Goodbye, Ms. Peters

Hello Everyone,

     It's the last night of Carole Lombard week #2. So...I'm going to talk a little bit more about Carole, I guess! 

“Before I say goodbye to you all, come on, join me in a big cheer, V for Victory,” 

Found on: LucyNic83

     On January 16, 1942, Carole Lombard, along with a plane full of other people (including her mother), crashed into the side of what is now known as Carole Lombard Mountain, near Las Vegas. She was coming home from a war-bond-rally in Indiana where she had sold over 2 million dollars worth of bonds. 
     After she died, Jack Benny (who starred with her in her last picture) canceled his radio program out of grief and respect for Carole. As the first woman to die in the line of duty during WWII, FDR gave her the Medal of Freedom. Joan Crawford, who starred in They All Kissed the Bride in place of Carole, donated her whole salary to the Red Cross. And Lombard got a Liberty Ship named after her, the "S.S. Carole Lombard".

     Clark Gable [her husband] was devastated when she died. Lucy Ball wrote of that time, in her autobiography, saying, "During the next few months [after her death], we saw Clark tearing around the valley on a motorcycle at top speed. I used to suspect that he was subconsciously trying to kill himself. Clark would come to a screeching stop at our doorstep and come in to talk about Carole by the hour. Sometimes he would bring one of her films over in the evening and we would watch her for a couple of hours. I could never tell whether Clark was deliberately torturing himself, or whether the sight and sound of Carole, so vital and lovely, helped erase at least momentarily the pain of losing her." 

The Carole Lombard

     It's always tragic when someone passes away, especially so when they're as young as Carole was (age 33). I can't help wondering what Carole might have done had she lived longer - she would have made a few more brilliant movies, no doubt.

     I will test your patience and repeat myself by saying that I have such a great respect for Carole now. Not only as a brilliant actress (the queen of screwball, hello!), but just as a person. I mean, she died while serving our country, that's enough to garner my respect in an instant!

      Another one of the reasons I love Lombard is the fact that she was so honest. So unique. So down-to-earth. And so alive! 

 "I can’t imagine a duller fate than being the best dressed woman in reality. When I want to do something I don’t pause to contemplate whether I’m exquisitely gowned.  

I want to live, not pose!" 

-Carole Lombard

See the sign? Yes, she was that cool.

     And a funny lady? Heck yes, she was a funny lady! And not only on screen where, as I've mentioned before, she was the queen; but in real life where she made Alfred Hitchcock re-do his cameo a million times, until she thought it was right - and where they had to put up a sign that read "Danger. Lombard now at work" to warn people of her frequent pranks and practical jokes.

     Beautiful, died-too-young, funny, real - Carole, whom I love and respect oh-so-much.

     

RIP Jane Alice Peters (Oct. 6, 1908 - Jan. 16 1942)

Goodbye, Carole.

    

Until Later On~

P.S. I meant "Goodbye, Carole" as in "Goodbye, for now". You poor, unsuspecting readers are going to hear a lot more about her in the future. For one thing I'm dying to post a boat-load of gorgeous pictures, and she's just awesome in general. Goodnight!