Evening star., 1943-07-18

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mendous improvement in the past
month and II it continues at the
same rate he will be up fairly soon.
Lavish Compensation.
II Lloyds Of London have anything
to say about it, the recovery viii be
speeded. For as long as Costello is
unable to work, the insurance con-
Germ is paying him 81 $50 a week.
Il took out the policy only three
months before got SICK" says Lou
with grin. HE has already re-
ceived back more than $4,000. In
addition, Universal Studio is still
paying both men their regular SAL
aries-around 5000 a week, plus
the 10 per cent profits on their pic
lures. Il wish they would't pay
this" says Lou. II want to catch up
on my taxes"
The 10 pictures in which the
comedy pair starred for Universal,
plus the film for Metro-"Rio
Rita"-plus the weekly broadcasts
and the nonstop camp tours be-
tween pictures, during the three
years of their movie fame are
chiefly responsible for the low state
OF health that finally resulted in
LOUIS sickness.
Il hadn't had a vacation for nine
years." Lou tells me. This is my
first. I'm now appreciating a lot of
things that I didn't notice before.
My home, most of ell. I built it a
couple of years ago, and I'm still
building it," The hammering is
from the men who are transform
Ing the garage into library. A
gymnasium is also being erected.
Being sick is one way to know your
house. Before, hadn't been in the
pool 10 times. 1t will be different
when I'm better. This is where
I'm really going to live. I'm put
ting in a desk in the guest house
and from now on every one is COM
ing out to see me. I'm not going to
the studio except to make pictures.
1t used to be gag every time I'd
get on the diving board. Some one
would call from the studio and I'd 60
in and be there for the rest OF the
day.
when I'm better, we'll still make
pictures, but not as many as we did.
Five year was too many. Three
and a weekly broadcast Is quite
enough. Our present contract calls
for three at Universal, one at Metro
and one outside picture. My docter
says the winters here are too damp
for me, so We'll spend two or three
months in Florida, where I have a
home in Miami Beach"
An Invalid's Day,
A nurse hovers in the background.
She gives Lou what he calls "the
get well-slow- w-medicine," and she
gives me a warning look that means
you must go soon"
Before departing Lou gives me
brief resume Of his day as an invalid.
He wakes at T. Later in the morning
he is transferred from one bed to
another and wheeled into the gar
den. incidentally, Lou designed the
Italian landscaping. If the weather
is good he stays outside on the hos
pital bed under the awning for three
hours. Before returning to the house
his 8-month-old son, Lou, jr, known
as Butch pays him visit. His
wife, Anne, who was a chorus girl
with Lou in burlesque when he
married her nine years ago, is always
there to get him whatever he needs.
The radio is kept going at all times
of the afternoon and evening. Lou's
favorite programs are THE Lone
Ranger" and Red Ryder" Every
night a projection screen Is wheeled
into LOUIS bedroom and the family
(and this includes his mother and
father and law look at a
movie of LOUIS choosing.
Lou Is generous to his parents. He
bought them a $4,000 house a few
blocks away from his own. He also
bought his wife's mother house in
the neighborhood. He has spent
approximately s5O,o00 on his own
house. But he saves the major por-
ton Of his earnings and. among
other investments, has 100000 in
War bonds.
Lou used to smoke 18 big cigars
day. Since his sickness he has
smoked five altogether-says he
doesn't miss them. Before, he didn't
drink coffee. now he takes one cup
day! He's a tea drinker and has
at least Ave cups a day. His diet
was supplemented with Is pills
day. Seven at one clip" says Lou
wryly, but they've been cut down
to 10 day. so obviously I'm getting
better" Which Is fine.