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Gossip Friday: In Pursuit
From April 1949: Come spring, summer, autumn or winter, Clark Gable is the most energetic in his pursuit of the female of the species. But it is so hard to pin him down to the point where he will admit he is cornered and propose! For a few minutes it looked like Annie Sothern had the new inside edge. She and Clark were a close twosome at Zachary Scott’s party for his mother and father. But when I queried Ann, “Is it a romance?” she laughed and said, “Clark and I are old friends.”
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Gossip Friday: Iris, Betty, Virginia or Dolly?
From April 1949: Iris Bynum, the beautiful brunette from Dallas, Texas, was sure she had Clark Gable hooked for all of three weeks, last winter. But when Arizona socialite Mrs. Betty Chisholm came to town, Clark parked his fancy British car on her doorstep at the Beverly Hills Hotel. When Betty returned home, Clark had another date with iris at Ocean House, where she toils as hostess. But when Keenan Wynn asked Iris for a dance, Clark walked out in a huff and followed Mrs. Chisholm to Arizona. (I hope you are still following me!) Clark wants to marry–that I am told by the beautiful blonde he usually returns to,…
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Gossip Friday: Inseparable
From July 1936: Now, what’s all this between Carole Lombard and Clark Gable, anyway? It’s getting so you can’t hear or read about one without hearing about the other at the same time, too. They guffaw loudly at romance-whisperers, and they deny there’s anything to it–and yet they’re about as inseparable as a couple of newlyweds! (And, incidentally, wouldn’t they make a swell pair of brand-new-mr-and-mrs?) Latest double appearance was at the circus, when it played Hollywood–and Clark and Carole were as much eyed, if not more, than the rest of the show, the night they hand-in-handed it in the big top! Marry?–heck, I wouldn’t bet a tin dime on…
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Gossip Friday: Just Lucky
From January 1947: Clark Gable is still the same old Gable. A Broadway producer figured maybe he was bored with Hollywood and invited him to do a New York play. Said Clark: “Look, brother, I’m a motion picture actor. My artistic sensibilities–if any–are not stifled in Hollywood, and I have no message to give the world. I’m not a great actor and I never will be. I’m just lucky, or I’d still be drilling oil wells back in Oklahoma.”
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Happy Birthday, Clark Gable
William Clark Gable was born 119 years ago today, February 1, 1901. He was born at 5:30am to Adeline “Addie” Hershelman Gable and William Gable in their second floor apartment in Cadiz, Ohio. To celebrate this year, I’m doing fan requests on our Instagram and Facebook pages, followed by a complete bio on Clark that will come out in increments over several days. Here on the website, there are four new articles: First off, we have a bit of a dud from Clark’s early career, What the Future Holds for Clark Gable, written in 1932 by Modern Screen magazine’s in-house astrologer. This article is completely showing its age. Can you…
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Gossip Friday: No Party
From 1954: So typical, after twenty-three years at MGM, Clark Gable vetoed a farewell party when he checked off the lot. According to a close friend, “Clark’s tired of living in Hollywood, but he doesn’t know where to go. He doesn’t want to get married, but no matter how often he explains this, his gal friends always get serious and spoil their romance.” The King celebrated his fifty-third birthday on the “Betrayed” set. Lana Turner and Vic Mature gave him a cake baked in the shape of a crown. But Clark’s little gift to Clark was the white Lincoln convertible with red leather upholstery in which he drove away for…
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Gossip Friday: Not Very Chummy
From May 1936: Ever since the other day, they’re thinking of giving still photographers little lessons in tact at MGM. Loretta Young and Spencer Tracy were sitting at the privileged “directors’ table” at the MGM restaurant. Far up at the other end of the table sat Clark Gable–alone, and not at all socialable. In came a photographer. He wanted a picture. He asked Clark to move up with Loretta and Spencer, so they could all look very chummy. And all he got was black looks. But he should have known better. ___ Hmmm….wonder why that would be? I think we all know…
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Gossip Friday: Fire This Astrologer
From January 1941: From “Hollywood–Beware in 1942: Events–some happy, some ominous–as seen by a reliable astrologer in the ’42 futures of your favorite stars” Gable and Lombard: Last year I told you all about Mr. and Mrs. Clark Gable and how well suited they are in every way. They still are–but I want to warn Clark that due to the transiting Jupiter, Saturn and Venus, he will be under bad aspects. He must be as conventional as a country schoolmarm during all of 1942 and especially during August. The heretofore tolerant public will scowl and turn thumbs down at Clark’s slightest deviation from the path of convention. August and part…
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In Memory of Carole Lombard
Carole Lombard died 78 years ago today, at age 33. The plane carrying Carole, her mother and MGM publicity man Otto Winkler, among others, slammed into Mount Potosi near Las Vegas on a cold snowy night, January 16, 1942. All died instantly. The death of Carole forever changed Clark Gable and despite whatever happiness he found later, he undoubtedly never fully recovered from it. As the news spread across the nation, the newspapers apparently called up everyone in fandom to give a comment on the tragedy: All Hollywood Mourns Popular Actress’ Death High and Low of Film Colony Shocked by Air Disaster Killing Warmhearted Actress Sorrow hushed the sound stages…
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Gossip Friday: Playing Scrabble
From 1954: Interiors were shot in London and exteriors in Holland. At all times, in all places, longtime friends Lana Turner and Clark Gable had a ball working together on “Betrayed.” Clark brought back old copper pieces for his Encino ranch fireplace. Lana collected rare. cut crystal mugs. Between shots the Hollywood pair taught English cast members how to play Scrabble!
