The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1932-04-09
RIDE IN RTTZY LIMOUSINES,
GIVE GAY PARTIES IN FILM COLONY
Many Blow Last
Dime In Final
I Big Splurge
BY DAN THOMAS
NEA service Writer

llyW0Od---HoIlyWood pauperS!
In no other city in the world can
this particular species of humanity
be found. They are by-products of
the motion picture industry only.
No sleeping on park benches and
getting handouts from soup kitch-
ems for themi Here things are done
differently.
or course, the financially embar-
raised lady or gentleman might
have to draw his own bath in the
morning. And 1t is possible that
| he even might have to scram BILE
some eggs in his own kitchen for
breakfast. But when he energies
from the seclusion of his own home
lin which, by the way, he has a
most comfortable .bed--he Is fault
lessly attired and he rides down
Hollywood boulevard in his expen-
sipe motor!
His home and car both probably
are heavily laden with mortgages.
And perhaps a few articls Of fur
niture have been sold. But still ap-
pearances must be kept up.
That is the key word in Holly
wood-appearance. In this rather
fictitious community many things
are based on appearance. The actor
feels that he must keep up the
show. To give up his car and chauf-
feur is an open admission that he
is "broke." Such an admission
means that jobs are more difficult
to get and once secured, the re-
Enumeration will be less.
Francis x. Bushman of the class
ic profile, who used to be our lead
in matinee idol, showed Hollywood
a perfect example of appearance
| forsake."
Not so long ago Bushman filed
bankruptcy petition claiming that
he was pauper. Hard-boiled re-
porters in the courtroom at the
time were on the verge of breaking
into tears as Bushman told his
story of how $7,00O,000 had come
and gone.
Then Bushman left the court
house. His expensive car and chauf-
feur were waiting at the curb. And
the reporters began to think that it
wouldn't be a bad idea to be
wouldn't be bad idea to be a
pauper after all.
A few years ago when Charles
Ray met with financial reverses he
kept up the show to the very last
minute. Before anyone dreamed OF
the condition of his failing bank
account, he staged a party which
seldom has been equalled for law
ishness. Nothing was omitted-or-
chestra, entertainers, champagne
and lavish dinner being provided
for the entertainment of his guests.
Dancing continued until almost
daybreak And the next day news
paper headlines told those guests
and the world at large that Charlie
was bankrupt!
He could have lived moderately
for at least year with what he
spent on that one party. But at
least he bowed out of Hollywood's
social life amid blaze of glory.
There have been no end of stories
regarding Gloria Swanson's finan-
cial status. Many will tell you that
she Is, or at least was practically
broke" Yet Gloria never has CIV
en- up her beautiful Beverly Hills
mansion, her expensive limousine
or her servants. From outside APP
pearances, there never has been
time when Rockefeller had thing
on her.
Had 1t not been for that contin-
ued display of wealth, Gloria prob
ably would not be in the picture
business today. She knew that.
Swanson wearing the latest Paris
creation and riding in a Rolls
Royce has become almost a tradi-
ton in Hollywood.
But Swanson in a cheap ready
made suit, riding in a battered
fliFver, wouldn't even get past the
gateman!
She found that out once because
she tried 1t for lark. She dressed
in cheap. poorly fitting clothes,