John Gilbert (1899-1936)with Eleanor Boardman (1898-1891)1926 was a fateful year for Gilbert.In August,Hollywood's biggest sex symbol,Rudolph Valentino,died at the age of 31.Desperate to find another star to tout,the industry settled on Gilbert.Women followed him in droves.Gilbert asked Garbo to marry him.It was to be a double ceremony with director King Vidor and actress Eleanor Boardman.Only half of the wedding went through as planned,however.Garbo,courage failing her,never showed up at the ceremony. Gilbert was one of MGM's top stars;Eleanor Boardman claimed to have witnessed the fight between Gilbert and Mayer,and is,most likely, the source of the belief that Mayer deliberately set out to sabotage Gilbert's career.By 1934, alcoholism had severely damaged Gilbert's health;he died of a heart attack.And EleanorUnable to make the transition from silent to talking pictures,Boardman retired in 1935,and retreated from Hollywood.
- Kit: Winter Ballad by Lynn Griffin