We Must Go A Week Sooner

Thursday January 12, 1939 “To matinee at the Criterion. Saw Topper Takes A Trip and an old picture (1932) with Clark Gable and Carol Lombard-No Man of Her Own. Rotten! Letter from Sammie. Sam has a slight cold.

Topper Takes A Trip trailer. It was a sequel of Topper (1937). Same cast minus Cary Grant. Involves a ghost trying to reunite a couple who she had a hand in splitting up in the prior film. It was followed by another sequel, Topper Returns in 1941. The font selection in the trailer is quite stylish and most attractive.

I only found two clips from this film. Neither one has original sound track. This might be one of those lost forever movies. No Man Of Her Own clip.

This is Lombard and Gables only role together playing a married couple, several years before their own legendary marriage in real life.

Gambler Babe Steward (Clark Gable) is in trouble with the law and decides to lie low in a small town. There he meets librarian Connie Randall (Carole Lombard) and attempts to seduce her. They flip a coin to decide whether or not to get married. The coin forces them to get married and Connie soon falls in love with Babe. Babe, meanwhile, continues his conning while telling Connie that he is working on Wall Street. Connie does not suspect anything until she finds Babe’s marked cards in his desk. She shuffles the cards and when Babe plays a game of poker, he loses. Babe wants nothing more to do with Connie and leaves for Rio de Janeiro to win big money at cards. But, realizing that he loves Connie, he gives himself in to the police to serve his jail sentence. When Babe returns to a pregnant Connie, he does not suspect that she knows of his deception, but she does not say a word about it and in true Hollywood fashion, we are left to assume that the couple lives happily ever after. Helen says “Rotten!”

Friday January 13, 1939. “Lovely day. Went to cooking school this morning. Shopt and then home. Read. Jeanne to farewell party tonight for Barbara Birdro. Sam’s cold better. Bought me candy. Masoa over. Sara called.”

Saturday January 14, 1939 “To Santa Monica, paid bills. 10:30 Perm at Elsie J’s. Out at night with Sara, Jon + Fred K. Spaghetti feed. And wine!!

Any mention Helen made to me of spaghetti feed was associated with Little Joe’s.

Tuesday January 17, 1939 “Telegram from San Francisco this morning. We must go a week sooner. So we leave Saturday. Went to Art’s for lunch. Called Gladys M., Irene M, DeFinos–Sara out most of the day.

Beginning Preparations For The Move

From Helen Hussey’s diary, the preparation for moving to San Francisco.

Saturday January 7, 1939 “Put the house in the hands of an agent. Jon + Sara over at night. They will stay in the house if not sold. Drank Sherry and talked.”

Sunday January 8, 1939 “Sara + Jon out about noon. Took a nice drive up the coast + came back by the old coast road. Took S + J home. Nite – very clear – lights of the city beautiful. Jeanne to a show with George.”

Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, 1939. Photo source hpoliver.com

Monday January 9, 1939. “Had a Mexican man here to help clean. Clear, cold day. To Santa Monica to stop at DeFino’s + store. Letter from Corola.
Tuesday January 10, 1939. “To Sontags and Library. Nite: Sam called Kemp. Eva and Mack over. Listened to the fight. Armstrong decisioned Arizmendi. In the morning Mrs. Sotherland over, she looked at the house. No prospects yet. Beautiful day.

Sontag Drug Store 1939 at 5401 Wilshire Blvd. Photo Source: Water and Power Associates

When Radio was king of home entertainment. 1930’s Radios from Richmond Designs Inc

Armstrong vs. Arizmendi Youtube Check out the Ring Announcer.

Taking a Job in San Francisco

From Helen Hussey’s Diary Thursday January 5, 1939.

“Poured rain today. Jeanne spent day at Mercedes (a friend). Wrote six letters. Nite – Sam got a call from Kemp in San Francisco. Job open there. He is to call there tomorrow. Wonder what will eventuate.”

Image Source: westside-historic.tumblr.com

Friday January 6, 1939. “To Santa Monica in A.M.-banking. Afternoon to the Criterion-Shining Hour and Citadel.”

The Shining Hour – (Original Trailer)

Showgirl Joan Crawford marries wealthy Melvyn Douglas then has to deal with his family in Frank Borzage’s The Shining Hour (1938)

The Citadel – (Original Trailer)

A struggling doctor is tempted to give up his ideals for a posh high-society practice in The Citadel (1938), directed by King Vidor.

Grand Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles.

“Nite. To wrestling matches. Unusually good. Sam called San Francisco + accepted job. 3 weeks-which means busy times ahead trying to dispense of things.”