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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…
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Gossip Friday: Hitting the Road
From January 1935: Oddly enough, Hollywood, the film capital which is not a city, cannot be reached via railroad–except by freight train! Clark Gable and Jim Tully–one a screen idol, the other a noted scenarist and author–selected this unusual path to fame several years ago when they “hit the road” to study geography first hand. The paths of these two men crossed one day, and they “threw in” with each other, traveling together across the western states, taking odd jobs and gaining an understanding of human nature that was to stand them both in good stead. Tully has give the world many delightful and colorful stories based on his own…
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Gossip Friday: Clark Gable, True Aquarius?
It’s Clark Gable’s birthday tomorrow! In October 1939, a fan magazine published a chart of different male stars and what their astrological signs meant about their personalities. It was meant as a guide for women: “Check up on the man in your life, and see whether he should be treated like a Robert Taylor of a Gary Cooper!” Clark was the representative for Aquarius. Outstanding Characteristics: Philosophical, independent, original. What Kind of a Husband Would He Make? Faithful but neither sentimental nor domesticated. Not recommended for romantic, possessive women. What Kind of Boss Would He Be? A good friend to his employees, and is strong for laor-saving devices. How He…
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Gossip Friday: Dachshund Wanted
From November 1935: Carole [Lombard] is playing in “Hands Across the Table,” with Fred MacMurray and Ralph Bellamy. We drop in with the F.S. Reinhardts from Minneapolis for a chat, to find her trundling Ralph in a wheelchair, for a scene in the flicker. Enter Fieldsie, Carole’s secretary: “Carole, I give up. I can’t find a black, male dachshund anywhere.” Carole: “But we’ve got to!” Ralph Bellamy: “Try Frank Morgan–he knows all about dachshunds.” We: “What’s this all about?” Carole: “Well, the nephew of a friend of mine lost his dachshund, and he is broken-hearted. I’ve got to locate one just like it before the boy discovers his pet is…
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Gossip Friday: Quite a Pipe
From October 1939: Clark Gable related one “something for practically nothing” incident which leads me to believe that the old, time-honored proverb “Never look a gift horse in the mouth” isn’t always sound advice. A few weeks ago, Gable received a strange, old pipe. Accompanying the gift was a note, “This is nothing more valuable than the bearer of good wishes from a fan upon your marriage.” The pipe was so unusual looking that Clark, out of curiousity, took it to an authority on such things. That gentleman placed the probable orgin of the pipe at about the time peg-legged Peter Stuyvesant came to New Amsterdam. Naturally it would be…
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Gossip Friday: Clark Gable–Forgotten Man
From April 1939: …take the [Clark] Gable burial and its ramifications. This was in Too Hot to Handle. The scene had been shot a half a dozen times, but still it wasn’t right, in the opinion of Director Jack Conway. “We’ll shoot it again,” he decreed. Clark looked pained. “Hey, what is this?” he protested. “I suppose you think I LIKE being buried alive!” Myrna Loy, cool and comfortable in her easy chair, soothed him from the sidelines. “It’s for the sake of your art,” she said. At six o’clock, they were still at it and still Conway wasn’t satisfied. Clark was dirty, dishevelled, cranky. Walter Pidgeon remonstrated with him.…