Love on the Run (1936): Joan Crawford, Clark Gable and Franchot Tone

Love on the Run, directed by W.S. Van Dyke in 1936, starring Joan Crawford, Clark Gable and Franchot Tone.

Behind the Scenes:

Clark Gable was assigned to the role to give Joan Crawford a hit; the only hits she had had in the past few years had been her films with Gable and her career was stalling.

Amelia Earhart’s $80,000 plane was used in the film.

Nobody would have been surprised to hear that Clark and Franchot did not get along on the set of this film. Back in 1933, both were costarring with Joan in Dancing Lady. Clark and Joan had been embroiled in a heavy off-and-on affair since 1931, and when Clark missed a lot of time on the set due to illness, Franchot and Joan fell in love. Clark, despite the fact that he was very much involved at the time with British actress Elizabeth Allan AND despite the fact that he was still married to second wife Ria, felt burned when he returned to the Dancing Lady set and saw that Franchot was a frequent vistor to Joan’s trailer.

Joan and Franchot eventually married in 1935 and so were married on the set of Love on the Run, although because Franchot was pretty much doomed to sidekick Siberia in the 1930′s he gets to watch Clark woo and win his wife. Despite this, Clark and Franchot were actually good buddies. They had discovered they had joint loves of booze and cards while on location for their film Mutiny on the Bounty in 1935. Franchot and Joan were the two bickering on the set, actually. All was not bliss in the Tone household. Source: dearmrgable.com

Five Tips for Weathering Hurricanes and Tropical Storms

Hurricanes, floods and damaging winds are increasingly commonplace around the globe. In 2013, weather events claimed the life of 445 people in the U.S. and injured 2,766 more. The National Weather Service (NWS) is part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and provides early warnings for major weather events to allow residents in affected areas time to prepare or evacuate before the storms arrive. By heeding the warnings issued by the NWS, individuals and families can increase their chances of survival when dangerous weather conditions occur. Here are five important strategies for riding out the storm in safety.

Don’t Delay

State and local authorities can issue voluntary or mandatory evacuation orders for residents in the path of a hurricane. Complying with these orders is vital to survival. For those who live along coastlines or in areas that frequently experience tropical storms, maintaining a kit that contains basic supplies for the entire family can make the evacuation process much faster and easier. Fill up the family car before leaving the local area; during hurricane evacuations, fuel stations along the highways and major thoroughfares are likely to have long lines and extended wait times.

Water, Water Everywhere

Floods are especially dangerous in low-lying areas or coastal regions. Ironically, however, one of the biggest risks associated with floods is the contamination of water supplies in the days and weeks following the storm. Maintaining at least a week’s worth of bottled water can help families during the cleanup period and can reduce the risk of dehydration or illness from drinking potentially contaminated water. Most authorities recommend storing at least one gallon of clean water per day for each person in the home to ensure adequate supplies during and after the storm. Pets will need the same amount of water per day to stay healthy and hydrated.

Batten Down the Hatches

Boarding up windows and closing storm shutters can often provide a modicum of protection for homes and personal belongings in minor to medium-strength storms. For families that plan to stay in their homes, taking steps to keep the worst of the wind and water out can offer added safety inside. Additionally, boarding up windows can help to deter vandals or thieves in the event of a full-scale evacuation order. Individuals and families who live close to the coastline, on coastal islands or who reside in mobile homes, however, should not remain in their homes at all if a major storm has been forecast for their area.

Monitor the Airwaves

Residents of coastal regions should obtain a NOAA-approved weather radio and keep a supply of batteries handy for the device. Weather radio broadcasts offer valuable information about the likely path of incoming storms, the strength of winds and the likely effects on homes and property. Official bulletins can also provide information regarding mandatory and voluntary evacuations, allowing residents in at-risk areas to make plans before the storm hits.

