Screenland (May-Oct 1938)

At home! Mr. and Mrs. Joe Penner and their pet, by the pool. Tops on CreditLow on Cash Continued from page 23 "I'm not grumbling about my present salary in itself. Anywhere in the world, except in Hollywood, it would be a handsome sum. But—" , , , But in Hollywood, you're expected, when you've "arrived," to keep up a star's front. Jon said ruefully, "Suppose I want to take Simone Simon or Andrea Leeds out dancing Do you realize that it costs from $iU to $30 for the sort of evening you would want to offer such sought-after young ladies? Maybe that's why I'm buying my cars, and even my clothes, on the installment plan!" , To reduce the stark facts they must face to dollars-and-cents figures, we give you an itemized account of their cash problems. Thus expenses, for either man or woman: $3 00 for lunch for two at Vendome or Brown Derby) ; Turkish baths and massage (almost necessity for man or woman after a strenuous day's work) ; personal maid, if any, secretary, etc., etc. The expenses of a star aren't minimized by the fact that these youngsters have only just begun. There are agents' fees, taking ten per cent of that small salary. There are extra expenses for publicity. For fan photos. And sometimes, for assistance in answering the thousands of fan letters that pour in after one srpash picture like "Kid Galahad or "Hurricane." There are advertisements in trade papers —pride alone forces you to take just as big an ad as your co-star, who may have been in Hollywood for several years, with constant salary raises. There are sometimes, for the girls, maids, secretaries, and other helpers, for if you devote every waking minute to acting and posing and training for a hit picture, you can't spend much time keeping your own clothes in order— or doing your housework ! And through it all, for the first important year which, in Hollywood, can make or break you, you're earning no more than you might m some less hectic profession where your expenses would be nil! What's the answer? That's what the youngsters are wondering. But before passing judgment on Hollywood for creating the problem, consider these facts. Each year Hollywood signs up hundreds of likely newcomers like Morris or Hall, Marjorie Weaver or Andrea Leeds. Sometimes they click; more often they play one or two small parts, in B production, and then drop out. Meantime, Hollywood generously gives them their chance, and spends small fortunes on voice lessons, dramatic coaching, publicity, make-up experts, photographers. And only once m a thousand times is this initial investment repaid as in the case of an Errol Flynn, a full-fledged star after his first picture, or an Alan Curtis, receiving national fan attention with a single performance ! Remember, too, that after they ve proved themselves in several pictures, salaries are adjusted (sometimes at the studio's own suggestion) and the low on cash period is over. Until then— who knows ?— even a J on Hall may prove a flash in the pan, unable to sustain his success with another good performance ! Wayne Morris told me, "Frankly, 1 don t Credit Approx. salary : weekly $100.00 Debit weekly Balance $10.00 agent 5.00 taxes 2.50 relief fund 15.00 rent 15.00 transportation incl. car payments 5.00 laundry, cleaning 30.00 food, cigarettes, liquor, etc. 10.00 fan photos, clipping service, publicity, etc. 5.00 make-up, barber, hairdresser, etc., etc. $90.00 85.00 82.50 67.50 52.50 47.50 17.50 7.50 2.50 So the remaining $2.50 must cover such expenses and pleasures as contributions to family expenses, if any; insurance; savings; clothing; and for a feminine starlet, stockings; for a man, taking his girl out; club memberships, riding, golfing, swimming expenses (it costs $1.00 to swim in the Ambassador pool) ; incidental entertaining (allow go in for much 'front' because I just can't see the sense of throwing money away. And no matter how little or how much I'm earning, I save part of it." And this likeable youngster solves the problem by sternly forbidding himself all extravagances, contributes to the family income, and lives as modestly as he might in any other small town. Oh, yes, he's buying that yellow roadster on the installment plan! Pat Knowles and his wife resorted, finally, to a business* manager who gives them each a modest allowance and not a penny more. For an extra sum, whatever the lofty purpose, they must sign a special paper and then wait thirty days for the cash. "When I first came over," Pat admits laughingly, "I thought being a Hollywood star was all pretty fine, and we moved right into Bill Fields' former home at $300 a month. Then came a rude awakening and then came the business adviser,_ who moved us right out of the mansion into a more modest place, star or no star!" (After "Adventures of Robin Hood, the scouts are saying, even his own manager will be pretty deferential to this potent boxoffice threat.) Mary Lou Lender, chosen by Harold Lloyd for "Professor Beware," found herself in difficulties when the lead in a smaller picture brought her unthought-of acclaim. If you've written her a fan letter, you may be still waiting for the answer. Secretaries, stamps, and stationery in large quantities cost money, and Mary Lou admits she is still in the small-bracket class financially I "I call myself a typical Hollywood Cinderella," she smiles, "for whenever Im photographed at the studio, I wear glamorous and expensive frocks— often borrowed from a leading department store. Then, at home, I go back to my own modest little numbers." Alan Curtis admits frankly that he doesn't budget his income. "A person can't really save until he makes a salary," is the opinion of this handsome newcomer. "You don't really gain by doing so. Clothes are a necessity for a struggling actor, and. when you spend money for them, it's like investing money in a business. If I do give way to the temptation of splurging once in a while, I balance things by staying home the rest of the week. And I don't go on weekend trips to Palm Springs or Arrowhead. Too expensive !" Fireside chat! Harriet Hilliard, film and radio songbird, and her husband Ozzie .Nelson, popular orchestra leader, seen above in the living room of the.r Hollywood home. 72