PICTURE STARS’ SAURIES

Taranaki Daily News, 14 October 1933, Page 7

PICTURE STARS’ SAURIES

ROOSEVELT SUGGESTS CUT BENEFIT OF THE LOWER-PAID CINEMA COLONY PROTEST LABOUR AND N.R.A. POLICY By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Rec. 11.50 p.m. Washington, Oct. 12. A suggestion by President Roosevelt that the salaries of motion picture stars, also of some directors of executives, were too high and should be lowered for the benefit of the great army of lowpaid picture workers has produced a storm of protest in the cinema colony. Most prominent players are paid at per production, the salaries being 300 to 10,000 dollars weekly over a period of years. Will Rogers receives 150,000 dollars for each picture, and Richard Barthelmess 3,000,000 dollars. John Barrymore was paid 105,000 dollars for 21 days’ work on a single picture. Among the executives Louis Mayer’s earnings are reported to be 750,000 dollars yearly. Many directors receive as much as 60,000 dollars for each picture. The American Federation of Labour approved resolutions to-day opposing inflation and declaring it would bring “the greatest possible harm” to the wage earners.

The resolution criticised some of the policies of the National Recovery Administration, demanding more labour representation on the N.R.A. boards and committees, also asking for adequate unemployment relief this winter. A resolution urged President Roosevelt to restore the salary reductions of Government workers at the earliest possible time.