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Gossip Friday: At His Peak
From October 1960: Travelers back from Nevada, where they watched “The Misfits” shooting, say the big news is the way Clark Gable looks–fit and handsome, and at his absolute peak as a performer. __ And, sadly, dead in less than a month. I don’t know about their assessment–I have always thought he looks sickly in The Misfits.
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Remembering Clark Gable
Clark Gable died 57 years ago today, at the age of 59. The King was gone and would never be replaced. Read about Clark’s death and funeral here. See Clark’s final resting place here. Here is an article made up of little tidbits about Clark; it was syndicated in newspapers the following week: Gable’s Label Truly Earned by Leonard Lyons Syndicated Press, November 23, 1960 Gable…No matter what the Box Office records showed each year, Clark Gable was Hollywood’s unchallenged King. Tyrone Power once told a group of us about a lesson from an advertising man concerning the significance of movie-billing: “The only names which matter on a movie marquee are…
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Gossip Friday: Causing an Uproar
Since tomorrow is Veterans Day, here is an item that appeared in October 1943: Clark Gable Throws Pentagon Into Uproar As He Talks War It was colossal! The army may have thought it could keep a press conference with Clark Gable confined to a decorous discussion of the man-sized job he’s doing, but it knows better today. He’s a captain in the air forces, an aerial gunner and a cameraman in a Flying Fortress, shot at, and missed. Back from a European assignment in the Air Force, Gable threw the Pentagon building into a furor as he walked to his first press conference. The former movie actor told of his last…
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Gossip Friday: A Friend to Reed
From July 1941: Because Clark Gable and Carole Lombard interested themselves in his career, tall, handsome Reed Hadley, who hails from Texas via New York theatre and radio acting stopovers, appears to be safely launched in Hollywood. Young Hadley first attracted Miss Lombard’s attention when he appeared with her on a national radio broadcast. Gable met him at that time also.Both were impressed with young Hadley’s appearance and talents. Gable subseqyently suggested to Director Clarence Brown that Hadley be tested for the role of a young British officer in “They Met in Bombay” at MGM. Gable and Rosalind Russell are co-starring in the picture and a requirement of the officer…
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{In The News} Carole Lombard in 1936: May-December
Continuing our news clippings series, following Carole around in 1936…we pick up in May. Here’s January-April. May 12: Carole Lombard’s hospital party, after she recovered from the flu, brought guest dressed as doctors and nurses. They arrived in ambulances and sat around on hospital cots sipping cocktails from medicine bottles. A hospital shower for Margot Grahame, about to lose her appendix, netted her 16 hot water bottles. May 20: The romance scouts are speculating on the temperature of Gable’s friendship with Carole Lombard. He has been meeting her at the Paramount gate every afternoon at 5. May 28: At Carole Lombard’s house party the other night, a departing guest…
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Gossip Friday: Lombard Camping Co.
From September 1940: Before Clark Gable was married, he would go on a hunting trip by tossing a sleeping bag and guns into an auto and whizzing away. Since his wife, Carole Lombard, has became a hunting and camping enthusiast, she has bought great masses of gadgets and equipment. The other day when they started a trip, Gable drove up to the house in a huge truck, sporting a sign: “Lombard Camping Co., Ltd.”
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Gossip Friday: Star Ranchers
From November 1940: Most publicized star-ranchers are Clark Gable and Carole Lombard, who can’t pick an orange or feed a hen without having to pose for a picture. So many yarns were written about Squire Gable’s real ambition—to leave the screen and go back to the land–that every mail still brings him a sale-offer of some other estate. One owner was sure that his $250,000 place would be exactly what the stars wanted, because it had two swimming pools and accommodations for 25 guests. That’s just what Mr. and Mrs. Gable don’t want–especially the 25 guests. And Hollywood calls them shrewd bargainers because they paid Director Raoul Walsh only $40,000…
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Gossip Friday: Mystery Flowers
From August 1936: Red Camellias for Carole Lombard. There’s a romance there, but Hollywood has been unable to learn the name of the man. Each morning during the past week the flowers have arrived on the set where she and Fred MacMurray are making “The Princess Comes Across.” Some accuse the shy MacMurray. Others speak the name of Clark Gable with whom rumors have linked the blonde Carole of late. But Carole herself, she just smiles, admitting cautiously that she has found new interest in life and that he is a well-known actor. Apparently she shares the secret with the red camellias only. If you remember right, this is Miss…
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{New Article} Hollywood Personalities and Their Ideas About Food: Carole Lombard
Here is a little article that ran syndicated in newspapers throughout the country in January 1936. It’s supposed to be about food but the majority of the article prattles on about Carole’s early days in Hollywood and then she gives us a “recipe,” if you can call it that. Hollywood Personalities and Their Ideas About Food: Carole Lombard As Told by Valentine Lyon Syndicated Press January 23, 1936 When just seven years of age, Carole Lombard came to Hollywood with her mother and two brothers. They came only to stay six months, but none of them ever returned to their home in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Carole was familiar with…
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Happy 109th, Carole Lombard!
Happy Birthday, Carole Lombard! To celebrate, since it’s Friday too, here are some gossip items about Carole’s birthday over the years, some I’ve printed before, some I haven’t: From 1931: Yesterday was Carole Lombard’s birthday. Husband Bill Powell gave her an antique silver service and a china set. From 1937: Carole Lombard had a birthday. Firecrackers exploded under her chair. There was a rubber spider in her makeup box. Carole ate cotton-stuffed candy. Carole struck a match–it exploded. Carole lit a cigarette–it exploded. Carole shook the salt shaker–it contained sugar. Carole’s wondering if it isn’t a pretty high price to pay to maintain her reputation as moviedom’s leading practical joker.…