Prepare for the Worst

For families and individuals who elect to stay in their homes during the storm, a few simple strategies can help to ensure greater safety and comfort:

• Turning the temperature control on the refrigerator and freezer to the coldest possible setting and moving as much food as possible to the freezer can help to preserve it during a prolonged power outage. If the power goes out, be sure to keep the refrigerator and freezer closed to retain the cold as long as possible.

• Filling all sinks, bathtubs and large containers prior to the storm can provide water for washing hands and managing basic hygiene without dipping into bottled water supplies.
• Shutting off propane tanks and turning off gas lines into the house can reduce the risk of fire during and after the storm.

• Turning off or unplugging all non-essential appliances and electronic equipment can protect your home and belongings. If an electrical outage or power surge does occur, this will reduce the risk of damage to these items and will lessen the drain on the electrical system when power is restored.

Residents should be prepared to leave immediately if the storm strength is upgraded or if local or state authorities issue an evacuation order for the area.

Complying with evacuation orders promptly is the single most important factor in surviving hurricanes and other large-scale tropical storms. By preparing for major weather events well before they are forecast, residents in coastal areas can minimize the last-minute rush and can increase their safety during and after the storm.

Happy Anniversary, Barbara Stanwyck!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, BARBARA STANWYCK!!

“What those two [Frank Capra and Willard Mack] saw in me,” said Barbara, “I still don’t know.”

"Something is gone. They were beautiful, romantic films, not as stark and realistic as today’s, and I loved doing and watching them. Now we’ve matured and moved on." -Barbara Stanwyck on classic vs modern films

Despite Capra’s prediction, Barbara’s name for 'Ladies of Leisure' was not among those actresses singled out for their work for 1930. Nominated were Nancy Carroll (The Devil’s Holiday), Ruth Chatterton (Sarah and Son), Greta Garbo (Anna Christie), Norma Shearer (The Divorcee), and Gloria Swanson (The Trespasser). Shearer received the award for Best Actress. It was rumored that Metro had asked its employees in a memo to vote for Norma Shearer, Mrs. Irving Thalberg since 1927. Joan Crawford, Mrs. Douglas Fairbanks Jr., was quoted as saying, “What chance have I got? She sleeps with the boss.”

Capra rehearsed Barbara with the rest of the actors and crew of 'Forbidden' in a walk-through to go over the moves so the camera could follow her. The rehearsals were sketchy; Barbara spoke her lines, but they were barely audible. Ed Bernds, the head of the sound crew on the picture, who’d worked with Capra on three other pictures, described his rehearsals with Barbara as done at “half speed.” Barbara said, “I just ask the cameraman, in great humility, to please make me look human. You know, just make me look human, that’s all.” In the early days of sound, three cameras were used to help in the difficult process of cutting sound track. By the time 'Forbidden' was in production, sound track was easy to cut. “Capra wanted to keep [the shot] just long enough to hold the two actors,” said Bernds.

“And we followed Barbara as it became a two-shot when she was close to Bellamy.” Capra liked to shoot a lot of angles; they gave him flexibility in cutting. “The scene where Barbara shoots Bellamy is dynamite acting at a high intensity, very high intensity,” Bernds said. “[Barbara’s] voice was tough on sound because at times when she screamed, the Western Electric sound system went into a state of theoretically dangerous overload.”

During another bout with Frank Fay, Barbara ran to Joan Crawford’s North Bristol Avenue house. Joan and Barbara had shared New York days together when each was a floor show dancer in clubs. Joan kept a framed hand-tinted small photograph of Ruby Stevens (Barbara's birth name) from those early days when the high-kicking Billie Cassin, Shubert chorine with bangs and frizzy hair in the too-tight over-the-hip dresses, danced the Charleston, said Louise Brooks, like 'a lady wrestler' was now living in Brentwood, in a seven-room house, originally styled with grilled Spanish doorways and arches remade in a Georgian formal style. The house had been expanded to ten rooms, not including servants’ quarters, with a theater that seated twenty-five for Joan’s workshops of one-act plays, which she performed with her husband, Franchot Tone.

