CJaic:a~o Sanday Tribane

Looking at Hollyw..How Gable

Stays atTop

By ED SULIJVAN

Hollywood.

CLARK GABLE starts nowon his tenth year as amatinee idol, which indi-

cates that the so-called ficklepublic is not so fickle as youwould believe. It was back in1930 that Gable's career as amatinee idol started and almostfinished during the filming of••The Painted Desert." Theywere on location in Arizona, andthere was to be a dynamite ex-plosion of a hill. The perform-ers retreated to a spot somehundreds of yards distant fromthe explosion when the dangerwas sounded, Gable with therest. The man who preparedthe blast was incautious; hefailed to block up the rear ofthe concussion tunnel, and whenthe fuse was applied the dyna-mite backfired. A huge pieceof .roek .came within inches ofcreasing Gable's hair. ••I'venever been so close to suddendeath," says Gable. The inter-na tional picturecolony was neverso close to losingits No. 1 matineeidol.The rock, how-

ever, missed, andGable starts 1939under most favor-able auspices. Hehas completed••Idiot's Delight,"with NormaShearer, and itlooks like areal good pic-ture. He hasstarted to workin ••Gone withthe Wind," andthe characterof Rhett Butlerappears made

----------- -to order for histalents.Gable's long tenure of popu-

larity can be explained best ina simile: The big fellow fromCadiz, 0., has all the ingratiat-ing charm and tact of JackDempsey. I've never met twopersons so alike in their abilityto handle applause as these two,and their continued popularitytestiffus to that ability. Gable,like Dempsey, never says thewrong thing to his fans. In-stinctively he knows what tosay and when to say it. Youmight continue the parallel bydrawing a comparison betweenGene Tunney and Rudy Vallee.These two are as much alike inreactions and expressions as anyother pair-a trifie uneasy withcrowds, just as Gable and Demp-sey are at ease with them.Gable got his start in pictrres

(and I am using him as author-

.,

tty) as a piano-playing Al Ca-pone. The people who figuredin Gable's start, were HuntStromberg, the late Lew Cody,Edmund Lowe, and Joan Craw-ford. To clarify' that muddledstatement: Stromberg, M-G-Mproducer and former St. Louissports writer, figured vitally init because he called Gable upand proposed the par t in••Dance, Fools, Dance." LewCody figured in it because pre-viously Stromberg had calledhim up to take the part andCody rejected it on -the groundsthat the gangster role wouldalienate the affections of hisfans. Ditto Edmund Lowe, whoat the time was the leading••heavy" or menace of cinema.Joan Crawford figured in it be-cause "Dance, Fools, Dance"was her picture.

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Clark Gable a. the hoofer in hia co-.tarring picture with Norma Shearer ••• Idiot'. Delight:'

" Cody and Lowe turned downthe part," says Gable, "becausethey thought the fans wouldn'tlike the AI Capone characteriza-tion. They objected particularlyto one scene in which the gang-ster, after sending his mob outto knock off a rival bootleg king,is pictured seated at the pianoplaying a strain from Beetho-ven. It seemed to me that thisscene would carry terrific con-trast value in shaping the char-acterization of the gangster. Itold Stromberg I'd love to playit. That was the picture thattook me out of the precariousranks of bit players. Anotherbit player at the time was JanetGaynor. I used to drive herhome every night from F. B. 0.,now RKO, and she neverthought I'd be a matinee idol,and I never thougbt she'd be anAcademy winner.If Gable's career really was

launched in the Crawford pic-ture, Norma Shearer and Direc-tor Clarence Brown will certifythat it received its first greatmomentum in "A Free Soul."Gable was so good in this thatthe M-G-M biggies, after view-ing the first rushes (the firstscene shop, decid~ to makeGable repugnant to the audiencefor fear that he'd steal the pic-ture from the stars. To accom-plish this renegade purpose theywrote in a scene in which Gablewas to give Norma Shearer aviolent shove, figuring that theaudience would turn from cheersto hisses. Instead, so compel-ling was Gable's charm and sofurious were audiences at NormaShearer's screen role of a phi-landerer, that when the scenewas shown at the preview thecustomers started applaudingGable for shoving her around.That spontaneous outburst of

applause convinced Irving Thal-berg that in Gable he had agreat star. From then 01:1 hewas accorded the de luxe treat-ment of a star, and for nineyears he has held his positionin the Hollywood parade as theNo.1 heart-throb generator.Where did Gable win this per-

sonal charm that has marked allof his screen characterizations?The answer is that he alwayshad it, from the time that heworked on his dad's farm at Ra-venna, O. He says that hethinks he got his yen for thetheater from his mother. Shehad studied painting In Parisand leaned toward that and theallied arts. His father was morematter-of-fact, a PennsylvaniaDutchman who was practical,God-fearing, and a hard worker.It was at Akron, 0., that Gable

launched his theatrical career.Ed Lilly, later associated with

St · C I Full- color pictures of the set W 0 movie starsa r SIn, 0 0r appear today on page one of the Picture Section.LORETTA YOUNG

