Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1934-04-01

The average film star figures on spend
ing at least $4,000 year on his recrea-
ton. Maintaining polo ponies, for iv-
stance, as Douglas Fairbanks, jr. does,
is a pretty expensive way Of finding
recreation.
male star has his valet to do the same work
and at the same salary
A chauffeur is paid anywhere from $50
month up. making a minimum OF $500 year.
And there must be gardener to care for the
spacious lawn. This costs another $50 monen.
or 5000 per year. That brings the total cost
for servants to IS, 400 yearly. However, it gives
work to at least six persons.
Food also is expensive item in such q
home 1t means that not only must the star
and his wife be fed, but the six servants also.
And the food bill for all will easily amount 70
$3.50 . month, $4,000 annually.
One of the largest items of any stars budget
Is the appropriation for clothes. conserva-
tive figure for garments will be 81 900 month.
or $12 900 a year.
Naturally, the feminine stars spend consider
ably more for clothes than do their male com
panions. 1t is almost unwritten law in
worn more than three or. at the most. four
times. And these gowns will cost anywhere
from 5000 to $500 each.
Every important social function calls for o
new gown. In addition there are numerous
pairs of shoes, hats morning dresses. sport
clothes. afternoon dresses, dinner gowns and
. mountain of underclothing.
The man stars don't have quite such . tough
time One tuxedo or full dress suit viii last
for eiv will business
suit. However. nearly all male stars today
must furnish their own wardrobes for their
screen work-and, as you can see. that runs
into money.
Each film will call for anywhere from two
to i've different suits, and as they can't wear
the same suit in more than one picture. they
must maintain exceptionally large wardrobes
In addition, all of their clothes must be made
by the best tailors.
Entertainment is another expensive item. .
fair figure for this being $500 a month. IS 900
annually. If Dolores Del Rio serves champagne
at = dinner party attended by Clark Gable.
Gable in turn feels duty bound to serve cham
payne at his next dinner party. Or II Marion
Davies has an orchestra to entertain her friends
during the evening, Joan Crawford also must
have an orchestra. a,
. ECREATTON will wipe out another $50 .
~ month, 5000 yearly, or more. Under this
will come the membership and dues to q golf
club or athletic club plus the expense q any
games played.
Most Of the film celebrities carry fairly heavy
insurance policies the premiums on which viii
amount to fully 81 500 yearly and in many IN
stances considerably more. In addition, their
incidental expenditures for lunches, cigarettes
and q score Of other little items will amount to
5000 q month, or $2,4O0 annually. .
And to top it all of is the amount which
must be given to charity and relatives. You
have no idea how many relatives screen star
can acquire. Placing the estimate at con.
sentative figure, each star will give away on
an average of $4,000 during a year to rela-
tives and charity.
Totaled all Of these items amount to $751;
100. leaving the star So, 900 for investments at
the end Of the year. To figure it all out in
percentages, this is the way their money goes:
Income tax 20 per cent; agent 10 per cent:
household expense, IA per cent; automobiles,
tainment, per cent; recreation. 3 per cent:
insurance, 1 1-3 per cent; incidentals Is per
cent: relatives and charity, 10 per cent; invest
ments, 81-3 per cent.
You might say that it is ridiculous to spend
such an enormous portion Of ones salary. And
perhaps it is But the film stars do it-and
30 into bankruptcy as soon IS they no lsneer
are able to earn those huge salaries