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Happy Anniversary, Clark Gable and Carole Lombard
Clark Gable and Carole Lombard were wed 83 years ago today, on March 29, 1939, in Kingman, Arizona. Fans and press alike had been waiting impatiently for the nuptials ever since Clark’s second wife Ria Langham was granted a divorce on March 7. From the Associated Press: Gable, Carole Lombard Elope, Wed in Arizona Kingman, Ariz, March 29.—Clark Gable and Carole Lombard, two of the brightest of all Hollywood’s film stars, were married here late today by Rev. Kenneth M. Engle of the First Methodist-Episcopal Church. The couple walked into the marriage license bureau about an hour before the ceremony and so startled the clerk, Miss Viola Olsen, she…
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Gossip Friday: Devine Doubles for Cupid
From April 1939: Devine Doubles for Cupid Do you recognize Andy Devine in the role of cupid? Well, take another look. When I talked to him on Paramount’s “Geronimo” set, he told me that he was responsible for the Kingman, Arizona, elopement of Clark Gable and Carole Lombard. “Gable called me up the night before and said, ‘Well I think we’re going to do it tomorrow, but we don’t know where. Can you suggest any place?’ ‘Sure,” I replied, ‘my home town–Kingman, Arizona. And I can get everything fixed for you.’ But I’m sorry I suggested it now.” Andy added, “they used to say of Kingman–‘this is where Andy Devine…
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Gossip Friday: A Hearty Laugh
From January 1941: Seen: Clark Gable and Carole Lombard having a hearty laugh in a café as they read a fan mag story prophesizing their divorce.
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Gossip Friday: A Fashionable Escort
From February 1937: Clark Gable and Carle Lombard were seen lunching in the Turf Club. Gable terminated a Utah hunting trip with Dr. Franklyn Thorpe, Mary Astor’s ex-husband, to get back and escort Carole. Gable wore a Cheviot tweed, with plain back jacket, and two side vents in the coat. A green oxford shirt, with button down collar, green tie, brown suede shoes and Tyrolean hat, hit the new men’s fashion note.
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Gossip Friday: Very Much All Right
From March 1941: Wouldn’t you think that, after coming 3,000 miles to see Clark Gable (and a few others), and, after rearranging a whole week so as to be able to get out to MGM, when he would be working on a picture–wouldn’t you imagine that we’d have something very serious and important to talk about? Something like the Rhett Butler portrayal which climaxed his career. Or like the shoulder which gave him so much trouble a few months ago. Or like his home life. Or Carole Lombard. Well, we did touch on those subjects, of course, but lightly. No need to say much about Rhett Butler, since Gable put…
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Gossip Friday: Setting a Record
From November 1938: Clark Gable says he has set a record for osculation in the movies. He had to kiss four nurses in one sitting in “Idiot’s Delight.” But something went wrong with each take (I think I know why), and Clark had to do each scene with each girl ten times. “I’m not sure I liked it,” said Mr. Gable. I bet Miss Lombard doesn’t like it, either.
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Remembering Carole Lombard, 80 Years Later
Carole Lombard died 80 years ago today when her plane crashed into Mount Potosi outside Las Vegas, Nevada. She was only 33 years old. The glamorous Lombard was born Jane Alice Peters in Fort Wayne, Indiana, on October 6, 1908, the only daughter of Elizabeth “Bessie” Peters and her husband Frederic. She had two older brothers. When her parents separated in 1914, Bessie moved the children to Los Angeles. Blonde, blue-eyed Jane made her first screen appearance at only twelve–a small part in “A Perfect Crime,” 1921. By the age of sixteen, she had signed with Fox, although only appeared in small bit parts. She adopted the more glamorous moniker…
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Gossip Friday: No More Pranks
From December 1938: Clark Gable will swear off all gags aimed at Carole Lombard during the New Year–unless she starts it first, which will probably be at the stroke of the second after midnight New Year’s Eve.
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Gossip Friday: A Letter to Santa
From December 1941 (Truesdell): Santa Gets a Letter Asking Favors for Stars Dear Santa, Answering your wire of this morning, you will find below the report on the little boys and girls that you wanted. Please, Santa, keep this confidential because if it ever leaks out that I’m your Hollywood legman it will spoil our swell association of all these years. Clark Gable and Carole Lombard: It’s not that I’m lazy, but on these couples that I’m hooking together for a combination gift you can be sure that it’s exactly what they both want for the happiest holiday. I suppose you’re thinking that Clark and Carole have everything, and you’re…
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Gossip Friday: Rhett’s Command Performance
From January 1940: When Clark Gable and his wife, Carole Lombard, got home from their exciting trip to Atlanta for the premiere festivities of “Gone with the Wind,” Gable sank into his favorite chair, sighed, grinned and exclaimed: “Well, Mrs. G., here we are at home–and isn’t it wonderful? Now I know how kings feel when they finally get into their private suites and pull off their trappings, after reviewing the troops, laying a cornerstone and addressing the populace.” From first to last Gable has been doing a command performance. Frankly, he didn’t want to tackle the role of Rhett Butler. After all, the guy was a Southern renegade, a…