• Loretta Young was born Gretchen Young inSalt Lake City, Utah, on Jan. 6, 1913. Shechanged her name to Loretta when she em-barked on a motion picture career. For manyyears she studied dancing and hoped to followit as her career. Her plans were changed,however, quite by accident, when she volun-teered to take her sister Polly Ann's part in apicture because Polly Ann happened to be outof town at the time. The director was so im-pressed with her that he presented her to Col-leen Moore and she played her first role withMiss Moore in "Naughty but Nice." Anotheropportunity came when she was chosen to playopposite 'Lon Chaney in ••Laugh, Clown,Laugh." After the completion of this produc-tion she was given a contract. Miss Young'scurrent picture is ••Kentucky," in which Rich-ard Greene is her leading man.

ROBERT TAYLOR• Hollywood's gain was the medical profes-sion's loss, for Robert Taylor had planned tobecome a doctor ever since he was a boy inknee pants. His father was a physician inNebraska and wanted Robert to follow in hisfootsteps. While at Pomona college, a shortdistance from Hollywood. he became interestedin dramatics and appeared in most of the col-lege plays. A talent scout from Hollywoodspotted him in a presentation of "Journey'sEnd" and immediately placed him under con-tract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. He appearedin several" shorts" for this company. Beforelong he had climbed the ladder to success andis now one of the most popular leading men infilmdom. He was born in Filley, Neb., on Aug.5, 1911. His latest film production is ••Stand Upand Fight," in which Wallace Beery plays animportant role.

With Norma Shearer in the picturethat made him a star •.. A Free Soul."

Earl Carroll on Broadway, hadarrived in Akron with a stockcompany, and Gable, who wasworking as a tire molder in therubber factories, served his ap-prenticeship as a call boy forthe stock company. ••It was outof that that I got my first realstage job," recalls Gable, ••witha tent show that was routed toMontana. The tent show fold-ed, so Phil Phillips, the pianist,and I decided to strike out forBend, Ore., where he had anuncle. He went to work in adepartment s tor e at Butte,Mont., and earned $17 clear. Tomatch his bank roll I pawnedthe lether suitcase my familyhad given me, hocked one suit,and grossed $15. After we gotthe money, $32 in all, we wereso afraid to spend it that we

hopped a freight train to Bend,Ore., and learned there that hisuncle had moved away a yearearlier."Gable then joined a stock com-

pany headed by Earl Larrimore,but when that f<)lded at Port-land, Ore., he joined the news-paper ranks - he' became anadvertising solicitor for the Port-land Oregonian. He was as-signed to the want ad depart-ment, and one day an attractivead came in from the Pacific Tel-ephone company, so Gable an-swered it himself and got thejob. He worked there for a yearand with that money headed for 'Hollywood.On the Los Angeles stage the

young Ohioan played bit partswith Jane Cowl and Lionel Bar-rymore. That graduated himto the Broadway stage withGeorge M. Cohan, Arthur Hop-kins, and Al H. Woods. LosAngeles summoned him for thepart of Killer Mears in ••TheLast Mile," and it was while hewas emoting in that that Pathescouts signed him. From Pathehe went to Warners, from War-ners to free -lancing, fro mfree-lancing to "Dance, Fools,Dance" at M-G-M.Along the route, betv-een hop-

ping freight trains and hitch-hiking, between the PortlandOregonian and the Pacific Tele-phone company, between the LosAngeles stage and Broadway,Gable's natural gift of tactful-ness was confirmed. In additionhe acquired a certain ••savvy"that experience bestows on itshardier pupils. The cumulativeeffects of his background andhop -scotch existence are veryevident today. .Personally he is a very like-

able, genuine person. He livessimply, avoids all but rare Hol-lywood parties, spends most ofhis leisure hunting and shootlr-rand fishing, and salts away hisdough in the bank. Profession-ally he is known to Hollywooddirectors as a skilled, competentworkman. He is what tl]e pro-fessionals call a "quick study,"meaning that he learns his linesquickly and doesn't blow upwhen the cameras are trainedon him. In comporting himselfwith crowds of fans he is solike Jack Dempsey that some-times it is difficult to dissociatethem in your mind. I often callhim" Champ," so strong is theimpression that Gable i8 Demp-sey.This year undoubtedly will

find him married to Carole Lom-bard. The groundwork for hisdivorce has been established al-ready, entailing a property set-tlement of some $350,000,whichis more than his year's salaryof $300,000. He and Carole aregreat pals. She likes the thingsthat appeal to him, and herlight-heartedness is a foil for hisnatural seriousness.Carole Lombard and Gable

met in 1931,when he wooed heron the screen in "No Man ofHer Own." It has worked outto a very charming romance,because Miss Lombard now hasa man of her own-a man whois the No.1 heartbreaker of theworld, jUdging by the hystericaloutbursts of those girls whoswell the fan mail at Metro.

