Sodom and Gomorrah : the story of Hollywood (1935)

180 SODOM AND GOMORRAH stars get as much money as the major executives, and many more get nearly as much. Their salaries far outdo those of the less important officials, as well as those of important executives in other industries. What Wall Street magnate enjovs a salaried income of $9000 a week, Greta Garbo's reputed stipend? Of course, some of them enjoy much greater incomes, due to their vast properties which yield rents and dividends, though it is safe to venture that none of the latter type income is derived from motion picture stock. The nation, almost to a man, set up a howl against the compensation enjoyed by railroad presidents, one salary aggregating a hundred and fifty thousand, but such an income would be laughed at by a motion picture company president. The latter would tell you that it is infinitely more difficult to manage a film producing organization than to run a great railroad like the Pennsylvania or any other first class line. Joan Crawford earns more money in six months than the president of the New York Central Railroad does in a year. The executives by no means have a monopoly on the Moorish castles or French chateaux, but have to share their exclusive neighborhood with their high-salaried employees, among them being not only actors but directors, a few writers, and some "technical advisers." Not being acceptable in real blue-blood society except as entertainers, the entire set of monied people engaged in pictures