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Gossip Friday: More Than a Passing Attraction
From March 1949: Ann Sothern and Clark Gable, who’ve known one another for years, seem to have discovered in each other something more than a passing attraction. They’ve been seeing a lot of each other in quiet places. Ann’s divorce became final in January; so she’s now eligible for marriage. She’s the home-loving type, and it could be that she’d snare King Gable, who’s certainly been getting around with the gals of late.
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Gossip Friday: Drug Store Patriot
From October 1943: Captain Clark Gable, now back in Hollywood, editing the films he shot on bombing missions over Germany, tells this story on himself. A few miles on his Encino ranch, there is a small drug and candy store where he used to go for breakfast before he was in the Army. Returning home, and still needing breakfast, even though he wears a hero’s medals, he headed for the same drug store. Man and womanpower being what it is these days, there was only one waitress on duty, a new girl, and she’d got Clark all the way through his ham and eggs before she recognized him. When she…
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Gossip Friday: Quite a Distraction
From 1954: In May, 1950, the big race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway was only a few weeks away. To add to the excitement, MGM was hopefully trying to shoot scenes for To Please a Lady. The cameramen were trying to get shots of Barbara Stanwyck coming down the back steps of the Pagoda, but they couldn’t get into the correct position because of the crowd. Suddenly everybody started moving infield, and I, wondering what ruse they were using to distract the crowd, followed and saw four State Troopers. Walking in their midst was the handsome, smiling Clark Gable. This enabled MGM to shoot their scene, and enabled me to see…
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Gossip Friday: Awaiting Divorce
From January 1939: Reno, Nevada–Knitting needles, walking shoes and a pile of books amused Mrs. Maria Gable today as she awaited the time six weeks hence when she can divorce film star Clark Gable on the mildest grounds possible in Nevada–extreme mental cruelty. The amiable society woman; who came here Saturday and leased the seven-room home of her bachelor attorney, Frank J. McNamee Jr., said, “I am perfectly contented. I plan to live quietly, doing a lot of reading I’ve wanted to do for a long time, knit, take some walks and make a few trips around.” Gable, Hollywood friends say, will wed Comedienne Carole Lombard as soon as he…
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Gossip Friday: Off to New York
From February 1934: For the first time since he became a star, Clark Gable is going to New York. He left last night for his first night of Broadway and Times Square since he flew to Los Angeles several years go for a stage role. Several trips back east were planned by the one-time Ohio boy but film work always interfered. He expected to be gone at least two weeks.
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Gossip Friday: The Wilds of Arizona
from August 1941: When Clark Gable takes a vacation he doesn’t fool. Last scenes of “Honky Tonk” in the can, Clark and Carole Lombard are now somewhere in the wilds of Arizona, not to return to pictures until Dec. 1. Wrapped up in Gable’s $5500-a week contract is a clause specifying a three-month annual vacation to occur at “such a period as prescribed by party of the second part.” The hunting season is always Gable’s choice for the layoff period. Business is combined with pleasure this time. The star hopes to complete a deal, long hanging fire, for 2400 acres of ranch property in Arizona. Deep in the wilderness, the…
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Gossip Friday: In the Side Door
From March 1938: This business of being a famous star has its drawbacks. Last night I covered a big preview and happened to park my car alongside Clark Gable’s. He and Carole Lombard started for the theatre with me, took one look at the swarming mob of autograph hunters, and stopped short. “Listen,” begged Gable, “be a friend and get the manager to let us in a side door.” I saw them sneak in and, as the picture neared an end, I saw Gable begin to fidget. With at least a reel of the film still unseen, he suddenly clambered out of his seat and dragged Carole to the side…
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{New Article} 1942: Heart of a He-Man
This article, from October 1942, deals with the recently widowed Clark Gable returning to the set of Somewhere I’ll Find You. The film halted production for several weeks after the untimely death of Clark’s wife, Carole Lombard. The picture began again after weeks of many misgivings and many hopes, and the director called the crew together. “Boys, Gable will be back this afternoon—he’s coming in to get the feel again—just sit around—and let’s not say anything—I mean—oh, hell—you know what I mean!” His eyes were misty as he talked quietly and stumbled around for more words, because he didn’t want the boys to misunderstand. Neither did he want Mr. Gable…
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Gossip Friday: Be Prepared
From December 1941 (Hedda Hopper): Be Prepared is Motto for Carole and Clark 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, are growing vegetables instead of alfalfa.” Atta girl, Carole! And very soon, too, you’ll…
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Gossip Friday: The New Gable
From March 1945: I had the good fortune, when in Hollywood recently, to attend a radio broadcast starring Clark Gable–one of his first acting assignments since his return to civilian life. The studio audience was tense with anticipation, awaiting his appearance. The reception given him when he did come on the stage was one of the most sincerely hearty I think I have witnessed. Here was someone the fans not only admired as an actor, but truly respected and honored as a person. His splendid war record, the dignity with which he has conducted his private life, his off-screen natural friendliness, all have made of Gable something of a beloved…
