Articles
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{New Article} 1955: Clark Gable’s Haunted Love Life
This article is from August 1955 and is all about how Carole Lombard haunts his love life and pretty much dooms all his relationships. It tells what Kay Spreckels must do if she wants to overcome the ghost of Carole and settle down with Clark. By the time this magazine hit newstands, Kay was already Mrs. Gable. Far from doing anything to push Carole from his thoughts, Gable has tenderly preserved every vestige of her influence and presence. Just as one would not violate sacred religious objects, Gable has not tampered with any of the things or people in that household that were part of his life with Carole. The…
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{New Article} 1955: Clark Gable: His Life Story
I don’t usually like articles that are titled “Clark Gable’s Life Story.” Typically, depending on the time period, they are either short and fluffy versions of the truth or they are long, bloated and completely boring to Gable fans who already know he came from humble roots in Cadiz, Ohio and worked as an oil driller and telephone lineman. I have one magazine from the 1960’s that has such a story and the article is 25 pages long. I doubt you will ever be seeing that one typed by me and appearing in the archive! So I wasn’t too optimistic about this article, particularly since it’s from 1955 and Clark still…
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{New Article} 1936: A Heart to Heart Letter to Carole Lombard and Clark Gable
This article was printed early in Clark Gable and Carole Lombard’s relationship, before anyone was really sure if this union was a passing fling or a sweeping romance. I’ve discovered that the fan magazines did this often–“An Open Letter To”…like the stars are really sitting down and reading some journalist’s advice. Oh well. Above is an artist’s rendering of Clark and Carole that accompanied the article. What do you think? Looks more like Ginger Rogers than Carole to me. I’ve seen worse Clark drawings but I’ve also seen much better! Dear Carole and Clark, Lately I’ve been thinking about the two of you and even envying you in an impersonal…
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{New Article} 1938: Why is Carole Lombard Hiding Out From Hollywood?
It’s Clark and Carole’s anniversary this week, so here’s one about the third Mrs. Gable. This article is one on a theme that is so over-played it’s rather boring at this point. Once Carole Lombard fell in love with Clark Gable, her nightclubbing days were over. Suddenly, she was a recluse! This was usually blamed on Clark–like he had forced her into a homebody life. Carole was a pretty strong-minded person and I sincerely doubt Clark forced her into anything. She fell into his patterns, certainly, as is natural with couples. Also, Clark was still a legally married man and I think part of it was because of that. I…
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{New Article} 1949: My Plans for Gable
This article from 1949 is a bit different, in that it is written by Clark himself! I am a bit skeptical that he sat at a typewritter and wrote this out, but I do see that it definitely is his perspective; his voice shines through. … that would be the perfect life for me when I am not working; to be able to go among the people, mix closely with them and be accepted just for myself. Actually I can’t, of course. Now, people don’t mob me or tear off my sleeves for souvenirs or anything like that. They always seem nice and friendly—sort of treat me as an acquaintance.…
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1940 Hollywood Career Girls Poll
I am from the wrong era. I just love anything 1930’s and 1940’s. One night I couldn’t sleep and was up until wee hours on YouTube watching random footage from streets in America from that period. So, I find polls like this particularly fascinating, as it gives a tiny glimpse into life as it was. This poll appeared in Screen Guide magazine in November 1940. Being a magazine devoted strictly to entertainment, Screen Guide did not question Hollywood’s career girls as to their Presidential preferences. However, at the suggestion of the girls themselves, several vital questions pertaining to this country’s welfare were included. Lack of space makes it impossible to…
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{New Article} 1936: He Lives His Impulses
That crazy, non-conformist Clark Gable! MGM publicity pretty much shoved the idea that Clark was a free spirited, unsophisticated regular Joe down the public’s throat repeatedly. Not that it wasn’t mostly true, because Clark indeed shunned the spotlight and the glamour that came along with it. But MGM really pushed for these kind of stories. This article is just Clark chatting with the reporter at the MGM commissary. “People often have asked me what I get out of it all—you know, being a movie star, making money, all the prerequisites. I don’t get out of it what a lot of people would, that’s a fact. I’m not luxury-minded. I don’t…
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{New Article} 1932: Would You Like to Be Mrs. Gable?
Does that seem like an easy question to answer? Surely not! This is mostly just a fluffy article detailing how hard it is to be Mrs. Gable since you are constantly haunted by feelings of self-doubt and jealousy while thousands of women pine after your man. It really could have been written about any of the married male stars of that era. Imagine the glowing sense of possession you would feel when you said “I want you to meet my husband…” and the thrill of pleasure that would go through you as some woman looked up into the face of Clark Gable. Imagine sharing a home with Clark Gable. Let…
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{New Article} 1957: She Calls Him “Pappy” But She Calls Him “Darling”
This article from 1957 focuses on a Clark Gable film that’s not often mentioned, The King and Four Queens. The main reason that it is not often mentioned is that it is quite bad. It was Clark’s first and only attempt at producing and it was a flop, therefore he retreated back into his happy rabbit hole of acting only. Kay accompanied Clark to Utah for the location shoot of the film. “Well,” the slim, blonde, suntanned woman asked Barbara Nichols, “what do you think of my old man?” “Do you really want me to tell you?” asked Barbara. The woman before her stiffened. Her blue eyes frosted over. “Why,…
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{New Article} Two Happy People Part IV
Here is the final installment of Movie and Radio Guide’s four part series on Clark Gable and Carole Lombard. Read Part Two here and Part Three here. I’m still hunting for Part One! Clark Gable’s favorite topic of conversation is Carole Lombard and her favorite topic is Gable. And that’s why we feel justified in calling this man and his wife two happy people. If they are not happy, then they are better performers at home than on the screen. In Hollywood, where gossiping is a profession and scandal-mongering is a craft, the Gables have been spared the darts that usually are hurled at the folks who live in the…