Evening star., 1935-06-30

Clark went back of the wings the fol-
lowing Saturday night His young friend
allowed him to peep through the curtain at
the audience.
His life was changed. He knew he would
never be doctor. He haunted the theater
each night. The manager made him a call boy
- without salary. The great actor-to-be
rushed to the theater each evening when the
days work was done.
At last he was given lineless part and
actually walked upon the stage without fear.
He learned the tricks of makeup from diff
ferent members of the company. Six more
weeks passed. and the overjoyed boy was
given speaking part. He was butler who
bowed and said. Good evening" Madam
He played different roles for a year. While
in the most difficult part he had portrayed, he
received the news of his stepmothers death.
He was deeply attached to her.
Saying no word to member of the COM
pany. he played the role Then he hastened
to console his father. and remained at home
until his distracted parent decided to leave
Ohio for the oil fields of Oklahoma His son
accompanied him.
For year Gable labored in the fields from
dawn till dark. With the lure of the stage in
his blood, the grimy and greasy work did not
appeal to MIN.
He joined a travelling theatrical company
in Kansas City. 1t played in churches, barns
and now and then theater, and toured the
entire West. For Clark Gable it was the great
adventure, the satisfaction of his expanding
soul.
The company stranded in Butte, Montana
Gable counted his assets on a bitterly cold
morning. He had two dimes. a nickel and a
heart without fear.
He wrote nine telegams to his father in
Oklahoma - and tore them all up He would
never 60 backward. Then he wrote letter
to his grandmother and told her how lovely
things were going with him. That night he
was on freight train bound for Portland,
Oregon. Friends from Ohio lived in that city
After days of hardship and hunger on the
road, he reached Portland. His friends had
left for Ohio the week before.
The hobo-actor was given lodging at the
Salvation Army Hotel, until he joined a
troupe leaving for Astoria. 1T was a profit
sharing company" smiles Clark - 'al share
and no profit" In two weeks his share was
wo dollars.
In desperation he turned to general en-
ployment agency and obtained a job with
party of engineers leaving to survey forest
tracts in Southern Oregon. He worked as a
rod man, and for several months plodded
through the heavy forest country, bitten by
insects and poisoned by shrubbery. Each day
it rained; his clothes we're never dry.
He returned to Portland and got job in the
help wanted" department of a newspaper.
Then the telephone company advertised for a
''personable young man." Clark applied and
remained year.
Saving $500, he went to Hollywood. When
his money was about gone he was given work
carrying spear on Lubitsch set He re-
ceived seven dollars day, and once the
great Lubitsch glanced at him. As an extra
player he averaged one day week for many
months.
When Jane Cowl appeared on the Los
Angeles stage in Romeo and Juliet. a tall
soldier was needed to carry spear. Clark
was chosen. To Jane Cowl's credit she liked
the tall soldier. and secured small speaking
part for him. The producer. Louis Macloon
also liked and remembered the tall soldier
fCOnfinued on page l3)