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Gossip Friday: Cat Assembly
From September 1940: Clark Gable and Carole Lombard have just taken a census of the pets at their ranch. They find they now have five dogs and 14 cats. The dogs are all hunting dogs but the cats, beginning with two to hunt gophers, just “assembled.”
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Gossip Friday: On the Up and Up
From July 1931– (Clark is pictured as one of “Four Newcomers Who are On the Up and Up.” The other four are Wynne Gibson, Joel McCrea and Mae Clarke): “Your ears stick out–“ “Your hair isn’t curly–“ “You aren’t good looking–“ This is the song producers sang to Clark Gable six years ago when he tried crashing the movies. Today, they are singing a different tune–to the sum of $750 weekly and a five-year contract with Metro. The styles in movie heroes change. Then, the sheik reigned, Valentino. Now, it’s the big he-man with the rough and tumble personality, Clark Gable. They wouldn’t give him a chance then. Now, he’s…
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Gossip Friday: Down to South America?
From December 1938: The political situation in Europe has done a lot for South American tourist travel. With Ty Power already there, and Clark Gable and Bob Taylor both announcing it as their next vacation spot, it looks as though Hollywood has finally discovered that there are really TWO Americas!
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Gossip Friday: Without Any Help
From July 1944: Buddy De Sylva, in his Paramount office, has a printed sign which tells of a conversation between Clark Gable and an interviewer. The large cardboard quotes the interviewer asking Gable what he attributes he amazing record as a box-office champion for many years. Gable’s answer is: “Any success I may have achieved is due to MGM’s wisdom. The studio picks my stories, casts my pictures and selects my directors.” The interviewer then asks, “Without any help from you?” And the Gable answer is, “Without any help from me.” The sign is prominently displayed so that any actor or actress who enters De Sylva’s office to complain about…
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Gossip Friday: Enthusiastic Over Pheasants
From October 1941: Watertown, South Dakota–With a promise that they will return again to hunt in South Dakota, Clark Gable and his actress wife, Carole Lombard, were preparing this morning to leave for home. They planned to go by automobile this afternoon to Sioux Falls where they will take a plane for the west coast. Their original plans to leave from Watertown by plane were upset by weather. Both were enthusiastic over South Dakota pheasants and ducks after hunting every day during their five day visit here.
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Gossip Friday: No Escape
From October 1934: The other afternoon, Clark Gable motored out to Los Angeles’ Grand Central Airport to see some friends off for New York. Gaining admission to the terminal was easy, but when Clark turned to depart, that was something else again. He was all dolled up in a costly new white flannel suit consisting of double-breasted coat and English slacks. Before he reached his motor, however, women autograph hounds had most of his trousers!
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Happy 120th Birthday, Clark Gable
Clark Gable was born 120 years ago today, on February 1, 1901. The only child of William and Adeline Gable, he was born at home in their small duplex in Cadiz, Ohio, at 5:30am after 15 hours of labor. He weighed 10 and a half pounds! You can view our posts about Clark Gable’s birthday over the years here. These pictures of Clark celebrating with a large cake with a crown on it are widely circulated. Here’s the deal on that particular birthday party in 1938: They halted shooting on Stage 12 at MGM yesterday afternoon to celebrate Clark Gable’s birthday. Since the Chicago Tribune News Syndicate named him…
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Gossip Friday: Royal House Divided
From January 1936: The month’s laurels for tact go to the head waiter at the Trocadero, Hollywood’s super supper spot. Douglas Fairbanks sat with an after-theater party including Clark Gable, Richard Barthelmess, Kay Francis and other friends. In came Mary Pickford with another party, including the Johnny Mack Browns and the Charlie Farrells. The head waiter never batted an eye. With perfect calm and poise, he escorted Mary and her entourage to a booth at the other end of the room. And there sat the Royal House–divided, as far as the house would allow–until Doug broke the ice and went over for a friendly chat with Queen Mary. ____ What’s…
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Gossip Friday: No Place for Kids
From December 1949: Clark Gable got the raspberry from kids gathered around Ciro’s when he refused autographs. He’ll tell you so himself. Clark has the courage to say, and stand on it, that thirteen and fourteen year-old kids have no place around a night spot at one or two o’clock in the morning.
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In Memory of Carole Lombard
Carole Lombard died 78 years ago today at the age of 33. Flying home to Clark after selling a record number of war bonds in her home state of Indiana, her plane crashed into Mount Potosi outside Las Vegas. In the newspaper on January 20, 1942: ROOSEVELTS SEND THEIR CONDOLENCES A telegram of condolence from Pres. Roosevelt arrived Monday at the nearby ranch home of screen actor Clark Gable, whose film actress wife, Carole Lombard, was one of 22 persons killed Friday night in the crash of a huge airliner near Las Vegas, Nev. The message read: “Mrs. Roosevelt and I are deeply distressed. Carole was our friend, our guest…
