"Career Insurance" Wanted For Film Stars

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 72, 17 December 1938, Page 9 (Supplement)

"Career Insurance" Wanted For Film Stars

TTXTRAS working on David O. Selznick’s picture, “The. Young m Heart,” have done something of interest to all who have read of the ups and downs of moving picture actors and actresses. Nine of the extras once were famous in motion pictures. Eight were great stars, the ninth a top-ranking director. Brought together on the set by coincidence, they discussed the ups and downs of their careers, and hit upon an idea for protecting stars of the present and future against the time when their careers are ended. They petitioned Governor Frank F. Merriam, of California, for a “Career Insurance law, requiring ‘that the State deduct ten per cent, of stars’ salaries and hold the funds in trust to make it unnecessary for them ever to rejoin the extra ranks. . . Those who signed the petition were Jean Acker Valentino, Rosemary Theby, Harry Myers, Mahlon Hamilton, Alice Lake, Elinor Fair, Gertrude Astor, Anu Luther and Henry Otto, whose names once drew millions into box-offiees. Miss Acker, for instance, was the wife of Rudolph A alentino. Myers starred in ‘‘A Connecticut Yankee at the Court of King Arthur. Otto directed “Dante’s Inferno,” ‘‘The Miracle Woman;” and many more. lor one reason or another they lost their huge earnings and went back to extra ranks to start again.