• Gossip

    Gossip Friday: Not For Sale

    From December 1941: The dilapidated automobile that Carole Lombard gave Clark Gable is “not for sale at any price,” Gable told salesmen and souvenir hunters. Specifically, he refused $1,000 for the ancient chariot. 

  • Gossip

    Gossip Friday: Stylin’

    From February 1938: Tailors of the nation cast a practiced eye over some of America’s celebrities Tuesday and measured up 10 men, including President Roosevelt, for sartorial honors. The President took top ranking among wearers of double-breasted dinner jackets.  Clark Gable, the actor, won for appearing best dressed in sports clothes. “Men and women both think so,” said the national conference of the merchant tailor designers association, meeting here with 600 delegates from all parts of the United States and Canada.   

  • Audio

    {Radio} The Chase and Sanborn Hour

    On July 1, this website turned 7 years old! I didn’t celebrate this milestone on the site since a much more important milestone occurred on that very day: Olivia de Havilland’s 100th birthday. When the site started seven years ago, it was completely hand-coded. I taught myself coding by buying some website software and a how-to book. As the years have gone on, the site has had many face-lifts and finally I went fully into WordPress, which is much easier to keep up with. Throughout all these changes, I’ve lost some content due to formatting issues–most of which is the audio. It’s a bit painstaking to edit the audio and…

  • Articles

    {New Article} 1932: Gable Denies Divorce Rumors

    This article from 1932 appeared in the same magazine and was by the same writer as last week’s article, appearing nearly a year later. Oh and what a difference a year makes! Just the year before, she was asking him what kind of woman he preferred. Not anymore! Now he is being painted as the perfect husband and family man. “The divorce rumors about Mrs. Gable and me are absurd!” says Clark Gable. “They are really funny. Hollywood can never break my marriage. I say that positively. It is impossible. I certainly have not changed, so far as my personal life is concerned. I still want the things that are…

  • Gossip

    Gossip Friday: Still Kicking

    From March 1941: Clark Gable’s still kicking That regularly recurring report of Clark Gable’s death was going the rounds again this week; the rumor originated in Georgia this time and had the star smashed to smithereens in an automobile accident. As usual, a studio executive had to go through the red-tape ceremony of going over to Gable’s set and asking him whether he was dead or alive.  

  • Articles

    {New Article} 1931: Will Gable Take the Place of Valentino?

    Here we have an article featuring new star Clark Gable, comparing him to belated silent star Rudolph Valentino, whose untimely death just a few years earlier was still fresh on everyone’s minds. Once in a lifetime—and maybe twice—there flashes across the screen a man with the power to make all women feel that they are in danger. Such danger as all women prefer to peaceful safety. Once—and perhaps twice—we see a man who, when he kisses the heroine on the screen, kisses you—and you—and me. A man with an earthy quality—call it romance, call it glamour, call it sex. No matter what you call it, there it is, compelling and…

  • Gossip,  Idiot's Delight

    Gossip Friday: Not a Natural Hoofer

    From January 1939: Clark Gable’s feet have been problem children ever since he can remember. “The jams they have gotten me into would fill a book,” he said. But from now on, Gable’s 11-C’s have his blessings. He admits being gratefully surprised that they piloted him safely through his song-and-dance act for “Idiot’s Delight,” now showing at the Liberty Theater. “Frankly,” Gable remarked, “that dance business had me worried for two years. I was sold on playing the part of Hoofer Harry Van from the night I saw Alfred Lunt’s performance on the stage in New York. It was a great role, and one that I felt suited me, except…

  • Gossip

    Gossip Friday: Informality Rules

    From April 1941: If Carole Lombard calls you on the phone and tells you that she and Clark Gable would like to have you come up to their San Fernando ranch for dinner, by all means don’t get yourself all gussied up. When the Gables are at home, informality is the law. Clark likes to loaf around in gray slacks without any semblance of a press. Carole, while always smartly dressed, still gets a big kick out of being garbed like a rancher’s wife.  Don’t tell Clark he is a great actor. He’ll think you’re kidding him. Do suggest seeing his newest car. He’s like a little boy about automobiles and…

  • Gossip

    Gossip Friday: Too Old

    From October 1939: Clark Gable, Spencer Tracy and Robert Taylor were discussing the war the other day in the studio cafe. Tracy said: “Well, Taylor, I suppose you’ll be the first to go if if the United States gets into this thing. Too bad. Gable and I are lucky. We’re too old.” “Yeah, we’re too old,” echoed Gable. “Yeah,” replied Taylor, ducking, “it took the war to bring that out.” ___ Gable was NOT too old, as it turned out a few years later…