Mogambo, 1953

Ava Gardner

co-starring Clark Gable

in MGM's,

MOGAMBO

There are a few of things that I think are cool about this 1953 card besides Ava Gardner in a leopard skin outfit. One is that the card is addressed to E.J Mannix. Mr. Mannix was a producer at MGM, eventually working his way up to general manager and vice-president of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. He allegedly had connections to gangs and the underworld; gossip purported that he murdered his first wife (in a make-believe high speed car crash) in 1937 He was also rumored to be complicit in cover-ups involving the deaths of film producer Paul Bern and Superman actor George Reeves, with whom his second wife Toni Mannix had a long open affair. Mannix was never formally charged as Reeves' death was ruled a suicide (as was Bern's), and no credible evidence has ever been cited to confirm the rumors. However, the 2006 film Hollywoodland (in which he was portrayed by Bob Hoskins) speculates on three theories, one of which is that one or both of the Mannix's might have caused Reeves' death. Another "cool" thing on the card is the reference to the "Showmanship Company". This is a  the name that Howard Hughes's RKO Radio Pictures studio had started calling itself. Howard and Ava were romantically involved in the late 40's and early 50's. Last but not least is the comment in the bottom left corner of the back of the card. "May be used for swapping & mailing" I'm not sure why that needed to be said...