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Gossip Friday: Snubbed by Kay
Here’s a rare one, gossip about the fifth Mrs. Gable, Kay Williams, from the mouth of Louella Parsons, no less. Any guess which actress she’s talking about? From December 1955: Mrs. Clark Gable has become so much the wife of the King that she is seeing few of the old friends who were so good to her in the dark days when life was pretty desperate for her. It’s understandable that a married woman must accept her husband’s pals and make his pals hers, but there is one case where I think Kay is remiss–that of a certain actress who was very good to her during the days when other…
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Gossip Friday: Western Garb
From July 1941: It’s kind of cute on Carole Lombard’s part. Because she is so happy living on a ranch, every time someone has a birthday she sends him or her a complete western outfit. Carole and Clark are looking for huge acreage in Northern California. The Fred MacMurrays are interested too. They may buy together and build on adjoining properties. The MacMurrays want to raise citrus fruit. Clark and Carole want to raise among other things, cattle.
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{New Article} The King and I
This new article was syndicated in The America Weekly, which was a Parade-magazine-like insert in newspapers. I actually was very surprised to find this printed in 1957. Clark had a very arms-length relationship with the press. He was usually cooperative but he never let them get TOO close. When they bought the ranch in 1939, Clark and then-wife Carole Lombard immediately instituted an ironclad rule that no pictures were to be taken inside. With the exception of this interview, which I absolutely adore and is as close as we’ll ever get to Clark being on Johnny Carson or the like, Clark’s answers about his personal life were usually guarded. Knowing…
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Gossip Friday: Greetings from Your Ex
From 1948: Ann Sothern couldn’t have looked more surprised when Clark Gable, stopping by to see her on the “Words and Music” set, casually remarked: “Oh, by the way, I just left your ex-husband!” Sure enough, Bob Sterling, who once asked to be released from MGM, is back in that all-male stellar cast of Clark’s “Command Decision.” A living’s a living–but Ann and Bob would still be just as pleased if they could avoid running into each other.
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{In the News} Clark Gable and Sylvia Ashley’s Divorce Battle Begins
As I have been documenting on the site’s Facebook page, my office is a mess. I moved nearly two years ago. This move meant that finally I have an office of my own–a space that is completely mine, that I can make a classic film haven from one end to the other. But as is the case with most wives and mothers I imagine, everyone else’s spaces and the neutral spaces took precedent. And so here we are nearly two years later and my classic film haven still looks like a bomb went off. Going through piles and piles of items is aggravating, but it is also exciting. “Oh yeah!…
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Gossip Friday: Swimsuit Shopping
From 1948: That “feud” continues between those good friends, Spencer Tracy and Clark Gable. If plans work out, both are supposed to be in Europe at the same time. Spence hopes to “frame” Clark with a gag cable from Esther Williams. It will request him to personally select for her a dozen of those daring diaper French bathing suits! If Clark falls for it, wouldn’t you love to be in on that shopping tour?
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{Photos} Parnell (1937)
Parnell is widely known as Clark Gable’s worst film. I have always disagreed. While the script could have used some work and is far from historically accurate, there is great chemistry (as always) between Clark and Myrna Loy. It is said that the film was a failure because Clark didn’t play his usual smirking rogue, but I don’t think it’s a bad thing. Sure, his character is lacking that Gable sass, but hey he can’t just play the same character every film, can he? Hmmm…. Some beautiful portraits with Myrna: Some great on the set pictures: And of course the screenshots:
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{Photos} Sooo…You Want to Be Kissed By Gable?
This little photo spread appeared in LOOK magazine in 1955. Breathes there a girl who, at some time or other, has not dreamed of being bussed by that master, Clark Gable? A reasonably true-to-life dream might go like this: The young lady is visiting a Hollywood sound stage, where a Gable picture is in the making. Suddenly the leading lady is taken ill. Consternation grips the studio. But wait. Our heroine steps forward. “If I’m not intruding,” she says demurely, “may I suggest that you try me in the role?” The director agrees and she falls into Gable’s arms. But alas, there’s a sad ending to this promising reverie. Girls,…
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Gossip Friday: Introducing Clarcarol
From January 1938: Hollywood’s cut-ups and the most mysterious people, when they want to be, are putting up a swell “whodunnit” all of their own. Naturally, I’m speaking of Clark Gable and Carole Lombard. One day, a horse named “Clarcarol” appeared from nowhere on the listings. It only took about half a guess to find out who owned this animal. As yet, the proud hope of Lombard-Gable Inc., hasn’t had a real tryout, but if it has half the spirit of its co-owners, who somehow can’t talk about “Clarcarol,” the little beastie is sure to go places. Of course, Clark is no newcomer to the game, for he had “Beverly…
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Gossip Friday: Congrats to the Bride
From 1949: Iris Bynum may have been publicized as the only starlet never to have made a picture, her fame grew from the fact that she had the most glamorous dates in the film colony. [Fans] recall seeing her pictured at premieres and parties with Orson Welles, Van Johnson and her steadiest beau—Clark Gable. But she bade them all goodbye, just when everyone thought that the Bynum-Gable combination was as serious as the Jimmy Stewart-Gloria McLean deal, to marry an Air Force colonel on comparatively scant notice. None of Iris’ famous beaux showed up [for the wedding], although Clark Gable sent a beautifully worded wire to congratulate the bride, saying…