"'o.-.-e .f .--e ....~o"".-e_F..... Letters published in this department should be written on one side of the paper·T.... •• ~.... •• If you wish a personal reply ple€Ue inclose a stamped, self.addressed envelope.

Dear Miss Tinee:, This is the first letterI've written to you, and I hope it passes,because I'd liketo see a pictureof Jeffery LYnn,who played thepart of F e Ii x(the gate swing-er) in "Fo urDaughters." I'dlike a little newsabout him, too, ifthere's room.I thought Pris-

cilla Lane wasdarling in thatpicture. A Ion gwith Hedy La-marr, I think sheis on e of them 0 s t promisingactresses on thescreen today, andI agree with Pat,who wrote in recently about the Lanesisters appearing in ••bigger and betterpictures."I'd also like to know who played the

part of Will Scarlet in ••The Adventuresof Robin Hood."Thanks a lot for everything; Sincerely,

CHESTNUT_Editors note: I guess there's a bit Of

room. Jeffery Lynn was born in Auburn,Mass, Educated at Bates college in Lewls-ton, Me. Before entering motion pictures

JEFFERY LYNNGate swln<ler In " Four

Dau<lhte rs, "

he was an instructor in En.glish and dra-matics at Lisbon High school in Lisbon,Me. Played in stock for several yearsand also with Walter Hampden in "Oy-rano de Bergerac!' Patric Knowles playedthe rote of Will Scarlet in "The Adven-tures of Robin Hood!' You are mostwelcome.

Dear Mae 'I1nee: "Moonlight Sonata"is too good to be buried among the snobson Michigan boulevard. . The whole cityshould have a chance to listen to immor-tal Paderewski. Yours truly,

PETER GULDEN.Editors note: There are no more snobs

on Michigan avenue than any place else,and the picture isn't buried, but there forall to see who care to see it.

Dear Miss Tlnee: I read the letter ofJack P. W. I agree with him. For thefirst time last night I saw Richard Greene.I think we should see more of him. Heis better than those that are marked asthe best. Will you please print me a littleof his life history? Thanks loads.

RUTH L.Editors note: Okeh. Richard Greene

'was born at' Plymouth, Devonshire, Eng-land. 'His father, the late RichardGreene Sr., was an outstanding favoriteamong playgoers in his day, and his moth-er, Kathleen Gef'rard, is still appearingin character r6les in London.. He's 6 feet

tall, weighs 170 pOf,nd8, and has darkbrown hair and blue-gray eyes. Favoritesports are golf, riding, swimming, andtennis.

Dear Miss Tlnee: I saw" Boy MeetsGirl" recently, and I thought it was thesilliest pictureI've see n forsome time .. Twoof us went to-gether, and weboth had thesame opinion. Ilike James Cag-ney very much,but I dislikedhim in that par-ticular rOle. I'mhoping I don'tsee Cagney inrOle 1ike thatagain. Do youagree?Could you

please tell methe height ofMerle Oberon? Ihope this isn'ttoo much for you. Thank you. Sincerelyyours, JAMES NORMAN.

Editors note: "What'li one man's meatis another man's poison, you know. No,it's not a bit too much lor me. Miss Ob61'-on is 5 feet .; inches tau.

MERLE OaERONFan learns she Is 5 feet

4 Inches tall.

Dear Miss Tinee: My family and I justsaw" Boys' Town!' and the children claimMickey Rooney to be one of their favoriteactors. Will you please tell us somethingof his earlier life, where he attended schooland his birthplace? Thank you.

MRS.G. H. E.Editors note: We ,printed news of

Mickey Rooney recently in this column, butsince you apparently didn't see it, we re-peat for your benefit. Mickey's real nameis Joe Yule Jr. He was born in Brooklyn,N. Y. Educated Dayton Heights and VineStreet Grammar school and Pacific Mili- 'tary academy in Hollywood and by pri-vate tutOt·s. As a baby he appeared in avaudeville act with his parents.

Dear Miss Tinee: Perhaps I have beenmisinformed, but ,if I have been Informedcorrectly I am led to believe that I canobtain free of charge any amount of moviestars' pictures I wish.If the above statement is' correct, please

send me pictures of the following stars:Alice Faye, Tyrone Power, Jack Benny,the Lane sisters, Dick Powell, DorothyLamour, Jack Haley, Madeleine Carroll,Loretta Young, Anita Louise, the Mauchtwins, Joe 'Penner, Ginger Rogers, DonAmeche, Tony Martin, Harriet Hilliard,Sonja Henie, and Richard Greene.Sincerely yours, H. CECH.Editors note: Statement is not correct.

Sorry.