Imperial Valley press., 1937-01-25
BY HENRY SUTHERLAND

True to form and season, high
priced film stars are already weep
ing in their caviar over the bite
state and federal income tax COL
lectors will shortly take out of their
supercolossal salaries.
The sympathetic Motion Picture
Herald, trade magazine, leads the
parade to the crying towel with a
moanin' low article based on newly
released income tax returns for 1885.
1t points out state and federal
taxes gobbled an average of As per
cent OF fanciest film salaries and
reached as much as IS per cent in
highest brackets, all of which may
lead the boys back yonder to pic
ture actors living in abject poverty,
the broken windows of their gaudy
hillside castles plugged with old
newspapers.
But before the home folks start
collecting nickels and dimes to set
up soup kitchens in Beverly Hills,
it should be observed that to yield
IS per cent to governments it is
necessary for the player to earn a
cool $500,000 during the preceding
IL months.
Mae West did almost that in 1895.
Her $480,833 was the highest sum
paid any player, according to re-
turns. OF that. she paid $330054
in taxes, leaving her a paltry
$168,279.
1t should be said, however that
the super -sinuous Mae has squawk-
ed never a Squawk so far as this
column knows. She can probably
recall less profitable years.
Marlene Dietrich made 1858, 900
and paid $225.832 in taxes, leaving
her only $139,668 A year ago when
a select few players, squirming un-
der the new California tax, were
threatening to move to Florida, New
York or Europe to escape imposts,
she was quoted among them. Miss
Dietrich denied she had any such
intention, however, when it later
appeared the great public heart
wasn't exactly bleeding over her
plight.
William Powell, one of the chief
gnashers of teeth at that time, made
$66,666 during 1885, and at going
rates must have had at least $48, 900
left after tax reductions.
Mr.. Powell's complaint was that
1t is unfair to tax actors so highly
because their years of peak earning
are all too short, and taxes made
1t impossible for them to lay by
anything for old age.
However, if Mr.. Powell can .con-
tinue to earn $4,000 a year,. and
will practice a few mild economies,
such as pressing his own pants and
lunching In hot dog stands, he
shouldn't care whether the Town
send Plan passes or not by the time
he's through acting.
90
Max Reinhardt, No. / stage pro-
ducer, is back in Hollywood after
putting over Broadway's Eternal
Road but he hasn't thing to do.
While he was away Warmers shelv-
ed his "Danton, Terror of France"
saying they couldn't find an actor
to fit the title role, and have given
Reinhardt no new assignment.
90
Fred Stone, finishing two months
in Cedars of Lebanon hospital with
recurrence of complications which
followed his aircrash two years ago,
will 60 home next week conval-
escent. He could leave now, but
refuses to ride in. an ambulance.
saying: II walked In here. and I'll
walk out" When he's fully recov-
cred he'll go into Mother Carey's
Chickens" with Ginger Rogers. 1t
was postponed owing to his illness
last fall. -
ID Al
One of the better. stage comics
returns to- Hollywood to go into
musical splash to be written and
directed by Buddy de Silva, say
Universal, reporting they have
signed Bert Lahr. Lahr is cur
rently playing with Beatrice Lille
In Broadway's 1.-THE Show is On"
Metro moguls have forbidden
players in weekend in Sierra snow
spots following two escapades by
Stanley Morner, Mary Gardens
picture protege. Morners car got
showed in at Arrowhead two weeks