February 1

Actor Clark Gable was born on February 1, 1901, in Cadiz, Ohio. While working as a necktie salesman in Portland, Oregon, he met Josephine Dillon, an acting coach who paid to have his teeth fixed, guided him in building up his chronically underweight body, taught him better posture and physical control, and trained him to lower his high-pitched voice. Gable was considered for the role of “Tarzan the Ape Man” (1932) but lost the role to a more imposing Johnny Weissmuller. Gable was reluctant to play the role of Rhett Butler in “Gone With the Wind” (1939) and refused to read Margaret Mitchell’s book. Actor Gary Cooper turned down the role and was certain the movie would be a flop. Gable planned to boycott the movie’s world première in Atlanta because his close friend, Hattie McDaniel, who played the role of Mammy, was not permitted to attend. He relented after she insisted that he go.