Dear Mr. Gable

From February 1941: Two years ago Gable married Carole Lombard and they moved onto a twenty-two acre farm at Encino in the San Fernando Valley.  The Gables seem to hit it off fine. They spend most of their time at home together, go on frequent hunting trips, and once a week come into the studio to see a picture show. It’s too tough to go to a regular theater; they get mobbed when they try it.

From January 1942: A hot rumor that Clark Gable was in one of the local hospitals under an assumed name suffering with eye inflammation kept this writer busy. After spending most of the day and half the night checking I learned Gable has had a bad cyst in his eye. He was told he should have it removed but so far he has not gone into the hospital. He was not able to go duck hunting as he planned, but spent New Year’s Eve in town and went to a private small party with Carole Lombard. ___ Sadly, their last New Years Eve together…

From December 1941: Charity has a big place in Hollywood’s Christmas. The English group sends food and clothing to Britain, give gag presents to friends. Leaders are the Rathbones, the Brian Ahernes, and so on. Last year Carole Lombard and Clark Gable sent notes saying they planned to give only to a local children’s hospital, and hoped their friends would do likewise–most of them did, too. Irene Dunne is closely connected with an orphanage and always takes dinner there with the children on Christmas Day. This year she is taking her daughter, Missie, with her to give each child a present.     

From December 1941: Through these tense days, Carole Lombard has certainly kept the crew and cast on the stage of “To Be Or Not To Be”in a howling good humor with all her gags.  When I asked her what she’d do if she caught a Japanese parachutist landing on her ranch, she said, “Let ’em come! Pappy and I haven’t been banging away at ducks and skeets all these years for nothing. We’ve put the ranch on a wartime basis, sold a couple of horses, and growing vegetables instead of alfalfa.” Atta girl, Carole! And very soon, too, you’ll be seeing Carole and Clark stumping the country, selling war bonds.…

From January 1941: Baltimore–Dr. Louis Hamman said today Clark Gable would have a tooth extracted in an effort to cure a shoulder ailment that actor has suffered since 1937.  Gable, who arrived Monday with Carole Lombard, said “present plans call for us to fly back to Hollywood Saturday or Sunday.” __ Tooth extraction to cure a shoulder ailment?!

From November 1941: The career question is no longer hot among the older, more established star marriages. The Robert Taylors rarely visit each other’s set, but Carole Lombard is a constant guest while Clark Gable is shooting, and at his express request. And if Miss Lombard ever wants really to tease the redoubtable Gable all she has to do is make a thoroughly professional crack–“Remember Parnell!” (That film is a sore subject with Clark–he wanted to do the part and it was his least successful!)

From May 1941: Clark Gable and Carole Lombard are taking their farming more seriously than ever. They’re looking for a ranch in Oregon now.