There is nothing about how it feels to die and there is nothing strange about the story other than…
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Gossip Friday: Flustered by a Fan
From February 1957: Never thought I’d live to see the day, or night, when Clark Gable, that big he-man, would literally look scared out of his wits because of a mere female. But that’s exactly what happened at the Hollywood premiere of “The Ten Commandments.” Clark and his beautiful Kay were about the last to arrive, probably hoping they might slip into the theater without a lot of fanfare. That’s what they hoped! Instead, just as he stepped from his limousine, a large, middle-aged woman ducked under the restraining rope and literally tackled Gable! She flung herself at him headlong, grabbing his knees, pawing and clawing him–and if the police…
