Tablet or Notebook, That is the Question

 Ah, the kiddies are back in school (well, will be after a hard-earned three-day holiday!)  Do they still teach cursive writing these days?  I hope so.  I started off school with my Big Chief tablet.  Some really lucky kids back before my time, darn it, had Hollywood-themed tablets.  A young lad must have had this Robert Taylor cover.  We girls would not have gotten him so battered.

And a girl no doubt had this pristine Jeanette MacDonald cover.

Or Spencer Tracy's with only small nicks on the border.

Adeline Richter had Clark Gable, her name is written on the upper border.  She probably felt she had to claim it publicly, as in who wouldn't've wanted Gable to themselves!  

Two Old Friends Chatting About....?? We Can Only Wonder.

Official caption on the photo:  "SPENCER TRACY AND ROBERT MONTGOMERY ARE JUST A COUPLE OF OLD FRIENDS ... talking over autos and horses on the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer lot."  Who knows, maybe they are.  It's the mischievous smiles they are both displaying that makes one think it's an entirely different conversation.  

Bob's Bentley was shipped to the U.S. in September, 1935.  Guessing he drove directly to the studio to show it off.  Bob, having a complete wardrobe for all sports in which he had an interest, is beautifully attired in tie, sport coat and driving gloves, of course.  

At Least the Swedes Knew He Was Blue-Eyed!

 Let's hear it for the Swedes to get Bob's eye color correct!!  And for using this great Montgomery photo when it's overlooked in the U.S.  Really.  

Not much movie-related material inside the magazine.  Did find this photo of four MGM gents having a chat/walk in their wardrobe outfits for the day.  The caption says something about Clark telling a funny story while Spencer, Robert and Bill await the punch line.  Could be.  And Bill wearing his normal wardrobe for the 1930s, including his top hat.  Always the best-dressed Gent in the room!  

      

Bob, Clark, Spence & Bob ... Just Four Guys Hanging Out in Bob's Dressing Room

 Four ill-at-ease gents looking forward to the departure of the photographer.....  Doubt they had much to say to each other, particularly not for publication.  Bob has spent the prior four years in the service, and for most of 1939 through 1941 was in England or making films at other studios.  Yeah, it had to feel strange to him. 

 Lt. Com. Robert Montgomery, Capt. Clark Gable, Spencer Tracy and Lt. j/g Robert Taylor

If Those Walls Could Only Talk

Spencer Tracy welcomes Bob back from the war and points out Bob's old dressing room awaits him.  I'm sure there was quite the pecking order among the stars, including the women, as to the dressing rooms they were assigned.  Besides, of course, Marion Davies for whom Daddy built her own building on the lot.
 

                                   MENS APTS.  Dec, 1944              
                       First Floor                       Second Floor
                A   Clark Gable                E  Robert Montgomery
                B   Spencer Tracy            F  Walter Huston
                C   William Powell          G  Fred Astaire
                D   Lionel Barrymore       H  Edward G. Robinson

                                      MENS  APTS. 1937

Bob comes back to a floor of new neighbors.  Robert Taylor is still in the service, replaced temporarily by Walter Huston.  Tracy has moved to the first floor to take over Nelson Eddy's vacated apartment - his contract was not renewed in 1942.  Fred Astaire is on the lot while making The Ziegfeld Follies and Yolanda and the Thief.  Lionel Barrymore has relocated to the first floor because of his severe arthritis, making room for Edward G. Robinson who filmed Our Vines Have Tender Grapes at MGM.

And Donald Loomis ... as in, who the heck was he that he had an apartment among the top men stars at MGM in 1937??  I did finally track him down.  He was the personal trainer for the stars, located there for their convenience, I assume.  An interesting job for sure!