SAVING UP FOR A RAINY DAY

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 201, 22 May 1936, Page 16

SAVING UP FOR A RAINY DAY

TTOLLYWOOD’S motion picture stars have discovered that gold, particularly “movie”, gold, has taken on many of the properties of mercury, that fluid metal which runs, and likes nothing better than to disappear.

The discovery, with many sad laments. was made by such men and women' as' Jack Mulhall, Charles Ray, Clara Kliiiball Young, Helene Chadwick, Bryant AVashburn, and other former.stars, who are now working as “bit players” and extras.

The presence of liveried chauffeurs, jewels and swimming pools no longer gives .a feeling of security to Hollywood’s motion picture stars. They have become aware of the .future, and a day when money will cease flowing in.a golden stream from the studio pay windows. In consequence, they are investing against the future. Gary Cooper, of Paramount, is typical. He says: “This business of being a star is not a safe one. A changing waistline, any kind of disfigurement, loss of health, and many other factors hanging on capricious fate can wipe out in a few moments the earning power of a star.

"In addition, it is not as easy to save money to-day as it was a decade ago. There is the matter of income taxes. They take a tremendous toll on an actor's earnings, the more so because his income is concentrated within a few brief years. “That is why, in a way, many of the younger actors envy the old-timers, who had an opportunity to make and invest their money before income taxes came along. There are old-timers, however, whom no one envies. That is one of -the .reasons I am setting aside as much of my money as I can possibly epare for a trust fund. It will be available after my days s an actor have come to an end.” Marlene . Dietrich is another player who is building up a trust fund with a Hollywood bank. Other stars making this type of investment include Greta Garbo, Victor McLaglen, Norma Shearer, W. C. Fields, Jack Oakie. James Cagney’, Marion Davies, Fred Mac-Murray and Mary Boland.