Marion Davies circus party William Randolph Hearst Clark Gable Carole Lombard Henry Fonda Irene Dunne

Some footage from the circus-themed party thrown by Marion Davies, to celebrate W. R. Hearst’s birthday, at her beach house. (They also owned San Simeon.) She wore a Russian-style outfit, and Hearst was the ringmaster. Hearst’s five adult sons were dressed as a Russian acrobatic team with one as a circus dandy. This event was attended by David Selznick, Louis B. Mayer and a vast array of directors and stars, who were encouraged to wear a costume. Leslie Howard and his tall son were photographed there in tuxedos, but his wife, Ruth, wore a hat with a mini merry-go-round on it, and her dress was a circus tent with all the acts embroidered in detail. Clark Gable and Carole Lombard went in cowboy gear, as did Jackie Coogan. (Clark’s former wife, Ria, was around, in a jockey’s costume.) Errol Flynn and David Niven wore stripy tops as the shovel brigade (for an elephant). Bette Davis was a bearded lady and Claudette Colbert dressed up as a Red Indian.