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At age 41 Clark Gable, already a well-established Hollywood icon, joined the military as a private in the Air Corps. Born February 1, 1901 in Cadiz, Ohio, of Pennsylvania-Dutch farming stock, Gable quit high school to work in Ohio factories, Oklahoma oilfields, and Oregon lumber camps. At the age of 18, Gable determined to become an actor and in 1930 he was finally given a contract at $350 a week by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (M-G-M). A small part led Gable to leading roles opposite stars Norma Shearer, Jean Harlow, and Greta Garbo. It Happened One Night, a 1934 comedy directed by Frank Capra, won Gable an Oscar and propelled him to "superstar" status, with a salary of $211,000 per year and mobs of women rioting hysterically at his public appearances. This video courtesy of THE HISTORY CHANNEL.

Posted: 10/27/2007 Length: 00:42 Price: Free Video Type: Clip