The New Movie Magazine (Jan-Sep 1935)

Who Pays the Bills in a Two-Star Family? {Continued from page 4) Many Hollywood marital upheavals can be traced to this very thing. Of course this doesn't apply in my case because, as a matter of fact, Mr. Thalberg makes more money than I do. "The actual earnings of a motion picture star extend over a limited number of years. We can't count on more than our popularity of the moment. We hope we may continue for a long time, but we never know. "I never mention my money in front of Mr. Thalberg. I never pay for anything in front of him. He cured me of that a long time ago. Now I'd let him change a five hundred dollar bill to buy me a magazine, a soda or a stick of gum before I'd take a nickel out of my purse. "I buy my own clothes because I feel that a woman's clothes are a gift to her husband. And, besides, I like to feel free to be extravagant in this direction. If I were spending Mr. Thalberg's money for clothes, I'd worry about it. Not that he would object, but I'd feel that I should be more economical because it was his money. Then too, you can't expect any man to understand why a woman's clothes should cost what they do. "Mr. Thalberg gives me my furs and jewels and automobiles at gift times. The lasting things all come from him. "My husband and I have the same business manager, but our accounts are kept separately. In addition to my clothes, I take care of my own business expenses, my secretary, hairdresser, and my own family responsibilities. I buy the gifts for my personal friends, but presents for mutual friends are paid for by Mr. Thalberg." T5EBE DANIELS and Ben Lyon have •*-* worked out an entirely different system for handling their respective incomes. "We never mention money in our house," Bebe told me. "That is, money as belonging to either Ben or, myself. We just put our earnings together .and count them as one. We have the same business manager and the same bank account. Ben attends to most of the business affairs, and I run the house. We buy our cars or anything along that line together. We've found that the wisest solution. "Of course the clothes problem is no problem for me because I have a gown shop and all of my things come from there." DUBY KEELER has little or nothing ■*■ to say about the family finances, for Al Jolson has very definite ideas on the subject and insists that things be handled his way. When Ruby first started to work in pictures Al said that he wanted it understood that he was to continue to pay all the bills. He will not let Ruby buy a dress, a handkerchief or even a soda with her own money. There are only two things Ruby can do with the money she earns — she can save it or give it away. With some of her money Ruby has purchased a home for her family at Toluca Lake. Christmas and birthdays she revels in spending sprees and loads her family down with gifts. Al has had the same business manager for years, and he practically manages Ruby himself. WHY DRUG YOURSELF OVERNIGHT WITH A MEDICINAL LAXATIVE ? Doctors Say Morning Is the Best Time to End CONSTIPATION PLUTO WATER GIVES SAFE RELIEF IN AN HOUR Of course, morning is the best time to treat constipation. That's just common sense. Any woman knows that a laxative drug, if kept in her system all night, is liable to harm delicate tissues somehow, some way. That's why doctors say, "Wait until morning before taking a laxative. Then, if nature still refuses, you can always depend on safe, gentle Pluto Water for a natural flush within an hour". 50,000 Doctors Recommend It 50,000 doctors recommend Pluto Water, the saline mineral water that comes from French Lick Springs. And here are four important reasons why it is preferred above all other forms of laxatives : First, it is not a drug or a medicine and is therefore non-habit-forming. Second, Pluto is prompt — works in an hour. TJiird, Pluto is gentle, it simply flushes the intestines naturally. And Fourth, it is practically tasteless when properly used — 1/5 Pluto, 4/5 water. Next time you feel dull . . . when your digestive system is sluggish . . . take' this safe way to more natural relief. Take Pluto Water before breakfast. In less than sixty minutes you'll be your old energetic self again — happy, active, clearheaded— for Pluto will cleanse your system gently and completely of all waste poisons. No risk of doping your system overnight, either. You can get a bottle at any drug store — two sizes — 25c and 50c. When Nature Won't Pluto Will PLUTO WATER America's Laxative Mineral Water The stars will tell you that no system for the solving of money problems can be laid down as the most successful because it depends so much on the temperaments, the earnings and the philosophy of the individuals involved that each couple must work it out for themselves. CALLY EILERS and Harry Joe ^ Brown handle their affairs in almost the same manner as the Thalbergs. However, Sally does not buy her own clothes. "Harry wants to pay for everything that I would have as Mrs. Brown," said Sally. "He pays all the household expenses and buys my clothes. We have three bank accounts, Sally Eilers', Harry Joe Brown's and Sally Brown's. The Sally Brown account is kept up by Harry, and I draw on it to pay the household bills. "I pay all the expenses incurred by my work. For instance, I pay for my maid and chauffeur because it would not be necessary to have two chauffeurs or a maid at the studio if I did not work. "I pay my secretary and take care of my own family responsibilities. If it's necessary to buy clothes for the screen, I pay for them, but Harry buys everything I wear off screen. Harry says he feels better about handling it in that TOAN BLONDELL and George •J Barnes go fifty-fifty on expenses. Ann Dvorak and Leslie Fenton also put their money together, and Leslie manages their business affairs. Joel McCrea pays all the bills in the McCrea-Frances Dee household. Frances buys things for the house and for herself out of her own money if she wants to, but Joel is the head of the house and pays all bills and gives her money if she wants it just as if she did not work. "Her conscience is her guide as to what she does with her own salary," says Joel. PLORENCE ELDRIDGE works in ■*■ pictures only around Christmas time. She is such a capable actress that there is always a place for her on the screen, but she prefers to remain just Mrs. Freddie March. However, she says that she never could get used to the idea of buying Freddie's Christmas present and those for her own family with Freddie's money — so she sees to it that she has several salary checks of her own coming in around the holiday season. 7\ LL the household bills in the Cedric ^* Gibbons — Dolores Del Rio home are paid by Mr. Gibbons. From her salary Dolores takes care of her personal wardrobe and buys such knickknacks as she chooses for the house. When Adrienne Ames and Bruce Cabot were first married they worked out a detailed plan for the handling of their money. Bruce pays all the household bills. Adrienne buys her clothes, pays her beauty shop, maid and secretary. She takes care of all the expenses pertaining to the upbringing of her daughter paying for her schooling, clothes, and doctor bills. Adrienne also pays the insurance on her own automobile and on her jewels and furs. The old adage that "the woman always pays" doesn't go in Hollywood, at least financially speaking. The consensus of opinion among the women stars seems to be that it pays them not to pay either their household or personal bills. They all stress the point that the most important thing of all is not to discuss their earnings — at least within earshot of their husbands. 44 The New Movie Magazine, July, 1935