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Gossip Friday: You Need a Sense of Humor
From July 1941: Clark Gable and Bing Crosby pass out identical advice. If you want to be popular, successful and happy, say they, develop a sense of humor. “Because a sense of humor will let a girl be natural,” specifies Clark Gable. “It will act as a shock-absorber for the rough spots a girl’s going to find wherever she goes. And because it’s a pleasure to work with jolly people, she will find herself in demand everywhere.” “A sense of humor makes affectation impossible,” explains Bing. “A sense of humor and a sincerity set off a girl’s wholesomeness. That’s the best bit of happiness and success insurance any girl can…
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Gossip Friday: Crooner’s Union
From June 1945: Clark Gable and Cary Grant have been served notice to join the “Crooner’s Union” or suffer the consequences. The threat comes red hot from Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra and Andy Russell. Cary is going to warble several Cole Porter numbers in “Night and Day.” Clarkie-boy whips off a few bars of “The Trolley Song” in “This Strange Adventure.” If they can possibly arrange it, the day these numbers are recorded, Bing, Frank and Andy are going to sneak on the set and give out with a few Bronx cheers.
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Gossip Friday: A Quiet Holiday
From December 1941: The quietest Christmas celebration in its history was observed in a Hollywood accustomed in the past to tossing around presents of diamonds and minks and sables like confetti. There were some valuable presents to be sure–but most of these were United States defense bonds. Few parties were given, with most of the stars and lesser lights celebrating only with their families and intimates. Only the families with children made the usual fuss. On this score the two busiest homes were those of Mr. and Mrs. Bing Crosby and Mr. and Mrs. Don Ameche. They each have four sons. Almost as busy were Margaret Sullavan and her husband,…
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Gossip Friday: Star Studded Premiere
From 1948: I am sure that no imperial gala ever ordered by the Emperor Franz Josef himself ever surpassed the splendor of the party in the Crystal Room of the Beverly Hills Hotel, following the premiere of “The Emperor Waltz.” The first showing of the film, which was a formal, international affair, drew a record throng of celebrities to the Hollywood Paramount Theatre where they ran the gauntlet of cheers and shouts from thousands of admiring fans… The “cinema-soxers” roared their delight when Clark Gable and Bing Crosby swapped jokes right in the middle of Hollywood Boulevard where their cars were held up by the traffic jam. Incidentally Clark garnered…
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Gossip Friday: Santa Checks Up on Good Boys and Girls
In the January 1935 issue of Hollywood magazine, they printed “Santa’s book” of good and bad points for film stars. So who’s getting what they wanted for Christmas and who is getting coal? CLARK GABLE Good Points: For giving is It Happened One Night. Being always thoughtful of others. When a friend had no place to keep her dog, he gave it a home on his ranch. Bad Points: Balks at picture assignments with women stars. Drives studio frantic by disappearing between pictures, when he is wanted for story conferences. Gifts: More dogs to take care of CAROLE LOMBARD Good Points: Proved she could act in Twentieth Century. Came…
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{Gossip Friday} Clark and Der Bingle Give Advice
From July 1941: Clark Gable and Bing Crosby pass out identical advice. If you want to be popular, successful and happy, say they, develop a sense of humor. “Because a sense of humor will let a girl be natural,” specifies Clark Gable. “It will act as a shock absorber for the rough spots a girl’s going to find wherever she goes. And because it’s a pleasure to work with jolly people, she will find herself in demand everywhere.” “A sense of humor makes affection impossible,” explains Bing. “A sense of humor and a sincerity set off a girl’s wholesomeness. That’s the best bit of happiness and success insurance any girl…
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{Hollywood} Holy Cross Cemetery
Holy Cross is a scenic Roman Catholic cemetery in Culver City that opened in 1939. It is said that if a star is Catholic, they’re buried here. Here in this scenic area called the Grotto are several celebrities grouped close together. The main reason for our visit was the grave of this eccentric fellow, Bela Lugosi (Dracula). To my classic-horror-fiend friend who traveled with me, Bela Lugosi is her Clark Gable. So he was a must visit! I stumbled upon the grave of “Der Bingle”, Bing Crosby, not too far from Bela. Nearby too is the grave of French actor Charles Boyer, known for his role in Gaslight (1944). Also here…
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Clark Croonin’ with Bing
Clark singing with Bing Crosby. That is one of those things that seems unlikely to have ever happened. And I wouldn’t believe it either, if I hadn’t heard it with my own ears! And “Ragtime Cowboy Joe”, of all things! We have a new clip that is from a private recording, circa 1938. A special thank you to Kurt for the clip and to David of The Bing Crosby Media Archive for determining where it came from! If you are a Bing Crosby fan, you should definitely follow his blog. You can hear it on the Audio page. Clark doesn’t exactly keep up with Bing tone-wise, but at least he’s…
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Gossip Friday: Claudette and Bing
Since this week (9/13) is Claudette Colbert’s 107th birthday, here’s some gossip about her from Septmeber 1937: Claudette Colbert was playing some of her favorite Bing Crosby records in her dressing room the other day, when her telephone rang. The star herself answered. An irate voise yelled, “Listen! If you must make all that noise, which disturbs me in my dressing room, for heaven’s sake play something better than those Crosby records. That’s guy’s crooning gives me a pain!” “I don’t know who you are,” cried Claudette angrily, “but you can’t make cracks to me about my friend Bing Crosby and his singing! If you had any musical sense you’d know…