In lieu of an abstract, here is a brief excerpt of the content:

Lugosi's earnings Although the salaries Lugosi received for his films are not all available, a rough guess-even when stage, vaudeville, radio, and later television appearances are included-is that Lugosi from 1929 on averaged less than $10,000 a year. From these earnings one must often deduct an agent's fee of 10 percent. Certainly Lugosi was one ofthe worst paid of Hollywood's so-called stars. The often-used term "Poor Bela" may be condescending in terms of the man, but financially it is unfortunately accurate. Here, then, is a representative list of his films: Film The Thirteenth Chair Fifty Million Frenchmen Dracula White Zombie Gift of Gab Whispering Shadow Salary ($) 3,000' 1,000 3,5002 8003 2504 10,0005 (continued) 1. Lugosi received $1,000 a week and presumably worked for three weeks. (For this information, I am indebted to Buddy Barnet.) This film is the only one made by a major American studio, except for Columbia, for which Lugosi received the top salary. The star of The Thirteenth Chair, Margaret Wycherly, received $800 a week, Holmes Herbert $850, Leila Hyams $250, Mary Forbes $500, and John Davidson $700. 2. Not only was Universal reluctant to hire Lugosi, it took advantage of his eagerness and offered him a measly $500 a week, less than what some of the relatively unimportant players received. 3. Lugosi worked for this pitiful sum in the summer in a vain attempt to ward offthe bankruptcy that occurred in October 1932. 4. This sum wasn't bad for a single shot lasting a couple ofseconds. Quite a contrast to the pitiful pay for White Zombie. 5. Some serial makers offered top dollar because they felt a star with drawing power would help sell it. Furthermore, most serials by this time were considered low prestige and therefore had to compensate leading actors more generously. 491 Film Black Cat (1934) Mark ofthe Vampire The Raven Phantom Ship The Invisible Ray Postal Inspector S.O.S. Coast Guard The Dark Eyes ofLondon Son ofFrankenstein You'll Find Out The Return ofthe Vampire Genius at Work A&C Meet Frankenstein Mother Riley Glen or Glenda? Salary ($) 3,000 3,000 5,0006 10,0007 4,000 5,000 1,500 7,500 4,0008 3,750 3,500 5,000 8,000 5,000 1,000 Bride ofthe Monster 1,000-5,0009 From legal records and other information, Lugosi was virtually penniless in 1921, 1924, 1932, 1937-1938, and from 1953 on to his death. 6. Universal was nor always so cheap. For Show Boat (1936), made only a few months larer, ir paid Paul Robeson $40,000 and Irene Dunne $100,000. 7. This was rhe besr salary Lugosi ever gor. Obviously; rhe British, who wanred a box-office draw for rhe American marker, didn'r realize how cheaply he could be had. 8. Universal knew Bela was desperare and only offered him $500 a week. They didn'r know rhar rhe direcror would use him rhroughour rhe shoor and rhar ir would rake so long (Q complere. 9. Esrimares range widely on rhis shoesrring production. 492 ...

Share