Gossip

  • Gossip

    Gossip Friday: Still Not Expecting

    From June 1941: There have also been reports that C. Gable and Carole Lombard are expecting. The forthright Carole says, “I’m sorry it isn’t true. And when it is I’ll be the first to know about it and I’ll be the first to tell about it.”

  • Gossip

    Gossip Friday: The Gift of Blueprints

    From February 1937: Carole Lombard’s birthday present to Clark Gable was an automobile trailer to carry his saddle horse. Being practical, Carole sent the blueprints first for Clark to okay. The trailer will be constructed along deluxe lines and will hook onto the back of the star’s new station wagon.

  • Gossip

    Gossip Friday: Mystery Cake

    From March 1938: Clark Gable celebrated a birthday on February 2. He still wants to know who presented him with a birthday cake inscribed, “Long Live the King.” He was recently declared “King of the Movies” in a national poll. He thinks the cake was sent by Spencer Tracy. Carole Lombard presented him with furniture for his new ranch house and many books. Clothes designers of America have announced that Clark is the best-dressed man in movies. Clark has thanked them for the honor, but declares that he does not want to be known as a clothes dummy. “I wear good clothes because pictures demand them,” he said, “but off-screen…

  • Gossip

    Gossip Friday: Scouting a Star

    From July 1941: Because Clark Gable and Carole Lombard interested themselves in his career, tall handsome Reed Hadley, who hails from Texas via New York theatre and radio acting stopovers, appears to be safely launched in Hollywood. Young Hadley first attracted Miss Lombard’s attention when he appeared with her on a national radio broadcast. Gable met him at that time also. Both were impressed with young Hadley’s appearance and talents.  Gable subsequently suggested to Director Clarence Brown that Hadley be tested for the role of a young British officer in “They Met in Bombay” at MGM. Gable and Rosalind Russell are co-starring in the picture and a requirement of the…

  • Gossip

    Gossip Friday: Private Showing

    From February 1941: Two years ago Gable married Carole Lombard and they moved onto a twenty-two acre farm at Encino in the San Fernando Valley.  The Gables seem to hit it off fine. They spend most of their time at home together, go on frequent hunting trips, and once a week come into the studio to see a picture show. It’s too tough to go to a regular theater; they get mobbed when they try it.

  • Gossip

    Gossip Friday: A Pain in the Eye

    From January 1942: A hot rumor that Clark Gable was in one of the local hospitals under an assumed name suffering with eye inflammation kept this writer busy. After spending most of the day and half the night checking I learned Gable has had a bad cyst in his eye. He was told he should have it removed but so far he has not gone into the hospital. He was not able to go duck hunting as he planned, but spent New Year’s Eve in town and went to a private small party with Carole Lombard. ___ Sadly, their last New Years Eve together…

  • Gossip

    Gossip Friday: Charitable Pair

    From December 1941: Charity has a big place in Hollywood’s Christmas. The English group sends food and clothing to Britain, give gag presents to friends. Leaders are the Rathbones, the Brian Ahernes, and so on. Last year Carole Lombard and Clark Gable sent notes saying they planned to give only to a local children’s hospital, and hoped their friends would do likewise–most of them did, too. Irene Dunne is closely connected with an orphanage and always takes dinner there with the children on Christmas Day. This year she is taking her daughter, Missie, with her to give each child a present.     

  • Gossip

    Gossip Friday: Keeping Spirits Up

    From December 1941: Through these tense days, Carole Lombard has certainly kept the crew and cast on the stage of “To Be Or Not To Be”in a howling good humor with all her gags.  When I asked her what she’d do if she caught a Japanese parachutist landing on her ranch, she said, “Let ’em come! Pappy and I haven’t been banging away at ducks and skeets all these years for nothing. We’ve put the ranch on a wartime basis, sold a couple of horses, and growing vegetables instead of alfalfa.” Atta girl, Carole! And very soon, too, you’ll be seeing Carole and Clark stumping the country, selling war bonds.…

  • Gossip

    Gossip Friday: A Tooth for a Shoulder

    From January 1941: Baltimore–Dr. Louis Hamman said today Clark Gable would have a tooth extracted in an effort to cure a shoulder ailment that actor has suffered since 1937.  Gable, who arrived Monday with Carole Lombard, said “present plans call for us to fly back to Hollywood Saturday or Sunday.” __ Tooth extraction to cure a shoulder ailment?!

  • Gossip

    Gossip Friday: Frequent Vistor

    From November 1941: The career question is no longer hot among the older, more established star marriages. The Robert Taylors rarely visit each other’s set, but Carole Lombard is a constant guest while Clark Gable is shooting, and at his express request. And if Miss Lombard ever wants really to tease the redoubtable Gable all she has to do is make a thoroughly professional crack–“Remember Parnell!” (That film is a sore subject with Clark–he wanted to do the part and it was his least successful!)