People watching Taylor and Stanwyck found them to be quiet, absorbed, sufficiently unto themselves. Bob was free from Irene Hervey; Barbara from Frank Fay. “We amused each other,” said Barbara. “We danced well together. We were good friends, had a marvelous time.” Bob was direct, open, and honest with Barbara. He appreciated her in big ways and little, was loving to her. After Fay, Bob seemed so normal to Barbara. He made it clear to those around them that he had great admiration for her. Two days out at sea aboard the Berengaria, Bob shouted into the radio telephone to Barbara, “Do you love me?” “Yes, I love you,” she shouted back. She had rushed home from the Ray Millands’ to get Bob’s call. Barbara was planning on leaving town as soon as she could.

She finished work on 'Breakfast for Two,' and 'Stella Dallas' opened in Los Angeles the following Monday. That Wednesday she and Holly Barnes flew to Sun Valley for a long weekend. 'Stella Dallas' had the biggest opening on record, beating 'A Star Is Born.'-"A Life of Barbara Stanwyck: Steel True 1907-1940" (2013) by Victoria Wilson

Rhino Deck: Armadillo Decking (Publicity)

I experienced the coming together of a community after a natural disaster, all thanks to the products offered by Rhino Deck. My family and I live in a rural area in the South. A few years ago, our little town was hit by a devastating F4 tornado. Because no one in this area has any underground shelters, we are ill prepared to deal with tornados, which rarely strike our area.

My great-grandmother was one resident who lost a great deal during the tornado. We were very thankful that her house did not take a direct hit from the tornado. If it had, it would have leveled the house. However, her back deck was not so lucky.

Before the tornado, her deck wasn't in the best of conditions, but we could never convince her it needed repair. The tornado tore her deck to shreds with the help of the pecan tree that had sat nestled behind her house for generations. Once the tree was removed, it was clear that her deck could not be salvaged.

A whole group of us from the town got together to work on my great-grandmother’s deck. She was so thrilled and amazed at all the help that she was getting from people she had never met.

We purchased Armadillo by Rhino Deck with her insurance money. We could have waited for a contractor to reconstruct her deck. However, because of the unbelievable devastation around my town, contractors were simply too busy to get to her. After all, some people didn't even have a roof over their heads. Of course, they deserved the contractors’ attention first.

So our little team got to work to construct my great-grandmother’s deck ourselves. She selected a Rustic Red from the color choices offered by Rhino Deck. The deck products they offered are not made of wood; instead, they are made up of a composite material of wood fiber and HDPE plastic. Consequently, they require minimal upkeep, which is perfect for my great-grandmother.

Once we got the deck constructed,which was very easy to do, my great-grandmother was so proud. She called over all her neighbors to come have a look. Instead of stairs, we built a ramp for her, since she is using a walker full-time now. The whole neighborhood was impressed with her deck, and I could tell she was beyond proud of the results. She wasted no time setting up her new patio furniture on the deck, along with her two new rocking chairs. She also hung a few wind chimes from the rafters above the deck. I could tell that she was going to get years of enjoyment out of her new deck. Although it was not a good event that brought about the project, I am so glad we were able to come together as a community to help my great-grandmother.

Franchot Tone (Love Scenes) video

Franchot Tone (Love Scenes) with Maureen O'Sullivan in "Stage Mother", Joan Crawford in "Today We Live", "Dancing Lady", "Love on the Run", "Sadie McKee" and "The Gorgeous Hussy"; Loretta Young in "Midnight Mary", Bette Davis in "Dangerous", Jean Harlow in "The Girl from Missouri", "Bombshell" and "Suzy", Myrna Loy in "Man-Proof", Anne Baxter in "The Lives of a Bengal Lancer", Janet Blair in "I Love Trouble" and Jean Wallace in "Jigsaw".

Franchot Tone and Joan Crawford, publicity photo for "Dancing Lady" (1933) directed by Robert Z. Leonard.