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Clark and Carole at the Races
It’s Kentucky Derby Day! Clark Gable loved horses his whole life and there were only brief periods of time in his life where he didn’t own at least one. He even had a race horse in the early 1930’s, named Beverly Hills–although I don’t think she raced to greatness. In addition to owning horses, Clark was a frequent visitor to the Santa Anita racetrack, often with Carole Lombard on his arm, naturally…
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{New Article} 1936: Humor is a Habit with Gable
This 1936 article isn’t earth-shattering by any means, but does contain a few interesting little tidbits: Any time you can get Clark to taking about himself, you can depend on it that he’s kidding himself thoroughly, relentlessly, fiercely, You know that typical Clark Gable expression that’s always on his face? A sort of grinning bewilderment? Mixed with a certain surprise and incredulity? Plus a dash of secret ridicule? Well, that “Clark Gable look” is perfectly indicative of what he thinks of himself. He’s constantly mystified at all the fame and good luck and popularity that stays with him, and he’s laughing at himself for it. He can’t take himself seriously.…
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Happy 75th Anniversary, Clark Gable and Carole Lombard
75 years ago today, on March 29, 1939, Clark Gable married Carole Lombard in Kingman, Arizona. Clark’s description of the day himself: It has been written since then that Carole and I had that wedding day planned out for months in advance, but that’s not true. It happened this way. On the afternoon of March 28, I was finished with my scenes [in “Gone with the Wind”] about three in the afternoon. While I was taking off my make-up, the assistant director came over and said I didn’t need to work the next day. I called Carole at once and with the aid of a close friend, we headed out that…
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{New Article} Two Happy People: Part 1
Let’s kick off the weekend of Clark Gable and Carole Lombard’s 75th wedding anniversary with a new article, shall we? There were a LOT of articles written about Clark and Carole from the second they started flirting in 1936 through 1942 and even beyond. But my favorites, by far, are the series of articles written by James Street for Movie and Radio Guide magazine in May 1940. They are straightforward, laid back, non-fluffy and make you think you are sitting there chatting with Clark and Carole yourself. The series was four parts, with one focusing on Carole, one on Clark, one on their ranch home, and the final on their…
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Gossip Friday: Clark Gable? No Such Person
From April 1937: The screen’s most forward sophisticate has evidently learned that yesteryear’s reticence is best for a fine romance. At Paramount there is just no such person as Clark Gable. Carole Lombard is aghast at any suggestion that she be linked in print with Clark. However, at MGM he admits his fondness for her. Carole’s friends say that she’s too much in love to risk any blunders, and silence is her best bet.
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Gossip Friday: Clark Gable to the Rescue
From March 1937: A young lady we know experienced the double thrill of being rescued from a predicament by Clark Gable, and of being mistaken by him for Carol [sic] Lombard, all on the same afternoon. Stranded on the roadside by motor trouble, the attractive blonde girl was just about to go for help when Clark drove up. First he apologized for mistaking her for Carol [sic], and then pushed her ailing car down the street a few blocks to a garage. Prior to that adventure the young lady’s favorite actor was Clark Gable. He’s still her favorite actor.
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Gossip Friday: The Answer to All Questions
From December 1938: [Clark Gable’s] favorite ambition is to make enough money to travel three years, then relax. I asked him, how would he relax? Just sit still? He said no. He’d relax with raising animals an’ feeding ’em an’ taking care of ’em and building fences an’ anything outdoors, because even if it was hard work, he’d think it was fun. Me too. Spencer Tracy’s his favorite actor. Looks like pretty near everybody’s favorite acttor’s Spencer Tracy. And, oh, gosh, it was the cutest thing. When I said, “What’s your favorite hobby?” he said, “Carole Lombard.” When I said, “Who’s your favorite actress?” he said, “Carole Lombard.” When I…
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Gossip Friday: Devoted Mrs. Gable
From February 1941: More and more it’s becoming apparent in Hollywood that one movie career and one only in the family is the rule for happy marriage. With this so apparent, one smart girl, who loves her husband above all else, is taking steps in the right direction. Yes, Carole Lombard, who loves her husband Clark Gable so devotedly, has announced in the future she’ll make only one picture a year. “At the very most, I’ll make three in two years,” Carole said. “I want to be free to join Clark in his between picture vacations.” Maybe Carole has in mind that vacation Bob Taylor and Barbara Stanwyck have been…
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Nutshell Reviews: No Man of Her Own (1932)
In a Nutshell: No Man of Her Own (1932) Directed by: Wesley Ruggles Co-stars: Carole Lombard, Dorothy Mackaill, Grant Mitchell Synopsis: Gable is Jerry “Babe” Stewart, a crooked card shark on the run from a police investigator when he stops in on the sleepy small town of Glendale. There he meets the bored town librarian, Connie Randall (Lombard) who is just waiting for something exciting to happen to her. Their attraction is instant, although she tries to play hard to get. On the flip of a coin, they get married and she accompanies him back To New York, unaware of his seedy occupation. When she does figure out how he…
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Gossip Friday: Doing All Right for a Dead Man
From January 1938: Jokesters with a macabre sense of humor have been telephoning newspapers that well-known stars have died. Clark Gable was at Carole Lombard’s home when they heard the voice of a newsboy outside crying, “Extra! Extra! Clark Gable killed!” Clark was just kissing Carole good-bye as they heard it. “For a dead one, you’re doing all right,” Carole murmured. But suppose he hadn’t been there when she heard that cry!